Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
03TEGUCIGALPA552
2003-02-28 17:53:00
UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY
Embassy Tegucigalpa
Cable title:  

EAC TO REVIEW CURRENT SECURITY STATUS

Tags:  ASEC CASC PTER HO 
pdf how-to read a cable
This record is a partial extract of the original cable. The full text of the original cable is not available.
UNCLAS E F T O SECTION 01 OF 02 TEGUCIGALPA 000552 

SIPDIS

NOFORN
SENSITIVE

STATE FOR DS/OP/WHA, DS/ICI/ITA AND WHA/CEN

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: ASEC CASC PTER HO
SUBJECT: EAC TO REVIEW CURRENT SECURITY STATUS

REF: A. 02 STATE 52222 (CME SCH FOR 4/03)


B. 02 TEGUC 02860 (EAC 9/10/02)

C. 02 TEGUC 02564 (EAC 10/10/02)

D. 02 TEGUC 03388 (EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS LIMDIS)

E. EAP SECTION 900 (CHEM-BIO)

F. SECSTATE 32644

UNCLAS E F T O SECTION 01 OF 02 TEGUCIGALPA 000552

SIPDIS

NOFORN
SENSITIVE

STATE FOR DS/OP/WHA, DS/ICI/ITA AND WHA/CEN

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: ASEC CASC PTER HO
SUBJECT: EAC TO REVIEW CURRENT SECURITY STATUS

REF: A. 02 STATE 52222 (CME SCH FOR 4/03)


B. 02 TEGUC 02860 (EAC 9/10/02)

C. 02 TEGUC 02564 (EAC 10/10/02)

D. 02 TEGUC 03388 (EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS LIMDIS)

E. EAP SECTION 900 (CHEM-BIO)

F. SECSTATE 32644


1. At 10:00am on 02/19/03, a meeting of the EAC was convened
by the Ambassador and chaired by the DCM.


2. The following sections/agencies were present during the
EAC meeting: RSO, POL, JTF-B, USAID, PEACE CORPS, CONS, IPC,
ADM, MSG, DEA, CLO, ECON, PAS, ORA and DAO.


3. The following issues were discussed by the EAC:
- ARSO briefed EAC on current security situation in Honduras.

- EAC reviewed status of security measures that are currently
in place at Mission facilities and options available for
emergency situations.

- Concerns/implications for the schools attended by Mission
children should the U.S. go to war with Iraq.
-- RSO and Admin Officer will meet with school directors to
discuss current security measures at each school.
-- Security of busing American children was discussed.
-- Unless, Department requests us to do so or front office
deems it necessary, Mission employees (with the exception of
DOD when policy dictates) will not be required to pull
children from schools in the event of war. Parents are
encouraged to remove their children from schools anytime they
feel the security of their children is at risk.
-- CLO will send out a "routine memo" to schools of Mission
children for the purpose of updating school student contact
list.

- RSO is planning a visit to the Alternate Command site for
the EAC members on Friday, March 8th.

- Monthly radio checks will be coordinated by RSO through
IPC. RSO and IPC will discuss current radio maintenance
procedures and discuss alternative methods of radio
maintenance.

- RSO office will update the inventory of all Mission armored
vehicles.

- If war occurs, EAC will consider the use of home-to-office
transportation through GSO.

- All Mission drills need to be reviewed and scheduled ASAP.
-- Duck and cover, bomb threat drill, emergency destruction
and fire drills need to be scheduled immediately.
-- The RSO should review all drills and make suggestions of
drills that need to be urgently performed.
-- Check date for last ENS and Radio check drills.

- Embassy currently has a satellite phone and two Iridium
phones available for use in case of emergencies.

- RSO staff is carefully tracking demonstrations against
American interests, noting participants and motives.

- Draw-down list should be reviewed and HR should review
their preparedness for voluntary/ordered departures.

- Town Hall meetings should be held on regular basis to
include family members and FSNs, Ambassador to consider
town hall meetings for American communities.

- Embassy community is reminded to review and familiarize
itself with the Mission website including the Crime and
Security Section.

- Consular should consider some type of backup system for
notifying the American community of emergency events, should
primary system fail.

- RSO/CLO are working on security awareness briefings for
domestic employees.

- RSO will review the Embassy access policy and suggest
changes/improvements to Country Team.

- Tripwires requiring immediate EAC action:
-- Significant Intel and surveillance reports.
-- American kidnappings and increased violence directed at
Amcits.
-- C-12 aircraft mishap
-- Delayed responses from Government Officials or local
Law Enforcement in wake of hostile environment.


4. Refs B and C detail EAC meetings, which addressed threat
assessments and preparedness. Ref D covers Security,
Management and Consular issues in detail, as well as Chem-Bio
Readiness and Post Communications including drills and
off-site capability. Ref E, the new Chem-Bio chapter,
section 900 was completed and sent to DS on 12/13/02.


5. The Ambassador stressed that EAC members should fully
review the EAP and be prepared for any contingency in the
coming weeks given the possibility of U.S. action against
Iraq. He underscored that the security of the Embassy and
its personnel is his top priority.
Palmer