SIGNIFICANT DEVELOPMENTS IN THE LATIN AMERICAN COUNTRIES ON THE COUNTERIN-SURGENCY CRITICAL LIST

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP79T00429A001200030020-2
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: S
• Document Page Count: 4
• Document Creation Date: December 15, 2016
• Document Release Date: July 6, 2004
• Sequence Number: 20
• Publication Date: September 17, 1963
• Content Type: IM

Approved For Releast 2004/07/16Sd #- T00429A00f490030020-2
OCI No. 2819/63
CENTRAL INTELLIGENCE AGENCY
Office of Current Intelligence
17 September 1963
CURRENT INTELLIGENCE MEMORANDUM
SUBJECT: Significant Developments in the Latin
American Countries on the Counterinsur-
gency Critical List
A. Countries on the Critical List
1. Guatemala
A wave of minor violence has broken out in
Guatemala City for the first time since the Guate-
malan military seized power late in March 1963. Sev-
eral bombings have been reported, and on 6 September
an attack on a police station in the capital resulted
in several casualties. The terrorists have not yet
been identified.
The resumption of violence in the capital
may involve elements either of the extreme left or
the far right, both of which are becoming increas-
ingly dissatisfied with the government for various
reasons. Elements from both groups, as well as sev-
eral chronic plotters, reportedly are conspiring
against the government, but there are no indications
that any group now has the strength or support nec-
essary for a successful coup attempt.
There has been no recent news concerning
guerrilla activities outside the capital, and ex-
treme leftist groups reportedly have decided to de-
emphasize their program of rural violence and adopt
the tactics of urban terror used by the Communist-
dominated Armed Forces of National Liberation (FALN)
in Venezuela.
2. Venezuela
The Armed Forces of National Liberation
(FALN) unleashed a wave of bombings and arson in
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Caracas on 13 September in an effort to disrupt a
mass meeting of President Betancourt's Democratic
Action (AD) Party. The meeting was held as sched-
uled, with about half as many present as had been
expected by the organizers. Among the absentees
was AD's presidential candidate, Raul Leoni.
Nine top leaders of FALN escaped from prison
on 16 September, including four ringleaders of the
.1962 revolt at Carupano.
Only a few hours before the escape, the
government had announced the capture of one of
the FALN group which hijacked the Venezuelan freighter
Anzoategui in February,
Reportedly, the Venezuelan Communist Party
(PCV) has gone on "alert" because a rightist revo-
lution is thought to be imminent. The PCV's objective
is to give the insurrection;an appearance of popular
support and cause maximum violence to hinder the gov-
ernment's efforts to defeat the rightist revolt.
B. Other Countries
1. Honduras-Nicaragua
The President of Honduras, through the chief
of the Honduran armed forces, has requested helicopter
support from the US for Honduran military operations
against the Castroite guerrillas reportedly based in
the Patuca River area, The guerrillas appear to be
operating primarily against the Nicaraguan Government
at the present time.
About 300 Honduran troops, under the command
of officers who received US counterinsurgency train-
ing, plan to establish blockades at the junctures of
the Cuyamel and Patuca rivers and of the Guayape and
.Guayambre rivers and then make a sweep through the
intervening area. However, the Honduran Air Force
is unable to provide the essential logistical support.
There has been no contact between Honduran military
units and the insurgents thus far,
On 14 September, Honduran security police
in Tegucigalpa arrested three members of the National
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Liberation Front (FLN), the Nicaraguan Communist
revolutionary organization which reportedly is
sponsoring the guerrilla activity. The police
are trying to locate and arrest other members of
the FLN. (Map).
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