BRAZEN CRIMES IN GEORGETOWN SHOCK, PORTEND

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 GEORGETOWN 000205

SIPDIS

SENSITIVE
SIPDIS

DS/IP/WHA
DS/ICI/PII
CARACAS FOR DAO AND LEGATT
PORT OF SPAIN FOR DEA AND LEGATT
SOUTHCOM ALSO FOR POLAD

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PINS ASEC PGOV SOCI SNAR MCAP KCRM GY
SUBJECT: BRAZEN CRIMES IN GEORGETOWN SHOCK, PORTEND

REF: A. GEORGETOWN 111

B. 02 GEORGETOWN 1425


1. (U) SUMMARY. A SPATE OF SEEMINGLY DISPARATE CRIMES HIT
GEORGETOWN BETWEEN FEBRUARY 22 AND 27: A) A POSSIBLE
STAGED KIDNAPPING; B) THE DISAPPEARANCE OF POWERFUL
WEAPONS FROM A GUYANA DEFENCE FORCE (GDF) STOREHOUSE; C)
A HIGH-SPEED BOAT CHASE ALONG THE CAPITAL'S WATERFRONT;
AND MOST DISTURBINGLY, D) A PARAMILITARY-STYLE OPERATION
IN WHICH A HEAVILY-ARMED GROUP BLOCKED THE ONLY ROAD
CONNECTING GEORGETOWN TO THE INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT,
KILLING VICTIMS INDISCRIMINATELY. GUYANESE AND EX-PATS
FEAR THESE EVENTS ARE FURTHER EVIDENCE THAT THE COUNTRY
IS IN THE EARLY STAGES OF ESCALATING ELECTION-YEAR
VIOLENCE. END SUMMARY.

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EIGHT MURDERED IN HOUR-LONG REIGN OF TERROR
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2. (U) A PARTY OF 25 TO 30 PERSONS ARMED WITH SEMI-
AUTOMATIC RIFLES, SHOTGUNS, AND PISTOLS KILLED EIGHT
PERSONS FEBRUARY 26 ON THE OUTSKIRTS OF GEORGETOWN.
SEVERAL OTHER PERSONS WERE INJURED. THE PARTY OF GUNMEN
FIRST ATTACKED A GAS STATION IN ECCLES LOCATED JUST SOUTH
OF GEORGETOWN ON THE EAST BANK HIGHWAY, THE ONLY ROAD
CONNECTING THE CAPITAL TO THE INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT. THE
GUNMEN ROBBED THE STATION ATTENDANTS OF A NOMINAL AMOUNT
OF CASH AND THEN SHOT AND KILLED THREE PRIVATE SECURITY
GUARDS. THREE PERSONS IN PASSING VEHICLES WERE ALSO HIT
BY STRAY BULLETS. THE GUNMEN TRIED TO SET FIRE TO THE
GAS PUMPS BEFORE MOVING ON TO THE ADJACENT COMMUNITY OF
AGRICOLA WHERE THEY CONTINUED THEIR ASSAULT. THEY SHOT
AND KILLED FOUR PERSONS AND SET FIRE TO A HOME IN
AGRICOLA. THE POLICE ARRIVED AFTER THE GUNMEN HAD
ALREADY FLED THE SCENE. THE GUNMEN MANAGED TO OPERATE
WITH IMPUNITY FOR CLOSE TO AN HOUR BY BLOCKING TRAFFIC ON
THE EAST BANK HIGHWAY. ACCORDING TO WITNESSES, THE
ASSAULT BORE THE MARKS OF A WELL-ORGANIZED OPERATION
RATHER THAN JUST A ROVING GANG. SEVERAL OF THE VICTIMS
ARE FAMILY MEMBERS OF PERSONS RUMORED TO HAVE INVOLVEMENT
IN ILLEGAL ACTIVITIES.

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WEAPONS STOLEN FROM ARMY STOREHOUSE
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3. (SBU) THE GDF ANNOUNCED FEBRUARY 28 THAT THIRTY-THREE
AK-47 SEMI-AUTOMATIC RIFLES AND FIVE AUTO-PISTOLS HAD
DISAPPEARED, PRESUMED STOLEN, FROM ITS GEORGETOWN WEAPONS
STOREHOUSE (LOCATED LESS THAN A MILE FROM THE CHANCERY).
THE GDF AND GUYANA POLICE FORCE (GPF) ARE CONDUCTING A
JOINT INVESTIGATION. SIX PERSONS WHO WORK AT THE
STOREHOUSE HAVE BEEN DETAINED FOR QUESTIONING. SOURCES
WITHIN THE GDF HAVE INDICATED THAT THE AUTHORITIES MAY
REQUEST U.S. ASSISTANCE IN ANALYZING FORENSIC EVIDENCE
FOUND AT THE STOREHOUSE. ACCORDING TO NEWS REPORTS ON
MARCH 2, SIX 7.62MM GENERAL PURPOSE MACHINE GUNS MAY ALSO
BE MISSING.

