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