US embassy cable - 04MAPUTO1339

S E C R E T MAPUTO 001339 
 
SIPDIS 
NOFORN 
CLASSIFIED BY RSO HOWARD A. HICKS, REASON 1.5 (C) 
E.O. 12958: DECL: EXEMPT XL 
TAGS: ASEC, CASC, MZ 
SUBJECT: 2004 EMERGENCY ACTION COMMITTEE - MAPUTO 
 
REF: STATE 207468 
 
Classified By: RSO HOWARD A. HICKS, REASON 1.5 (C) 
 
1. (S/NF) Summary: On September 30, 2004, the emergency 
Action Committee (EAC) convened. The meeting was held to 
discuss the recent increase of attacks on vehicles traveling 
the EN4 toll road from Maputo, Mozambique to Nelspruit, South 
Africa. Attendees included the Ambassador, DCM (Chair), RSO, 
E/P, PC, PAO, CLO, ADM, CONS and DAO. End Summary. 
 
2. (S/NF) The EAC was convened to discuss the increase in 
armed attacks on vehicles traveling the route between Maputo, 
Mozambique and Nelspruit, South Africa. Because of the high 
number of Mission personnel traveling the route between the 
two cities and the level of violence used during these 
attacks, the Embassy has considered placing travel 
restrictions on Mission personnel planning on traveling to 
South Africa. All members agreed that these attacks were 
cause for concern and believed that Mission personnel should, 
whenever possible, plan to convoy with other travelers. 
Members also reaffirmed post policy prohibiting driving after 
dark outside Maputo. This meeting resulted in an agreement to 
take the following actions: 
a) RSO will provide briefings on defensive driving tactics 
and other information to increase driver security awareness. 
Attendance will be obligatory for all American personnel and 
driving age dependents and optional for locally employed 
staff. 
b) RSO will provide to all American and locally employed 
staff an information sheet containing updated security 
information, requirements and recommendations for drivers to 
neighboring countries, along with emergency phone numbers and 
cellphone instructions. 
c) RSO will post the information sheet on post,s website and 
submit it to post,s newsletter. 
d) CONS will provide the above information in a notice to 
U.S. citizen wardens. 
 
3. (S/NF) The proposed driver security briefing will be 
expanded to encompass the requests made in the reference 
cable that the RSO office instruct Mission personnel and 
dependents on proactive personal security measures, to 
include varying times of departures and arrivals, routes 
taken, and reporting suspicious individuals, to the RSO 
Office. 
LA LIME