FURTHER EFFECTS OF THE DEATH OF JORGE RODRIGUEZ ON THE POLITICAL ASPIRATIONS OF OCTAVIO LEPAGE AND THE VENEZUELAN SECURITY SETUP

• Document Type: FOIA
• Collection: FOIA Collection
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): 06708819
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: U
• Document Page Count: 4
• Document Creation Date: December 28, 2022
• Document Release Date: November 27, 2017
• Case Number: F-2017-00199
• Publication Date: September 10, 1976

Approved for Release: 2017/11/07 C06708819
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Intelligence Information Cable
WARNING NOTICE
SENSITIVE INTELLIGENCE SOURCES AND METHODS INVOLVED
STATE/1NR JCS/MC (01A) CIA/NMCC SWS NSA TRIM NSC/S SOO NIO CRS PAGE 1 OF 4 PAGES
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Category 51 . ImamsIbis * Dehrrolno Dale of &AwayIle Deslaesificailea.
FURTHER DISSEMINATION AND USE OF THIS INFORMATION SUBJECT TO
CONTROLS STATED AT BEGINNING AND END OF REPORT.
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THIS IS AN INFORMATION REPORT, NOT FINALLY EVALUATED INTELUGENCE
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01ST 10 SEPTEMBER 1976
(b)(3)
REPORT CLASS S E C/E I--WARNING NO TI -SENSI TI VE INTELLIGENCE
SOURCES AND METHODS INVOLVED�NOT RELEAABLE TO FOREIGN
NOT RELEASABLE To CONTRACTORS oR CONTRACTOR/CONSULTANTS
COuNTRY1 VENEZUELA
DOI:
SUBJECT; FURTHER EFFECTS OF THE DEATH OF JORGE RODRIGUEZ ON THE
POLITICAL ASPIRATIONS OF OcTAVIO LEPAGE AND THE VENEZUELAN
SECURITY SETUP
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NATIONALS--
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SOURCE:
1..
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SEE BELOW
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2. IN ADDITION TO THE MORE
PUBLIC
ASPECTS
OF
THE CASE
INVOLVING
THE DEATH OF JORGE RoDRIGUE Z. UNTIL HIS DEATH THE SECRETARY
GENERAL OF THE SOCIALIST LEAGUE, THE PRESIDENTIAL ASPIRATIONS OF
OCTAVIO LEP A G E. MINISTER OF INTERIOR, HAVE BEEN HURT By THE LOSS
OF FINANCIAL SUPPORTERS BECAUSE OF HIS DISMISSAL OF ARISTIDES
LANDER AS DIRECTOR OF THE DIRECTORATE FOR THE SERVICES OF
INTELLIGENCE AND PREVENTION (DISIP). LANDER WAS GIVEN THE POSIT IUN OF
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NI.NS111VC INTELLIGENCE SOURCES AND METHODS INVOLVED
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FURTHER DISSEMINATION AND USE nE THIS INFORMATION SUBJECT TO
CONTROLS STATED AT BEGIN.NING AND END OF REPORT.
(b)(3)
DISIP DIRECTOR AT THE URGING OF A GROUP OF WEALTHY BUSINESSMEN BASED
IN ANEOATEGUI STATE. THESE BUSINESSMEN HAD MADE LARGE CONTRIBUTIONS
TO THE 1973 ELECTION CAMPAIGN OF PRESIDENT cARLoS ANDRES P E R E
AND WAD AGREED TO BACK LEPAGE TO OBTAIN THE PRESIDENTIAL NOMINATION
cc -wE DEMOCRATIC ACTION PARTY (AD) IN 1978 AND ULTIMATELY THE
;RESIDENcY.
3. +MEE.' RODRIGuE2 WAS ARRESTED IN CONNECTION WITH THE KIDNAPPING
Or TmE UNITED STATES BUINESSmAN WILLIAM F. NIEHOUS, LEPAGE WARNED
1-A64ER AGAINST HARMING RODRIGUEZ PARTIALLy AS A PROTECTION FOR LANDER1S
0.6% POSITION, LANDER, HOWEVER. TURNED RODRIGUEZ OVER TO HuMBERTO
GIFFUNI. WHO WAS THEN DISIP'S DEPUTY DIREcTOR, GIFFuNI, IN TURN,
ORDERED THAT RODRIGUEZ BE BEATEN. commENT1 FOR AN EARLIER (W(1)
(b)(3)
REPORT ON RODRIGUEZ' DEATH ON 25 JULY 1976 WHILE IN DISIP CUSTODY
SEE
4, WHEN THE NEWS OF RODRIGUEZ' DEATH WAS RECEIVED, LEPAGE WAS
AWARE THAT SOME AcTICN AGAINST LANDER WAS NECESSARY; HOwEVERD HE
FEARED THAT ANY SUCH ACTION WOULD RESULT IN THE LOSS OF THE SUPPORT
� OF THE ANZOATEGuI GROUP.
