MONTHLY REPORT--BANGKOK BUREAU--OCTOBER 1983

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP86-00040R000100190003-2
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: K
• Document Page Count: 6
• Document Creation Date: December 21, 2016
• Document Release Date: March 31, 2008
• Sequence Number: 3
• Publication Date: November 4, 1983
• Content Type: MEMO

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MEMORANDUM FOR: Director, Foreign Broadcast Inofrmation Service
THROUGH Chief, Operations Group
SUBJECT Monthly Report--Bangkok Bureau--October 1983
Steady and heavy rainfall from a series of tropical depressions in
the South China Sea added to an already record rainy season rainfall to
create the worst floods Bangkok has experienced since 1942. As a result,
virtually all sidestreets were well under water--up to 4 feet in some areas--
for much of the month. Large sections of the major roadways, such as Sukhumvit
and Phetchaburi Roads were also badly affected. During the worst periods of
flooding thus far, traffic (i.e. those cars with periscopes) was often backed
up for several kilometers.
Bureau employees went with the flow, despite the many problems posed
by the flooding. Although high waters on 19 October forced the embassy to
close at 11:00 A.M., bureau operations continued relatively unabated due to
the valiant efforts of bureau employees. Also on the 19th, however, waters
had reached an alarming level at two of the embassy housing complexes, necessi-
tating evacuation of residents to hotels for the duration. Among the refugees
was bureau editor who found himself at the luxurious New Imperial STAT
Hotel from 19 to 26 October while waiting for the waters around his apartment
complex to recede. Other bureau employees, including many monitors and local
employees, were kept constantly busy trying to keep the sea from reclaiming
their houses. Some even had to resort to boats to get to work, giving a
whole new nuance to the term "boat people". Nevertheless, although a liberal
leave policy was instituted, it is a tribute to the dedication and efforts
of bureau employees that operations were viturally unaffected. As of the end
of the month, the situation has improved somewhat, although several towns in
Thailand remain isolated due to flooding and there are fears that more
flooding is to come before the onset of the dry season in about a month.
A. Monitorial/Editorial
1. The bomb explosion in a Rangoon mausoleum on 9 October which killed
19 people, including 4 South Korean cabinet ministers, caused the bureau to
institute an open speaker watch on Rangoon radio. As expected, however, Rangoon
has been relatively quiet on the incident. On 10 October the radio announced
that a committee had been formed Eo investigate the explosion, and on 11 and 12
October the radio announced that two Koreans had been captured in connection
with the incident. However, no further explanations or revelations concerning
the incident have been forthcoming.
2. Indonesian and Thai government press reaction to the cancellation
of President Reagan's November trips to those countries was generally understanding,
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although some disappointment was expressed at the missed opportunity for
ASEAN-U.S. dialouge.
3. On 1 October, Voice of Free Asia, a radio station operated by the
Thai Foreign Ministry, began broadcasting weekly commentaries in Lao,
Cambodian, and Vietnamese. These programs have been added to coverage.
B. Technical
1. Power failures of short duration continue in thel area,
but have not affected operations. The antenna field is flooded, but all
antennas and transmission lines are servicable.
2. The bureau telex line, an old U.S. Army cable to GPO via JUSMAG,
has been replaced with a new cable direct to GPO.
Buildings and Grounds
The bureau library has been partitioned, with the library and a newly
created monitor's booth now in normal operation. New carpeting has been laid
on the second floor hallway, engineer's office, and stairway. Renovations
are continuing.
STAT
1. Fresh from his success with "The Fantasticks",I left for STAT
Madras and New Delhi on 26 October to conduct a recruiting trip with South
Asian Unit Chief The quest is for an acceptable Tamil-Hindi-Urdu STAT
monitor to fill the recently approved new South Asian monitorial slot.
2. DC/Admin, and visited the bureau 27-28 October STAT
as part o their Far East orientation trip.
