[Editor’s note: The text for this document was released in 2014 by the now-defunct Wikileaks website at https://wikileaks.org/plusd/cables/1979STATE015351_e.html. This URL may be available through the Wayback Machine.]
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STATE 015351
ORIGIN OCS-06
INFO OCT-01 ARA-15 ISO-00 CA-01 L-03 H-02 /028 R
DRAFTED BY CA/OCS/CCS/AF:BDOZIER:GC
APPROVED BY CA/OCS/CCS:LMDAY
——————008740 200351Z /61
P 192250Z JAN 79
FM SECSTATE WASHDC
TO AMEMBASSY GEORGETOWN PRIORITY
UNCLAS STATE 015351
E.O.112065 N/A
TAGS:
SUBJ: NOTES OF EVIDENCE TAKEN DURING CORONER’S INQUEST INTO JONESTOWN DEATHS R
EF: GEORGETOWN 0269 AND ELLICE-CLARK TELCON OF 1/19/79
1. DEPARTMENT APPRECIATE EFFORTS BEING MADE BY EMBASSY TO OBTAIN “NOTES OF EVIDENCE” OF CORONER’S INQUEST. IT WOULD BE APPRECIATED IF “NOTES” COULD BE OBTAINED SOONER THAN WEEK – TEN DAYS MENTIONED IN RETEL. THESE NOTES ARE URGENTLY NEEDED TO FACILITATE BURIAL/CREMATION OF BODIES IN SEVERAL STATES INCLUDING DELAWARE.
2. IT IS ALSO IMPERATIVE THAT EMBASSY REQUEST A LETTER FROM AN OFFICIAL OF THE GUYANA MAGISTRATE’S COURT OR OTHER APPROPRIATE OFFICIAL INCLUDING 1. A BRIEF SUMMARY INDICATING THE LEGAL AUTHORITY AND PURPOSE OF A CORONER’S INQUEST UNDER GUYANA LAW 2. NUMBER OF DAYS INQUEST WAS HELD 3. NUMBER OF WITNESSES CALLED 4. A SUMMARY OF THE MEDIOLEGAL EVIDENCE CONSIDERED TO BE INSTRUMENTAL IN THE CONCLUSIONS STATED IN THE JURY’S VERDICT.
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3. THE EMBASSY’S ASSISTANCE IN THIS MATTER IS MUCH APPRECIATED. PLEASE ADVISE BY TELEGRAM THE DATE NOTES AND LETTER WILL BE POUCHED.
VANCE [Secretary of State Cyrus Vance]
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