MONTHLY REPORT--PANAMA BUREAU--JUNE 1982

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP86-00040R000100120004-8
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: K
• Document Page Count: 9
• Document Creation Date: December 21, 2016
• Document Release Date: April 2, 2008
• Sequence Number: 4
• Publication Date: July 8, 1982
• Content Type: MEMO

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FOREIGN BROADCAST INFORMATION SERVICE
PANAMA BUREAU
DRAWER 927
APO MIAMI 34004
8 July 1982
MPA #0018
MEMORANDUM FOR: Director, FBIS
THROUGH : Chief, Operations Group
SUBJECT : Monthly Report -- Panama Bureau -- June 1982
The bureau was asked by the 193rd Infantry Brigade Directorate
of Facilities Engineering to provide comments on a new Panamanian
proposal for the planned Pacific Coast Highway. A Panamanian pro-
posal in December 1981 which would have significantly altered the
path of the road from that shown in Canal Treaty maps and would
have placed it through the Bureau's antenna field, was firmly re-
jected by the U.S. side. The latest proposal places the road on
the far side of a ridge at the southern end of the antenna field.
The Bureau's comments on the proposal indicated that although a
route a little further south would be preferrable, the current
proposal was acceptable. Road construction is not expected to
begin for about 2 years.
II. OPERATIONS
A. Monitorial/Editorial
1. A rash of monitorial illnesses kept the bureau on
short staffing throughout the month. Two monitors underwent suc-
cessful surgery, a third was disabled by a peptic ulcer and a
fourth was laid low by a case of measles. Fortunately, the bureau's
coverage load remained light enough during the month so that all
essential coverage could be maintained and no serious processing
backlogs developed.
2. Recruiting to fill two vacant monitorial positions
brought a total of 67 responses to adds placed in two local papers.
Thirty four candidates have been selected for interviews and testing
which are expected to be completed by mid-July. Meanwhile, the
Panama Social urity authorities finally advised the bureau that
selected from the January recruitment effort, had
passed all of the tests and would be admitted to the PSS "voluntary
program". Headquarters has been asked for permission to hire; hope-
fully, he will be on board by mid-July.
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3. Bureau support of Key West and Par uay bureaus con-
tinued during the month. Monitor remain on TDY
in Key West; editorE: _J and teletnist~ began
TDY's in Paraguay. Paraguay monitor visited the
Bureau 8 - 11 June for familiarization uring his return to
Paraguay from Key West.
4. The Bureau Chief visited Guatemala City 22 - 25 June
to hire a new contractor
TV feeds.
official, we egen work on u y.
5. A long-expected anti-Sandinist clandestine radio, The
Voice of Sandino, began broadcasting during the month. Representing
the forces of Sandinist dissident Eden Pastora, it was heard for only
4 days early in the month before disappearing. The search for its
expected return continues.
On 15 June, the mandatory Nicaraguan national network
"The Voice of the Defense of the Fatherland" was terminated and
Nicaraguan government and commercial stations resumed their own
newscasts. On the same date Managua International Service resumed broad-
casts daily from 0200-0600 GMT. On 28 June the Sistema Sandinista
Television Network resumed broadcasts of the "Face the People" meet-
ings between government leaders and the people. Radio Sandino's
weekly phone-in program, "Direct Line," resumed 1 July.
Despite this apparent return to normalcy, however, no
domestic outlet is now available for opposition statements. The
main opposition radio station, Managua Radio Corporacion, has been
virtually silenced, and the sole opposition newspaper, LA PRENSA, is
still required to submit its issues to prior censorship.
6. The Bureau was informed that service on the landline
Buenos Aires LATIN circuit is now provided only during daytime hours
on weekdays. Because of this restricted maintenance, our LATIN
coverage has deteriorated sharply in recent weeks and has had to be
backstopped by Paraguay Bureau on several occasions.
B. Lateral Services
1. In response to a Southcom request, the bureau prepared
audio cassettes of local media reports on a 4 June press conference
given by Southcom Deputy Commander Maj Gen William Masterson. The
press conference was called to respond to charges that The U.S. Air
Force was using Howard Air Force Base to assist the British in the
Falklands fighting.
