New Information Ties Chavez Government to Snipers

STRATFOR sources say allies of Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez have been directly implicated in the pre-coup violence of April 11, when rooftop snipers opened fire into a crowd of protesters in downtown Caracas. According to sources inside the government's security establishment, Eliezer Otaiza -- a former commander of the Interior and Justice Ministry's political police (DISIP) and a close ally of Chavez -- coordinated an unofficial team of shooters who took part in the gunfire.

On May 19, Otaiza claimed in an interview with Caracas daily El Nacional that a group of rogue DISIP officials trained by the U.S. Central Intelligence Agency and Israel's Mossad are locating and identifying all members of pro-Chavez militias, known as Bolivarian Circles, as part of an "ethnic cleansing" campaign targeting Chavez's supporters. However, STRATFOR sources said Otaiza is deliberately planting disinformation to divert attention from his role in the April 11 violence -- and from DISIP's role in training some Bolivarian Circle members in surveillance, intelligence-gathering and weapons-handling.

Sources also confirmed that DISIP is deeply divided between internal pro- and anti-Chavez factions that are quietly struggling for control of the entity. This struggle could be an important factor in determining the outcome of another military rebellion against Chavez.

Although the Bolivarian Circles immediately were suspected of playing a role in the violence of April 11, new allegations of illegal ties between the militias and the Chavez regime now are surfacing.

For instance, a group of 30 DISIP officials charged in sworn depositions on May 14 that DISIP personnel and resources were being used to train and arm some Bolivarian Circles. On May 20, Air Force Brig. Gen. Pedro Pereira testified that members of the Fifth Republic Movement (MVR) party had racked up 500 hours of military flight time on missions to indoctrinate Bolivarian Circle members. The use of government resources for purposes of political indoctrination is illegal, but the Chavez regime routinely has ignored the constitution in advancing its agenda.

Meanwhile, sources say government investigators have identified four of the rooftop snipers from April 11: an army major and lieutenant colonel assigned to the presidential guard and two DISIP agents. The sources say the government confirmed these identities nearly six weeks ago but has kept the information secret because it directly implicates National Armed Forces (FAN) and political security officials close to Chavez. They also say that all four shooters received their military sniper training in Cuba and belonged to an unofficial team that was coordinated outside FAN and DISIP command and control channels by Otaiza.

Meanwhile, Otaiza's interview with El Nacional in which he charged that rogue DISIP agents are planning an ethnic cleansing campaign appears to form part of a government strategy that increasingly employs obvious threats and intimidation of political opponents. For example, Vice President Jose Vicente Rangel warned recently that the only alternative to dialogue is civil war, while Interior and Justice Minister Diosdado Cabello claimed in National Assembly testimony last week that the Bolivarian Circles now number nearly 1.5 million people throughout Venezuela.

However, these intimidation tactics do not appear to be working. Military sources opposed to Chavez immediately dismissed Cabello's numbers as wildly false, saying the true number of Bolivarian Circle members is less than 10,000. They also pledged that the FAN would intervene decisively if the circles ever resorted to mass violence.

"...Israel's Mossad are locating and identifying all members of pro-Chavez militias, known as Bolivarian Circles, as part of an "ethnic cleansing" campaign targeting Chavez's supporters."

Seems this fellow is getting his disnfo advice from his Hezbollah or Iraqi friends. Sounds totally alien to the region.

I would think the Mossad would want Chavez in power. The Israel Lobby didn't make much noise when ANWR was put off limits, when Democrats kill other exploitation of America's resources nor has the lobby gone after the environmentalists who stopped Occidental drilling in Colombia.

Just kidding about the Mossad. However, one would think a priority for Israel would be to see America did not send so much money to Saddam and the Saudis. But, for some reason, that is not the case.

Meanwhile, sources say government investigators have identified four of the rooftop snipers from April 11: an army major and lieutenant colonel assigned to the presidential guard and two DISIP agents. The sources say the government confirmed these identities nearly six weeks ago but has kept the information secret because it directly implicates National Armed Forces (FAN) and political security officials close to Chavez. They also say that all four shooters received their military sniper training in Cuba and belonged to an unofficial team that was coordinated outside FAN and DISIP command and control channels by Otaiza.

I understand there are a lot of Cuban advisors in DISIP. I've also read there are reports bodies were moved to confuse the investigation.

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