65 1113 US Department of State Case No M-2013-15063 Doc No 006511130 Date 03 14 2018 RELEASE IN FULL SECRET PAGE 01 GEORGE 03783 01 OF 04 1516372 ACTION 88 30 INFO 001101 ADS-00 330-00 031 REVIEW AUTHORITY Richard Zorn Senior 109218 1516482 40 Reviewer 151243Z AUG 80 FM AMEMBASSY GEORGETOWN TO SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 3215 INFO AMEMBASSY BRIDGETOWN AMEMBASSY CARACAS AMEMBASSY KINGSTON AMEMBASSY LONDON AMEMBASSY OTTAWA AMEMBASSY PARAMARIBO AMEMBASSY PORT OF SPAIN AMCONSUL MARTINIQUE AMCONSUL TORONTO SECTION 1 OF 4 EXDIS E O 12065 RIBS-4 8 13 2000 ROBERTS GEORGE B OR-M TAGS PEPR PINT EAID GY SUBJ RODNEY DEATH - THE CASE AGAINST THE GOG S SUMMARY CIRCUMSTANTIAL EVIDENCE HAS COME TO THE ATTENTION OF EMBASSY GEORGETOWN WHICH INDICATES THAT THE GOVERNMENT OF GUYANA IS IMPLICATED IN THE KILLING OF WALTER RODNEY THE HURRIED DEPARTURE OF MATERIAL WITNESSES AND THE NATURE OF THE BOMB FRAGMENTS AT THE SCENE OF THE DEATH ARE THE MOST TELLING INDICATORS OF OFFICIAL INVOLVEMENT THE EMBASSY BELIEVES THAT WITH FORTHCOMING ELECTIONS IN MIND WE SHOULD AVOID PUBLIC IDENTIFICATION WITH THE GOG WE SHOULD DELAY ANY NEW AID PROJECTS AND WE SHOULD INCLUDE THE ISSUE IN OUR 1980 HUMAN RIGHTS REPORT ON GUYANA END SUMMARY SECRET SECRET PAGE 02 GEORGE 03783 01 OF 04 1516372 2 S INFORMATION HAS COME TO EMBASSY ATTENTION SINCE THE JUNE 13 DEATH BY EXPLOSION OF GUYANESE OPPOSITION LEADER WALTER RODNEY WHICH LEADS TO THE STRONG PRESUMPTION THAT THE GOVERNMENT OF GUYANA IS IMPLICATED IN THE KILLING MOST OF THIS INFORMATION HAS ALREADY BEEN REPORTED TO THE DEPARTMENT BUT IT SEEMS USEFUL TO PULL IT TOGETHER PRESENT THE CASE AND RECOMMEND AN APPROPRIATE U S COURSE OF ACTION WHICH WILL TAKE INTO ACCOUNT THE FORTHCOMING GUYANESE ELECTIONS UNCLASSIFIED US Department of State Case No Doc No 006511130 Date 03 14 2018 6 5 1 1 3 US Department of State Case No DOC NO 006511130 Date 03 14 2018 3 U BACKGROUND A S IN THE COURSE OF A CONVERSATION WITH ME ON FEBRUARY 6 GUYANESE PRIME MINISTER FORBES BURNHAM SAID THAT POLITICAL PARTY THE WORKING ALLIANCE WPA ACCEPTED THE USE OF VIOLENCE BURNHAM ADDED THAT IF THE WPA SHOULD USE VIOLENCE HE WOULD BE VERY FIRM IFHI AM FIRM AMBASSADOR I DO NOT WANT ANY LECTURES FROM YOU ON HUMAN GEORGE- TOWN 0574 PARA 21 B S LAST DECEMBER RODNEY INDICATED TO THE POLITICAL OFFICER THAT HE WAS CONTEMPLATING THE USE OF VIOLENCE AND