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2. The Bureau also provided expedited processing of
Panamanian President Royo's 14 June UN speech so that a copy of the
translation could be prepared for Southcom Commander Lt. Gen. Wallace
Nutting prior to his departure for.the States the next morning.
3. Two officers and four NCOs from the Panamanian National
Guard Center for Investigation and Development (CID) visited the
bureau 15 June accompanied by a member of the U.S. Embassy Military
Group. The CID personnel had requested a tour and briefing on our
operation to assist them in establishing a similar operation to
cover Panamanian domestic radios. In a subsequent letter to the
MilGroup Commander, the CID director expressed appreciation for the
interesting and detailed briefing.
C. Technical
1. All TRG antenna multicouplers have been replaced by
new Delta multicouplers following minor modifications deemed nec-
essary after an extended period of testing.
2. One Extel model AH-11RS RO printer (serial No. 105377)
was received in May. Unit price is $1,100. One Frederick 1251
Demodulator Display Unit (serial No. FE-5875) was transferred to
Paraguay Bureau in June. Unit price is $900.
III. ADMINISTRATION
A. Personnel
1. began 30 days LWOP 22 June to
recuperate from surgery.
Teletypists
received PSIs in June trom NX- to NX-5/8 from NX-5/5
to NX- respectively.
B. Buildings and Grounds
1. Contractor
mowing of the antenna fib
completed the second
2. Contractor) (completed above ground main-
tenance on. three antennas.) )also repaired guy wires to
four antennas which had been damaged by armored personnel carriers
during training maneuvers.
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IV. VISITS
1. To the Bureau: Maj. Erick Kjonnerod of the U.S. Embassy
Military Group and Lt. Zuniga, 2d Lt. Pineda, SFC Vasquez, SSG
Rivera, SSG Herrera and SSG Gonzalez from the Panama National Guard
Center for Investigation and Development 15 June.
2. From the Bureau: Bureau Chief to Guatemala TDY 22-25 June.
V. COMMUNITY ACTIVITIES
Omitted from last month's report: Five members of the bureau
staff successfully completed training in cardiovascular pulmonary
resuscitation (CPR) in Ma . The course as given at the bureau by
Regional Medical Officer and required about 12 hours
over a 3-day period. Receiving Red Cross cards iinnn rmmnlatinn of
tha rnurca ~iorc
planned tor u y-.
Chief, Panama Bureau, FBIS
Attachment:
Monthly Production Report
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I. TOTALS FROM ALL SOURCES:
TOTAL PUBLISHABLE WORDAGE FILED DURING MONTH: 283,710
TOTAL NON-PUBLISHABLE WORDAGE FILED DURING MONTH: 8,950
TOTAL NUMBER OF PUBLISHABLE ITEMS FILED DURING MONTH: 829
BROAD- PRESS PUBLI-
CASTS AGENCIES CATIONS
II. INPUT OF REGULAR COVERAGE: 7,525 38,010 119.00
(minutes or issues per week) min min issues
III. OUTPUT FROM ALL SOURCES:
(publishable words per month)
ARGENTINA
Buenos Aires LATIN in
Spanish 4,930
Buenos Aires TELAM in
Spanish 0
Buenos Aires NOTICIAS ARGENTINAS in
Spanish 0
AUSTRIA
Vienna OPECNA in
Spanish
COLOMBIA
Bogota Radio Cadena Nacional in
Spanish
1,850
Bogota Emisoras Caracol Network in
Spanish
1,900
Bogota Cadena Radial Super in
Spanish
1,380
Bogota Radio Santa Fe in
Spanish
110
Bogota Domestic Service in
Spanish
1,330
(CLANDESTINE)
Radio Venceremos in
Spanish to El Salvador
20,120
Radio 15 September in
