TEGUCIGALPA EAC MEETING - DECEMBER 2005 - HOLIDAY

C O N F I D E N T I A L TEGUCIGALPA 002558 SIPDIS D, P, M, DS, S/CT, CA, INR, DS/IP/WHA E.O. 12958: DECL: 12/21/2006 TAGS: AEMR ASEC CASC HO PTER SUBJECT: TEGUCIGALPA EAC MEETING - DECEMBER 2005 - HOLIDAY SECURITY REF: A. STATE 225828 ¶B. 04 TEGUCIGALPA 2841 ¶C. 04 TEGUCIGALPA 2874 ¶1. (U) Classified by Acting RSO Robert A. Rentz; Reason 1.4 (C,D) ¶2. (SBU) Per reftel A, Post convened a meeting of the Mission EAC in order to review the security posture of both American and Mission community interests during the upcoming holiday season. The EAC members also discussed potential soft targets in country and prudent countermeasures to lessen the likelihood of being victimized by either terrorist or criminal elements. EAC members in attendance were A/DCM, RSO, MILGRP, POL, CONS, Peace Corps, PAS, DAO, and CLO. ¶3. (C) RSO advised that the Roving Patrol assigned to our residential sectors will increase their presence during the dates/times that any houses are vacant (due to vacationing Amcit employees). RSO also informed the EAC that our Surveillance Detection (SD) team would be working extra hours and concentrating on the locations that the EAC agrees are potential soft-targets and where the Mission community might congregate during the holidays. After discussion, the EAC agreed upon several such locations. RSO asked all EAC members to immediately report any information on possible security threats and to engage host country contacts for any information. Additionally, over the last several weeks, RSO has transmitted advisory security notices regarding personal protection during the holiday season to all Mission personnel. Finally, the Consular Officer reported that the latest Worldwide Caution, dated Dec. 12, 2005, was recently published as a warden message. It has also been posted on the Embassy internet site. ¶4. (C) Post has not/not received any specific information or intelligence indicating that the U.S. Mission in Honduras is being targeted. EAC members likewise had nothing reliable to report. The EAC did discuss rumors that local gangs were going to carry out another "massacre" either at the local mall or on a public bus like the attack which occurred last year, on December 23, 2004 (reftel B,C),when 28 people were killed in San Pedro Sula. The EAC agreed that no credible information has been received regarding this potential event and that it can only be regarded as a rumor. The EAC also agreed that all necessary and appropriate security measures are being taken. ¶5. (U) Should you have further questions please contact Acting RSO Robert Rentz. Ford