Cablegate: Venezuela's National Electoral Council Requests

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E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV KDEM VE
SUBJECT: VENEZUELA'S NATIONAL ELECTORAL COUNCIL REQUESTS
LOCAL TV STATIONS STOP AIRING ANTI-CONSTITUTIONAL REFORM
ADS

1. (U) The Directors of Globovision, Alberto Federico
Ravell, and Venezolana de TeleVision (VTV), Romero Anselmi,
met with the President of the National Electoral Council
(CNE), Tibisay Lucena, October 17 to counter CNE efforts to
suspend the transmission of spots critical of the
government's proposed constitutional reforms. The CNE
asserts these spots are premature. Ravell, argues that they
do not endorse a position, but rather serve to educate
Venezuelans. The CNE, however, was unconvinced and issued a
formal request on October 20 to stop broadcasting the
messages. Ciudadania Activa, the NGO that produces these
spots, has vowed to continue to air the ads via the internet
and to pass them out directly to the public.

2. (SBU) Comment. The CNE's partisanship is blatant given
the fact that Venezuelans are bombarded daily with government
propaganda promoting the Chavez Administration and his
constitutional reforms. The government obviously has little
interest in fostering genuine debate about the constitutional
reforms. End Comment.

DUDDY

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