MONTHLY REPORT - PANAMA BUREAU - NOVEMBER 1985

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP86-00040R000300590002-7
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: K
• Document Page Count: 13
• Document Creation Date: December 22, 2016
• Document Release Date: September 13, 2010
• Sequence Number: 2
• Publication Date: December 7, 1985
• Content Type: MEMO

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FOREIGN BROADCAST INFORMATION SERVICE
PANAMA BUREAU
DRAWER 927
APO MIAMI 34004
7 December 1985
MPA-5047
MEMORANDUM FOR: Director, Foreign Broadcast Information Service
THROUGH : Chief, Operations Group
SUBJECT : Monthly Report - Panama Bureau - November 1985
A ground breaking of sorts for the three additional ROSET's occurred
in November. In mid-month UAI contractors arrived to survey the sites for
the three antennas. In addition, the head of the team,
sought bids from four Panamanian irms tor the concrete work on the
slabs. The projected date for having the new antennas operational is late
February or early March. In another ROSET technical development, an ESI
contractor arrived to begin the installation of modification kits for the
closed loop cooling of drive motors of the two existing antennas.
Problems developed with the mounting hardware, however, and the
modification is not likely to be finished until after the first of the
year.
The long awaited visit by a PMCD officer) (resulted in a
review of the local technical and administrative positions, the bureau
chief and deputy chief positions, and the proposed chief editor position.
will review his findings with Headquarters components before
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A. Monitorial/Editorial
In November the bureau's focus of attention shifted to the south,
where two major disasters - one caused by man, the other by nature -
took place in Colombia.
Although the Colombian Security Council tightened security around
military garrisons and government offices in October, some 50 guerrillas
of the 19 April Movement, M-19, were able to take over the Palace of
Justice in Bogota on 6 November. Hundreds of government officials and
workers were trapped in the building. Panama Bureau remained open
overnight to report on the 30 hours of intense combat that ensued, after
which government forces recovered control of the building. In the
fighting, 89 persons lost their lives, including the president and eight
other magistrates of the Colombian Supreme Court. The incident, which
dealt a devastating blow to the Colombian legal system, also cast further
doubt on the chances for success of the new "Peace, Dialogue, and
Verification Commission" that was sworn in by President Belisario Betancur
in October. The commission was tasked with bringing the government and
guerrillas to terms that could serve as a framework for peace in Colombia.
Colombia had hardly recovered from the shock of this incident
when a week later volcanic activity in the Nevado del Ruiz volcano in
Tolima Department melted the icecap at the tip of the volcano. It
triggered a massive mudslide that buried the town of Armero, killing more
than 20,000 persons. Video recordings of Colombian television reports on
the two tragedies were forwarded to Headquarters via DHL courier.
In Panama, the month began with the anti-government campaign
still in full swing. Opposition papers reported that Panamanian strongman
General Manuel Noriega was suffering from severe stress and had sought
medical treatment abroad. Students and other marchers in the 3 and 4
November Independence and Flag Day parades chanted anti-government slogans
and traded insults with pro-government demonstrators on the sidewalks; and
a relative of the slain Dr. Hugo Spadafora chained herself to the U.S.
Embassy gate to demand that the United States pressure the Panamanian
Government into conducting an investigation into Spadafora's recent
assassination. Political activity appears to be on the wane, however, as
the local populace seemingly has turned attention to the upcoming year-end
holidays.
Visible signs of strife in Central America also seemed to be on
the decline in November. Reports of cross-border attacks between
Nicaraguan soldiers and Honduran troops or Costa Rican civil guardsmen
were few. This month's reports focused instead on violations of airspace
and territorial waters, and only 1 casualty was reported.
Both Guatemala and Honduras held peaceful presidential
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elections in November. The bureau kept open watches on local transmitters
from the opening of the polls until the victory speeches 3 to 4 days after
the elections. Guatemala is scheduled for a runoff election on 8
December, but in Honduras a last-minute decision by the National Electoral
Tribunal on vote-counting procedures allowed the incumbent Liberal Party
to obtain the right to remain in power through January 1990.
Cuba was also relatively quiet in November, as the nation braced
for the onslaught of Hurricane Kate and continued preparations for the
Third Communist Party of Cuba Congress scheduled for February 1986.
Elsewhere in the Caribbean, Haitian President-for-Life Jean-Claude
Duvalier ousted 7 cabinet ministers on 6 November and students and workers
participated in anti-government demonstrations on 27 and 28 November.
Four persons were killed and 14 seriously injured in these demonstrations.
