[Editor’s note: The text for this document was released in 2014 by the now-defunct Wikileaks website at https://wikileaks.org/plusd/cables/1979GEORGE01017_e.html. This URL may be available through the Wayback Machine.]
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GEORGE 01017 090248Z
ACTION ARA-15
INFO OCT-01 ISO-00 L-03 OCS-06 CA-01 H-02 TRSE-00 SS-15 /043 W
——————079835 100242Z /65
R 071612Z MAR 79
FM AMEMBASSY GEORGETOWN
TO SECSTATE WASHDC 9137
INFO DEPT OF JUSTICE
UNCLAS GEORGETOWN 1017
FOR ARA/LA TERRY FORTUNE
JUSTICE DEPT FOR JIM HERGEN
E.O. 12065: NA
TAGS: CGEN, GY (PEOPLES TEMPLE)
SUBJC PEOPLE’S TEMPLE MEMBERS DUE FOR CONTROL OF TEMPLE ASSETS
REF: A. GEORGETOWN 0634 B. GEORGETOWN 0699
1. EIGHT MEMBERS OF THE PEOPLE’S TEMPLE HAVE FILED SUIT IN THE HIGH COURT AGAINST THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS OF THE PEOPLE’S TEMPLE DISCIPLES OF CHRIST IN GUYANA, THE PEOPLE’S TEMPLE CHRISTIAN CHURCH COMPANY, THE ATTORNEY GENERAL, THE GUYANA NATIONAL COOPERATIVE BANK, BARCLAY’S BANK INTERNATIONAL AND THE BANK OF GUYANA. THE PLAINTIFFS ARE: STEPHANS JONES, PAULA ADAMS, DEBORAH TOUCHETTE, MICHAEL TOUCHETTE, CHARLES TOUCHETTE, PHILIP BLAKEY, CHARLES BEIKMAN AND LARRY LAYTON. LAYTON IS CURRENTLY BEING TRIED FOR THE MURDER OF CONGRESSMAN RYAN AND OTHERS, WHILE BEIKMAN IS AWAITING TRIAL FOR THE MURDER OF SHARON AMOS AND HER THREE CHILDREN.
2. THE PLAINTIFFS CLAIN THAT AS CHURCH MEMBERS THEY WERE
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ENTITLED TO SHARE IN ALL THE PROPERTY AND ASSETS HELD BY OR VESTED IN THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS OF THE PEOPLE’S TEMPLE CHRISTIAN CHURCH COMPANY, LTD., BY REASON OF AN EXPRESSED TRUST CONSTITUTED UNDER AND BY VIRTURE OF THE PEOPLE’S TEMPLE DISCIPLES OF CHRIST IN GUYANA.
3. THE PLAINTIFFS ALSO WANT THE COURT TO DECLARE THAT ADAMS, DEBORAH AND CHARLES TOUCHETTE ARE THE SURVIVING OR REMAINING MEMBERS OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS OF THE CHURCH IN GUYANA AND, AS SUCH, SHOULD BE DECLARED LEGALLY ENTITLED TO EXERCISE ALL THE POWERS CONFERRED ON THE BOARD AND TO TRANSACT BUSINESS ON ITS BEHALF.
4. THEY ARE ALSO SEEKING AN ORDER FOR LIQUIDATION OF THE PEOPLE’S TEMPLE CHRISTIAN CHURCH COMPANY, LTD. UNDER THE SUPERVISION OF THE COURT. FURHTER, THEY ARE ASKING THE COURT TO DECLARE THAT THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS OF THE CHURCH AND/OR THE COMPANY ARE LEGALLY BOUND UNDER THE EXPRESSED OR IMPLIED TERMS OF AN AGREEMENT WITH THE CHURCH TO PRIVIDE THE PLAINTIFFS WITH THE NECESSITIES OF LIKE AND TO TAKE CARE OF THEIR WELFARE GENERALLY, INCLUDING THE PAYMENT OF LEGAL FEES.
5. FINALLY, THEY ARE ASKING FOR SUM IN EXCESS OF $500 AGAINST THE CHURCH AND THE COMPANY IN PROPORTIONAL BASIS FOR WORK DONE AT THE REQUEST OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS OF THE CHURCH AND THE COMPANY.
6. THE FIRST SUITS AGAINST THE PEOPLE’S TEMPLE ORGANIZATION WERE FILED LAST MONTH BY THE GOVERNMENT OF GUYANA AND GUYANA AIRWAYS CORP. (REF 0634).
BURKE [U.S. Ambassador John Burke]
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