Tascón List
Encyclopedia
The Tascón List is a list of the signatures of those who petitioned in 2003 and 2004 for the recall of the President of Venezuela
, Hugo Chávez
, a petition which ultimately led to the Venezuelan recall referendum, 2004, in which the recall was defeated. Before and after the referendum there were accusations that the list, published online by National Assembly member Luis Tascón
as part of the verification of signatures, was being used by the government to discriminate against the petitioners. The government also claimed some private firms were using the list to discriminate in favour of petitioners.
that "those who sign against Chavez are signing against their country and against the future", and added, "whoever signs against Chavez, there will remain his name recorded for history."
180, President Chávez announced that he had signed a document asking the National Electoral Council (CNE)
to provide copies of all the signatures of the petitioners for the referendum, in order to expose the opposition's "mega fraud". Due to a lack of funds on the part of the CNE, Luis Tascón
, a representative of the ruling party in the legislature, led the collection of photocopies of the signatures.
Tascón subsequently published on his website a database of the more than 2,400,000 Venezuelans who had signed the petition, together with their national identity card numbers (cédula). Tascón's actions were condemned by both the National Electoral Council and by Marisol Plaza, the Chief Public Prosecutor. Tascon said he posted the list in order to support the verification of signatures, saying that publication of the list provided a way for those who appeared on it, but had not signed, to register a complaint with the CNE. Tascon later said that the source of the list was not the CNE, but an unidentified ex-head of Sumate, which had collected the signatures. Tascon said he had bought the list for several thousand US dollars.
On 20 April 2004 the CNE itself published a list of signers, and created a website where signers could determine the status of their signature (accepted, rejected, or in need of verification).
broadcast, encouraged use of the website to verify illicit use of national identity cards. Roger Capella, Minister of Health and Social Development declared that "those who signed against President Chávez would be fired because they are committing an act of terrorism". There was a public outcry, in particular by the organization Súmate
, and because of reports that people who worked for the government were fired, denied work, or denied issuance of official documents because of their appearance on the list. In July 2004, access to the database was granted to members of the "Batallones Bolivarianos (BBI) por Internet (Internet Bolivarian Battalions)" which previously had to register on Tascón's website to gain access under the strict requisite that they had not signed the petition for the referendum.
On 16 April 2005 Chávez declared the "Tascón List must be archived and buried" and continued "I say that, because I keep receiving some letters, among the many I get, that make me think that still in some places they have the Tascón List on their tables to determine if somebody is going to work or not".
as an active member of the National Assembly and cannot be tried as long as he is in office.
In March 2006, three former government employees introduced a case against the Chávez administration at the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights
, arguing that José Vicente Rangel
, the country's vice president
, ordered their dismissal because their names appeared on the Tascón List and, therefore, were victims of discrimination for political reasons. The court ruled that the employees were under contract, and the government has the right to cancel its contracts.
Venezuela
Venezuela , officially called the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela , is a tropical country on the northern coast of South America. It borders Colombia to the west, Guyana to the east, and Brazil to the south...
, Hugo Chávez
Hugo Chávez
Hugo Rafael Chávez Frías is the 56th and current President of Venezuela, having held that position since 1999. He was formerly the leader of the Fifth Republic Movement political party from its foundation in 1997 until 2007, when he became the leader of the United Socialist Party of Venezuela...
, a petition which ultimately led to the Venezuelan recall referendum, 2004, in which the recall was defeated. Before and after the referendum there were accusations that the list, published online by National Assembly member Luis Tascón
Luis Tascón
Luis Tascón Gutiérrez was a Venezuelan politician and member of the National Assembly. The son of Colombian-born parents, Tascón studied Electrical Engineering at the Universidad de los Andes in Mérida, Venezuela...
as part of the verification of signatures, was being used by the government to discriminate against the petitioners. The government also claimed some private firms were using the list to discriminate in favour of petitioners.
Collection
A signature collection drive was launched initially in mid-2003. On 17 October 2003, President Chavez said on Aló PresidenteAló Presidente
Aló Presidente is a largely unscripted talk show hosted by Venezuelan President Hugo Chávez which is broadcast on Venezuelan state television and radio stations every Sunday at 11:00 AM...
that "those who sign against Chavez are signing against their country and against the future", and added, "whoever signs against Chavez, there will remain his name recorded for history."