THAT HE HAD PREMONITIONS OF HIS OWN VIOLENT DEATH 79 GEORGETOWN 5493 IN A CONVERSATION WITH ME ON JANUARY 15 HOWEVER RODNEY DID NOT DIRECTLY MENTION THE POSSIBILITY OF THE USE OF VIOLENCE BY THE WPA THOUGH HE DID SAY HIS PARTY MIGHT HAVE TO GO UNDERGROUND GEORGETOWN 0274 C S ON FEBRUARY 19 AN ALLEGED WPA ACTIVIST DAVID HINDS WAS ARRESTED AT TIM EHRI INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT AND CHARGED WITH ATTEMPTING TO SMUGGLE WEAPONS INTO THE COUNTRY GEORGETOWN 828 THERE ARE REPORTS THAT HINDS WAS A GOG PLANT IF SO THE INCIDENT SECRET SECRET PAGE 03 GEORGE 03783 01 OF 04 1516372 HIM IS STILL GERMANE AND PERHAPS EVEN MORE SIGNIFICANT D U SUBSEQUENTLY THE GUYANESE GOVERNMENT ANNOUNCED THAT INCIDENTS F0 SABOTAGE I-IAD TAKEN PLACE ON SUGAR ESTATES THE GOG MAINTAINED THAT THERE WAS A TO UNDERMINE THE ECONOMY AND DESTABILIZE ITS POLITICS GEORGETOWN 2539 2599 2627 2695 AND 3269 4 U DEATH - U ON JUNE 13 WALTER RODNEY WAS KILLED BY AN PLOSION WHILE SITTING IN A CAR PARKED NEAR THE GEORGETOWN PRISON HIS BROTHER DONALD RODNEY WHO WAS WITH HIM IN THE CAR AT THE TIME SAID THAT RODNEY WAS IN THE PROCESS OF TESTING A WALKIE-TALKIE RADIO WHICH HAD BEEN GIVEN TO HIM BY ONE GREGORY SMITH ACCORDING TO DONALD RODNEY SMITH HAD IDENTIFIED HIMSELF TO THE WPA AS AN IN THE GUYANA DEFENSE FORCE I SECRET UNCLASSIFIED US Department of State Case NO Doc No 006511130 Date 03 14 2018 5 6 5 1 3 US Department of State Case NO Doc NO C06511130 Date 03 14 2018 SECRET 01 GEORGE 03783 02 OF 04 1517542 ACTION 88-30 INFO OCT-O1 880-00 031 09723 1518062 140 1512432 AUG 80 FM AMEMBASSY GEORGETOWN TO SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 3216 INFO AMEMBASSY BRIDGETOWN AM EMBASSY CARACAS AMEMBASSY KINGSTON AMEMBASSY LONDON AM EM BASSY OTTAWA AMEMBASSY PARAMARIBO AMEMBASSY PORT OF SPAIN AMCONSUL MARTINIQUE AMCONSUL TORONTO SECTION 2 OF 4 GEORGETOWN 3783 EXDIS ELECTRONICS WHO WOULD BE ABLE TO ASSIST THE WPA IN COMMUNICATIONS AND OTHER TECNHICAL MATTERS GEORGETOWN 2761 AND 2989 5 U EVENTS FOLLOWING THE DEATH A U THE GOVERNMENT TOOK THE LINE THAT DONALD RODNEY WAS LYING BOTH HE AND HIS LATE BROTHER KNEW THAT THEY HAD A BOMB THE STORY WAS A FABRICATION AND THERE WAS NOT SUCH PERSON AS EX-SERGENT GREGORY SMITH DONALD RODNEY WAS ARRESTED AND CHARGED WITH THE POSSESSION OF EXPLOSIVES GEORGETOWN 2902 B U THE CATHOLIC STANDARD AN OPPOSITION WEEKLY PAPER