B. Communications
The bureau's Mode V AUTODIN communications routed via the Panama
Automated Relay (PAR) experienced only minimal disruptions during the
month. DCA headquarters responded to a bureau Unsatisfactory Service
Report against PAR's performance in September by saying that they were
unable to involve themselves in problems between a tributary and its relay
-- an answer that underscores the bureaucratic can of worms faced by the
bureau in previous attempts at solving local communications problems.
On a brighter note, work is proceeding on the MUX plan, the long
delayed U.S. Army communications project that would eliminate PAR and
rehome all Panama AUTODIN subscribers to Fort Detrick ASC. During the
month, several of PAR's tributaries were activated into the MUX Plan and
by month's end PAR had only two customers still connected -Panama Bureau
being one. On 25 November an Army team arrived at the bureau to begin
installation and testing of the bureau's 150-baud Mode I "MUX" circuit.
The Army hopes to have the bureau's MUX circuit activated within the next
month or two at which time PAR would be deactivated - mercifully forever.
Finally, we began gathering information on a second
microwave communications system that would allow us to circumvent the
historically troubled local Army telecommunications unit and pass
virtually all of the bureau communications via the U.S. Embassy in Panama
City. In this connection, we are pursuing the possibility of acquiring an
embassy satellite communications circuit sometime in late 1986 to pass
unclassified bureau traffic.
Bureau communicators have achieved good results in quality
control efforts as exemplified by a recent Headquarters notification that
the bureau traffic resulted in only two MIDAS rejects in November, the
lowest number of MIDAS errors ever documented.
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C. Lateral Services
The bureau provided J-3, USSOUTHCOM, with two recordings on
an interview that Ines Guadalupe Duarte, the Salvadoran President's
daughter, reportedly granted to the FMLN rebels during her 44-day
captivity. The first recording was the interview as broadcast by Radio
Farabundo Marti; the second was the interview as broadcast by Radio
Venceremos.
At the request of the American Embassy in Managua, the
bureau refiled to the American Embassy in Rome, for the information of the
embassy in the Vatican, the text of an interview by Nicaraguan Interior
Minister Borge which has appeared in Mexico City EXCELSIOR.
D. Technical
The bureau procured locally one Sony Video Monitor, Model
PVM-400, Serial No. 10792. Unit Price: $500.00.
The following accountable property was received from Paragua
Bureau:
One VCR Panasonic, Model NV 260 Bi-Norma PAL-M NISC
Automatic 110/220 with remote control, Serial No F5HH06038. Unit Price
$1,111.11.
One TV Monitor Philips 14" Bi-Norma, PAL-M/PAL-N Color with
remote control Model 14 CT64D1/55S, Serial No U0510 000743. Unit Price:
$483.33.
A. Personnel
STAT
STAT
Deputy Chief received a promotion to
GS-14 and senior editor received a QSI, for her excellent
handling of the editorial TDY training program.
PSI's effective 24 November 1985 were given Monitor
STAT Superviso (from FBN-11/9 to FB -
STAT Monitors from FBN-9/4 to FBN-9/5);
STAT (from - N-8/2), (from FBN-7/1 to FBN-7/2)
STAT (from FBI-8(l to-FBN -8/2 ; and Electronics Technicians
STAT urnm - FBN-9/6), (from FBN-9 6
STAT to FBN-9 7) (from FBN-j/V to YbN-V/1V), and
5 l A l ~ ( from N-9 5 to FBN-9 6.
STAT
The first steps were taken for obtaining diplomatic
passports for bureau staff personnel and dependents. Processing of
applications for the families began
on 7 November. Known and possible TDY's are behind the reasoning in
starting with these three. The applications for the other staff employees
and dependents will follow the schedule laid out in Department of State
guidance.
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The bureau has begun receiving checks made out to the new
imprest fund custodian, in this
capacity; is t e newly designated alternate custodian. We
are still awaiting ea quarters approval for increasing the imprest fun
from $3,000 to $5,000.
Beginning in November, the bureau opened a credit account
with DHL courier service, Use of the account lowers the cost of the
service as it eliminates some of the handling charges. The driving force
is the need by the bureau for an increased use of DHL for the shipment of
videocassettes to Washington. In addition we are using the service to
send vouchers to B&F in the hope of speeding the turn-around time for
vouchers and checks.
the Special Assistant to the Director, FBIS, visited the
bureau 13 and 14 November for familiarization with the bureau ROSET
operation. While here, he met with the ambassador and DCM and an embassy
political officer.
