Cablegate: Media Reaction: Western Hemisphere: Venezuela, Chavez's

VZCZCXYZ0020
OO RUEHWEB

DE RUEHSO #0836 2881243
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
O 151243Z OCT 07 ZDK
FM AMCONSUL SAO PAULO
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 7576
INFO RHEHNSC/NATIONAL SECURITY COUNCIL WASHDC IMMEDIATE
RUEHBR/AMEMBASSY BRASILIA PRIORITY 8686
RUEHRI/AMCONSUL RIO DE JANEIRO PRIORITY 8390
RUCPDOC/USDOC WASHDC 2929

UNCLAS SAO PAULO 000836

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

STATE INR/R/MR; IIP/R/MR; WHA/PD

DEPT PASS USTR

USDOC 4322/MAC/OLAC/JAFEE
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: KMDR OPRC OIIP ETRD BR
SUBJECT: MEDIA REACTION: WESTERN HEMISPHERE: VENEZUELA, CHAVEZ'S
REGIONAL AND INTERNATIONAL INFLUENCE, NATIONALIZATION PROGRAM, PRESS
FREEDOM, DEMOCRACY AND HUMAN RIGHTS; SAO PAULO.

The Militarization of Venezuela

Center-right O Estado de S.Paulo editorialized (10/15):
"[Venezuelan] opposition parties have started organizing a
parliamentary resistance against Chavez' machinations such as
indefinite reelection, destruction of the federative regime...and
the end of private property.... Chavez accuses these parties and
their leaders of being traitors of the nation, servants of the
oligarchy and CIA agents.... Some time ago...[Chavez] adopted
nazi-fascist methods...he took the pledge of allegiance from the
party's committee that will organize a referendum...on the new
constitution...he heard the pledge of 14 thousand "soldiers"...who
will be responsible for "convincing" Venezuelans that the socialism
of the 21st century will be Paradise on Earth. Chavez is also
organizing "troops of support" and "troops of rear-guards"... Chavez
is putting together as well the National Bolivarian Militia with a
structure that is parallel to the Armed Forces with the obvious goal
of defending the interests of the United Socialist Party of
Venezuela and its supreme leader, not those of the State. Any
similarity to the nazi SS will not be a mere coincidence.... This is
the regime President Lula wants as a partner of Mercosul."
White

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