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HIGH-SPEED BOAT CHASE NETS SUSPECTED FUEL SMUGGLER
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4. (U) THE GUYANA ENERGY AGENCY (GEA) AND COAST GUARD
(GDFCG) COOPERATED FEBRUARY 26 TO TAKE INTO CUSTODY A
FISHING TRAWLER, THE MV SEA TROUT, SUSPECTED OF HAVING
ILLEGAL FUEL ON BOARD. THE FAST INTERCEPTOR BOAT DONATED
BY THE U.S. TO THE GDFCG IN MAY 2005 MADE THE DIFFERENCE
IN TRACKING DOWN THE TRAWLER AND ITS TWO SPEEDBOAT
ESCORTS. THIS PURSUIT ALONG GEORGETOWN'S WATERFRONT WAS
THE MOST DRAMATIC EXAMPLE TO DATE OF GEA'S FLEDGLING
CAMPAIGN TO FIGHT ILLEGAL FUEL SMUGGLING FROM VENEZUELA,
BELIEVED TO BE RAMPANT. THE SEA TROUT BELONGS TO ASHMINS
TRADING LTD, A COMPANY OWNED BY LENNOX JOHN. ELEVEN
PERSONS -- INCLUDING JOHN, HIS WIFE, AND NINE ASHMIN'S
EMPLOYEES -- FACE VARIOUS CHARGES, ALTHOUGH NOT RELATED
TO ILLEGAL FUEL.

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POSSIBLY STAGED KIDNAPPING OF EX-COP'S DAUGHTER
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5. (U) EX-POLICEMAN SEAN BELFIELD REPORTED FEBRUARY 22
THAT HIS FOUR-YEAR OLD DAUGHTER HAD BEEN KIDNAPPED FROM A
GEORGETOWN NURSERY SCHOOL. THE MEDIA REPORTED THAT
BELFIELD OFFERED G$5 MILLION FOR INFORMATION ABOUT HIS
DAUGHTER'S WHEREABOUTS AND THAT A RANSOM DEMAND WAS MADE
FEBRUARY 23. THE CHILD RETURNED HOME BY PUBLIC
TRANSPORTATION THE FOLLOWING DAY. ON FEBRUARY 27, THE
POLICE COMMISSIONER ANNOUNCED THAT AFTER INTENSIVE
INVESTIGATION THE GPF BELIEVED THE KIDNAPPING HAD BEEN
STAGED. BELFIELD WAS ONE OF TWO PERSONS ARRESTED ALONG
WITH NARCO-TRAFFICKER AND PHANTOM SQUAD LEADER ROGER KHAN
IN DECEMBER 2002 IN AN ARMORED VEHICLE WITH CELL PHONE
INTERCEPT EQUIPMENT, BULLETPROOF VESTS, AND SEVERAL LARGE
HIGH-POWERED AUTOMATIC WEAPONS (REF B).

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COMMENT
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6. (SBU) LOCALS AND EX-PATS ALIKE ARE SEARCHING FOR
POSSIBLE LINKAGES AMONG THESE CRIMINAL EVENTS. THEORIES
ABOUND. THE ECCLES/AGRICOLA GUNMEN MAY HAVE USED THE
STOLEN GDF WEAPONS. THE ATTACK ON THE ECCLES GAS STATION
MAY HAVE BEEN IN RETALIATION FOR SOMEONE TIPPING OFF THE
AUTHORITIES TO ILLEGAL FUEL ON THE MV SEA TROUT. THE
ECCLES/AGRICOLA OPERATION MAY HAVE BEEN RETRIBUTION FOR
THE KIDNAPPING. THESE EVENTS MAY BE THE PUBLIC
MANIFESTATION OF DRUG LORDS' TURF WAR, OR THEY MAY BE
POLITICALLY MOTIVATED. AT THIS POINT, THERE IS ONLY
SPECULATION.


7. (SBU) COMMENT CONTINUED. HOWEVER, MANY OBSERVERS HAVE
DRAWN THREE CONCLUSIONS FROM THESE EVENTS. FIRST, THE
SEVERITY AND TIMERITY OF THE CRIMES INDICATE A LEVEL OF
LAWLESSNESS SHOCKING EVEN BY GUYANESE STANDARDS. SECOND,
THERE IS LITTLE CONFIDENCE IN THE AUTHORITIES' ABILITY OR
WILL TO UNRAVEL THESE CRIMES AND BRING THE PERPETRATORS
TO JUSTICE. LASTLY, THE FEELING IN GEORGETOWN IS THAT
THE PAST WEEK'S EVENTS HAVE USHERED IN A NEW STAGE IN THE
ESCALATION OF PRE-ELECTION VIOLENCE (REF A). END
COMMENT.

BULLEN