MONTHLY REPORT - PANAMA BUREAU - MARCH 1985

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP86-00040R000300590009-0
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: K
• Document Page Count: 11
• Document Creation Date: December 22, 2016
• Document Release Date: September 13, 2010
• Sequence Number: 9
• Publication Date: April 5, 1985
• Content Type: MEMO

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FOREIGN BROADCAST INFORMATION SERVICE
PANAMA BUREAU
DRAWER 927
APO MIAMI 34004
5 April 1985
MPA-5016
MEMORANDUM FOR: Director, Foreign Broadcast Information Service
THROUGH : Chief, Operations Group
SUBJECT : Monthly Report - Panama Bureau - March 1985
From the focus of expanding coverage in the bureau's primary area of
responsibility, ROSET activities during the month proved very valuable.
Satellite-carried television programming from Mexico, Venezuela, and
Colombia was cruised out and sampled. Of the three Mexican television
stations observable, two merit coverage and offer valuable, never-before-
available coverage of an important target. Venezuela and Colombia both
transmit one television station via satellite and our initial observations
indicate that the more productive television coverage may soon supplant some
of our present shortwave sources for those countries.
The signals analysis section also identified and sampled Spanish
transmissions of Moscow TASS and NOVOSTI, Hamburg DPA and Beijing XINHUA.
Three Peruvian television stations were identified and await sampling and
Moscow television's important foreign affairs program "Studio 9" was
observed on the 14 West Gorizont at the same time the program is seen in
Moscow. After some initial shifting of location, Brasilsat appears fixed in
orbit at 65 West and some initial signals testing was observed. Brasilsat
is reported to become fully operational by late May or early June.
A two-day visit to the bureau by ADDS&T James Hirsch and DD/FBIS
was filled with briefings on bureau operations, ROSET
equipment and activities; meetings with Everett E. Briggs, U.S. Ambassador
to Panama, and other senior embassy officers; and discussions on current
headquarters activities with the bureau's U.S. staff.
During the month the bureau provided D/FBIS with professional quality
color photographs and 35 mm slides of the ROSET-related equipment. The
photos were for a proposed article in a special publication.
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A. Monitorial/Editorial
As the month opened, Nicaragua's President Daniel Ortega met U.S.
Secretary of State George Shultz in Montevideo, Uruguay, during visits by
the two men for the inauguration of President Julio Sanguinetti. After
his return to Managua, on 4 March Ortega announced a new peace initiative
with three main points; a moratorium on the acquisition of new weapons;
the sending home of Cuban military advisers; and a solution to the
Contadora impasse, suggesting that Nicaragua would release the young draft
dodger who was arrested after seeking political asylum in the Costa Rican
Embassy. The young man, Urbina Lara, was in fact released and allowed to
travel to Colombia soon after Ortega's announcement. The United States,
however, was quick to reject the Ortega initiative saying that it had
little substance.
For a few days bureau interest focused on Nicaraguan and Cuban
reaction to the death of Soviet leader Konstantin Chernenko and the
election of Mikhail Gorbachev as CPSU general secretary. Nicaragua's
Daniel Ortega and Cuba's Vice President Raul Castro traveled to Moscow for
Chernenko's funeral where they met individually with new Soviet leader
Gorbachev.
On 12 March, Venezuelan President Lusinchi's annual address to
the Venezuelan National Congress was monitored and processed from
Venezuelan television - the first scheduled major event to be covered by
the bureau from regular satellite television transmission. Processing of
the Lusinchi speech was expedited by a very good reception of Caracas
television as opposed to our regular shortwave sources which are often
poorly heard.
On 25 March the bureau began regular experimental coverage of
identified ROSET sources of interest. With a schedule of Mexican,
Venezuelan, and Colombian television newscasts and the appropriate
satellite information, the bureau - using its one ROSET antenna dedicated
for operational coverage - began alternately covering those television
sources and the numerous and highly productive press agencies carried on
the 34 West Intelsat. These include three Havana PRELA circuits, Managua
ANN, Moscow TASS and NOVOSTI, San Salvador SALPRESS and NOTISAL, and the
clandestine Radio Venceremos Press Service. Coverage of the satellite
television transmissions was immediately productive as the bureau covered
an important visit to Mexico by Argentina's President Raul Alfonsin from
Mexican television.
