Emergency Action Committee Meeting of 01/12/10

UNCLAS CARACAS 000079 SENSITIVE SIPDIS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: ASEC PTER CVIS SUBJECT: Emergency Action Committee Meeting of 01/12/10 REF: STATE 2602; CARACAS SPOT REPORT 01/11/2010 ¶1. (SBU) Caracas EAC convened on 01/12/2010 to discuss STATE 2602 and to review the current threat environment following the shooting incident on 01/09/2010 at Valle Arriba Commercial Center and the ongoing effects of electricity and water rationing within Caracas and the entire country. EAC members in attendance included CDA, RSO, CONS, FAS, LEGATT, DHS, DEA, FCS, MGT, CLO, PAS, POL, ECON, DAO/MILGRP, and ORA. ¶2. (SBU) EAC members discussed Reftel A and the events surrounding the Christmas Day Airline Bombing. EAC reviewed the Visa Viper meeting schedule for Caracas and determined that the monthly meetings were adequate for post. In addition EAC members affirmed their commitment to hold additional Visa Viper meetings as needed on a case-by-case basis at the request of any Visa Viper Group member. ¶3. (SBU) Per Reftel B, RSO briefed the EAC on the shooting incident at Valle Arriba Market and status of the police investigation. Local police investigating the incident, reported that it was a botched robbery attempt for an expensive watch. The three victims had been treated and should make full recoveries. Police report capturing one of the perpetrators and know the identity of the shooter but continue to search for him. RSO informed the EAC that the Embassy Emergency SMS text messaging system is ready for testing and requested that CLO collect cell phone numbers of all Embassy family members to add to the system. An Embassy wide test will be conducted by the end of the month. In addition several EAC members requested additional information on a rumored robbery last week at another restaurant in the Valle Arriba Commercial Center and RSO confirmed that she would contact the Baruta police for more details and RSO would send out an Embassy Security Notice providing details and recommendations to the Embassy community (Notice sent on January 14). 4) (SBU) Finally the EAC reviewed the implications of a breakdown in the supply of electricity and water in Caracas. The EAC discussed how the lack of electricity would affect the safety of personnel. RSO reviewed Post's residential security measures and confirmed that residential alarms would continue to work during short blackouts and Embassy local guard roving patrols would respond to emergencies. RSO and Management will continue to monitor the situation and review capacities and tripwires will be drafted and presented at an EAC meeting to be held at a later date. After this EAC meeting, President Chavez suspended electricity rationing in Caracas, for the time being. The EAC will continue to monitor the situation. 5) (SBU) Point of contact for this cable is RSO Wendy Bashnan, telephone number 58-212-907-8403. Regards. CAULFIELD