US embassy cable - 05MAPUTO850

UNCLAS MAPUTO 000850 
 
SIPDIS 
STATE FOR DS/IP/AF, DS/DSS/ITA, DS/IP/FPO, AF/EX, AF/S 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: ASEC, MZ 
SUBJECT: SECOND EAC HELD IN RESPONSE TO GUARD STRIKE 
 
REF: A. A. MAPUTO 00834 
 
B. B. MAPUTO 00842 
C. C. MAPUTO 00846 
 
1. Post Emergency Action Committee (EAC) convened on July 7, 
2005, its second meeting in two days, to discuss local guard 
force members striking. Information from Refs A and C was 
shared with the EAC. The RSO gave a brief update on the 
latest known information concerning the strike which has 
entered its third day. Since 300 strikers continue to block 
the Wackenhut headquarters and because many of the guards who 
went on strike took the Wackenhut issued radios with them, 
Wackenhut has shut down its radio network which in turn shuts 
down the automatic alarm response system in all residences. 
Wackenhut has installed a land line to its control room in 
its temporary headquarters which an individual can telephone 
in case of emergency. This telephone number was distributed 
during the EAC meeting and will be passed to all direct hire 
Americans via the daily security update email. CDC sent home 
its one guard for rest during the day after he worked 
consecutive shifts. U.S.AID is operating at 20% its normal 
guard staff. Public Affairs and Peace Corps offices are 
operating at 66% their normal guard staff. The Chancery was 
operating at 25% of its normal guard staff when, two hours 
into the day shift, 3 additional guards appeared wanting to 
work but not in uniform due to the continued roaming groups 
of strikers who are now threatening physical harm to any 
Wackenhut guard seen working. The Chancery guards are 
working in civilian clothes. The EAC concurred that Consular 
would cancel its normal nonimmigrant visa appointments on 
July 7 but would handle any emergency visas and 6 visa 
applications of local mayors due to leave Mozambique July 8 
on an International Visitors program. In addition, Consular 
would offer emergency American Citizen Services. Due to the 
lack of guards and thus the inability to properly screen 
visitors, the Embassy, U.S.AID, CDC, and the Public Affairs 
and Peace Corps offices are open and operational but are not 
accepting visitors until the guard services are increased to 
an acceptable level. 
Dudley