Keep Us Strong WikiLeaks logo

Currently released so far... 97115 / 251,287

Articles

Browse latest releases

Browse by creation date

Browse by origin

A B C D F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W Y Z

Browse by tag

A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z
ETRD EAGR ETTC EAID ECON EFIN ECIN EINV ELAB EAIR ENRG EPET EWWT ECPS EIND EMIN ELTN EC ETMIN EUC EZ ET ELECTIONS ENVR EU EUN EG EINT ER ECONOMICS ES EMS ENIV EEB EN ECE ECOSOC EK ENVIRONMENT EFIS EI EWT ENGRD ECPSN EXIM EIAD ERIN ECPC EDEV ENGY ECTRD EPA ESTH ECCT EINVECON ENGR ERTD EUR EAP EWWC ELTD EL EXIMOPIC EXTERNAL ETRDEC ESCAP ECO EGAD ELNT ECONOMIC ENV ETRN EIAR EUMEM ENRGPARMOTRASENVKGHGPGOVECONTSPLEAID EREL ECOM ECONETRDEAGRJA ETCC ETRG ECONOMY EMED ETR ENERG EITC EFINOECD EURM EENG ERA EXPORT ENRD ECONEINVETRDEFINELABETRDKTDBPGOVOPIC EGEN EBRD EVIN ETRAD ECOWAS EFTA ECONETRDBESPAR EGOVSY EPIN EID ECONENRG EDRC ESENV ETT EB ENER ELTNSNAR ECHEVARRIA ETRC EPIT EDUC ESA EFI ENRGY ESCI EE EAIDXMXAXBXFFR EETC ECIP EIAID EIVN EBEXP ESTN EING EGOV ETRA EPETEIND ELAN ETRDGK EAIDRW ETRDEINVECINPGOVCS EPEC ENVI ELN EAG EPCS EPRT EPTED ETRB EUM EAIDS EFIC EFINECONEAIDUNGAGM EAIDAR ESF EIDN ELAM EDU EV EAIDAF ECN EDA EXBS EINTECPS ENRGTRGYETRDBEXPBTIOSZ EPREL EAC EINVEFIN ETA EAGER EINDIR ECA ECLAC ELAP EITI EUCOM ECONEFINETRDPGOVEAGRPTERKTFNKCRMEAID EARG ELDIN EINVKSCA ENNP EFINECONCS EFINTS ECCP ETC EAIRASECCASCID EINN ETRP EAIDNI EFQ ECOQKPKO EGPHUM EBUD ECONEINVEFINPGOVIZ ENERGY ELB EINDETRD EMI ECONEFIN EIB EURN ETRDEINVTINTCS EIN EFIM ETIO ELAINE EMN EATO EWTR EIPR EINVETC ETTD ETDR EIQ ECONCS EPPD ENRGIZ EISL ESPINOSA ELEC EAIG ESLCO EUREM ENTG ERD EINVECONSENVCSJA EEPET EUNCH ECINECONCS ETRO ETRDECONWTOCS ECUN EFND EPECO EAIRECONRP ERGR ETRDPGOV ECPN ENRGMO EPWR EET EAIS EAGRE EDUARDO EAGRRP EAIDPHUMPRELUG EICN ECONQH EVN EGHG ELBR EINF EAIDHO EENV ETEX ERNG ED
KMDR KPAO KPKO KJUS KCRM KGHG KFRD KWMN KDEM KTFN KHIV KGIC KIDE KSCA KNNP KHUM KIPR KSUM KISL KIRF KCOR KRCM KPAL KWBG KN KS KOMC KSEP KFLU KPWR KTIA KSEO KMPI KHLS KICC KSTH KMCA KVPR KPRM KE KU KZ KFLO KSAF KTIP KTEX KBCT KOCI KOLY KOR KAWC KACT KUNR KTDB KSTC KLIG KSKN KNN KCFE KCIP KGHA KHDP KPOW KUNC KDRL KV KPREL KCRS KPOL KRVC KRIM KGIT KWIR KT KIRC KOMO KRFD KUWAIT KG KFIN KSCI KTFIN KFTN KGOV KPRV KSAC KGIV KCRIM KPIR KSOC KBIO KW KGLB KMWN KPO KFSC KSEAO KSTCPL KSI KPRP KREC KFPC KUNH KCSA KMRS KNDP KR KICCPUR KPPAO KCSY KTBT KCIS KNEP KFRDCVISCMGTCASCKOCIASECPHUMSMIGEG KNNB KGCC KINR KPOP KMFO KENV KNAR KVIR KDRG KDMR KFCE KNAO KDEN KGCN KICA KIMMITT KMCC