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PP RUEHCD RUEHGD RUEHHO RUEHNG RUEHNL RUEHRD RUEHRS RUEHTM
DE RUEHMC #0080 0491956
ZNY CCCCC ZZH
P 181956Z FEB 09
FM AMCONSUL MONTERREY
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 3526
INFO RUEHME/AMEMBASSY MEXICO PRIORITY 4572
RUEHXC/ALL US CONSULATES IN MEXICO COLLECTIVE
RUEHMC/AMCONSUL MONTERREY 9085

C O N F I D E N T I A L MONTERREY 000080 
 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL:  2/18/2019 
TAGS: ASEC SNAR KCRM PINS CASC MX
SUBJECT: FEBRUARY 17 AMCONSULATE MONTERREY EMERGENCY ACTION COMMITTEE 
MEETING 
 
REF: A) MONTERREY 074; B) MONTERREY 458 
 
CLASSIFIED BY: Bruce Williamson, Consul General, Monterrey, 
State. 
REASON: 1.4 (b), (d) 
¶1.  (C) Summary.  The Consulate General Monterrey EAC convened 
on February 17 to discuss ongoing demonstrations sponsored by 
the drug cartels against the military, a recent incident during 
which an unknown person tailed a Post official while departing 
the Consulate Building, and the reliability of the 
state/municipal police units posted outside the Consulate 
General building.  Post held a town hall meeting later that day 
to brief American direct hire employees, and will take several 
other steps to further strengthen our security posture.  End 
Summary. 
 
Demonstrations and Recent Security Incidents 
 
¶2.  (C)  In addition to the Consul General, RSO, Econ, Cons, 
Mgt, IPO, FCS, DEA, ICE, ATF, GSO, and CIS, visiting Washington 
based DS/IP officials attended the meeting.  The Consul General 
and RSO briefed the EAC on the ongoing demonstrations against 
the Mexican military, organized by the drug cartels (see reftel 
A).  On February 13, post issued a warden message to Amcits 
about the protests.  Demonstrations are very rare in Monterrey, 
and these have continued for the last week at different 
locations, shutting down major thoroughfares.  Several of the 
demonstrations have occurred in close proximity to the 
Consulate.  After police arrested one of the organizers, a cell 
leader for the Gulf Cartel, the arresting officer was threatened 
and later killed.  We understand that the police have decided 
not to investigate their fellow officer's assassination.  FSN 
RSO Investigator and commander of the state police local guard 
force had a verbal run-in with another Gulf Cartel organizer who 
attempted to park his vehicle near the Consulate.  The 
demonstrations continue and the state police are very reluctant 
to intervene. 
 
¶3.  (C)  RSO also briefed the EAC about an unknown car tailing 
the A/RSO as he left the building February 12 at 19:15 hours. 
As the pursuer followed him the wrong way up a one way street 
post considers this to be a confirmed case of surveillance. 
A/RSO identified the car as a four door black sedan.  When the 
pursuing car tried to pull up alongside the A/RSO vehicle, which 
had diplomatic license plates, the A/RSO was able to lose the 
pursuer by switching lanes to enter an adjoining highway.  The 
pursuer almost rammed his car into a concrete barrier attempting 
to follow the A/RSO.  A DHS/ICE employee was also tailed in 
October 2008 (see reftel B).  In addition, an unknown person 
tried to enter a Consulate house in a gated community last week, 
but the guard prevented the person from coming into the gated 
community. 
 
¶4.  (C)  Finally, RSO discussed the local police's security 
posture around the Consulate.  Following the October 11 attack 
on the Consulate, there have been two police cars from the city 
of San Pedro and a state SWAT team deployed in front of the 
Consulate, in addition to the local guard force of state police 
officers.  The night of February 12, at around 22:00 hours, the 
SWAT team warned the San Pedro police that they were moving off 
for unclear reasons.  The SWAT team then redeployed, without RSO 
knowledge or approval, to the rear of the building.  The San 
Pedro police interpreted these actions as an indication of a 
possible attack and informed the RSO, who was still working in 
the building.  Based on their demeanor, the local guard force 
appeared unaware of any threat.  It is unknown if this was a 
misunderstanding, a warning, or a probe to see how the police 
forces would react. 
 
Consulate Actions 
 
¶5.  (C)  EAC participants agreed that the Consulate should hold 
a town hall meeting for American direct hire employees to advise 
them of the ongoing situation and the security precautions that 
they and their families should take.  The town hall was held 
that afternoon.  Employees were asked to vary their routes to 
and from work, and to maintain their awareness as they circulate 
about the city.  RSO has issued security notices regarding what 
steps to take in case one of them is caught up in a 
demonstration and will reissue its notices on good security 
practices.  At the EAC and the town hall American employees were 
urged to inform their supervisors if they are going on a trip 
away from Monterrey, and when they expect to return. Finally, 
IPO noted that the Consulate has two satellite phones available 
for use by employees going on official travel in areas where 
cell phone coverage is lacking. 
 
WILLIAMSON