MONTHLY REPORT - PANAMA BUREAU - OCTOBER 1985

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP86-00040R000300590003-6
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: K
• Document Page Count: 12
• Document Creation Date: December 22, 2016
• Document Release Date: September 13, 2010
• Sequence Number: 3
• Publication Date: November 7, 1985
• Content Type: MEMO

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FOREIGN BROADCAST INFORMATION SERVICE
PANAMA BUREAU
DRAWER 927
APO MIAMI 34004
7 November 1985
MPA-5043
MEMORANDUM FOR: Director, Foreign Broadcast Information Service
THROUGH : Chief, Operations Group
SUBJECT : Monthly Report - Panama Bureau - October 1985
The bureau chief and bureau chief technician
made another of their twice-yearly swings through the remote sites in
, San Salvador, Tegucigalpa, and Guatemala City. AG analyst L
J accompanied them. Without exception, embassy officers at the four
sites praised FBIS efforts and contributions and indicated they saw no
obstacles to our continuing to work with contractors out of embassies.
The DCM in San Salvador, David Passage, was particularly lavish in his
praise of FBIS. In a meeting initiated by him, he said that the FBIS
product is the single most important service to the embassy and that
FBIS-monitored reports from the clandestine Salvadoran radios are the key
ingredient in assessments of the threat to U.S. personnel in the country.
Briefly, other highlights of the trip were the hiring of a backup
contractor in Guatemala City; the successful test of the NEFAX machine on
the dedicated line from Tegucigalpa, thus indicating that the way is now
clear to placing these machines at the other remote sites using the
dedicated lines; agreement by the embassy in Managua to raise and
refurbish our longwire antenna on the roof; and confirmation that space
for the FBIS operation has been factored into the plans for a new embassy
in Tegucigalpa.
After their visit to the remote sites, the bureau chief and
stopped in San Jose, Costa Rica.proceeded on to Key
West.) There the bureau chief briefed embassy officers on plans for a
cruising survey in northern Costa Rica in early December. The major
target is to be Nicaraguan transmitters. The survey should provide
information on them which would be useful in the event of a break in
U.S.-Nicaraguan relations resulting in the loss of our remote site in
Managua. The embassy concurred in the plans and offered full assistance.
Bureau production during the month topped 600,000 words. This was the
J second highest figure in bureau history, surpassed only by the 608,000 in
May 1985. ROSET contributed significantly to the monthly total, allowing
us to monitor and process from United Nations pass-feeds the speeches
before the General Assembly of Nicaragua's Ortega (in Spanish), Israel's
Peres, the UK's Thatcher, Pakistan's Ziaul Haq, and Suriname's Bouterse
(all in English).
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A. Monitorial/Editorial
El Salvador was the focus of watch efforts throughout most of
October, as President Jose Napoleon Duarte held protracted negotiations
with the FMLN for the release of his eldest daughter, Ines. The
guerrillas kept up their military attacks and sabotage actions during the
negotiations, including a large-scale attack on an Armed Forces training
center in which more than 40 persons were killed. Ines Guadalupe Duarte
Duran was eventually released on 24 October, in an operation in which 96
guerrillas were exchanged for Ms. Duarte, a friend who was abducted along
with her, and 9 Salvadoran mayors who were being held by the rebels.
Nicaragua continued to hold the lead in production, accounting
for more than 20 percent of our total filed wordage for the month.
Leading Nicaraguan events included a war of words between President Daniel
Ortega and Ecuadoran President Leon Febres Cordero that led to a break in
diplomatic relations on 11 October; the imposition of a 1-year state of
emergency on 15 October, resulting in curtailed civil rights, censorship
of news media, and increased friction with the Catholic Church. Also
during the month President Daniel Ortega traveled to the United Nations,
where he delivered two speeches - as the Nicaraguan head of state and as
the representative to the Movement of Nonaligned Countries. While in New
York Ortega participated in a "Face the People" meeting in a synogogue,
and he appeared with his wife on the Phil Donahue television program.
With opposition to the military-backed Panamanian Government
continuing into October, Panama held the second highest production figure
for the month. The current anti-government protests of student and
citizen marches, labor and hunger strikes, and prayer meetings sparked by
last month's brutal murder of guerrilla fighter Hugo Spadafora, has been
the longest and best orchestrated drive by the opposition in years.
Widespread public discontent over the murder persists, contributing to the
success of the drive, which prompted defense forces/government media
attacks on local U.S. officials, accusing them of advising the opposition
and financing the protest movements. As the month drew to a close the
situation remained unsettled, with the government charging the opposition
with "sedition."
All hopes of a peaceful agreement between the government and the
guerrilas seem to have been lost in Colombia, where the military situation
has deterioriated to a point which one military officer described as a
"state of war." Although the M-19 continues to lead in the number of
bloody confrontations with the Army, clashes have also been reported with
the other two leading guerrilla groups, the ELN and the FARC. The M-19
however, continues to be the most militarily active of the three groups.