Publication
In February 2004, on the TV program Aló PresidenteAló Presidente
Aló Presidente is a largely unscripted talk show hosted by Venezuelan President Hugo Chávez which is broadcast on Venezuelan state television and radio stations every Sunday at 11:00 AM...
180, President Chávez announced that he had signed a document asking the National Electoral Council (CNE)
National Electoral Council (Venezuela)
The National Electoral Council is one of the five independent branches of government of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela. It is the institution that oversees and guarantees the transparency of all elections and referendums in Venezuela at the local, regional, and national levels...
to provide copies of all the signatures of the petitioners for the referendum, in order to expose the opposition's "mega fraud". Due to a lack of funds on the part of the CNE, Luis Tascón
Luis Tascón
Luis Tascón Gutiérrez was a Venezuelan politician and member of the National Assembly. The son of Colombian-born parents, Tascón studied Electrical Engineering at the Universidad de los Andes in Mérida, Venezuela...
, a representative of the ruling party in the legislature, led the collection of photocopies of the signatures.
Tascón subsequently published on his website a database of the more than 2,400,000 Venezuelans who had signed the petition, together with their national identity card numbers (cédula). Tascón's actions were condemned by both the National Electoral Council and by Marisol Plaza, the Chief Public Prosecutor. Tascon said he posted the list in order to support the verification of signatures, saying that publication of the list provided a way for those who appeared on it, but had not signed, to register a complaint with the CNE. Tascon later said that the source of the list was not the CNE, but an unidentified ex-head of Sumate, which had collected the signatures. Tascon said he had bought the list for several thousand US dollars.
On 20 April 2004 the CNE itself published a list of signers, and created a website where signers could determine the status of their signature (accepted, rejected, or in need of verification).
Use of list
Once the list was posted, Chávez, on a Venezolana de TelevisiónVenezolana de Televisión
Corporación Venezolana de Televisión or VTV is a state-owned television network based in Caracas, Venezuela, which can be seen throughout the country on channel eight...
broadcast, encouraged use of the website to verify illicit use of national identity cards. Roger Capella, Minister of Health and Social Development declared that "those who signed against President Chávez would be fired because they are committing an act of terrorism". There was a public outcry, in particular by the organization Súmate
Súmate
Súmate is a Venezuelan volunteer civil association founded in 2002 by María Corina Machado and Alejandro Plaz. Súmate describes itself as a vote-monitoring group; it has also been described as an election-monitoring group....
, and because of reports that people who worked for the government were fired, denied work, or denied issuance of official documents because of their appearance on the list. In July 2004, access to the database was granted to members of the "Batallones Bolivarianos (BBI) por Internet (Internet Bolivarian Battalions)" which previously had to register on Tascón's website to gain access under the strict requisite that they had not signed the petition for the referendum.
Burying the list
Luis Tascon later removed the list from his website, after widespread accusations that it was being used to discriminate against those who had signed the petition, noting that it was a crime to "persecute" people for signing.On 16 April 2005 Chávez declared the "Tascón List must be archived and buried" and continued "I say that, because I keep receiving some letters, among the many I get, that make me think that still in some places they have the Tascón List on their tables to determine if somebody is going to work or not".
Legal claims
A case was opened on the Venezuelan Supreme Court against Tascón in May 2005. However, Luis Tascón has parliamentary immunityParliamentary immunity
Parliamentary immunity, also known as legislative immunity, is a system in which members of the parliament or legislature are granted partial immunity from prosecution. Before prosecuting, it is necessary that the immunity be removed, usually by a superior court of justice or by the parliament itself...
as an active member of the National Assembly and cannot be tried as long as he is in office.
In March 2006, three former government employees introduced a case against the Chávez administration at the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights
Inter-American Commission on Human Rights
The Inter-American Commission on Human Rights is an autonomous organ of the Organization of American States .Along with the...
, arguing that José Vicente Rangel
José Vicente Rangel
José Vicente Rangel Vale is a Venezuelan leftist politician. He ran for President three times in the 1970s and 1980s and later supported Hugo Chávez, successively becoming Foreign Minister, Defense Minister, and Vice President in Chávez's government.-Political activism:His political activism began...
, the country's vice president
Vice president
A vice president is an officer in government or business who is below a president in rank. The name comes from the Latin vice meaning 'in place of'. In some countries, the vice president is called the deputy president...
, ordered their dismissal because their names appeared on the Tascón List and, therefore, were victims of discrimination for political reasons. The court ruled that the employees were under contract, and the government has the right to cancel its contracts.