The Bangkok Music Society's presentation of "The Fantasticks", directed by
Deputy Chief played to packed houses from 20-22 October at Bangkok'sSTAT
Chief, Bangkok Bureau
STAT
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I. TOTALS FROM ALL SOURCES
TOTAL PUBLISHABLE WORDAGE FILED DURING MONTH'
TOTAL NON-PUBLISHABLE WORDAGE FILED DURING MONTH'
TOTAL NUMBER OF PUBLISHABLE ITEMS FILED DURING MONTH'
II. INPUT OF REGULAR COVERAGE'
(minutes or issues per week)
III. OUTPUT FROM ALL SOURCES'
(publishable words per month)
Melbourne Overseas Service in
English
Sydney THE AUSTRALIAN in
English
Sydney THE BULLETIN in
English
Sydney THE WEEKEND AUSTRALIAN in
English
Dhaka Domestic Service in
Bengali
Dhaka Domestic Service in
English
Dhaka BSS in
English
Dhaka SANGBAD in
Bengali
Dhaka THE BANGLADESH OBSERVER in
English
BROADCASTS 'RESS AGENCIES
15,390 ( 15,795) 20,205 ( 20,205)
290 ( 750)
1,460 ( 1,870)
Rangoon Domestic Service in
Burmese
Rangoon BOTATAUNG in
Burmese
Rangoon LAKTHA PYEITHU NEZIN in
Burmese
Rangoon MYANMA ALIN in
Burmese
Rangoon WORKING PEOPLE'S DAILY in
English
10,120 ( 3,800)
Beijing in
Bengali to India and Bangladesh
0
0)
Beijing in
Burmese to Burma
90 (
0)
Beijing in
Cambodian to Kampuchea
580 (
2,110)
Beijing in
Hindi to India
0 (
0)
Beijing in
Indonesian to Indonesia
0 (
0)
Beijing in
Lao to Laos
830 (
0)
Beijing in
Malay to Malaysia
0 (
31.0)
Beijing in
Thai to Thailand
0
0)
Beijing in
Urdu to India and Pakistan
0 (
0)
517,790 (515,610)
237,250 (232,290)
1,357 ( 1,350)
PUBLICATIONS
232.23 ( 232.23)
issues
0 (
0
0 (
720)
0)
0)
0
0)
110 (
810)
0
0)
0 (
100)
0 (
0)
1,170 (
340)
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0
CLANDESTINE
(Clandestine) Radio Kawthulay in
Burmese to Burma
2,770
( 5,480)
(Clandestine) Radio Kawthulay in
English to Burma
0
(. 0)
(Clandestine) Voice of Democratic Kampuchea in
Cambodian
27,370
( 30,750)
(Clandestine) Voice of Malayan Democracy in
Malay
0
( 7,420)
(Clandestine) Voice of The National Army of Democcatic
Kampuchea in Cambodian
4,610
20870)
(Clandestine) Voice of The People of Burma in
Burmese
2,440
( 1,390)
(Clandestine) Voice of The People of Malaya in
Malay
1,440
( 1,530)
Delhi Domestic Service in
Hindi 60 (
INDONESIA
Jakarta International Service in
English 2,850 ( 2,210)
Jakarta Domestic Service in
Indonesian 5,650 6,940)
Jakarta BERITA BUANA in
Indonesian 2,220 (
0)
Jakarta JAKARTA POST in
English 300 (
770)
Jakarta KOMPAS in
Indonesian 0 (
420)
Jakarta MERDEK- in
Indonesian 0 (
0)
Jakarta TEMPO in
Indonesian 0 (
0)
Jakarta THE INDONESIA TIMES in
English 2,190 (
0)
Jakarta Domestic Service in
English
HONG KONG
Hong Kong AFP in
English 32,470 ( 42,470)
Delhi General Overseas Service in
English 3,980 ( 2,870)
Delhi Domestic Service in
English 31,920 ( 29,210)
Delhi ISI Diplomatic Information Service in
English 490 ( 140)
Delhi INDIAN EXPRESS in
English 0 (
1,580)
Delhi NATIONAL HERALD in
English 0 (
630)
Delhi PATRIOT in
English 230 (
1,720)
Bombay THE TIMES OF INDIA in
English 900 (
1,140)
Calcutta ANANDA BAZAR PATRIKA in