MAINTAINED THAT THERE HAD BEEN A GREGORY SMITH ON GDF ROLLS BUT HE WAS ONLY AN ACTING SERGEANT AND PERMANENT CORPORAL ACCORDING TO THE STANDARD THE GDF DENIAL THAT THERE WAS A SERGEANT SMITH WAS THUS SECRET SECRET PAGE 02 GEORGE 03783 02 OF 04 1517542 TECHNICALLY ACCURATE BUT WAS AN OBVIOUS EFFORT TO LEAD THOSE TRYING TO INVESTIGATE DEATH GEORGETOWN 2989 C LOU THE CATHOLIC STANDARD FURTHER REPORTED THAT ONE JOAN MELVILLE OR MELVIN A CLOS ASSOCIATE OF SMITH HAD BEEN HURRIEDLY TRANSFERRED FROM THE MINISTRY OF HEALTH TO THE MINISTRY OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS AND EQUALLY HURRIEDLY TRANSFERRED OUT OF THE COUNTRY TO THE GUYANESE CONSULATE IN TORONTO A CHECK OF EMBASSY VISA FILES INDICATED THAT A JOAN MELVIN UNCLASSIFIED US Department of State Case NO Ail-201345063 Doc No C06511130 Datet 03 14 2018 Cm Umnmnamz ow m m m 20 250 mLmomm 2m- Comm mo Um m ow LE2 a 20 02 9 3326 E mzp 2 20 C m m 0m OC mem mommaz 204m mim 2mIm0 4m 2m 02 4 0 1mm Zm 4 0m02 _ 0 A0m020m40 2 0 Amy 2 m w mm cm Nw 01 I_m 22 mlmz u w 00m 012mm 0m 02 022mm 202252 0rm 2 m520 I szm _2 O m22m A m m50 3mm m _0 O 2mm 9 mezgmu 00 25 933 1 502520 mom 4 1m O m22m 32E m Amv 250 0 02 mm 0mZ_m0 gm 4 1m 000 5 m0 002m 20 _u0_2 _ m0 I_m 0 mmz- 20 5343 00 m73 0 $002m m20 m0 2 5 rm r w_20m m mZ u Im m $002m mDCzuZ mZ rm0 Ow 2 22 mxwurOmEmm 2 mstm wcmZIZs _uO_Z _ m0 muEO _0m0 mmommq mmomm V m ow OmomOm owumw om Om 0% AmAthN 02m mm Imr0 0 ch 42mg wamm 3 20 Amy Im 22m 20 2 an mm- Dcmm mom Em AQWOWQWAOSE m3 0 Amy Him wmimm inw mXUmm Jm mm om I m mumo _0m0 w mm m24m m EMQS _2 0_u mO0zm m 9 3020 4 15 0022 0 _m 4 1m 420 22 20 22 Im 20 Em wm0 _ Imm 2 206014 m 0_0 20 0020 2 mOC rr 4 2m _m 5220 Im2 3 2002m 22m Im wOZ w 0 AS my aim 5 EL 0Cr0 U_um m mm m 0_0 _2 4 1m 02 20 4 2m 000a Icmm mU 0m mph HI 20 Em Emr urm IMOZ _m _2 0 3 35mm 20 4 2m momgmm 2 Him mmaml 002 0 mvcumm m mmUOm curm mm 4 2m I m wOOjumO 02 mmUOmH v 20 Im 4 1me I m OOZOrcm_ m_u mm4 wr_m_l_m0 4 2m Wm omdm 5 1520 000 53 1 Om czorpmmimo cm UmanSms o n m m m Zo Con 20 003230 Um mn owS moE CO 6 5 1 3 US Department of State Case No Doc No 006511130 Date 03 14 2018 SECRET SECRET PAGE 01 GEORGE 03783 03 OF 04 1517352 ACTION INFO OCT-01 880-00 031 09580 1517452 1 40 1512432 AUG 80 FM AMEMBASSY GEORGETOWN TO SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 3217 INFO AMEMBASSY BRIDGETOWN AMEMBASSY CARACAS AMEMBASSY