[Editor’s note: The text for this document was released in 2014 by the now-defunct Wikileaks website at https://wikileaks.org/plusd/cables/1978STATE004065_d.html. This URL may be available through the Wayback Machine.]
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ORIGIN SCS-06
INFO OCT-01 ARA-10 ISO-00 CA-01 H-01 L-03 HA-05 /027 R
DRAFTED BY CA/SCS/EAPOWERS/MRER
APPROVED BY CA/SCS/SADOBRENCHUK
CA/SCS/RLRIVERA
DESIRED DISTRIBUTION
ARA/CAR-FTUNINIA
——————088970 062339Z /64
O 062306Z JAN 78 ZFF4
FM SECSTATE WASHDC
TO AMEMBASSY GEORGETOWN NIACT IMMEDIATE
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E.O. 11652: N/A
TAGS: CASC (STOEN, VICTOR)
SUBJECT: W/W VICTOR STOEN
REF: 77 GEORGETOWN 2435, 77 GEORGETOWN 3033
1. SCS TODAY RECEIVED LETTER TO ASST SECRETARY FOR CONG. RELATIONS, DOUGLAS J. BENNET, JR., FROM LAW FIRM OF JEFFREY A. HAAS WHICH CRITICIZED DEPARTMENT AND EMBASSY FOR ASSISTANCE RENDERED THUS FAR IN STOEN CUSTODY CASE.
2. LETTER GIVES ATTORNEYS VIEW OF EVENTS UP UNTIL SEPTEMBER 10. LETTER THEN GOES ON TO STATE QUOTE EVENTS THEN CEASED TO FOLLOW THE NORMAL LEGAL COURSE. DESPITE NUMEROUS REQUESTS OF COUNSEL, THE CLERK OF THE COURT FAILED TO SIGN AND ISSUE THE WARRANT. IT WAS MR. HAAS’ UNDERSTANDING AS WELL AS THE STATED POSITION OF THE UNITED STATES EMBASSY IN GUYANA THAT A HIGH RANKING OFFICIAL IN
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THE GUYANA GOVERNMENT HAD ILLEGALLY INSTRUCTED THE CLERK NOT TO ISSUE THE WARRANT. THE EMBASSY SENT A DIPLOMATIC LETTER PROTESTING THIS CLASSIC DENIAL OF JUSTICE TO THE MINISTRY OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS. MR. HAAS LEFT GUYANA ON SEPTEMBER 26TH. THE WARRANT WAS UNSIGNED AT THAT TIME AND REMAINS UNSIGNED.
3. CONTINUE QUOTE, NEW PARAGRAPH, DESPITE THE DIPLOMATIC LETTER OF PROTEST, NEITHER THE COURT NOR THE GOVERNMENT TOOK STEPS TO COUNTERMAND THE WRONG WHICH HAD OCCURRED. END QUOTE.
4. DEPARTMENT BELIEVES THAT REFTELS DO NOT SUPPORT VIEW OUTLINED IN LETTER. EMBASSY COMMENTS WILL BE APPRECIATED.
5. DEPARTMENT FEELS THAT ATTORNEYS MAY BE ATTEMPTING TO USE ASSISTANCE PROVIDED BY EMBASSY TO ESTABLISH THAT COURT PROCEEDINGS NOT BEING HANDLED IN FAIR AND IMPARTIAL MANNER.
CHRISTOPHER [Deputy Secretary of State Warren Christopher]
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