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A government crisis in Honduras that came to a head on 28 March
resulted in three days of 24-hour operation and an extremely heavy
processing load. Over the objections of President Roberto Suazo Cordova,
the Honduran legislature voted to remove five Supreme Court justices for
alleged corruption. The president called the legislators' action a
virtual coup and put the armed forces on alert. After the legislature
swore in the new justices, government prosecutors filed treason charges
against the five men and arrested Ramon Valladares Soto, who was named by
the legislature to head the newly reconstructed court.
B. Communications
For the second time in the past two months, our local AUTODIN
relay, PAR, delayed many of the bureau's time-sensitive high precedence
items from four to nine hours without notifying bureau communicators which
would have alerted us to use our alternate communication route. Despite
verbal assurances by the PAR NCOIC that the incident would not be
repeated, similar delays were documented during the Honduran government
cfiisis. The bureau has advised the commanding officer of the USAISC
Panama of PAR's poor performance that seriously jeopardizes the bureau's
mission.
C. Technical
The bureau received and installed three Sony CFC-100 color
subcarrier frequency converters. These color converters allow us to
videorecord color signals of satellite television transmitted in NTSC
format on the standard ROSET Sony VO-5630 videotape recorders. In
addition, PAL-N and PALr-M television systems can also be recorded in color
with these converters. Since all of our Latin American satellite
television transmissions are in either NTSC, PAL-N or PAL-N systems,
without these color converters all of our videorecording would have been
in black and white.
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A. Personnel
foreign national positions. Former monitor supervisor
officially rejoined the bureau on 31 March as a monitor. Pre-employment
processing has begun or soon will begin for four other Spanish monitors,
cruising monito associate editor
communications o erato and radio
technician (boardman) With the filling of these
positions we will be at the authorized non-staff T/0 of 47 for FY 1985.
Supervisor
The followin employees received PSIs during March: Monitor
from FBN-11/6 to FBN-11/7 and Senior Monitor
from FBN-10/3 to FBN-10/4 effective 3 March 1985; Radio
from 3/1 to FBN-3/2 effectuve 17 March 1985.
Editor) (departed Panama 29 March upon
completion of a three-month editorial training.
Editor )arrived Panama 11 March to begin her
three-month editorial training.
B. Building and Grounds
We received on 14 March a 50-ton Carrier Package Chiller,
Serial No. YK M-228270, Model LCHA-55-25D, to be placed on the already
completed concrete base. The initial inspection of the chiller DEH
delivered to us revealed the following damage:
- The two front doors are bent out of shape.
- The back channel and cover are bent out of shape.
- The insulation of the chiller is damaged.
- The tube for the liquid and the expansion valve are twisted out
of shape.
Since the unit was received with the above damage, we consider
that all needed repair and flaws in performance caused by it should be
reapired free of charge under the warranty. We have discussed these
matters wit Chief of the DEH Estimates Branch, and with
Deputy Chief of DEH's air conditioner maintenance
New security clocks have been installed on the three entrances
to the bureau, the front and back doors and the door to the bureau chief's
office. The security guards will be checking these clocks every two hours
between 6 p.m. and 6 a.m.
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A. To the Bureau:
James Hirsch, ADDS&T, and DD/FBIS, visited on
19 and 20 March for briefings and inspection of bureau's ROSET-related
operations.
deputy chief of FBIS P&TB, and) (personnel
officer in FBIS Administrative Staff, visited on TDY from 13 to 16 March.
Embassy in San Salvador, visited the bureau briefly during the month while
he was in Panama on other business. In the past has been
helpful to us in tracking down problems related to our remote operation in
San Salvador.
B. From the Bureau:
ROSET engineer Ed Baker attended a half day conference at Fort
Amador sponsored by the local chapter of the Armed Forces Communications
and Electronics Association on 6 March. A guest speaker from the Harris
Corporation demonstrated new technology in tactical HF communications
equipment, primarily designed for military applications.
The bureau chief and I the bureau's chief
technician, traveled to Guatemala City, Tegucigalpa, and Managua for a
semi-annual inspection tour of the bureau's remote operation. Bureau
chief monitor participated in the Honduras and Nicaragua legs
of the inspection tour for his first on-site view of the remote
operation. The planned visit to San Salvador was omitted at the request
of the local embassy which cited a period of increased tension prior to
the 31 March elections.
Deputy chief) (met with Lieutenant Colonel Ellis G.
