[Editor’s note: The State Department FOIA release of 1981 withheld several names from this cable, but they were identified at RYMUR Serial 635. They are denoted below in red type.]
LIMITED OFFICIAL USE
PAGE 01 GEORGE 01981 222100Z
[Listing of agencies receiving informational copies on PDF]
R 222037Z AUG 77
FM AMEMBASSY GEORGETOWN
TO SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 5163
LIMITED OFFICIAL USE GEORGETOWN 1981
FOR SCS, ARA/CAR/TUMMINIA
E.O. 11652: N/A
TAGS: CASC, CGEN, GY, US
SUBJECT: PEOPLE’S TEMPLE MISSION IMMIGRANTS TO GUYANA
1. Consul was called this afternoon by private investigator Joseph Mazor, telephone no. area code 415-776-7232. He stated he had been retained by parents of children brought to Guyana by People’s Temple religious organization. He indicated he had power of attorney and court orders issued by State of California and was coming to Guyana to take a number of children from People’s Temple and return them to their parents. Mazor had court orders to return the children who are between the ages of five and eighteen. The children are Mark Sly, Vincent Lopez, [Bruce and William Oliver] and three [Cobb] children not further identified.
2. Mazor further claimed that in addition to these seven children there will be court orders issued by the State of California for another twenty children who had apparently been brought to Guyana by People’s Temple whose parents never wanted them back.
LIMITED OFFICIAL USE
LIMITED OFFICIAL USE
PAGE 02 GEORGE 01981 222100Z
Consul gave names of three local attorneys to Mazor and explained that for US court orders to be accepted in Guyana they must be approved by Guyanese courts for service. Consul also suggested that parents of affected children should contact the Guyanese Embassy in Washington to press their complaints in order to prevent any confusion on the local scene concerning legal guardianship. Mazor also alleged to have knowledge of warrants for the arrest of three highly placed persons of the People’s Temple who are charged with fraud and forgery. Further that the courts would be submitting requests through the Department to the Government in Guyana for extradition.
3. Mazor stated he will be contacting Office of Special Consular Services and ARA/CAR Guyanese desk officer Tumminia concerning the problem. Department should be aware the Guyanese authorities had expressed concern to Embassy about recent influx of Americans under auspices People’s Temple mission. However, to date Embassy has not been able to confirm any knowledge of any immigrants being brought into Guyana under duress.
4. Request Department coordinate this matter with Guyanese Embassy and Mazor and inform post of additional anticipated problems.
Blacken [John Blacken, Deputy Chief of Mission]
LIMITED OFFICIAL USE