Venezuelans abroad had six weeks to register to vote at the Consulates and Embassies abroad. However, the Consejo Nacional Electoral processed only 5% of the requests for registration abroad. No explanation was given for this. As a group Venezuelans abroad are considered to be strongly anti-Chavez, voting against him in the 2000 Presidential election, when he only received 30% of that vote. But the Ministry of Foreign Relations sent this FAX this week to its Embassies and Consulates:
Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela
Ministry of Foreign relations
Vice Minister’s Office
Very Urgent
Fax-Circular Number 203
To: Chiefs of Embassies, Consulates and permanent representations
Subject: Referendum
Date: Caracas, July 27th. 2004
With regards to the Presidential referendum which will take place next August 15th, we would like to inform you that the Consejo Nacional Electoral (CNE) has agreed that all members of this Ministry, that updated their data with the intention of voting at said Diplomatic or Consular mission and who do not appear with their new address in the web page of the CNE, that they ill be able to exercise their right to vote. To that effect, the electoral office will send a Supplementary voting Book in which those functionaries will be reflected.
Arevalo Mendez Romero
Thus, with one stroke, the CNE and the Ministry discriminate in favor of the Diplomatic Corp. , most of which were named to their position by the Chavez Government, and against Venezuelans abroad, most of which are expected to vote “SI” in the upcoming referendum, showing, once again, that this administration and this empty revolution has no scruples, ethics and is completely amoral.
And where are the Attorney General and the Peoples’ Ombudsman while this is going on? Probably busy campaigning for the “NO” vote.
8:19:45 PM 
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