Spanish to Nicaragua
4,340
Voice of Sandino in
Spanish to Nicaragua
600
COSTA RICA
San Jose Radio Reloj in
Spanish
8,010
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BROAD-
CASTS
PRESS
AGENCIES
PUBLI-
CATIONS
San Jose LA NACION in
Spanish
4,920
CUBA
Havana International Service in
Spanish
41,580
Havana PRELA in
English
5,530
Havana PRELA in
Portuguese
ECUADOR
Quito Voz de los Andes in
Spanish
3,350
Quito Cadena Ecuador Radio in
Spanish
1,020
Quito Diplomatic Information Service in
Spanish
EL SALVADOR
San Salvador Domestic Service in
Spanish
2,300
San Salvador Radio Cadena Sonora
Spanish
in
2,410
San Salvador Radio Cadena YSKL in
Spanish
3,140
San Salvador Radio Cadena Central
Spanish
in
410
San Salvador EL DIARIO DE HOY in
Spanish
2,040
San Salvador EL MUNDO in
Spanish
2,160
San Salvador LA PRENSA GRAFICA in
Spanish
3,580
San Salvador DIARIO LATINO in
Spanish
San Salvador ORIENTACION in
Spanish
San Salvador THE NEWS GAZETTE in
English
1,090
FRANCE
Paris AFP in
English
1,820
Paris AFP in
Spanish
19,140
GUATEMALA
Guatemala City Radio Nuevo Mundo Network in
Spanish
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BROAD- PRESS PUBLI-
CASTS AGENCIES CATIONS
Guatemala City Radio-Television Guatemala in
Spanish 3,720
Guatemala City Cadena de Emisoras Unidas in
Spanish 5,430
Guatemala City Trece-Vision in
Spanish 3,840
Guatemala City Domestic Service in
Spanish 5,080
Guatemala City Radio Fabulosa in
Spanish 290
Guatemala City DIARIO DE CENTROAMERICA in
Spanish
Guatemala City PRENSA LIBRE in
Spanish
Guatemala City DIARIO EL GRAFICO in
Spanish
HONDURAS
Tegucigalpa Domestic Service in
Spanish 3,390
Tegucigalpa Voz de Honduras Network in
Spanish 1,370
Tegucigalpa Cadena Audio Video in
Spanish 5,850
Tegucigalpa Televisora Hondurena in
Spanish 450
Tegucigalpa EL HERALDO in
Spanish
Tegucigalpa LA TRIBUNA in
Spanish
San Pedro Sula TIEMPO in
Spanish
San Pedro Sula LA PRENSA in
Spanish
MEXICO
Mexico City International Service in
Spanish
1,890
NICARAGUA
Managua Sistema Sandinista Television Network in
Spanish 2,310
Managua Radio Sandino in
Spanish 2,670
Managua Radio Sandino Network in
Spanish 5,080
1,280
2,600
0
1,510
860
2,990
1,550
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Managua Domestic Service in
Spanish
Managua Radio Noticias in
Spanish
Managua Radio Mundial in
Spanish
Managua BARRICADA in
Spanish
Managua BARRICADA INTERNACIONAL in
Spanish
Managua EL NUEVO DIARIO in
Spanish
Managua LA PRENSA iri
Spanish
BROAD- PRESS PUBLI-
CASTS AGENCIES CATIONS
23,740
900
90
PANAMA
Panama City Televisora Nacional in
Spanish 3,650
Panama City Circuito RPC-Television in
Spanish 6,270
Panama City Domestic Service in
Spanish 2,490
Panama City ACAN in
Spanish
Panama City CRITICA in
Spanish
Panama City LA ESTRELLA DE PANAMA in
Spanish
Panama City STAR & HERALD in
English
Panama City LA PRENSA in
Spanish
Panama City LA REPUBLICA in
Spanish
Panama City MATUTINO in
Spanish
Panama City QUIUBO in
Spanish
SPAIN
Madrid EFE in
Spanish
UNITED KINGDOM
London REUTER in
English
London REUTER in
French
17,240
9,550
2,290
500
2,540
3,410
3,700
0
2,480
1,750
3,420
1,380
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BROAD- PRESS PUBLI-
CASTS AGENCIES CATIONS
VENEZUELA
Caracas Radio Continente Network in
Spanish
Caracas Radio Rumbos Network in
Spanish
Caracas Domestic Service in
Spanish
3,830
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