KINGSTON AMEMBASSY LONDON AM EMBASSY OTTAWA AMEMBASSY PARAMARIBO AMEMBASSY PORT OF SPAIN AMCONSUL MARTINIQUE AMCONSUL TORONTO SECTION 3 OF 3783 EXDIS IN FEBRUARY SHOW A PROPENSITY FOR VIOLENT ACTION AGAINST THE WFA AND STATEMENTS AFTER THE INCIDENT SHOWA DESIRE TO RATIONALIZE WHAT HAPPENED B 8 THE EMBASSY IS THUS CERTAIN THAT MENT IS INVOLVED IN A COVER- UP AND NINETY PERCENT CERTAIN THAT THE GOG IS IMPLICATED IN THE KILLING OF WALTER RODNEY- PART OF THE REMAINING TEN PERCENT OF DOUBT CENTER-S AROUND THE IDENTITY AND PRESENT LOCATION OF EX-SERGEANT SMITH IN ADDITION WE DO NOT KNOW WHETHER RODNEY DIED AS THE REUSLT OF A CONSCIOUS PLAN DEVELOPED AT A HIGH LEVEL IN THE GOG OR WHETHER OFFICIALS OVER-REACTED TO SENIOR- LEVEL IRRIATION WITH RODNEY 7 U U S RESPONSE A S THE GOG IS NEITHER THE FIRST NOR THE LAST REGIME SECRET SECRET PAGE 02 GEORGE 03783 03 OF 04 1517352 UNCLASSIFIED US Department of State Case No Doc No 006511130 Date 03 14 2018 6 5 1 1 3 US Department at State Case No Doc No 006511130 Date 03 14 2018 TO BE IMPLICATED IN MURDER NEITHER IS IT THE FIRST NOR THE LAST REGIME ASSOCIATED IN THE PUBLIC EYE WITH THE US TO BE SO IMPLICATED THERE HAS BEEN AND WILL PROBABLY CONTINUE TO BE FAR LESS POLITICAL VIOLENCE HERE THAN IN BOLIVIA OR FOR THAT MATTER IN JAMAICA NEVERTHELESS AS DISCUSSED IN GEORGETOWN 3550 THERE WOULD NOT APPEAR TO BE A LOT TO GAIN AT THE PRESENT TIME IN FOLLOWING A POLICY WHICH ASSOCIATES US TOO CLOSELY WITH THE GOG THERE IS ALSO THE CONSIDERATION THAT AN OVERLY FRIENDLY OR EVEN NORMAL STANCE TOWARD GUYANA COULD FEED THE SUSPICION THAT WE WERE SOMEHOW INVOLVED IN DEATH WE DID FOR EXAMPLE GIVE MS A VISA ALBEIT UNKNOWINGLY AND EVEN THOUGH WE PRESUME SHE IS NOW IN CANADA AND THE CAYENNE SHRIMPING FIRM SAHLMAN FOR WHICH SMITH IS REPORTEDLY WORKING IS AN AMERICAN COMPANY B 8 AN OBVIOUS MOVE ON OUR PART WOULD BE TO CLUDE AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE OF WHAT WE KNOW OF THE KILLING IN OUR FORTHCOMING HUMAN RIGHTS REPORT WE WILL HAVE TO LABLE SUSPICIONS AS ONLY SUSPICIONS AND WE WILL HAVE TO BE CAREFUL NOT TO GO BEYOND WHAT CAN BE REASONABLE ESTABLISHED IT WOULD THUS BE USEFUL IF WE COULD GET A FIRM FIX ON THE CURRENT WHEREABOUTS OF SMITH AND MARTINIQUE AND TORONTO COULD HELP IN THIS CONNECTION SMITH IS SAID TO HAVE USED THE NAME WILLIAM PETER SMITH AS WELL AS GREGORY SMITH C S OUR HUMAN RIGHTS REPORT WOULD