Reeder, executive officer of the U.S. Army's Task Force Bayonet on Fort
Clayton on 18 March. Col. Reeder was provided an estimate by the bureau
antenna contractor to replace the HF antenna tower destroyed on 28
February by an Armored Personnel Carrier belonging to Task Force Bayonet.
Attachment:
Production Report
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PANAMA BUREAU PRODUCTION REPORT FOR MARCH 1985
I. TOTALS FROM ALL SOURCES:
TOTAL PUBLISHABLE WORDAGE FILED DURING MONTH: 557,170
TOTAL NONPUBLISHABLE WORDAGE FILED DURING MONTH: 20,410
TOTAL NUMBER OF PUBLISHABLE ITEMS FILED DURING MONTH: 1,527
BROAD- PRESS PUBLI-
CASTS AGENCIES CATIONS
II. INPUT OF REGULAR COVERAGE: 9,730 43,380 202.23
(minutes or issues per week) sin min issues
III. OUTPUT FROM ALL SOURCES:
(publishable words per month)
ARGENTINA
Buenos Aires LATIN in
Spanish
AUSTRIA
Vienna OPECNA in
Spanish
COLOMBIA
Bogota Domestic Service in
Spanish 2,700
Bogota Emisoras Caracol Network in
Spanish 5,960
Bogota Cadena Radial Super in
Spanish 5,720
Bogota Radio Sutatensa in
Spanish 1,010
*Bogota Television Service in
Spanish 1,510
Bogota EL TIEMPO in
Spanish
Bogota EL SIGLO in
Spanish
COSTA RICA
San Jose Radio Reloj in
Spanish
San Jose Radio Impacto in
Spanish
*San Jose PRELA in
Spanish
San Jose LA NACION in
Spanish
San Jose RUMBO CENTROAMERICANO in
Spanish
San Jose LA PRENSA LIBRE in
Spanish
San Jose LA REPUBLICA in
Spanish
San Jose LIBERTAD in
Spanish
10,840
14,180
7,520
7,450
3,540
780
1,340
3,280
1,480
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San Jose LIBERTAD REVOLUCIONARIA in
Spanish
CUBA
Havana International Service in
Spanish
Havana International Service in
Quechua
Havana Dostsatic Service in
Spanish
Havana PRELA in
English
*Havana PRELA in
Spanish
42,090
1,030
8,180
36,710
27,380
(CLANDESTINES)
Radio Venceremos in
Spanish to El Salvador 13,080
Radio Farabundo Narti in
Spanish to El Salvador 13,450
Voice of Sanding in
Spanish to Nicaragua 1,510
ECUADOR
Quito Vos de lot Andes in
Spanish
Quito Radio Quito in
Spanish
Quito Cadena Ecuador Radio in
Spanish
EL SALVADOR
San Salvador Domestic Service in
Spanish
San Salvador Radio Cadena YSIL in
Spanish
San Salvador Radio Cadena YSU in
Spanish
San Salvador Radio Cadena Sonora in
Spanish
San Salvador EL DIARIO DR ROY in
Spanish
San Salvador PROCESO in
Spanish
San Salvador LA PRENSA GEAFICA in
Spanish
San Salvador EL MUNDO in
Spanish
San Salvador DIARIO LATINO in
Spanish
San Salvador THE NEWS GAZETTES in
English
8,230
1,350
410
1,210
2,410
8,270
3,280
1,440
2,260
0
6,440
4,010
BROAD- PRESS PUBLI-
CASTS AGENCIES CATIONS
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FRANCE
Paris APP in
F1, English
Paris APP in
Spanish
GERMANY
Hamburg DPA in
Spanish
*East Berlin ADN to ANN Managua in
Spanish
GUATEMALA
Guatemala City Radio Television Guatemala in
Spanish
Guatemala City Cadena de Emisoras Unidas in
Spanish
Guatemala City Radio Nuevo Mundo in
Spanish
Guatemala City Super Radio in
Spanish
Guatemala Domestic Service in
Spanish
Guatemala City EL GRAFICO in
Spanish
Guatemala City PRENSA LIBRE in
Spanish
HONDURAS
Tegucigalpa Domestic Service in
Spanish
Tegucigalpa Tos de Honduras Network in
Spanish
Tegucigalpa Cadena Audio Video in
Spanish
Tegucigalpa Televisora Hondurans in
