LATIN AMERICAN TRENDS

• Document Type: FOIA
• Collection: FOIA Collection
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): 06706441
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: U
• Document Page Count: 14
• Document Creation Date: December 28, 2022
• Document Release Date: November 27, 2017
• Case Number: F-2017-00199
• Publication Date: January 18, 1977

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Latin American Trends
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RP SNLA 77-005
18 January 1977
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LATIN AMERICA
18 January 1977
Venezuela: Continued Fallout
from Niehous Kidnaping
RP SNLA 77-005
18 January 1977
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Venezuela: Continued Fallout from Niehous Kidnaping
Almost a year has passed since US businessman
William Niehous was kidnaped from his Caracas home
by leftist terrorists. The government's investiga-
tion of the abduction has failed to turn up any leads,
and Venezuelan authorities are increasingly zoncerned
that he may have been killed and buried somewhere in
Venezuela..
The Ministry of Interior is making what i:ppears
to be a last-ditch effort to break the case. Octavio
Lepage, ministry chief, probably under President
Perez' instructions, has begun negotiations with one
of the suspects currently under detention. The gov-
ernment is offering the suspect a� one-way ticket out
of the country and sufficient funds for resettlement
abroad in exchange full cooperation in apprehend-
ing the kidnapers and their associates. Security
officials involved in the talks may believe that
this time they may be able to break the case, although
it may be too late to save Niehous. It has been six
months since the last communication from Niehous and
five months since the last co:-!tact with his captors.
The government's inept handling nf the affair
has kept the story on the front pages of the local
press, much to the embarrassment of administration
officials. While they are probably sincere in their
. concern for Niehous' Physical safety, they are wor-
ried about how to minimize the damage that has al-
'ready occurred as well as the increased criticism
that is expected if Niehous is dead. The political
-.'fallout has already been severe. For example, the
presidential aspirations of at least one political
" leader, Octavio Lepage, have ended prematurely.
The police and security services have proved'
Unequal to the challenge presented by the Niehous
case.
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RP SNLA 77-005
18 January 1977
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the torture and
subsequent death of a suspect, not only produced un-
wanted publicity, but also tarnished Venezuela's ex-
cellent record in human rights.
The kidnaping, with its political overtones and
high ransom demands, obviously led to overreaction
by the government, which -
feared that additional abductions might threaten
constitutional government. The belief reportedly
still persists that democracy is fragile and that
extraordinary measures are sometimes necessary to
preserve the democratic process. This belief may
be reinforced if Niehaus is found dead and the gov-
ernment is faced with domestic and foreign pressures
for aggressive action to restc:-., public confidence
in the government.
RP SNLA 77-005
18 January 1977
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