[Editor’s note: The text for this document was released in 2014 by the now-defunct Wikileaks website at https://wikileaks.org/plusd/cables/1978GEORGE02629_d.html. This URL may be available through the Wayback Machine.]
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PAGE 01 GEORGE 02629 161053Z
ACTION SCS-06
INFO OCT-01 ARA-14 ISO-00 L-03 HA-05 H-02 /031 W
——————105813 161056Z /21
P 161040Z AUG 78
FM AMEMBASSY GEORGETOWN
TO SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 7419
UNCLAS GEORGETOWN 2629
ARA/CAR PASS TO AMBASSADOR BURKE
E.O. 11652: N/A
TAGS: CASC, GY (STOEN, JOHN V.)
SUBJECT: W/W JOHN V. STOEN
REF: GEORGETOWN 631
1. GUYANESE HIGH COURT JUSTICE AUBREY BISHOP ON AUGUST 12 ANNOUNCED THAT BECAUSE OF PRESSURE TACTICS MOUNTED UPON THE GOVERNMENT AND THE COURT HE HAD DECIDED TO DISASSOCIATE HIMSELF FROM A CASE INVOLVING THE CUSTODY OF A NON-GUYANESE CHILD AND HAD RETURNED THE CASE TO THE CHIEF JUSTICE FOR RE-ASSIGNMENT. THE EMBASSY HAS DETERMINED THAT THE CASE IN QUESTION IS THAT INVOLVING JOHN STOEN, PRESENTLY IN THE CUSTODY OF JIM JONES OF THE PEOPLE’S TEMPLE AGRICULTURAL COMMUNITY IN JONESTOWN, NORTHWEST GUYANA.
2. FOLLOWING IS THE FULL TEXT OF THE STATEMENT MADE BY JUSTICE BISHOP AS PRINTED IN SUNDAY CHRONICLE:
“IN THIS MATTER WHICH CONCERNS A NON-GUYANESE CHILD AND PARTIES, THERE HAVE BEEN PERSISTENT EFFORTS OF AN EXTRALEGAL OR APPROBIOUS NATURE, IN THE FORM OF LETTERS AND OTHER DOCUMENTS, AS WELL AS TELEPHONE CALLS, INTENDED TO INFLUENCE THE OUTCOME OF THE PRECEEDINGS [PROCEEDINGS], IN FAVOUR OF ONE SIDE OR THE OTHER.
“I CONSIDER THOSE ACTS MEAN AND DESPICABLE AND FEEL
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OBLIGED TO DECLINE ADJUDICATING IN THE CAUSE.
“I SHOULD SAY THAT EARLIER ON I HAD SUMMONED THE LAWYERS FOR BOTH PARTIES TO MY CHAMBERS, TO INFORM THEM OF THE SEVERAL ATTEMPTS AIMED AT PERVERTING THE COURSE OF JUSTICE.
“I WAS SATISFIED THEN, AND NOW, THAT THEY WERE NOT IMPLICATED IN ANY WAY WHATSOEVER IN THOSE ATTEMPTS. THEY AT ALL TIMES DISCHARGED THEIR PROFESSIONAL OBLIGATIONS WITH COMMENDABLE INTEGRITY AND ERUDITION.
“EACH PARTY WILL BEAR HIS OWN COSTS.
“THE MATTER IS REFERRED TO THE HONOURABLE CHIEF JUSTICE FOR RE-ASSIGNMENT.”
DWYER [Embassy Deputy Chief of Mission Richard Dwyer]
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