Regional Engineer visited the bureau 13 through 15
November for a periodic inspection. The main focus of his concern was the
bureau communications system and the possibilities for improving it.
PMCD officer) assessed various local and staff positions
during his 19-21 November TDY.
UAI contractors) were at the bureau on
13 and 14 November to begin preparations for the installation of three
additional ROSET's. On 24 November, ESI contractor arrived to
begin installation of modification kits on the two existing ROSET's.
TDY editor) (concluded the three-month training program
on 29 November and departed Panama on 2 December.
Five IS staffers
toured the U.S. Southern Command J-2 Intelligence Watch Office
ea re intelligence Center at Quarry Heights on 19 November and received
a briefing by an Air Force watch officer.
Chief, Panama Bureau, FBIS
Attachment:
Production Report
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Panama Bureau Production Report for November 1985
TOTAL PUBLISHABLE WORDAGE FILED DURING MONTH: 571600
TOTAL NON-PUBLISHABLE WORDAGE FILED DURING MONTH: 18850
TOTAL NUMBER OF PUBLISHABLE ITEMS FILED DURING MONTH: 1478
BROAD- PRESS PUBLI-
CASTS AGENCIES CATIONS
II. INPUT OF REGULAR COVERAGE: 10735.00 42570.00 212.00
(minutes or issues per week) min. min. issues
III. OUTPUT FROM ALL SOURCES:
(publishable words per month)
ARGENTINA
Buenos Aires REUTER in
Spanish
Buenos Aires REUTER in
English
CLANDESTINES
Clandestine Radio Farabundo Marti in
Spanish to El Salvador
Clandestine Radio Venceremos in
Spanish to El Salvador
COLOMBIA
Bogota Cadena Radial Super in
Spanish 2230
Bogota Domestic Service in
Spanish 200
Bogota Emisoras Caracol Network in
Spanish 10090
Bogota Radio Sutatenza Network in
Spanish 920
Bogota Television Service in
Spanish 12450
Bogota REUTER in
English
Bogota REUTER in
Spanish
Bogota EL SIGLO in
Spanish
Bogota EL TIEMPO in
Spanish
COSTA RICA
San Jose Radio Impacto in
Spanish
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San Jose Radio Reloj in
Spanish
San Jose LA NACION in
Spanish
San Jose LA PRENSA LIBRE in
Spanish
San Jose LA REPUBLICA in
Spanish
San Jose LIBERTAD REVOLUCIONARIA in
Spanish
San Jose LIBERTAD in
Spanish
San Jose RUMBO CENTROAMERICANO in
Spanish
BROAD- PRESS PUBLI-
CASTS AGENCIES CATIONS
CUBA
Havana International Service in
Quechua 640
Havana International Service in
Spanish 46720
Havana EFE in
Spanish 1300
Havana PRENSA LATINA in
English 5340
Havana PRENSA LATINA in
Spanish 18650
ECUADOR
Quito Radio Quito in
Spanish
Quito Voz de los Andes in
i
h
Span s
5360
1220
7750
0
1130
0
Quito REUTER
Spanish
in
EL
San
SALVADOR
Salvador
Spanish
Canal Dace Television in
3400
San
Salvador
Spanish
Channel 2 Television in
3140
San
Salvador
Spanish
Domestic Service in
1960
San
Salvador
Spanish
Radio Cadena Sonora in
2320
San
Salvador
Spanish
Radio Cadena YSKL in
3270
San
Salvador
Spanish
Radio Cadena YSU in
6090
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BROAD- PRESS
CASTS AGENCIES
PUBLI-
CATIONS
San
San
San
Salvador
Spanish
Salvador
Spanish
Salvador
Spanish
SALPRESS in
DIARIO LATINO in
250
San
Salvador
Spanish
EL DIARIO DE HOY
3460
San
Salvador
Spanish
EL MUNDO in
1290
San
Salvador
Spanish
EL TIEMPO in
0
San
Salvador
Spanish
LA PRENSA GRAFICA in
1970
San
Salvador
Spanish
PROCESO in
0
San
Salvador
English
THE NEWS GAZETTE in
FRANCE
Paris AFP in
English
Paris AFP in
Spanish
GERMANY
Hamburg DPA in
Spanish
GUATEMALA
Guatemala City
Unidas in
Spanish
Guatemala City
Spanish
Guatemala City
Spanish
Guatemala City
Guatemala in
Spanish
Guatemala City
Spanish
Guatemala City
Spanish
Domestic Service in
Radio Nuevo Mundo in