BE MUCH MORE VINCING IF WE COULD OBTAIN A COPY OF THE BOMB REPORT WHICH WE COULD OPENLY CITE ON AUGUST 12 WE ASKED THE PERMANENT SECRETARY IN THE GUYANESE MINISTRY OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS IF WE COULD BE PROVIDED WITH A COPY SECRET SECRET PAGE 03 GEORGE 03783 03 OF 04 1517352 OF THE REPORT WE REMINDED THE PERMANENT SECRETARY OF THE BACKGROUND ON THE REQUEST TO US AND THE BRITISH FOR EXPERT OUTSIDE ASSISTANCE WE HAD TURNED THE REQUEST DOWN SINCE WE WERE BEING ACCUSED OF COM- PLICITY IN THE INCIDENT GEORGETOWN 2755 STATE 160217 AND GEORGETOWN 2787 SINCE WE WERE STILL BEING SUB- JECTED TO ACCUSATIONS WE ASKED IF WE MIGHT BE PROVIDED WITH COPIES OF THE BRITISH BOMB AND FORENSIC REPORTS WE DID NOT TELL HIM WE ALREADY HAD BOTH THE PERMANENT SECRETARY IMMEDIATELY ACKNOWLEDGED OUR LEGITIAMTE INTEREST IN SEEING THE DOCUMENTS AND SAID THAT HE WOULD TRY TO OBTAIN COPIES FOR US FROM THE POLICE IF HE IS SUCCESSFUL WE WILL NOT BE RESTRICTED IN OUR ABILITY TO USE THE INFORMATION WE ALREADY HAVE BURNHAM WILL NOT LIKE BEING AS HE SAID TO ME ON FEBRUARY 6 BUT IF OUR 1980 GUYANA HUMAN RIGHTS REPORT IS TO HAVE ANYCREDIBILITY WE CANNOT OVERLOOK UNCLASSIFIED US Department of State Case No M-2013-15063 Doc No 306511130 Date 03 14 2018 6 5 1 1 1 3 US Department of State Case No M-2013-15063 DOC NO 006511130 Date 03 14 2018 9 THE RODNEY CASE D 8 THE HUMAN RIGHTS REPORT WILL NOT BE PUBLISHED HOWEVER UNITL AT LEAST JANUARY WITH ELECTIONS NOW RUMORED TO BE SET FOR OCTOBER WE CAN EXPECT THAT IN THE VERY NEAR FUTURE WE WILL BE SUBJECTED TO A BROAD EFFORT BY THE GOG TO DRAW US INTO A POSITION OF APPARENT SUPPORT FOR PNC I HAVE BEEN IN- VITED FOR EXAMPLE TO APPEAR WITH ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT MINISTER HOYTE AT AN AUGUST 17 CEREMONY AT PORT MOURANT CHEDDI HOME TOWN FOR A USAID SPECIAL DEVELOPMENT FUND PROJECT WITH ELECTIONS ON SECRET SECRET PAGE 01 GEORGE 03783 04 OF 04 1517542 ACTION 38-30 INFO 880 00 031 09714 1 518052 40 PR 1512432 AUG 80 FM AMEMBASSY GEORGETOWN TO SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 3218 INFO AMEMBASSY BRIDGETOWN AMEMBASSY CARACAS AMEMBASSY KINGSTON AMEMBASSY LONDON AMEMBASSY OTTAWA AMEMBASSY PARAMARIBO AMEMBASSY PORT OF SPAIN AMCONSUL MARTINIQUE AMCONS UL TORONTO SECTION 4 OF 4 GEORGETOWN 3783 EXDIS THE WAY AND WITH THE STRONG POSSIBILITY THAT THEY MIGHT BE RIGGED I