RETURN TO PANAMA OF PANAMENISTA COUP PLOT LEADER "JOSEF"

• Document Type: FOIA
• Collection: FOIA Collection
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): 06971033
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: U
• Document Page Count: 5
• Document Creation Date: July 13, 2023
• Document Release Date: November 14, 2022
• Case Number: F-2022-00034
• Publication Date: August 30, 1970

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Intelligence Informatbn Cable
'PRIORITY
IN 152768
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DIRECTORATE FOR
PLANS
This material contains information affecting the National Defense of the United States within the meaning of the Espionage Laws, TM. I8 U.S.C. Secs. 7E3 and 794, ths(b)(3)
transmission or revelation of which In any manner fa an unauthorised person is prohibited by law.
NO FOREIGN DISSEM/CONTROLLED DISSEM/NO D1SSEM ABROAD/BACKGROUND USE ONLY
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THIS IS AN INFORMATION REPORT, NOT FINALLY EVALUATED INTELLIGENCE
SECRET
-
COUNTRY: ,ANAMA
DOI:
SUBJECT: RETURN TO PANAMA OF PANAMENISTA COUP PLOT
LEADER wJOSEF".
20 APPROACH BY PLOTTERS TO NATIONAL GUARD
OFFICERS FOR SUPPORT IN COUP ATTEMPT
301949Z
CITE
DISY 30 Fp90,S, T. 2:970
- .
"SOURCE:
N 26 AUGUST `IjOSEF", A 'LEADER OF THE PANAMENISTA
� � � - � � � 4 "
NO FOREIGN DISSEM/CONTROLLED DISSEM/NO DISSEMABROAD/BACKGROUND USE ONLY .
SECRET
ET
(b)(3)
(b)(3)
(b)(1)
(b)(3)
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� a.
� E.- C-R-E-T NO FOREIGN DISSEM/CONTROLLED DISSEM/N-'0 DISS1M ABROAD/BACKGROUND USE ONLY �
(olasailication) " ' � """ " � " � ' ' �
ORGAINIZATION PLOTTING THE OVERTHROW OF GENERAL :OMAR
�TORRIJOS, THE DE FACTO' :_t_gat OF
ARRIVED BY AIR AT THE T OCUMEN AIRPORT NEAR
CITY ON A REGULARLY SCHEDULED FLIGHT'. COMMENT:
;114:1M
;IME 0 Al
"JOSE' IS BELIEVED'TO BE PETER ERHARD M 0 S S C K,
THE GM): OF THE LUFTHANSA OFFICE IN itorrturo CITY. AFTER
ASSISTING IN THE ESCAPE FROM CONFINEMENT OF FORMER
NATIONAL GUARD (ON) COLONEL AMADO SANJUR
IN JUNE, ".JOSE' TRAVELED TO THE UNITED STATES WHERE
HE MET WITH SANJUR AND PANAMENISTA LEADERS TO DISCUSS
A JOINT EFFORT TO OUST TORRIJOS AND RESTORE OUSTED
PRESIDENT ARNULFO AR I AS TO THE PRESIDENCY.)
2. IMMEDIATELY AFTER HIS ARRIVAL., "JOSEF MET
VICTOR 5 A L A �S 9A NOTHER LEADER OF THE PANAMENISTA
COUP ORGANIZATIONQ HE TOLD SALAS THAT HE ("JOSEF")
WOULD CHECK WITH A SALVADORAN
WHO. HAD RESIDED IN
PANAMA
FOR:
NO FOREIGN DISSEM/CONTROLLED DISSEM/NO DISSEM ABROAD/BACKGROUND USE ONLY
�
SECRET
SECRET
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(b)(1)
(b)(3)
-(b)(1)
(b)(3)
Approved for Release: 2022/10/04 C06971033
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(classification)
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NO FOREIGN DISSEM/CONTROLLED DISSEM/NO DISSEM ABROAD/BACKGROUND USE ONLY
SOME TIME, AND AN UNNAMED INDIVIDUAL, WHO JOINTLY
CONTROLLED APPROXIMATELY 600 MEN IN THE fl'AIA A CITY
� AREA AND NEAR THE TOWNS OF CHEPO AND PACORA NEAR THE
TOCUMEN AIRPORT. (
� COMMENTED THAT .MOST OF THESE MEN WOULD BE USED TO
� ATTACK COLON OR TO BLOCK A. MOVEMENT OF GN TROOPS ,
FROM COLON qN THE DAY OF THE COUP. SALAS EXPLAINED
THAT THIS WAS NECESSARY 'BECAUSE
COMMENT: SALAS SUBSEQUENTLY
THE COMMANDER �OF THE SECOND
1ELITARY ZONE (COLON) , HAD BEEN ASKED TO ASSIST THE
COUP BUT HAD REFUSED AND STATED HE WOULD USE THE
FORCES UNDER HIS COMMAND TO OPPOSE ANY COUP
ATTEMPT.)
