MONTHLY REPORT--PARAGUAY BUREAU--APRIL 1985

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP86-00040R000300600008-9
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: K
• Document Page Count: 8
• Document Creation Date: December 22, 2016
• Document Release Date: September 9, 2010
• Sequence Number: 8
• Publication Date: May 6, 1985
• Content Type: MEMO

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MPY-5028
6 May 1985
MEMORANDUM FOR: Director, FBIS
THROUGH : Chief, Operations Group
SUBJECT : Monthly Report--Paraguay Bureau--April 1985
I. GENERAL
Following a speech in March by President Stroessner during which
he called for a crackdown on corruption and immoral activity, the new
,Asuncion police chief has been conducting a campaign against immoral
activity and to ensure that the citizenry's identity documentation is in
order. Everyone under the age of 18 must be off the streets by midnight.
The police also have closed -- probably only 'temporarily -- many nightspots,
virtually eliminating the already slim entertainment possibilities. The
police also have intensified roadblocks and street checks, spotchecking
personal and vehicle documentation. For not carrying proper identification,
one Embassy officer's dependent son was detained for over 4 hours at a
local police station under rough conditions. No bureau personnel have been
detained.
II. OPERATIONS
A. Monitorial/Editorial
1. The bureau's major story this month was Brazilian President-elect
Tancredo Neves' 39-day hospitalization and death on the 21st. The bureau
remained open 6 nights and opened on 3 successive Sunday mornings to cover
events. Early in the month the bureau filed a series of flash messages from
AFP reporting his death, which AFP retracted within minutes. The night Neves
died the bureau filed the initial flash on his death from Sao Paulo Radio
Bandeirantes, which broadcast live a statement by the presidential spokesman,
1 minute after the start of the statement. For this coverage and reporting
on the political situation and the speech made by Acting President Jose Sarney
the same night, the bureau earned high praise fran Headquarters and from the
BBC Newsburo, which said "it would be hard to beat your flash on Neves' death."
2. In Argentina an alleged palace coup in the making against President
Alfonsin was the highlight. Early in the month an opposition Peronist Party
senator reported that unnamed Politicians were pushing for a palace coup aimed
at deposing President Alfonsin and replacing him with Vice President Martinez.
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Subsequently, the Army chief of staff denied that the Army was involved.
Then on the 21st, in a speech to the nation broadcast live over radio
and television, Alfonsin made hard-hitting statements attacking unnamed
politicians for plotting to undermine democracy. Following the president's
charges, there was a flurry of accusations and denials by both politicians
and military officers. On the 26th, Alfonsin again addressed the nation over
radio and television from the balcony of Governs ent House. In his 50-minute
speech, which was covered live, Alfonsin again attacked those plotting
against democracy and outlined a series of econanic austerity measures
that the country must implement to preserve Argentine democracy.
3. Peruvian coverage was highlighted by the general elections held on
the 14th. Making true on its promise, the Shining Path increased its
terrorist attacks in the days preceding the election in an attempt to keep
people away from the polls. However, voter turnout was quite high and
American Revolutionary Popular Alliance leader Alan Garcia soundly defeated
his closest rival, United Left candidate Alfonso Barrantes. Even with his
big win, Garcia could not claim victory because according to Peruvian law
he had to win 51 percent of the vote and he only received 49 percent,
necessitating a runoff election. As the month closed, Barrantes announced his
withdrawal from the runoff, citing his slim chances and the monetary
savings to the country. During the month, the bureau's Lima contractor was
used to relay the speech President Belaunde made on election eve. The
contractor called the bureau twice on his own initiative to relay Belaunde's
press conference the day after the election and Barrantes' statement
announcing his withdrawal. The bureau reassumed coverage of the Peruvian
press, starting with the issues of the 11th, after a 10-month hiatus caused
by a break in air service between Asuncion and Lima. The Embassy is sending
the papers once a week via a new Lima-Asuncion flight with an overall lag time
of 3-7 days.
4. in Uruguay the government has been concerned with what the interior
minister on the 9th alleged was a destabilization plot being planned in
secret meetings by high-ranking military officers. As a sign of the tension
between the government and the military, Sanguinetti ordered the detention
of an Army Colonel closely linked to ex-President Alvarez and six Navy
officers for comments critical of the government's policies and a congressional
investigation into criminal actions by the Navy under the military governments.
