[Editor’s note: The text for this document was released in 2014 by the now-defunct Wikileaks website at https://wikileaks.org/plusd/cables/1978GEORGE03940_d.html.]
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ACTION ARA-15
INFO OCT-01 ISO-00 CIAE-00 DODE-00 PM-05 H-01 INR-10 L-03 NSAE-00 PA-01 SP-02 SS-15 SCS-06 NSCE-00 SSO-00 ICAE-00 INRE-00 ACDA-12 MCT-02 SY-05 SYE-00 AID-05 CA-01 TRSE-00 CG-00 DOTE-00 /084 W
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O 260330Z NOV 78
FM AMEMBASSY GEORGETOWN
TO SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 8214
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E.O. 11652: N/A
TAGS: GY CASC OREP (RYAN, LEO)
SUBJECT: MILITARY ASSISTANCE TO GOG
1. TODAY AMBASSADOR AND ADCM MET WITH MINISTRY OF LABOR AND TASK FORCE LEADER HAMILTON GREEN TO DISCUSS PROGRESS OF THE BODY RECOVERY EFFORT. GREEN TOOK THE OCCASION TO REQUEST ASSISTANCE IN THE FORM OF HELICOPTER SUPPORT TO TH GOG EFFORT TO TAKE CONTROL OF JONESTOWN. GREEN SAID THAT THEY EXPECTED IT WOULD TAKE ABOUT 30 DAYS TO INVENTORY THE PROPERTY AT THE JONESTOWN SITE AND THAT TWO HELICOPTERS SHOULD BE DEDICATED TO THE TASK. HE EXPRESSED CONCERN OVER THE POSSIBILITY OF LOOTING AND VANDALISM AND INDICATED THAT THEY HAD ALREADY DIRECTED THE POLICE TO ESTABLISH AND MAINTAIN SECURITY PATROLS WHICH ALSO REQUIRE LOGISTICAL SUPPORT BY HELICOPTER OPERATIONS.
2. THE EMBASSY STRONGLY SUPPORTS GREEN’S REQUEST SINCE THE MISSION TO BE UNDERTAKEN IS ONE THAT PARALLELS OUR OWN CONSULAR RESPONSIBILIITY AND BECAUSE CONTINUING PRESENCE OF A USG AIRLIFT CAPACITY COULD BE EXTREMELY USEFUL IN RECOVERY AND TRANSPORT OF ADDITIONAL PERSONAL PROPERTY THAT MIGHT BE LOCATED AT JONESTOWN.
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3. GREEN ALSO REFERRED AGAIN TO EARLIER GOG REQUEST THAT WE ASSIST THEM IN GETTING A TWIN-OTTER FOR TEMPORARY SERVICE UNTIL SUCH TIME AS THE GUYANA AIRWAYS TWIN OTTER, DAMAGED AT PORT KAITUMA AIRSTRIP DURING THE AMBUSH OF CONGRESSMAN RYAN AND HIS PARY [PARTY]. AMBASSADOR SAID THAT THE REQUEST WAS STILL BEING ACTIVELY PURSUED BUT AS YET NO TWIN OTTERS HAD BEEN LOCATED IN THE AREA. GREEN THEN ASKED IF SOMETHING COULD BE DONE TO GET A REPLACEMENT ENGINE FOR THE DAMAGED AIRFRAME. WE AGREED TO CONVEY THE REQUEST.
4. PURCHASE AND AIRLIFT OF A REPLACEMTN ENGINE TO REPAIR THE DAMAGED OTTER MIGHT IN THE LONG RUN BE THE MOST EXPEDITIOUS WAY OF GETTING GAC BACK IN THE AIR IN THE NORTHWEST. BELIEVE WE SHOULD CONTINUE TO PURSE THE POSSIBILITY OF A LEASED REPLACEMENT AIRCRAFT BUT AT THE SAME TIME LOOK INTO THE POSSIBILITY OF REPAIRING THE AMAGED PLANE.
BURKE [U.S. Ambassador John Burke]
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