KLFU KMSG KSEC KUM KCUL KMNP KSMT KCOM KOMCSG KSPR KPMI KRAD KIND KCRP KAUST KWAWC KTER KCHG KRDP KPAS KITA KTSC KPAOPREL KWGB KIRP KJUST KMIG KLAB KTFR KSEI KSTT KAPO KSTS KLSO KWNN KPOA KHSA KNPP KPAONZ KBTS KWWW KY KJRE KPAOKMDRKE KCRCM KSCS KWMNCI KESO KWUN KPLS KIIP KEDEM KPAOY KRIF KGICKS KREF KTRD KFRDSOCIRO KTAO KJU KWMNPHUMPRELKPAOZW KEN KO KNEI KEMR KKIV KEAI KWAC KRCIM KWCI KFIU KWIC KCORR KOMS KNNO KPAI KBWG KTTB KTBD KTIALG KILS KFEM KTDM KESS KNUC KPA KOMCCO KCEM KRCS KWBGSY KNPPIS KNNPMNUC KWN KERG KLTN KALM KCCP KSUMPHUM KREL KGH KLIP KTLA KAWK KWMM KVRP KVRC KAID KSLG KDEMK KX KIF KNPR KCFC KFTFN KTFM KPDD KCERS KMOC KDEMAF KMEPI KEMS KDRM KEPREL KBTR KEDU KNP KIRL KNNR KMPT KISLPINR KTPN KA KJUSTH KPIN KDEV KTDD KAKA KFRP KWNM KTSD KINL KJUSKUNR KWWMN KECF KWBC KPRO KVBL KOM KFRDKIRFCVISCMGTKOCIASECPHUMSMIGEG KEDM KFLD KLPM KRGY KNNF KICR KIFR KM KWMNCS KAWS KLAP KPAK KDDG KCGC KID KNSD KMPF KPFO KDP KCMR KRMS KNPT KNNNP KTIAPARM KDTB KNUP KPGOV KNAP KNNC KUK KSRE KREISLER KIVP KQ KTIAEUN KPALAOIS KRM KISLAO KWM KFLOA
PHUM PINR PTER PGOV PREL PREF PL PM PHSA PE PARM PINS PK PUNE PO PALESTINIAN PU PBTS PROP PTBS POL POLI PA PGOVZI POLMIL POLITICAL PARTIES POLM PD POLITICS POLICY PAS PMIL PINT PNAT PV PKO PPOL PERSONS PING PBIO PH PETR PARMS PRES PCON PETERS PRELBR PT PLAB PP PAK PDEM PKPA PSOCI PF PLO PTERM PJUS PSOE PELOSI PROPERTY PGOVPREL PARP PRL PNIR PHUMKPAL PG PREZ PGIC PBOV PAO PKK PROV PHSAK PHUMPREL PROTECTION PGOVBL PSI PRELPK PGOVENRG PUM PRELKPKO PATTY PSOC PRIVATIZATION PRELSP PGOVEAIDUKNOSWGMHUCANLLHFRSPITNZ PMIG PREC PAIGH PROG PSHA PARK PETER POG PHUS PPREL PS PTERPREL PRELPGOV POV PKPO PGOVECON POUS PGOVPRELPHUMPREFSMIGELABEAIDKCRMKWMN PWBG PMAR PREM PAR PNR PRELPGOVEAIDECONEINVBEXPSCULOIIPBTIO PARMIR PGOVGM PHUH PARTM PN PRE PTE PY POLUN PPEL PDOV PGOVSOCI PIRF PGOVPM PBST PRELEVU PGOR PBTSRU PRM PRELKPAOIZ PGVO PERL PGOC PAGR PMIN PHUMR PVIP PPD PGV PRAM PINL PKPAL PTERE PGOF PINO PHAS PODC PRHUM PHUMA PREO PPA PEPFAR PGO PRGOV PAC PRESL PORG PKFK PEPR PRELP PREFA PNG PGOVPHUMKPAO PRELECON PINOCHET PFOR PGOVLO PHUMBA PRELC PREK PHUME PHJM POLINT PGOVPZ PGOVKCRM PGOVE PHALANAGE PARTY PECON PEACE PROCESS PLN PRELSW PAHO PEDRO PRELA PASS PPAO PGPV PNUM PCUL PGGV PSA PGOVSMIGKCRMKWMNPHUMCVISKFRDCA PGIV PRFE POGOV PEL PBT PAMQ PINF PSEPC POSTS PHUMPGOV PVOV PHSAPREL PROLIFERATION PENA PRELTBIOBA PIN PRELL PGOVPTER PHAM PHYTRP PTEL PTERPGOV PHARM PROTESTS PRELAF PKBL PRELKPAO PKNP PARMP PHUML PFOV PERM PUOS PRELGOV PHUMPTER PARAGRAPH PERURENA PBTSEWWT PCI PETROL PINSO PINSCE PQL PEREZ PBS