In Cuba, President Fidel Castro played host to six visiting heads
of state during October. The heads of state of Tanzania, Zimbabwe,
Zambia, Sri Lanka, and India visited Cuba on their way to or from a
meeting of British Commonwealth countries in Nassau, Bahamas. Angolan
President Jose Eduardo Dos Santos visited Cuba on 24 October.
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STAT
B. Communications
Serious disruptions of the bureau's Mode V AUTODIN communications
owing to problems at the Panama Automated Relay (PAR) continued well into
the second week in October. The disruptions that began on 12 September
forced us to rely heavily on our TELEX altroute. TELEX charges for the
month exceeded $10,000. Despite the documented circuit problems in
September, PAR's monthly COMOPS report outrageously declared the bureau's
circuit operated with 99.38 percent efficiency during the period. The
bureau responded with a formal Unsatisfactory Service Report to DCA
headquarters detailing our many problems with PAR's performance. A
similar Unsatisfactory Service Report for the month of October is also
being considered.
C. Lateral Services
The bureau provided the American Embassy in San Salvador with a
recording of a 13 October Radio Farabundo Marti commentary that attacked a
homily delivered by Msgr. Gregorio Rosas Chavez, Auxiliary Bishop of San
Salvador. We also provided headquarters Analysis Group and subsequently
the American Embassy in San Salvador with a compendium of all monitored
references by the Salvadoran Clandestine radios (Venceremos and Farabundo
Marti) to the Pedro Pablo Castillo Front, which was credited with the
kidnapping of President Duarte's daughter.
John Hamilton of U.S. Special Ambassador to Central America Harry
Shlaudeman's staff, in Panama in early October during a session of the
Contadora Group, asked to be alerted to key developments in the Contadora
session. Bureau editors called him several times in response to his
request.
Also during the month, the bureau provided U.S. SOUTHCOM officers
with background issues of the Nicaraguan exile publication NICARAGUA HOY.
received a promotion from FBN-5/9 to FBN-6/7 effective 27 October 1985.
III. ADMINISTRATION
A. Personnel
Assistant Communications Supervisor
The bureau chief, at an appropriate champagne ceremony, presented
on behalf of D/FBIS a $300 excellence award to the FBIS contractor in San
STAT Salvador, This is the first such award presented to a
contractor at one of our remote sites.
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B. Building and Grounds
Contractor ompleted work on the boxes for circuit
breakers for the additional ROSET antennas.
Contractor completed the staff secretary's booth in
the bureau library and enlarged the window between the editorial and
communications rooms.
The Army's DEH resurfaced the parking area of BuildinO with
two inches of hot plant mix asphalt. The project has been pending since
1982.
Contractor) (completed the fourth mowing of the
antenna field.
C. Miscellaneous
On the economic front, Gorgas Hospital has raised the cost of
out-patient visits and treatment from $53.00 to $55.00. This is
consistent with the policy worldwide at Department of Defense facilities.
On the good news side, the cost of gasoline at base service stations
dropped from $1.24 a gallon to $1.03 a gallon.
IV. VISITS
Deputy Chief/Operations Group) (visited the bureau on 1
and 2 October. During the visit, his first to Panama, he met with the
ambassador and DCM and other embassy officers.
AG Analyst visited the bureau for orientation on 18
October, prior to his departure, with the bureau chief and bureau chief
technician, for a tour of the Central American remote sites.
Bureau chief technician TDY'ed to Key West
Bureau early in the month. On the same trip, he visited the Miami I&NS
office to discuss PRA status for his family.
