MONTHLY REPORT -- PANAMA BUREAU -- JULY 1981

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP83-00385R000200110011-7
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: K
• Document Page Count: 3
• Document Creation Date: December 20, 2016
• Document Release Date: May 8, 2007
• Sequence Number: 11
• Publication Date: August 7, 1981
• Content Type: MEMO

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FOREIGN BROADCAST INFORMATION SERVICE
PANAMA BUREAU
DRAWER 927
APO MIAMI 34004
7 August 1981
MPA #1030
MEMORANDUM FOR: Director, FBIS
THROUGH : Chief, Operations Group
SUBJECT : Monthly Report -- Panama Bureau -- July 1981
The disappearance on Friday, 31 July, of the plane transporting Gen Omar
Torrijos, Panama's strong man and commander of the National Guard, prompted an
urgent call early the next day from the office of the CINC, USSOUTHCOM, asking
the bureau to maintain an open watch on Panamanian transmitters and to report
the media's treatment of the disappearance and subsequent developments. The
first official announcement that the general's plane was missing was picked up
just after noontime on Saturday, and a little more than an hour later the bu-
reau monitored the first confirmed report that the plane had crashed and that
there were no survivors. This was phoned immediately to the special task force
set up by USSOUTHCOM to monitor the developing situation and to the embassy.
The bureau's open watch was maintained throughout the weekend period to report
media reaction and the events surrounding the initially tense political situa-
tion. On Monday, expressions of appreciation for the bureau's weekend coverage
were phoned in to the bureau chief from the embassy and USSOUTHCOM.
The FBIS Wire had advised the bureau that the initial report confirming
Torrijos' death had generated a CRITIC message.
A. Monitorial/Editorial
1. Line problems dogged the bureau's remote monitoring system through-
out the month, leading to occasional gaps or delays in reception of programs.
As the month ended, Nicaraguan and Guatemalan receivers could be tuned and mo-
nitored remotely, but the San Salvador receiver could not be tuned and San Sal-
vador coverage depended heavily on phone feeds.
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2. Local line problems also interrupted the bureau's LATIN and ACAN-EFE
services periodically throughout the month. By the end of the month, ACAN recep-
tion had improved after replacement of a poor-quality landline, and LATIN's trou-
bles were momentarily quiet, apparently due to repairs in the New York transmitter.
3. Despite these reception problems, the bureau continued to have a heavy
processing backlog, with one monitor on extended sick leave, a new monitor in
training, and a third on TDY at Key West. Extensive overtime was being used to
keep the backlog under control.
A. Personnel
1. I larrived on PCS 8 July to fill the additi(Si ,T
editorial slot authorized by Headquarters.
2. I lentered on duty 13 July to fill an-exisT
monitorial vacancy. The bureau was also authorized to add two additional-moni-
torial positionsto its T/0 and an intensive recruitment campaign is under way
to fill them.
3. The bureau chief, accompanied by the bureau chief-designate, trav-
eled 14-18 July to Managua, Tegucigalpa, Guatemala, and San Salvador to inspect
the stations of the bureau's Central American remote monitoring network and to
meet embassy officers.
B. Building and Grounds
In compliance with the recommendation of the Safety Officer following
his recent inspection visit, a number of additional AC outlets were installed
in the operations building to replace existing extension cords.
analyst, J-2, USSOUTHCOM, on 8 July. STAT
2. A two-man audit team from Headquarters 20-22 July to conduct an audit
of the bureau's property and records.
3. Sergeant MacDonald, NCOIC, and Sergeant Vozel, in charge of maintenance,
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Plans and Operations Division, U.S. Army Communications Center, on 29 July.
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Attachments:
Monthly Production Report
Operations Attachment
Engineering Attachment
Publications Coverage Report
Coverage Schedule
cc: Chief, Paraguay Bureau
Chief, Key West Bureau
Chief, Panama Bureau, FBIS
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