On the 11th, the bureau covered live a speech to the nation on the economic
situation and promising belt-tightening in the future. In a move to show its
independent foreign policy, the government on the 9th restored catmercial
relations with Cuba after a 20-year break.
5. Events in Chile were marked by opposition to the government and
terrorist actions against government installations. On the 26th, the government
arrested 264 opposition leaders and members at a Socialist Party gathering in
Santiago. This action has been widely criticized in political circles as well
as by the Catholic Church. Bureau coverage of events was hampered when
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Santiago Domestic Service halted shortwave transmissions on 30 March for
maintenance of equipment. Until broadcasts were resumed on the 4th, the
Santiago contractor provided telephone feeds to the bureau. In addition,
poor reception of Santiago Domestic's 2300 GMT cast has forced the bureau
to rely on feeds from the contractor since the 19th.
6. After agreeing to hold joint maneuvers with U.S. forces in the
Cochabamba region, the Bolivian Government on the 22d canceled the maneuvers.
The goverranent had care under increasing pressure fran political and union
sectors to cancel them, allegedly because they would imply a loss of
sovereignty.
7. On 1 April, Paraguayan President Stroessner allowed local
television to broadcast an interview he gave earlier to ABC television
reporters at the Presidential Palace in Asuncion. The interview centered
on the reported presence in Paraguay of Josef Mengele, the Auschwitz Angel
of Death. The Embassy expressed great interest in the interview, and
the bureau texted the interview and also filed a VSL, which was immediately
requested by Headquarters.
B. Cruising
This past month the cruising monitor made the first observations
using our new long-wire antenna, focusing attention on Uruguay and
Argentina. (See next section.),.
C. Technical
1. After suffering heavy damage last month in a brush fire,
construction of the bureau's new 300-meter long-wire antenna was completed
this month. The antenna, which is located in the ANTELCO field about
15 miles fram the bureau, is oriented toward the south. It is hooked up to
a DELTA mzlticoupler MOD S1 1 x 10 and to six receivers at the remote site.
Reception of Buenos Aires Domestic Service and Uruguayan mediunwave stations
have improved with this antenna. Cruising reports are being filed.
2. A carpenter has been contracted to build a console for the four
mini televisions that will be positioned at the monitor supervisor's
booth. Once the console is installed, construction of the booth will be
finished.
3. Embassy General Service technicians have started work on removing
three regulating transformers and filters from the bureau's main power
source. Another transformer hooked up by the Embassy outside the annex
building has made these transformers redundant.
A. Personnel
1. The bureau has begun advertising for the new associate editor's
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position.
2. The bureau has put into pre-enployn nt processing
for the vacant monitorial position.
IV. VISITS
1. a Latin America desk officer
at DIA, visited the bureau on the 18th.
2. State INR publications procurement officer Karen Boushie visited
the bureau on the 22d.
3. The bureau chief TDY to the States for the bureau chiefs conference
and to Panama 5 Apr-2 May.
V. COMMUNITY AFFAIRS
All bureau staff officers were invited to a reception at the residence
of Ambassador Davis on 22 April in honor of a visit by the current Miss
America, Sharlene Wells, who was born in Paraguay. Bureau edito
acted as an informal liaison between the Wells family and the Embassy in
helping to make arrangements for the 4-dav visit.