Browse by classification

Community resources

courage is contagious

Viewing cable 06CARACAS2624, PAR FOR THE COURSE: MAYOR OF CARACAS EXPROPRIATES

If you are new to these pages, please read an introduction on the structure of a cable as well as how to discuss them with others. See also the FAQs

Understanding cables
Every cable message consists of three parts:
  • The top box shows each cables unique reference number, when and by whom it originally was sent, and what its initial classification was.
  • The middle box contains the header information that is associated with the cable. It includes information about the receiver(s) as well as a general subject.
  • The bottom box presents the body of the cable. The opening can contain a more specific subject, references to other cables (browse by origin to find them) or additional comment. This is followed by the main contents of the cable: a summary, a collection of specific topics and a comment section.
To understand the justification used for the classification of each cable, please use this WikiSource article as reference.

Discussing cables
If you find meaningful or important information in a cable, please link directly to its unique reference number. Linking to a specific paragraph in the body of a cable is also possible by copying the appropriate link (to be found at theparagraph symbol). Please mark messages for social networking services like Twitter with the hash tags #cablegate and a hash containing the reference ID e.g. #06CARACAS2624.
Reference ID Created Released Classification Origin
06CARACAS2624 2006-08-30 20:59 2011-08-24 01:00 UNCLASSIFIED Embassy Caracas
VZCZCXRO9586
RR RUEHAO
DE RUEHCV #2624/01 2422059
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
R 302059Z AUG 06
FM AMEMBASSY CARACAS
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 6080
INFO RUEHBO/AMEMBASSY BOGOTA 6962
RUEHBR/AMEMBASSY BRASILIA 5750
RUEHBU/AMEMBASSY BUENOS AIRES 1441
RUEHGE/AMEMBASSY GEORGETOWN 0203
RUEHLP/AMEMBASSY LA PAZ 2317
RUEHPE/AMEMBASSY LIMA 0565
RUEHMD/AMEMBASSY MADRID 3178
RUEHQT/AMEMBASSY QUITO 2401
RUEHSG/AMEMBASSY SANTIAGO 3747
RUEHDG/AMEMBASSY SANTO DOMINGO 0302
RUEHAO/AMCONSUL CURACAO 0993
RUEHGL/AMCONSUL GUAYAQUIL 0637
RUEHSO/AMCONSUL SAO PAULO 0050
RUEATRS/DEPT OF TREASURY
RUCPDOC/DEPT OF COMMERCE
RUMIAAA/HQ USSOUTHCOM MIAMI FL
RUEHUB/USINT HAVANA 0968
RUCNDT/USMISSION USUN NEW YORK 0483
UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 CARACAS 002624 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: ECON PGOV VE
SUBJECT: PAR FOR THE COURSE: MAYOR OF CARACAS EXPROPRIATES 
LOCAL GOLF COURSES 
 
 
------- 
Summary 
------- 
 
1.  (SBU)  During an open session of the Metropolitan Council 
of Planning and Public Policy held in Caracas on August 22, 
Mayor Juan Barreto announced that he was going to issue 
expropriation decrees for all three golf courses in the 
Caracas metropolitan area and use the terrain to build 25,000 
family homes.  In that session, he also publicly and 
personally insulted the two opposition mayors (septel).  Two 
days later he issued expropriation decrees for the Valle 
Arriba Golf Club and the Caracas Country Club.  The La 
Lagunita Golf Club was also targeted by Barreto but no decree 
has been published yet.  National Guard elements were spotted 
in front of Valle Arriba Golf Club on August 29, although it 
was open for business.  The measure is largely a political 
play to Barreto's lower-class voting base, and is not viewed, 
even by the Minister of Housing, as a viable alternative to 
deal with the housing shortage.  On August 30, Vice-President 
Rangel issued a press release disagreeing with the decrees. 
End Summary. 
 