WOULD NORMALLY BE CAREFUL ABOUT SUCH AN APPEARANCE KNOWING WHAT WE NOW KNOW ABOUT THE RODNEY INCIDENT HOWEVER I THINK IT WOULD BE UNWISE FOR ME TO APPEAR ON THE SAME PLATFORM AT THIS TIME WITH A GUYANESE GOVERNMENT MINISTER E S IN ADDITION THERE IS THE OPTION OF NOT SIGNING ANY NEW AID COMMITMENTS BUDGETARY PROBLEMS WITH THE FOREIGN ASSISTANCE ACT APPEAR TO BE MAKING THIS NECESSARY ANYWAY BUT PERHAPS WE CAN TURN THIS NECESSIW TO OUR ADVANTAGE BY DELAYING SIGNING THE AGRICULTURAL CREDIT UNCLASSIFIED US Department Of State Case NO DOC NO 306511130 Date 03 14 2018 3393 91918 40 'S'n 170 fO 170 99190 398039 90 39Vd i3303s $33303 33mm 30 HLVEICI 3m moav MONM MON 3M SNIMONM nmsn 3v ss3lena HilM aNIG33ooac ano GNEILLV mnOM HOIHM ESOHJ 8831 331 Eli U ANV NI 3wos Oi 3m 33Aoo TIIAA 3m GNV ss3N av3M m3 sxsm 33v 333m o swam vanH 8 905 3H1 3v 9No1 3v 33cm 33 Nl 930L83AN1 45033 0 1 W338 OJ unol33lc 3a TliM l l NMONM 33 Ll 031v NVO 3M 0399M 3o 3m 0 3v 113M 3v 330mm AENGOH EHJ - o 3SN03333 i938 39 01 W338 SLHSIH vanr MNV33 GNV 103033 LIGEHC M3N 3m N1 909 EIHJ MOI-land 33A1383no ammossv o 1vsn333 wns is Hem J ON CIICI 0ch 3 N3A3 GNV GENEMVEM 333M n N3A3 Nonio313 NV 0100 AEHL 3wos SI 333m SHVEIA LN3333 NI Nam 03 3AVH an 331-30 No 12292 NAAOLESHOEIS 3w NOILVSHEANOO 9 isnanv SIH Ni ELVWILSEI SIHJ 39NVHO SNIHLON GICI 3H sn OJ nus SI Nvavr ano 30 mo SMVW cmoo smvmana o G321Nvaao LSEIEI EIHJ nus SI HOIHM cldd 00330 EHL 31 MSIH HEHLONV '03sva 33v SHONOCI HEHLO 3o swvaaoad EHJ CINV wvaaoad 3HJ HOIHM NO 3H L 3o 3wos 3le33GNn moo ON 30 333 3H1 HSHOHJ N3A3 Nna mos-18 EHJ NI MOOHS OIWON003 EHJ NOIHSFIO NVO 9992 NMOLESHOEIS LNHWEEHSV in 03mm -Noo 3H1 39vwvc1 3wos oa mnoo 01v GNV s AWONOOEI 3S3Nvma 3m Nouov 30 3831100 G103-333HL SIH L Ni 33v 3334 '3 2179 11th 170 10 170 88180 398039 30 39Vd L3EIO3S i3303s 'aoa 3H L 3svo 3H1 303 x3 A3010V3suvs 3a cnnoo 333m LVH L s 33le 09 Ad NI 303 SIHJ 33Vd333 OJ 3H1 1333033 OJ Mus elven ano G3 isv 3AVH I Honw AHEIA HOIHM swam 90 1812c 08H ngoo 000 sgogL-eLoz w 889 'S n 031 65 1 1 1 3 US Department of State Case No Doc No 7'006511130 Date 03 14 2018 UNCLASSIFIED US Department of State Case No Doc No 006511130 Date 03 14 2018 This document is from the holdings of The National Security Archive Suite 701 Gelman Library The George Washington University 2130 H Street NW Washington D C 20037 Phone 202 994-7000 Fax 202 994-7005 nsarchiv@gwu edu