CC: C/ Panama Bureau
C/ Key West Bureau
Attachments: Monthly Production Report
PMS/clr
05/06/85
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PARAGUAY BUREAU PRODUCTION REPORT FOR APRIL 1985
TOTALS FROM ALL SOURCES
TOTAL PUBLISHABLE WORDAGE FILED DURING THE MONTH:
TOTAL-NON-PUBLISHABLE WORDAGE FILED DURING THE MONTH:
TOTAL NUMBER OF PUBLISHABLE ITEMS FILED DURING THE MONTH:
I. INPUT OF REGULAR COVERAGE:
II. OUTPUT FROM ALL SOURCES:
ARGENTINA
Buenos Aires Domestic Service in
Spanish
Buenos Aires Argentina Televisora Color
Network in Spanish
Buenos Aires TELAM in
Spanish
Buenos Aires NOTICIAS ARGENTINAS in
Spanish
Buenos Aires DYN in
Spanish
Buenos-Aires BUENOS AIRES HERALD in
English
Buenos Aires CLARIN in
Spanish
Buenos Aires GENTE in
Spanish
Buenos Aires LA NACION in
Spanish
Buenos Aires LA PRENSA in
Spanish
Buenos Aires AMBITO FINANCIERO in
Spanish
BOLIVIA
La Paz Radio Illimani Network in
Spanish
La Paz Cadena Panamericana in
Spanish
La Paz EL DIARIO in
Spanish
La Paz PRESENCIA in
Spanish
BROAD-
CASTS
8,585
(min)
10,850
21,810
910
0
2,510
8,560
395,250
322,270
72,980
PRESS PUBLIC-
AGENCY ATIONS
39,360 14,200
(min) (issues)
25,640
15,860
4,340
1,180
1,340
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BRAZIL
Brasilia Domestic Service in
Portuguese
Porto Alegre Radio Guaiba in
Portuguese
Sao Paulo Radio Bandeirantes Network in
Portuguese
Sao Paulo Radio Bandeirantes, in
Portuguese
Rio de Janeiro JORNAL DO BRASIL in
Portuguese
Porto Alegre Radio Gaucha in
Portuguese
Rio de Janeiro LATIN AMERICA DAILY POST in
English
Rio de Janeiro MANCHETE in
Portuguese
Rio de Janeiro 0 GLOBO in
Portuguese
.Sao Paulo FOLHA DE SAO PAULO in
Portuguese
Sao Paulo 0 ESTADO DE SAO PAULO in
Portuguese
Sao Paulo VEJA in
Portuguese
CHILE
Santiago Domestic Service in
Spanish
Santiago Radio Chilena in
Spanish
Santiago COSAS in
Spanish
Santiago EL MERCURIO in
Spanish
Santiago HOY in
Spanish
Santiago LA TERCERA DE LA HORA in
Spanish
Santiago QUE PASA in
Spanish
CHINA
Beijing in Spanish to
Latin America
FRANCE
PARIS AFP in
Spanish
BROAD- PRESS PUBLIC-
CASTS AGENCY ATIONS
10,440
5,730
11,250
25,410
1,630
0
0
5,190
6,570
2,050
7,610
7,900
8,140
390
1,590
0
40,940
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,BROAD- PRESS
CASTS AGENCY
PUBLIC-
ATIONS
-PARAGUAY
Asuncion Domestic Service in
Spanish
Asuncion Red Privada de Teledifusora
Paraguaya Television in Spanish
Asuncion EL DIARIO NOTICIAS in
3,570
3,650
Spanish ,
Asuncion EL PUEBLO in
Spanish
Asuncion HOY in
Spanish
Asuncion PATRIA in
Spanish
130
0
1,550
0
Asuncion SENDERO in
Spanish
Asuncion ULTIMA HORA in
Spanish
1,040
Lima
Domestic Service in
Spanish
2,580
Lima
Television Service in
Spanish
4,100
Lima
Cadena America Television in
Spanish
2,590
Lima
Cadena Panamericana Television in
Spanish
8,200
Lima
Television Lima in
Spanish
2,080
Lima
Radio del Pacifico in
Spanish
2,720
Lima
Radioprogramas del Peru in
Spanish
2,710
Lima EL COMERCIO in
Spanish
SPAIN
MADRID EFE in
Spanish 28,630
UNION OF SOVIET SOCIALIST REPUBLICS
Moscow in
Portuguese to Brazil
Moscow in
Spanish to Latin America
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BROAD- PRESS PUBLIC-
CASTS AGENCY ATIONS
UNION OF SOVIET SOCIALIST REPUBLIC -- CONTINUED
Moscow in
Spanish to Chile 10,380
Moscow in
Spanish to Cuba 0
Moscow Radio Peace and Progress in
Spanish to Latin America 0
Moscow Radio Magallanes in
Spanish to Chile 0
URUGUAY
Montevideo Radio El Espectador Network in
Spanish 390
Montevideo Radio Carve in
Spanish 2,990
Montevideo Radio Oriental in
Spanish 120
Montevideo EL DIA in
Spanish
Montevideo OPINAR in
Spanish
Montevideo LA HORA in
Spanish
1,030
0
2,070
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