3,
A PANAMENISTA WHO RECENTLY RETURNED FROM EXILE IN
VENEZUELA, HAS RECEIVED 'INSTRUCTIONS FROM FORMER
�
NO FOREIGN DISSEM/CONTROLLED DISSEM/NO DISSEM ABROAD/BACKGROUND USE ONLY
(b)(1)
(b)(3)
(b)(1)
(b)(3)
(b)(1)
(b)(3)
SECRET
SECRET
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A �
NO FOREIGN .DISSEM/CONTROLLED DISSEM/NO DISSEM ABROAD/BACKGROUND USE ONLY.
(cursafication) 8II tast1d.:tut41
CAPTAIN ABRAHAMCROCAMO,AMILITANT .
SUPPORTER OF ARIAS AND 4 PARTICIPANT IN THE
COUP PL OT T NG TO CONTACT
THE COMMANDER
OF THE FIRST
PUBLIC ORDER (b)(1)
(b)(3)
OF
THE COUP.
COMPANY:
STATIONED
CITY),
OLD PANAMA � (OUTSIDE
.AT
AND ASK HIM TO SUPPORT
FAUFTA
(b)(1)
CLAIMS
TO. HAVE ,,600 MEN (b)(3)
UNDER HIS
COMMAND
WHO WILL PARTICIPATE'IN
THE
COUP. (
COMMENT: THE NUMBERS OF SUPPORTERS (b)(1)
(b)(3)
CLAIMED BY THE COUP LEADERS APPEAR TO BE GREATLY
EX AGG ER
AT ED .)
4
THE. COMMANDER OF � (b)(1).
(b)(3).'
THE FIRST MILITARY
ONE (PANAMA
TY ) WAS
CONTACTED BY COUP
LEADERS ON
23 AUGUST
AND
AGREED TO SUPPORT THE COUP.
OFFERED TO (b)(1)
(b)(3)
CONTACT OTHER OFFICERS IN THE'GN.AND,ABK FOR.
� �0
NO FOREIGN DISSEM/CONTROLLED DISSEM/NO DISSEM ABROAD/BACKGROUND USE ONLY
�
MR ET
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manifteattoto
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PAGE 5 OF 5 PAGES
NO FOREIGN DISSEM/CONTROLLED DISSEM/ NO DISSEM ABROAD/BACKGROUND USE ONLY "
THEIR COOPERATION FOR THE COUP.
5. VICTOR SALAS RECEIVED A LETTER FROM HIS BROTHER
JACOBOSALAS,APANAMENISTA LEADER NOW IN THE
UNITED STATES. THE LETTER, DATED 25 AUGUST, STATED
THAT SOME UNNAMED LEADERS OF THE PANAMENISTA
ORGANIZATION WHO WERE IN THE U.S. FAVORED ASKING
THE U.S. TO PROVIDE MILITARY ASSISTANCE FOR THE
COUP. HOWEVER SANJUR AND CROCAMO BELIEVE THAT THE
NUMBER OF MEN THEY NOW HAVE IS SUFFICIENT TO INSURE
THE SUCCESS OF THE COUP AND ARE READY TO LAUNCH THE
COUP. JACOBO SALAS COMMENTED IN THE LETTER THAT HE
BELIEVED THE OPERATION WOULD BE LAUNCHED IN A FEW
DAYS AS SOON oAS THE SUPPORT IN
6.
WAS COORDINATED.
. REPORT CLASS:SECRET/NO FOREIGN.DISSEM/CONTROLLED DISSEM
A110 DISSEM ABRQAD/BACKGROUND.USE ONLY GP-1.
(b)(1)
(b)(3)
SECRET
SECRET
Approved for Release: 2022/10/04 C06971033