2004 EMERGENCY ACTION COMMITTEE - MAPUTO

S E C R E T MAPUTO 001339 SIPDIS NOFORN CLASSIFIED BY RSO HOWARD A. HICKS, REASON 1.5 (C) E.O. 12958: DECL: EXEMPT XL TAGS: ASEC CASC MZ SUBJECT: 2004 EMERGENCY ACTION COMMITTEE - MAPUTO REF: STATE 207468 Classified By: RSO HOWARD A. HICKS, REASON 1.5 (C) ¶1. (S/NF) Summary: On September 30, 2004, the emergency Action Committee (EAC) convened. The meeting was held to discuss the recent increase of attacks on vehicles traveling the EN4 toll road from Maputo, Mozambique to Nelspruit, South Africa. Attendees included the Ambassador, DCM (Chair),RSO, E/P, PC, PAO, CLO, ADM, CONS and DAO. End Summary. ¶2. (S/NF) The EAC was convened to discuss the increase in armed attacks on vehicles traveling the route between Maputo, Mozambique and Nelspruit, South Africa. Because of the high number of Mission personnel traveling the route between the two cities and the level of violence used during these attacks, the Embassy has considered placing travel restrictions on Mission personnel planning on traveling to South Africa. All members agreed that these attacks were cause for concern and believed that Mission personnel should, whenever possible, plan to convoy with other travelers. Members also reaffirmed post policy prohibiting driving after dark outside Maputo. This meeting resulted in an agreement to take the following actions: a) RSO will provide briefings on defensive driving tactics and other information to increase driver security awareness. Attendance will be obligatory for all American personnel and driving age dependents and optional for locally employed staff. b) RSO will provide to all American and locally employed staff an information sheet containing updated security information, requirements and recommendations for drivers to neighboring countries, along with emergency phone numbers and cellphone instructions. c) RSO will post the information sheet on post,s website and submit it to post,s newsletter. d) CONS will provide the above information in a notice to U.S. citizen wardens. ¶3. (S/NF) The proposed driver security briefing will be expanded to encompass the requests made in the reference cable that the RSO office instruct Mission personnel and dependents on proactive personal security measures, to include varying times of departures and arrivals, routes taken, and reporting suspicious individuals, to the RSO Office. LA LIME