EMBASSY COLOMBO EAC MEETING MAY 20, 2009

UNCLAS COLOMBO 000548 SIPDIS SENSITIVE DEPARTMENT FOR DS/IP/RD/SCA, DS/DSS/ITA, CA AND SA/INS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: ASEC CASC PTER SUBJECT: EMBASSY COLOMBO EAC MEETING MAY 20, 2009 REF: SECSTATE 50245 ¶1. (SBU) Summary: AmEmbassy Colombo convened an Emergency Action Committee (EAC) meeting on May 20, 2009. The EAC discussed post's security posture in light of the recent unreleased detainee photographs. The EAC discussed the impact of this on the mission, the AMCIT community, and if there was any actions or precautions that were required to ensure the safety of USG personnel. End summary. ¶2. (SBU) On May 20, 2009, AmEmbassy Colombo convened an EAC meeting. Present for the meeting were the Deputy Chief of Mission, Acting Regional Security Officer, Regional Affairs Officer, Political Officer, Economic Officer, Acting Management Officer, Consular Officer, Public Affairs Officer, USAID Director, Defense Attach Office, International Broadcasting Bureau Station Chief, and Medical Officer. The agenda item for the meeting was the possible impact on the Mission and AMCIT security of media attention to the issue of unreleased detainee photographs as outlined in reftel STATE ¶50245. ¶3. (SBU) EAC determined that there would be little impact or no on the AMCIT community and the Mission from the unreleased photographs. The Public Affairs Section has made note of the press guidance and advised the EAC that post's comments on this topic should be made through or with direct guidance from PA. ¶4. (U) Post will continue to monitor the security environment and plans to safeguard these events. Post will report further developments, if any, per septel. POC for this message is A/RSO Aaron LaFortune, who may be contacted at 94.11.249.8885, 94.11.249.8888 (MSG Post 1 after regular business hours),or via the classified and unclassified email systems./ BLAKE