Cablegate: Emergency Action Committee Meeting of 01/12/10

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RR RUEHWEB

DE RUEHCV #0079 0252148
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
R 252148Z JAN 10
FM AMEMBASSY CARACAS
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 0345
INFO RUEHCV/AMEMBASSY CARACAS

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

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