Bengali 0 (
0)
Calcutta THE STATESMAN in
English 930 (
1,400)
Madras THE HINDU in
English 0 (
0)
Phnom Penh Domestic Service in
Cambodian
Phnom Penh SPK in
English
Phnom Penh SPK in
French
20,690 ( 32,440)
8,370 ( 4,830)
18,620 ( 12,850)
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Vientiane Domestic Service in
Leo
Vientiane KPL in
English
Vientiane PASASON in
Lao
STAT
STAT
Kuala Lumpur International Service in
English 10,070 ( 6,170)
Kuala Lumpur Domestic Service in
English 3,050 ( 3,810)
Kuala Lumpur Domestic Service in
Malay 0 ( 0)
Kuala Lumpur NEW STRAITS TIMES in
English 10,400 ( 2,020)
Kuala Lumpur NEW SUNDAY TIMES in
English 0 ( 0)
Katmandu External Service in
English
Katmandu THE RISING NEPAL in
English
Karachi Overseas Service in
Urdu 900 (
900)
Karachi Domestic Service in
English 9,490 (
9,770)
Karachi Domestic Service in
Urdu 10,970 (
15,750)
SINGAPORE
Singapore Domestic Service in
English 4,180 (
2,090)
Singapore THE STRAITS TIMES in
English
1,440 (
1,090)
Singapore THE SUNDAY TIP in
English
0
0)
Colombo International Service in
English 3,750 (
1,210)
Colombo Domestic Service in
English 270 (
2,710)
Colombo DAILY NEWS in
English
1,420 (
610)
Colombo THE BUN in
English
910 (
3,840)
Colombo WEEKEND in
English
120 (
0)
33,070 ( 15,360)
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Bangkok Voice of Free Asia in
English 6,350 (
1,830)
Bangkok Voice of Free Asia in
'Thai 3,450 (
2,430)
Bangkok Domestic Service in
English 2,480 (
1,750)
Bangkok Domestic Service in
Thai 2,750 (
12,570)
Bangkok BANGKOK POST in
English
42,520 (
23,870)
Bangkok BANGKOK WORLD in
English
2,700 (
5,340)
Bangkok K THAI in
0 (
0)
Bangkok MATICHON in
Thai
2,820 (
2,410)
Bangkok MATICHON SUT SAPPADA
Thai
2,380 (
0)
Bangkok MATUPHUM in
Thai
3,360 (
4,870)
Bangkok PATINYA in
Thai
1,850 (
0)
Bangkok SIAM MAI in
Thai
0
)
0)
Bangkok SIAM RAT in
Thai
4,600 (
530)
Bangkok SD ANAKHOT in
Thai
0 (
0)
Bangkok THAI RAT in
Thai
2,540 (
0)
Bangkok THE NATION REVIEW in
English
21,290 (
20,!,20)
Bangkok Voice of Free Asia in Cambodian 2,660 (
o~
Bangkok Voice of Free Asia in Lao 2,770
0
UNION OF SOVIET SOCIALIST REPUBLICS
Moscow in
Bengali to Bangladesh 0
0)
Moscow in
Burmese to Burma 0
0)
Moscow in
Cambodian to Kampuchea 0 (
0)
Moscow in
Hindi to India 0 (
1,170)
Moscow in
Indonesian to Indonesia 0
0)
Moscow in
Lao to Laos 40 (
0)
Moscow in
Thai to Thailand 0 (
0)
Moscow in
Urdu to India 0 (
0)
Moscow in
Urdu to Pakistan 0 (
0)
Moscow Radio Peace and Progress in
Indonesian to Indonesia 0
0)
Hanoi International Service in
Cambodian 0 (
0)
Hanoi International Service in
English 7,030 (
8,050)
Hanoi International Service in
Thai 3,300 (
1,720)
Hanoi Domestic Service in
Vietnamese 59,220 (
78,090)
Hanoi VNA in
1,030 ( 7,920)
Hanoi KHAN DAN in
Vietnamese
Hanoi GUAM DOI NHAN DAN in
Vietnamese
Hanoi TAP CHI GONG SAN in
Vietnamese
Hanoi International Service in
Vietnamese
o ( o)
21,910 ( 25,410)
5,290 ( 2,440)
14,570 ( 13,730)
STAT
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