Spanish
Tegucigalpa Radio America in
Spanish
Tegucigalpa EL HERALDO in
Spanish
Tegucigalpa LA TRIBUNA in
Spanish
San Pedro SULA LA PRENSA in
Spanish
San Pedro Sula TIEIU'O in
Spanish
BROAD- PRESS PUBLI-
CASTS AGENCIES CATIONS
4,950
2,010
250
3,590
31,020
4,990
2,440
9,950
5,340
3,440
15,560
1,940
2,630
830
6,710
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BROAD- PRESS
CASTS AGENCIES
PUBLI-
CATIONS
MEXICO
*Mexico City XEW Television Network in
Spanish
*Mexico City XHDF Television Network
Spanish
*Mexico City ENFOPRENSA in
Spanish
*Mexico City CERIGUA in
Spanish
3,450
in
4,500
Mexico City EL DIA in
Spanish
Mexico City EXCELSIOR in
6,930
Spanish
Mexico City UNOMASUNO in
1,020
Spanish
Mexico City EL UNIVERSAL i
n
2,380
Spanish
Mexico City EL NACIONAL in
230
Spanish
Mexico City THE NEWS in
340
English
Mexico City EL FINANCIERO
in
2,430
Spanish
110
NICARAGUA
Managua Domestic Service in
Spanish
Managua Sistema Sandinista Television Network in
Spanish
Managua Radio Sandino in
Spanish
Managua Radio Sandino Network in
Spanish
Managua Radio Noticias in
Spanish
Managua International Service in
Spanish
*Managua ANN in
Spanish
*Managua PRELA in
Spanish
Managua BARRICADA in
Spanish
Managua EL NUEVO DIARIO in
Spanish
Managua LA PRENSA in
Spanish
PANAMA
Panama City Domestic Service in
Spanish
14,580
5,210
9,480
19,620
2,100
1,110
7,300
7,150
1,260
8,640
5,620
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Panama City Televisooa Nacional in
Spanish
Panama City Circuito RPC Television in
Spanish
Panama City ACAN in
Spanish
Panama City CRITICA in
Spanish
Panama City LA ESTRELLA DE PANAMA in
Spanish
Panama City LA PRENSA in
Spanish
Panama City LA REPUBLICA in
Spanish
Panama City MATUTINO in
Spanish
Panama City EL SIGLO in
Spanish
Panama City STAR AND HERALD in
English
Panama City THE SUNDAY REPUBLIC in
English
Panama City QUIUBO GRAFICO in
Spanish
Panama City EXTRA in
Spanish
Panama City DIALOGO SOCIAL in
Spanish
SPAIN
*Madrid EFE in
Spanish
*Madrid PRELA in
Spanish
USSR
*Moscow TASS in
Spanish
*Moscow APN in
Spanish
*Moscow NOVOSTI in
Spanish
VENEZUELA
Caracas Radio Rumbos Network in
Spanish
*Caracas Television Service in
Spanish
Caracas EL NACIONAL in
Spanish
Caracas EL UNIVERSAL in
Spanish
BROAD- PRESS PUBLI-
CASTS AGENCIES CATIONS
2,710
4,940
13,340
850
6,120
10,090
2,430
5,190
1,080
1,180
0
1,460
360
1,340
23,720
1,940
830
1,420
1,400
18,950
2,950
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PANAMA BUREAU PRODUCTION REPORT FOR MARCH 1985 -- ANNEX
TOTALS FROM ROSET SOURCES:
COLOMBIA
Bogota Television Service in
Spanish
COSTA RICA
San Jose PRELA in
Spanish
CUBA
Havana PRELA in
Spanish
GERMANY
East Berlin ADN to Managua in
Spanish
1,510
27,380
MEXICO
Mexico City XHDF Television Network in
Spanish 4,500
Mexico City XEW Television Network in
Spanish 3,450
Mexico City CERIGUA in
Spanish 210
Mexico City ENFOPRENSA in
Spanish 170
NICARAGUA
Managua ANN in
Span
Managua PRELA in
Spanish
SPAIN
Madrid EFE in
Spanish
Madrid PRELA in
Spanish
7,300
USSR
Moscow TASS in
Spanish 1,940
Moscow APN in
Spanish 830
Moscow NOVOSTI in
Spanish 1,420
VENEZUELA
Caracas Television Service in
Spanish
18,490
TOTAL for MARCH 1985 69,120
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