ROUTiNG Approved for Release: 2018/09/17 C00513800 TO: NAME AND ADDRESS DATE INITIALS 1 ACTION APPROVAL COMMENT CONCURRENCE REMARKS: _IDIRECT REPLY OraPATCH FILE INFORMATION PREPARE REPLY RECOMMENDA14-' RETURN SIGNATURE FROM: NAME, ADDRESS AND PHONE NO. DATE IHSecrfel 182 (Security Classification) 3.5(c) CONTROL NO. EO 13526 3.3(b)(1)>25Yrs EO 13526 3.5(c) NR 3.5(c) Access to this document will be restricted to those approved for the following specific activities: NATIONAL INTELLIGENCE DAILY CABLE Monday May 17, 1976 CI NIDC 76-116C Warning Notice Sensitive Intelligence Sources and Methods Involved NATIONAL SECURITY 1.4FORLATION Unauthorized Disclosure Subject to Criminal Sanctions 411415111r wSecrer- (Security Classification 3.5(c) Approved for Release: 2018/09/17 C00513800/ 4Bny Amy' Approved for Release: 2018/09/17 C00513800 3.5(C) VA./ VAN NR BOLIVIA 3.5(c) The assassination last waek in Paris of General Joaquin Zenteno, Bolivian ambassador to France, bears a marked similarity to the murder of Colonel Ramon Trabal, the Uruguayan military attache who was shot in his Paris apartment in December 1974. 3.5(c) Both men had prominent roles in eradicating leftist subversive groups in their own countries before being posted to Paris. Trabal served as chief of military security in Uruguay and had a primary responsibility for planning and directing the campaign against the Tupamaros. He reportedly was given a diplomatic assignment at the request of army superiors who resented his ambition and ability. 3.5(c) Zenteno achieved international prominence in 1967 for tracking down and capturing Che Guevara; he later became commander in chief of the armed forces--the second most powerful position in Bolivia. He went into "gclden exile" in 1973 following a serious disagreement with President Banzer over administrative and political matters. 3.5(c) In each case previously unknown terrorist groups claimed responsibility for the murder. A group calling itself 7 3,0P-SECR.Ei Approved for Release: 2018/09/17 C00513800 3.5(c) Approved for Release: 2018/09/17 C00513800 3.5(c) the Raul Sendic International Brigade (named for the founder of the Tupamaros) took credit for Trabal's "execution," and the "Che Guevara International Brigade" claims it eliminated Zenteno. 3.5(c) Zenteno s name has long been on a leftist assassination list that was prepared to eliminate several military and political Zigures whom the leftists hold responsible for Guevara's death. Major Gary Prado, who is also believed to be on the list, was recalled from his post as Bolivian military attache in Spain late last week.// 3.3(b)(1) 3.5(c) It is possible that an international organization, based in Argentina, thAtt calls itself the Revolutionary Coordinating Junta is responsible for either or both assassinations. , this group is led by representatives of subversive groups in Bolivia, Uruguay, Paraguay, Chile, Brazil, and Argentina and is dedicated to the violent overthrow of military-backed governments in those countries.// 3.5(c) ankers in Buenos Aires wko have been the victims of terrorist kidnaping operations have said privately that their ransom money was paid in gold and deposited in banks in Beirut and in unmarked Swiss accounts in Italy.// 3.5(c) In the past, Latin American terrorists generally confined their operations to their own countries, but many observers predict that operations now will be modeled on the activities of Middle East terrorist groups and will occur 3.5(c) anywhere. 3.3(b)(1) 8 ET 3.5(c) Approved for Release: 2018/09/17 C00513800 NR

Printer-friendly version

Search form

NATIONAL INTELLIGENCE DAILY CABLE MONDAY MAY 17, 1976[SANITIZED] - 1976/05/17