INDEPENDENT NEWS

Cablegate: Country Clearance Postponed for Cme Team

Published: Fri 20 Apr 2007 05:51 AM
VZCZCXYZ0042
OO RUEHWEB
DE RUEHML #1275 1100551
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
O 200551Z APR 07
FM AMEMBASSY MANILA
TO RUEHFSI/DIR FSINFATC
INFO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 6193
RHHMUNA/CDRUSPACOM HONOLULU HI
UNCLAS MANILA 001275
SIPDIS
DEPT FOR FSI/LMS/CMT, EAP/EX, EAP, EAP/MTS, S/ES-O/CMS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV RP AMGT AEMR ASEC KESS OTRA
SUBJECT: COUNTRY CLEARANCE POSTPONED FOR CME TEAM
Refs: A) FSINFATC 1310 B) KINNEY/KANE EMAIL 19 APR
1. Post wishes to thank FSI/LMS/CMT for including Embassy Manila in
the schedule of Crisis Management Exercises. Post Management
regrets that we cannot extend country clearance to the Crisis
Management Team Leader for May 12-15, 2007. We recognize the
importance of these exercises to enhance our Mission's ability to
respond to possible emergencies, but are unable to support an
exercise on the dates requested. We could support the exercise on
the following days, now scheduled for Bangkok, but understand the
team is unable to accommodate that change.
2. Nationwide elections are scheduled for May 14, 2007. The
Embassy will be closed on that date and more than 50 Mission members
will be disbursed throughout the Philippine Archipelago to monitor
and report on the election outcome; many will not return to Manila
until late on May 15. Given the potential for election-related
violence, RSO is providing escorts for teams visiting polling
stations in many areas. Management and logistical resources will be
fully engaged to support the observation effort and provide for any
contingencies.
3. The Crisis Management Exercise is a very high priority for
Embassy Manila. Given the propensity of the Philippines for
earthquakes, typhoons, tsunamis, mudslides, and other natural
disasters, combined with chronic political instability and a very
real terrorism threat, Post management wants to maximize our
opportunities to learn from this exercise. Re-scheduling the Crisis
Management exercise to early Fall would allow key members of the EAC
to participate, many of whom would not be able to participate on May
14-15, and would significantly improve the impact of the training
for the entire mission. We hope to reschedule the exercise to that
time.
Kenney
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