----------------- 
Why golf courses? 
----------------- 
 
2. (SBU)  The reason behind the expropriations, as outlined 
by the director of the Metropolitan Urbanization Institute 
(MUI) and Barreto himself, is to construct 25,000 homes for 
homeless Venezuelans.  Juan Vadell, attorney general for the 
metropolitan district, said that "we are guarantors of 
private property, but these courses allow us to resolve a 
collective problem."  (Note: Venezuela faces a 1.68 million 
unit housing shortage, felt most acutely in Caracas.  In 2006 
alone, Barreto has issued expropriation decrees for an 
estimated 195 residential buildings, and is looking to enact 
blanket expropriations for properties meeting certain 
criteria (such as having the same tenant for 20-plus years, 
etc).  End Note.)  The three golf courses targeted are 
located on prime Caracas real estate. 
 
3. (SBU)  Valle Arriba Golf Club has reportedly already begun 
clearing out its pro shop in fear of confiscations, although 
play was proceeding as usual the morning of August 30. 
National Guard troops were posted in front of the property on 
the night of August 29.  In La Lagunita, National Guard 
elements have reportedly secured the golf course, and two 
Chavistas on motorcycles were seen eyeing the land.  The 
owner of Caracas Country Club commented to the press on 
August 29 that he hadn't received any official notification 
from the Mayor. 
 
--------- 
The irony 
--------- 
 
4.  (SBU) Despite Barreto having targeted La Lagunita Golf 
Club specifically in his August 22 tirade, the expropriation 
decree for this property was not published alongside the 
others.  There is anecdotal evidence that wealthy 
pro-government individuals (Chavistas "light") have bought 
property around the golf course, and some speculate that they 
pressured Barreto to delay or stop the measure.  In the past 
year, members of the BRV have often mentioned using Caracas 
metropolitan properties the government already owns - such as 
Fort Tiuna or La Carlota airstrip - to build homes, but those 
efforts have fallen flat.  Expropriating golf courses may be 
more a political statement than an actual housing solution. 
On August 26, the Minister of Housing, Ramon Carrizalez, 
declared that national housing plans do not include 
construction on La Lagunita, and that there are more 
appropriate lots to build on. 
 
CARACAS 00002624  002 OF 002 
 
 
 
--------- 
What next 
--------- 
 
5. (SBU)  According to the 2002 Expropriation Law, owners 
have 30 days after the property is declared "of public 
utility" (i.e. an expropriation decree is issued) to contact 
the expropriating entity and begin negotiations.  An 
inspector must then value the property, and the National 
Guard or police can temporarily occupy it for a period of six 
months.  If the owner chooses not to settle, he can fight the 
proceedings in court.  Construction on or occupation of the 
property (by tenants) cannot legally occur until the process 
is finalized.  However, in nearly all prior cases of Caracas 
expropriations by Barreto, occupants have flooded in, often 
with complicity of authorities. 
 
------- 
Comment 
------- 
 
6. (SBU)  The fact that Barreto announced the expropriations 
while hurling insults at two opposition mayors shows the 
political motivation to target the upper (and middle) classes 
and play to his lower-class voter base (after all, golf is an 
"elite" sport).  The housing plans for these properties are 
precarious - La Lagunita is zoned as a "recreational area" 
and it would be illegal to build residential homes without 
re-zoning, a process that normally takes up to two years. 
It's also hard to imagine how 25,000 families will fit on 58 
acres, with buildings limited to maximum of six stories, and 
still leave room for parks and green areas (as per the 
Metropolitan Urbanization Institute's plan).  The cost of the 
expropriations alone would be well above the municipality's 
budget.  Both Capriles and Lopez said that Barreto is doing 
this to distract voters away from mismanagement in his own 
municipality (except for Chacao and Baruta, all other 
Chavista-run municipalities are unkempt and broken down). 
 
7. (SBU)  As has happenned with Barreto's pushes for 
expropriation in the past, a high-level BRV member has come 
out publicly against the measures when reactions turn sour 
(in this case Rangel, in the January 2006 wave of 
expropriations, it was Attorney General Isaias Rodriguez). 
Barreto seems more and more like a BRV litmus test to feel 
out public opinion on contentious issues - and if there is a 
backlash, the BRV can localize the issue and use Barreto as a 
scapegoat.  Given that only 13.6 percent of Venezuelans in a 
recent Datanalisis poll said that expropriation should be the 
means to providing social benefits, Barreto may be alienating 
those very voters he is trying to court.  End Comment. 
 
 
WHITAKER