Classified By: DCM Michael D. Thomas for reason 1.4 (d) 1. (S) Ambassador met with Major General (ret.) Norman McLean on February 8 at McLean's request. At the meeting, McLean handed Ambassador a sheet of paper listing information he had received from a policeman who has access to the Buxton area. This paper described a discussion regarding an operation to kill high profile people in retaliation for the murder of Ronald Waddell (reftel). Ambassador's name was one of thirteen names listed. This paper described a discussion that reportedly occurred February 4 after Waddell's funeral procession. According to press reports and McLean's information, when the funeral procession reached Buxton, some members of the crowd removed Waddell's body from the casket, told police, the media, and other members of the procession to wait while they paraded through an area known as "the Gulf", where persons in black masks carrying AK-47s fired shots into the air as a final salute to the man who had praised the vigilante "Buxton resistance". 2. (S) It is difficult to evaluate the credibility of this threat. However, McLean is a serious and experienced security professional. McLean said his source offered to obtain further information, but McLean advised him not to. McLean said he brought the matter to Ambassador's attention because he believes the source is credible and he believes that retaliation for the Waddell murder is inevitable. 3. (S) Post is taking the following actions to improve Ambassador's security. -- A/RSO detailed to Ambassador's existing Police Protective Detail when Ambassador traveling out of home or office. -- RSO will re-brief Ambassador's Protective Detail and Drivers on principles of protection. -- Ambassador and Ambassador's driver will increase variation in routes and times of Ambassador's travel. -- One SD team (two members) will be dedicated to the Ambassador. -- RSO will ask Commissioner of Police to detail an armed Police Officer of the Special Response Team to the EMR. -- Motor pool will vary armored vehicle used to transport Ambassador rather than using one vehicle constantly. 4. (S) Text of note follows. Begin quote: INFORMATION RECEIVED After the funeral of Waddell on Saturday, it seems that elements associated with the group had a discussion on some form of retaliation. The two-for-one ratio was expanded on this occasion for more high profile targets. The following were identified as possible targets but Odinga Lumumba is felt to be top of the list. Odinga Lumumba - High Profile target seen as an organizer Sita Ramlal - too powerful and dismissing black people Norman McLean - Association with the above and wanted badly for crossing over to PPP Chief Justice Carl Singh - High Profile target Donald Ramotar - As above Roger Luncheon - As above and a sell out of black people Steve Surujbali - High Profile target Juror in Mark Benschop Case - for obvious reasons Roger Khan) - Association or control Ricardo) of Phantom groups Brian Tiwari - High Profile Indian Khursid Sattaur - Government Official and High profile Indian Roland Bullen - US Ambassador lending support to Government It is understood that reconnaissance has started in several areas e.g., Bel Air where there is a Phantom House and where SR lives. Hits could start on the anniversary of the jailbreak around Mash time. The scenarios could be Hits direct and by staged vehicle accidents. Purpose to cause chaos and confusion, disrupt the likelihood of investment and frustrate the upcoming Elections and improve chances of a Constitutional crisis. It is understood further that an operative named Rawlins aka &Fine Man,8 Oliver Hinckson, Godwin McPherson and others, are orchestrating these actions. End Quote. 5. (SBU) A copy of the note as been e-mailed to WHA/CAR Laura Luftig. Post Bio notes on persons named as targets: ------------------------------------------ 6. (S) Odinga Lumumba: Strong man for the former PNC government. Followed ex-Prime Minister Hamilton Green to the GGG when the PNC expelled Green then moved to the PPP. Currently Coordinator of the President's Youth Choice Initiative, Presidential Advisor on Empowerment PPP Member of Parliament, President of the Guyana Football League, central figure in a wildlife export scandal, frequently seen clubbing with President Jagdeo and popularly rumored to procure women for the President. 7. (SBU) Sita Ramlal: Registrar of the Supreme Court and Norman McLean's girlfriend. 8. (SBU) Norman McLean: Served as both Commissioner of Police and Chief of Staff of the Guyana Defense Force during the Burnham years. Since the early 1990s McLean has been Human Resources Manager of Omai Gold Mines, a subsidiary of Canada's Cambior Inc. A fixture in the business community, McLean has occupied a number of positions including President of the Guyana Manufactures Association, member of the Security Sub-Committee of the Local Organizing Committee for the 2007 Cricket World Cup, Deputy Chairman of the Ethnic Relations Commission. Most pertinent to the matter at hand, McLean served as a member of the Presidential Commission of Inquiry that incredibly cleared former Minister of Home Affairs Gajraj of involvement in extra-judicial killings by the Phantom Squad. 9. (C) Carl Singh: Chief Justice of the High Court, Acting Chancellor of the Judiciary, active in efforts to streamline administration of justice and reduce judicial corruption, and widely perceived to be partial to the PPP Government. 10. (SBU) Juror in Mark Benschop Case: the only one of ten jurors who voted to convict Benschop for treason after he led a crowd storming the Office of the President in 2002. Popular opinion believes the juror was suborned by the PPP/government to vote guilty. 11. (U) Donald Ramotar: General Secretary of the People's Progressive Party, Member of Parliament. 12. (S) Roger Luncheon: Head of the Presidential Secretariat and second ranking member of Cabinet after the Prime Minister. Commonly referred to as "Machiavelli" by the Diplomatic Corps. Commissioner of Police Felix says Luncheon ordered him to say that the arrest of drug-kingpin and Phantom Squad member Roger Khan at a Guyana Defense Force roadblock in an armored vehicle with high-tech cell phone intercept equipment and automatic weaponry was a mistake because it was a police operation (Felix refused). 13. (SBU) Steve Surujballi: Chairman of the Guyana Elections Commission, veterinarian, former director of the National Dairy Development Program, former member of the Working People's Alliance. 14. (U) Roger Khan: Guyana's number one narco-trafficker and a member of the Phantom Squad used by GoG in 2003-2004 to reign in an out-of-control crime situation. Widely rumored to be responsible for the execution-style murder of Ronald Waddell. 15. (SBU) Brian Tiwari: Managing Director of engineering firm B.K. International Contractors that wins many government contracts. Locally referred to as one of the "untouchables" because his firm continues to get government contracts despite poor performance. 16. (SBU) Khursid Sattaur: Commissioner General of Guyana Revenue Authority. Disliked by nearly everyone who has any contact with the GRA. Bio Notes on purported perpetrators: ----------------------------------- 17. (SBU) Rawlins aka "Fine Man": A gang member resident in Buxton. Reportedly the target of a 2005 Roger Khan-led execution attempt that mistakenly killed a young boy in Buxton. 18. (SBU) Oliver Hinckson: According to McLean, a former GDF lieutenant. Now associated with the COPS Security Service. 19. (C) Godwin McPherson: Former number two in the Guyana Defense Force with the rank of Colonel was cashiered from the GDF in 1996 and prosecuted for multiple charges of theft and embezzlement totaling nearly US$2 million. Currently serves as PNC Representative on the National Sports Commission Board and President of the Guyana Amateur Basketball Federation. Now employed as Physical Education Coordinator at the Ministry of Education. Served as Chief Elections Officer for the April 2005 Guyana Public Service Union elections that were marred by accusations of irregularities in counting the ballots. BULLEN