Cablegate: Election Theft for Dummies, Chapter Five: Election

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C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 MANAGUA 001349

SIPDIS

DEPT FOR USOAS
DEPT FOR WHA/CEN AND INR/IAA
DEPT FOR DRL
STATE PASS USAID
USAID FOR LAC -- CARDENAS, KITE AND BATLLE
SOUTHCOM FOR FPA
OSD FOR DASD JOHNSON AND VANESSA MITCHELL
LABOR FOR DOL/ILAB
NSC FOR GARCIA AND FISK

E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/29/2018
TAGS: PHUM PGOV NU
SUBJECT: ELECTION THEFT FOR DUMMIES, CHAPTER FIVE: ELECTION
DAY PROCEDURES

REF: MANAGUA 1188 AND PREVIOUS

MANAGUA 00001349 001.2 OF 002

Classified By: Ambassador Robert J. Callahan for reasons 1.4 (b) & (d).

1. (C) SUMMARY. On November 3, 2008, Nicaragua's largest
circulation daily, "La Prensa," ran a page two article
reporting on a document purporting to be instructions for
Citizen Power Councils (CPC) militants regarding plans of
Ortega's Sandinista National Liberation Front (FSLN) party
for the upcoming municipal elections on November 9. We were
given a copy of this document on October 30 from a source
within the Government of Nicaragua and who told us that this
document was distributed during a recent CPC meeting in
Managua. We have confirmed that the Jamileth Gradiz
mentioned, and identified as a CPC leader, is employed in the
Civil Registry Office of Managua City. (NOTE: Between
October 30 and November 3 Embassy offices were given
identical information, including copies of similar documents,
from four separate sources. END NOTE.) This document
includes very explicit operational plans and tactics designed
to improve the FLSN's chances of victory, including
surreptitious voiding of opposition ballots and instructions
on how to vote more than once. We are unable to definitely
confirm this document's authenticity, but if it is real, it
is a remarkably candid demonstration of the FSLN's commitment
to victory at all costs. END SUMMARY.

2. (U) BEGIN TRANSLATION OF DOCUMENT.

This Seminar, financed by the campaign committee of the FSLN
was coordinated and partially presented by the route chief of
District IV, Lic. Jamileth Gradiz, who is also the director
of the Civil Registry Office (in Managua). The following
topics were discussed on how to act in order to win the
elections, at any cost.

1. The electoral police (three for each center), one
outside, one at the door and the last one inside the
precinct, are on our side (FSLN) and were chosen by
Gobernacion (Interior Ministry) to do the following: if one
of our supporters comes into the precinct smelling of
alcohol, wearing a campaign shirt or hat with propaganda,
they will let them in, and if there are arguments, fights or
unruly behaviors, the police will intercede in our favor.

2. The voting precincts will open at 6:00 sharp in the
morning, and will be closed at 5:00 in the afternoon, no
matter what. This means that all our people would have
already voted by 2:00 pm, and at closing time the ones that
will be left without having voted will be the ones from the
right, who are the lazy ones.

3. Inside the precinct, we have to do whatever it takes to
nullify the Liberal votes. For example: don't put the secret
code on the ballot, or strike a line through it or don't sign
the ballot, etc. For this we count on the poll watchers as
well as the ones from ALN, PRN and AC, who are our allies who
have infiltrated into their parties. They will start small
talk to distract the Liberal poll watchers so we can carry
out the plan. We have be to firm in this.

MANAGUA 00001349 002.2 OF 002

4. There will be national and international observers. They
will have CSE identification. One of our supporters will be
among them, and will give us a signal (which will be provided
later). To these infiltrators we will provide all the
courtesies (they are our friends, you know), otherwise do not
let them in. Tell them we are either busy, eating, helping
voters or make up anything. Remember those people come only
to pass the time.

5. The ones that can vote in another precinct do so. They
have the right, but try not to have your finger stained so
you can vote again in your precinct. If they stain your
finger, ask them to do it "light" and hide it, so when they
are not looking or when the Liberal poll watcher goes to eat,
the other poll watchers can do it. Don't worry, they are
allied and just remember that your cedula is not going to be
marked.

6. When it's time to count the ballots, if we are losing, we
have to wise up. When the recounting is being performed and
they are off guard, scratch the ballots, tear them or spill
ink on them.

7. There will be at least ten comrades from the CPC outside
each precinct, ready to intervene at any given moment.

END TRANSLATION TEXT OF FLYER.
CALLAHAN

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