[Editor’s note: The text for this document was released in 2014 by the now-defunct Wikileaks website at https://wikileaks.org/plusd/cables/1978GEORGE03896_d.html. This URL may be available through the Wayback Machine.]
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ACTION ARA-15
INFO OCT-01 ISO-00 SSO-00 SCS-06 CA-01 PA-01 DODE-00 L-03 H-01 SS-15 NSCE-00 DRC-01 HA-05 /049 W
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O 231910Z NOV 78
FM AMEMBASSY GEORGETOWN
TO SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 8175
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E.O. 11652: N/A
TAGS: CASC(PEOPLE’S TEMPLE)
SUBJECT: ALLEGATIONS OF BREACH OF PRIVACY ACT PROVISIONS MADE BY PEOPLE’S TEMPLE GROUP MEMBERS AGAINST EMBASSY OFFICERS
1. ON A ROUTINE VISIT TO THE PEOPLE’S TEMPLE GROUP AT THE EVE LEARY POLICE STATION, A CONOFF WAS CONFRONTED WITH THE CHARGE BY THE GROUP THAT THE EMBASSY HAD MADE AVAILABLE TO THE PRESS INFORMATION THAT WAS UNDERSTOOD TO BE PROTECTED FROM RELEASE UNDER THE PRIVACY ACT. APPARENTLY, A REPORTER VISITED THE GROUP JUST PRIOR TO THE CONOFF’S VISIT AND SHOWED THE GROUP A LIST OF THEIR NAMES AND STATESIDE ADDRESSES WHICH THEY CLAIM WAS GIVEN ONLY TO THE EMBASSY WITH THE CONDITION THAT THE INFORMATION BE PROTECTED. THE GROUP MEMBERS WERE HIGHLY UPSET AS THEY ARE IN FEAR OF THEIR LIVES BECAUSE OF PAST THREATS MADE BY OTHER MEMBERS AGAINST THOSE WHO SEEK TO LEAVE THE ORGANIZATION.
2. EMBASSY OFFICERS DISMISS IDEA THAT RELEASE WAS MADE INTENTIONALLY OR UNINTENTIONALLY, BY EMBASSY. EMBASSY AWARE THAT INFORMATION SIMILAR TO THAT ALLEGEDLY RELEASED HAD BEEN GIVEN BY GROUP MEMBERS TO GUYANESE IMMIGRATION AND POLICE AUTHORITIES.
3. ABOVE PROVIDED FOR DEPARTMENT’S INFORMATION SHOULD
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PROBLEMS ARISE UNDER THE PRIVACY ACT FROM THIS INCIDENT.
BURKE [U.S. Ambassador John Burke]
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