Radio Television
3140
870
1280
HONDURAS
Tegucigalpa Cadena Audio Video in
Spanish
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BROAD- PRESS PUBLI-
CASTS AGENCIES CATIONS
Tegucigalpa
Spanish
Domestic Service in
4820
Tegucigalpa
Spanish
Radio America in
7540
Tegucigalpa
Spanish
Televisora Hondurena in
950
Tegucigalpa
Spanish
Voz de Honduras Network in
6570
San Pedro Sula LA PRENSA in
Spanish
1770
San Pedro Sula TIEMPO in
Spanish
2670
Tegucigalpa
Spanish
EL HERALDO in
1480
Tegucigalpa
Spanish
LA TRIBUNA in
MEXICO
Mexico City XEW Television Network in
Spanish
Mexico City XHDF Television
Network in
Spanish
Mexico City CERIGUA in
Spanish
Mexico City REUTER in
English
Mexico City EL DIA in
Spanish
Mexico City EL NACIONAL in
Spanish
Mexico City EL UNIVERSAL in
Spanish
Mexico City EXCELSIOR in
Spanish
Mexico City UNOMASUNO in
Spanish
4050
270
600
4210
1580
NICARAGUA
Managua International Service in
Spanish
3300
Managua Domestic Service in
Spanish
26510
Managua Radio Noticias in
Spanish
920
Managua Radio Sandino in
Spanish
36740
Managua Sistema Sandinista Television
Network in
Spanish
8340
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BROAD- PRESS PUBLI-
CASTS AGENCIES CATIONS
Managua ANN Diplomatic Information
Service in
Spanish 1370
Managua ANN in
Spanish 14260
Managua PRENSA LATINA in
Spanish 2110
Managua BARRICADA in
Spanish 9140
Managua EL NUEVO DIARIO in
Spanish 2070
Managua LA PRENSA in
Spanish 4630
PANAMA
Panama City Circuito RPC
Television in
Spanish 2470
Panama City Domestic Service in
Spanish 2310
Panama City PANAVISION Television in
Spanish 490
Panama City Radio Mundial in
Spanish 1220
Panama City Televisora Nacional in
Spanish 1360
Panama City ACAN in
Spanish
Panama City CRITICA in
Spanish
Panama City DIALOGO SOCIAL in
Spanish
Panama City EL SIGLO in
Spanish
Panama City EXTRA in
Spanish
Panama City LA ESTRELLA DE PANAMA in
Spanish
Panama City LA PRENSA in
Spanish
Panama City LA REPUBLICA DOMINICAL in
Spanish
Panama City LA REPUBLICA in
Spanish
Panama City MATUTINO in
Spanish
Panama City QUIUBO GRAFICO in
Spanish
Panama City STAR AND HERALD in
English
1170
0
1860
3150
2450
17830
0
2180
3910
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Panama City THE SUNDAY REPUBLIC in
English
PERU
Lima REUTER in
English
SPAIN
Madrid EFE in
Spanish
Madrid PRENSA LATINA in
Spanish
VENEZUELA
Caracas Television Service in
Spanish
Caracas REUTER in
English
Caracas REUTER in
Spanish
Caracas EL NACIONAL in
Spanish
Caracas EL UNIVERSAL in
Spanish
BROAD- PRESS PUBLI-
CASTS AGENCIES CATIONS
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TOTALS FROM ROSET SOURCES:
ARGENTINA
Buenos Aires REUTER in
English
COLOMBIA
Bogota Television Service in
Spanish
Bogota REUTER in
English
Bogota REUTER in
Spanish
CUBA
Havana PRENSA LATINA in
Spanish
Havana EFE in
Spanish
ECUADOR
Quito REUTER in
Spanish
EL SALVADOR
San Salvador SALPRESS in
Spanish
12,450
5,230
670
18,650
1,300
GERMANY
Hamburg DPA in
Spanish
MEXICO
Mexico City XEV Television Network in
Spanish
1,590
Mexico City XHDF Television Network in
Spanish
4,140
Mexico City CERIGUA in
Spanish
700
Mexico City REUTER in
English
5,170
NICARAGUA
Managua ANN in
Spanish
14,260
Managua ANN Diplomatic Information Service in
Spanish
1,370
Managua PRENSA LATINA in
Spanish
2,110
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PERU
Lima REUTER in
English
SPAIN
Madrid EFE in
Spanish
3,190
Madrid PRENSA LATINA in
Spanish
VENEZUELA
Caracas Television Service in
Spanish
8,270
Caracas REUTER
English
in
1,980
Caracas REUTER
Spanish
in
160
TOTAL FOR NOVEMBER 1985
83,470
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