Chief, Panama Bureau, FBIS
Attachment:
Production Report
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Panama Bureau Production Report for October 1985
TOTAL PUBLISHABLE WORDAGE FILED DURING MONTH: 600860
TOTAL NON-PUBLISHABLE WORDAGE FILED DURING MONTH: 23680
TOTAL NUMBER OF PUBLISHABLE ITEMS FILED DURING MONTH: 1469
BROAD- PRESS PUBLI-
CASTS AGENCIES CATIONS
II. INPUT OF REGULAR COVERAGE: 10765.00 42570.00 208.00
(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 1430
Bogota Domestic Service in
Spanish 0
Bogota Emisoras Caracol Network in
Spanish 3750
Bogota Television Service in
Spanish 9210
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 1270
Havana International Service in
Spanish 47510
Havana Television Service in
Spanish 1210
Havana PRENSA LATINA in
English
Havana PRENSA LATINA in
Spanish
ECUADOR
Quito Radio Quito in
Spanish
Quito Voz de los Andes in
6230
620
8660
1440
1850
1050
EL
San
Spanish
SALVADOR
Salvador
Spanish
Canal Doce Television in
2730
San
Salvador
Spanish
Channel 2 Television in
1250
San
Salvador
Spanish
Domestic Service in
3600
San
Salvador
Spanish
Radio Cadena Sonora in
2760
San
Salvador
Spanish
Radio Cadena YSKL in
4940
San
Salvador
Spanish
Radio Cadena YSU in
8390
San
Salvador
Spanish
Television Educativa in
470
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BROAD- PRESS
CASTS AGENCIES
PUBLI-
CATIONS
San
Salvador
Spanish
290
San
Salvador
Spanish
DIARIO DE HOY in
6250
San
Salvador
Spanish
MUNDO in
4320
San
Salvador
Spanish
TIEMPO in
0
San
Salvador
Spanish
PRENSA GRAFICA in
1960
San
Salvador
Spanish
0
San
Salvador
English
FRANCE
Paris AFP in
English
Paris AFP in
Spanish
GERMANY
Hamburg DPA in
Spanish
GUATEMALA
Guatemala City Cadena de Emisoras
Unidas in
Spanish
Guatemala City Radio Nuevo Mundo in
Spanish
Guatemala City Radio Television
Guatemala in
Spanish
Guatemala City EL GRAFICO in
Spanish
Guatemala City PRENSA LIBRE in
Spanish
HONDURAS
Tegucigalpa
Spanish
Cadena Audio Video in
8160
Tegucigalpa
Spanish
Domestic Service in
6170
Tegucigalpa
Spanish
Radio America in
2290
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Tegucigalpa Televisora Hondurena in
Spanish
Tegucigalpa Voz de Honduras Network in
Spanish
San Pedro Sula LA PRENSA in
BROAD- PRESS PUBLI-
CASTS AGENCIES CATIONS
Spanish
1120
San Pedro Sula TIEMPO in
Spanish
8270
Tegucigalpa
Spanish
EL HERALDO in
880
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 THE NEWS in
English
Mexico City UNOMASUNO in
Spanish
6320
0
1610
5270
2400
1060
NICARAGUA
Managua International Service in
Spanish 2160
Managua Domestic Service in
Spanish 36080
Managua Radio Noticias in
Spanish 2270
Managua Radio Sandino in
Spanish 36280
Managua Sistema Sandinista Television
Network in
Spanish 4030
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BROAD- PRESS PUBLI-
CASTS AGENCIES CATIONS
Managua ANN in
Spanish
Managua ANN in
English
Managua PRENSA LATINA in
Spanish
Managua BARRICADA in
Spanish
Managua EL NUEVO DIARIO in
Spanish
Managua LA PRENSA in
Spanish
PANAMA
Panama City Cadena Exitosa in
Spanish 530
Panama City Circuito RPC
Television in
Spanish 1970
Panama City Domestic Service in
Spanish 6650
Panama City PANAVISION Television in
Spanish 720
Panama City Radio Cadena
Millonaria in
Spanish 150
Panama City Radio Continente in
Spanish 0
Panama City Radio Mundial in
Spanish 1530
Panama City TELEMETRO Television in
Spanish 480
Panama City Televisora Nacional in
Spanish 5440
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
19290
1870
2970
17290
3710
1880
4960
0
5070
4390
5380
9670
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BROAD- PRESS PUBLI-
CASTS AGENCIES CATIONS
Panama City LA REPUBLICA in
Spanish
4840
Panama City MATUTINO in
Spanish
6860
Panama City QUIUBO GRAFICO in
Spanish
320
Panama City STAR AND HERALD in
English
1280
Panama City THE SUNDAY REPUBLIC in
English
PERU
Lima REUTER in
English
SPAIN
Madrid EFE in
Spanish
U. S. A.
New York United Nations Television
Service in
English
New York ANN in
Spanish
VENEZUELA
Caracas Radio Rumbas Network in
Spanish
Caracas Television Service in
Spanish
Caracas REUTER in
English
Caracas EL NACIONAL in
Spanish
Caracas EL UNIVERSAL in
Spanish
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TOTALS FROM ROSET SOURCES:
ARGENTINA
Buenos Aires REUTER in
English
Buenos Aires REUTER in
Spanish
4,560
COLOMBIA
Bogota Television Service in
Spanish 9,210
Bogota REUTER in
English 840
Bogota REUTER in
Spanish 370
CUBA
Havana PRENSA LATINA in
English
Havana PRENSA LATINA in
Spanish
14,020
MEXICO
Mexico City XEW Television Network in
Spanish 4,270
Mexico City XHDF Television Network in
Spanish 1,270
Mexico City CERIGUA in
Spanish 940
Mexico City REUTER in
English 270
NICARAGUA
Managua ANN in
English 1,870
Managua ANN in
Spanish 19,290
Managua PRENSA LATINA in
Spanish 2,970
PERU
Lima REUTER in
English
SPAIN
Madrid EFE in
Spanish
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U.S.A.
New York United Nations Television Service in
English
New York ANN in
Spanish
VENEZUELA
Caracas Television Service in
Spanish
Caracas REUTER in
English
6,790
5,290
1,090
75,480
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