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woo PRESIDENT PEREZ WHO
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LEPAGE, THEREFORE, DISCUSSED THIS POSSIBILITY
INDICATED'THAT H.= WAS NOT RUNNING FOR
SECRET
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FURTHER DISSEMINATION AND USE OF THIS INFORMATION SUBJECT TO
CONTROLS STATED AT BEGINNING AND END OF REPORT.
(b)(3)
RE-ELECTION IN 1978 AND DID NOT CARE ABOUT THE LOSS OF THIS SUPPORT.
FURTHERMORE, PERE2 ORDERED LEPAGE TO PkcPARE LWNDERIS WRITTEN RESIGNA-
TION AND HAVE IT READY FOR LANDER'S IMMEDIATE SIGNATURE.
5.
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6, THE FOUR BISIP OFFICERS ACCUSED OF BEATING RODRIGUEZ TO
DEATH DID NOT, IN FACT, COMMIT THE CRIME. THESE OFFICERS, HOWEVER,
HAVE AGREED TO STAND TRIAL AND BE SENTENCED FOR THE CRIME IN RETURN
FOR A PAYMENT OF BS. 250.000 (APPROXIMATELY U.S. 56.411) TO EACH
OFFICER. THEY HAVE FURTHERMORE BEEN ASSURED THAT THEY WILL BE RELEASED
FROM ANY PRISON SENTENCE WITHIN 12 TO 16 MONTHS.
7, THIS OFFER WAS MADE BY GicruNI 4- THE DIRECTION OF ERASTO
FERNANDEZ. HEAD OF ONE OF THE SEVERAL EXTRA-OFFIDAL PRESI-
ENTIAL SECURITY AND INVESTIGATIVE UN/TSm FERNANDEZ, WHO AT THAT
TIME WAS IN CHARGE OF THE INVESTIGATION OF THE NIEHOUS KIDNAPPING,
HAS ACCESS TO LARGE AMOUNTS OF OFFICIAL FUNDS AND IS SUPPLYING THE
MONEY FOR THE PAYOFFS, THE IDENTITY OF RODRIGUEZ' KILLER IS
SECRET
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FURTHER DISSEMINATION AND USE OF THIS INFORMATION SUBJECT TO
CONTROLS STATED AT BEGINNING AND END OF REPORT.
NOT KNOWN, AT LEAST PART OF THE B,EATING WHICH RESULTED IN HIS DEATH
WAS ADMINISTERED IN A HOUSE IN THE EL CAFETAL AREA oF CARACAS WHICH
BELONGS To FERNANDEE �
� 8,
C MM EN TI
PRESIDENT PEREZ IS UNHAPPY WITH FERNANDEZ, HANDLING 017
THE NIEHOUS/R0DRIGUE2 AFFAIR, AS A RESULT, FERNANDEZ, INFLUENCE wI TH
THE PRESIENT APPEARS To HAVE CONSIDERABLY DIMINISHED. THE RECENT
APPOINTMENT OF RETIRED BRIG. GENERAL RAW G I MENEZ GA INZA, ONE
OF FERNANDEZIN CHIEF RIVALS FOR PRESIDENTAIL FAVOR IN THE SECURITY!
INTELLIGENCE FIELD, AS LANDERIs REPLACEMENT IS A SIGNIFICANT SETBACK
TO FERNANDEZ WHO WAS INSTRUMENTAL IN THE NOm INAT ION OF LANDER AS
DIRECTOR OF D IS IP, )
(b)(1)
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REPORT CLASS SECRE T.�WARNING NOTICE--SENSITIVE INTELLIGENCE
SOURCES AND METHOS INVOLVED�NOT RELEASABLE TO FOREIGN NATIONALS�
NOT RELEASABLE TO CONTRACTORS OR CONTRACTOR/CONSULTANTS,
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