[Editor’s note: The text for this document was released in 2014 by the now-defunct Wikileaks website at https://wikileaks.org/plusd/cables/1978GEORGE03968_d.html.]
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GEORGE 03968 272236Z
ACTION ARA-10
INFO OCT-01 ISO-00 H-03 SS-15 SSO-00 NSCE-00 /029 W
——————100541 272238Z /41
O 272145Z NOV 78
FM AMEMBASSY GEORGETOWN
TO SECSTATE WASHDC NIACT IMMEDIATE 8238
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E.O. 11652: N/A
TAGS: OREP (RYAN, LEO) GY
SUBJECT: SUGGESTIONS FOR RESPONSE TO SEN CHRUCH’S QUESTIONS
REF: DIEKEOS/BUSHNELL TELCON
1. FOLLOWING ARE EMBASSY SUGGESTIONS FOR RESPONSE TO QUESTIONS POSED TO DEPARTMENT BY SENATOR CHURCH.
2. “WHEN WAS MEDICAL ASSISTANCE FIRST REQUESTED FOR RYAN PARTY?” ABOUT 1630 HOURS LOCAL NOV 18. PILOT OF DISABLED AIRCRAFT AT PORT KAITUMA, WHO WAS IN RADIO CONTACT WITH OUTSIDE AUTHORITIES SHORTLY AFTER GUNFIRE STOPPED NOV 18 WAS REQUESTED BY DCM GEORGETOWN WHO ACCOMPANIED CODEL TO INSURE THAT FIRST AVAILABLE PLANE INTO PORT KAITUMA CARRIED MEDICAL ASSISTANCE. AMBASSADOR STRESSED NEED MEDICAL HELP AS SOON AS NOTIFIED BY PRIME MINISTER AT 1800 HOURS
3. “WHY WAS NOT MEDICAL DROP MADE FOR RYAN PARTY?” QUESTIONALBE IF GUYANESE AUTHORITIES HAVE CAPABILITY OF EQUIPMENT DROP AT NIGHT; CERTAINLY THEY DO NOT HAVE CAPABLILITY OF NIGHT DROP BY MEDICS OR PARAMEDICS. GUYANESE AUTHORITIES MAY ALSO HAVE FELT THAT TO HAVE MARKED OUT DROP ARE BY SOME TYPE OF LIGHTS WITHOUT INSURING SECURITY OF AIRSTRIP MIGHT PROVE INVITATION TO PT ASSALANTS TO TRY AGAIN TO WIPE OUT GROUP.
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4. “WHY WAS NOT HELICOPTER USED FOR NIGHT LANDING?” GUYANESE GOVERNMENT HAD TWO HELICOPTERS AT ITS DISPOSITION. THEY DO NOT HAVE GEORGETOWN/PORT KAITUMA RANGE, AND IT WAS NECESSARY NEXT DAY FOR FUEL TO BE PREPOSITIONED INFLEXIBLE TANKS BY LARGER AIRCRAFT BEFORE GOG HELICOPTERS ABLE TO OPERATE OUT OF PORT KAITUMA.
BURKE [U.S. Ambassador John Burke]
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