[Editor’s note: The text for this document was released in 2014 by the now-defunct Wikileaks website at https://wikileaks.org/plusd/cables/1979STATE215836_e.html].
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STATE 215836
ORIGIN OCS-06
INFO OCT-00 ARA-11 ADS-00 L-03 JUSE-00 CA-01 /021 R
DRAFTED BY CA/OCS/CCS/AF:BEDOZIER:LIM
APPROVED BY CA/OCS/CCS/AF:BEDOZIER
L/ARA:TFORTUNE (SUBSTANCE)
JUSTICE:JHERGEN (SUBSTANCE)
CA/OCS/CCS/ARA:JARINI
DESIRED DISTRIBUTION
DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE OFFICE OF FOREIGN LITIGATION: ATTN:JHERGEN
——————058700 180221Z /73
P 172120Z AUG 79
FM SECSTATE WASHDC
TO AMEMBASSY GEORGETOWN PRIORITY
INFO AMEMBASSY PANAMA PRIORITY
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E.O. 12065: N/A
TAGS: CGEN: LAYTON, CAROLYN MOORE, MC GOWAN, ANNIE JANE,
SUBJECT: JUDICIAL ASSISTANCE: PEOPLE’S TEMPLE: ASSETS
1. THE CAPTIONED INDIVIDUALS DIED IN THE JONETOWN [JONESTOWN] INCIDENT.
2. F.Y.I. AS PART OF THE PROCEDURE TO OBTAIN THE RELEASE OF PT ASSETS THAT ARE PRESENTLY FROZEN IN PANAMANIAN BANKS DEPARTMENT BELIEVES IT WILL BE NECESSARY TO PRESENT AUTHENTICATED COPIES OF THE GUYANA DEATH CERTIFICATES FOR THESE FOUR PERSONS TO THE APPROPRIATE BANK OFFICIALS IN PANAMA. THE REASON THESE DEATH CERTIFICATES ARE NEEDED AND THE MANNER IN WHICH THEY ARE TO BE UTILIZED SHOULD NOT REPEAT NOT BE MADE KNOWN TO THE GUYANA AUTHORITIES.
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END F.Y.I.
3. THE EMBASSY IS THEREFORE REQUESTED TO OBTAIN TWO (2) DEATH CERTIFICATES FOR EACH OF THE NAMED INDIVIDUALS FROM THE GUYANA AUTHORITIES. THE DEATH CERTIFICATE SHOULD BEAR THE SEAL AND SIGNATURE OF THE GUYANA OFFICIAL WHO IS THE CUSTODIAN OF THE DEATH CERTIFICATES. EACH DEATH CERTIFICATE SHOULD THEN BE AUTHENTICATED BY THE EMBASSY AND THEN POUCHED AS SOON AS POSSIBLE TO THE DEPARTMENT (CA/OCS/CCS/ARA) SO THAT THE DEPARTMENT’S OFFICE OF AUTHENTICATIONS CAN AUTHENTICATE THE CERTIFICATES. THEREAFTER WE WILL ASK AN OFFICIAL OF THE EMBASSY OF PANAMA IN WASHINGTON TO AUTHENTICATE THE DEPARTMENT’S SEAL. THE DEPARTMENT WILL THEN SEND THE AUTHENTICATED DEATH CERTIFICATES TO AMEMBASSY PANAMA TO THE ATTENTION OF MR. MELVILLE E. BLAKE, JR., ECON/COMM SECTION. F.Y.I. THE UNAUTHENTICATED COPIES OF THE GUYANA DEATH CERTIFICATES THAT ARE ON FILE IN THE DEPARTMENT FOR THESE FOUR PERSONS MAY NOT BE FROM AN EVIDENTIARY STANDPOINT LEGALLY SUFFICIENT FOR THE PURPOSE THEY WILL BE USED IN PANAMA. THUS, THE NEED FOR OUR PRESENT REQUEST TO THE EMBASSY. END F.Y.I.
4. PLEASE ATTEMPT TO TAKE THE ACTION REQUESTED AS EXPEDITIOUSLY AS POSSIBLE. IT WOULD BE HELPFUL IF THE EMBASSY COULD PROVIDE AN ESTIMATE OF THE TIME IT WILL TAKE TO OBTAIN AND AUTHENTICATE THESE DEATH CERTIFICATES. PLEASE ADVISE BY TELEGRAM THE DATE THE DEATH CERTIFICATES WILL BE POUCHED AS WELL AS THE POUCH REGISTRY NUMBER.
5. EMBASSY’S ASSISTANCE IN THIS MATTER IS MUCH
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APPRECIATED.
CHRISTOPHER [Deputy Secretary of State Warren Christopher]
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