MONTHLY REPORT --PANAMA BUREAU-- JULY 1986

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP87-01104R000100120006-3
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: K
• Document Page Count: 15
• Document Creation Date: December 22, 2016
• Document Release Date: May 22, 2012
• Sequence Number: 6
• Publication Date: August 4, 1986
• Content Type: MEMO

Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2012/05/22 : CIA-RDP87-01104R000100120006-3
.,
FOREIGN BROADCAST INFORMATION SERVICE
PANAMA BUREAU
DRAWER 927
APO MIAMI 34004
4 August 1986
MPA 6016
MEMORANDUM FOR: Director, FBIS
THROUGH : Chief, Operations Group
SUBJECT : Monthly Report -Panama Bureau- July 1986
Construction on the Internet site continued during July. The
foundations for both the 13-meter Internet satellite dish and the
adjacent equipment hut were laid, and the grounds were prepared for
further construction. The three sea vans containing the antenna and
accompanying equipment arrived, cleared customs, and are currently on
site. Construction is slated to begin on 12 August. We still have not
received word on our frequency allocation request, however. At month's
end we had asked, with embassy approval, the Southern Command's Office of
Treaty Affairs to begin making inquiries as to the status of both our
Internet frequency allocation request and our frequency allocation
request for the microwave communications link with the U.S. Embassy. We
are hoping this approach will be successful in expediting the necessary
approvals.
Two significant cruising discoveries occurred during July. Thanks
to advance word from Headquarters, we were able to monitor the
inauguration of the Intersputnik station from Managua and a subsequent
speech by Daniel Ortega. The Intersputnik system also now allows Panama
Bureau to monitor Cuban television, as evidenced by the bureau's coverage
from television of Fidel Castro's 26 July speech on the anniversary of
the invasion of the Moncada Barracks. We are now reviewing available
Cuban television programming with an eye toward possible Internet
coverage.
A. Monitorial/Editorial
July began with the week-long visit by Pope John Paul II to
Colombia. The pontiff visited Bogota, Chiquinquira, Cali, and Medellin.
On 5 July the pope criticized the Nicaraguan Government's denial of
reentry into the country of a second Nicaraguan churchman,
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Bishop Pablo Antonio Vega. Nicaraguan officials said the pope was
misinformed about the reasons for the bishop's banishment, which they
claimed was imposed because of Vega's alleged support for the contra
rebels and his endorsement of the U.S. House of Representatives vote
on aid for the contras.
Student demonstrations which tied up Panama City traffic
from 9 to 14 July, were staged in support of two journalists arrested
on 9 July. One of the pair sought asylum in the Venezuelan Embassy
and eventually fled to Caracas. The other was last reported to be
hiding at the university, where he is also a part-time law
professor. Students reportedly clashed with police on 11 July.
As an AFP bureau, Panama was affected by the nearly
worldwide strike on 10 July and the longer one from 15 18 July.
During that time, Panama Bureau was responsible for wor de alerts
from Madrid EFE, Buenos Aires REUTERS, and Hamburg DPA. Fortunately,
the world cooperated and no alerts had to be filed.
The bureau covered the 6 July Mexican gubernatorial
elections from both press and television. Although it took more than
a week to count all the ballots, nobody was surprised when the ruling
PRI managed to sweep the races. Some Mexican papers charged vote
fraud or U.S. interference.
In El Salvador on 11 July the rebel forces issued a joint
communique, monitored from the clandestine Radio Venceremos, in which
the FDR and FMLN offered to engage in dialogue with the government to
resolve the country's civil war. When the government responded by
asking the rebels to lay down their arms and talk, the rebels issued
another communique over Venceremos challenging the government to a
"live debate." After the government's counterproposal to hold talks
in Managua at the offices of LA PRENSA - closed by the Nicaraguan
Government - the rebels issued another communique declining the
offer.
Also on 11 July, the Managua remote line, down since 24 May,
became functional again, only to go down and up several more times.
As of month's end, however, the line is operational.
Alerted by Headquarters, and after a few false alarms, on 17
July the bureau monitored a pass feed on the Gorizont 14.0W satellite
from Managua on the dedication of the Intersputnik station in
Nicaragua. Preprogramming highlights included shots of the podium
and audience seating being arranged as well as views of the inside of
the facility with technicians operating and admiring the racks of
equipment, much of which bore cyrillic inscriptions or directions.
The same satellite provided another pass feed 2 days later which
carried the Sandinist revolution anniversary celebration and
President Daniel Ortega's speech. An interesting sidelight on the
event was the bureau's observation that the pass feed carried the
opening introduction of the dignitaries several times, as though the
station were testing the equipment or resolving difficulties.
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With the completion of the testing or the resolution of difficulties,
the program on the pass feed began again and this time continued to
run. Also this time, the radios, which joined in network, joined the
television pass feed and carried the ceremony and speech. Having the
added dimension of the pass feed thus tipped the bureau off that the
ceremony and speech were not broadcast live.
On 24 July Tegucigalpa Radio America reported that several
top Nicaraguan contra leaders were wounded in an attack on a meeting
being held in a house situated some 200-300 meters from Honduran
President Azcona's residence. Early reports blamed a "Sandinist
commando" unit. Managua denied responsibility.
In his annual speech commemorating the 1953 attack on the
Moncada barracks, Fidel Castro ridiculed the idea of monetary
incentives for workers and denounced U.S. support for the contras as
well as U.S. policy toward South Africa. While Havana International
Service in Spanish continued its recent trend by not carrying the
Cuban leader's remarks live, Havana Television Service in Spanish did
feature live coverage of Castro's remarks. The bureau filed
substantive FYIs on the speech from a Havana Cubavision Television
pass feed which was linked to the terrestrial stations. The pass
feed also inaugurated Havana Cubavision Television via the 14.0W
Gorizont. According to PRENSA LATINA and other sources, the service
will eventually provide Cuban programming over a wide area, including
the eastern third of the United States as well as all of the
Caribbean; Central and South America; and parts of Africa, Europe,
and the Mideast.
B. Communications
On 7 July an era ended when the Panama Automated Relay lost
its last consumer - Panama Bureau. Panama Bureau was switched to a
tonepack at tech control at Corozal which now connects its circuit
directly to Ft. Detrick. Unfortunately, the end of the era appeared
for a while to be simultaneously the end of Panama Bureau's primary
communications mode. After some rewiring, reprogramming, and
informing of everybody involved, the new system went up and the
bureau acquired a new routing indicator.
C. Lateral Services
After reading a bureau-provided copy of a recent Trends
piece on Nicaragua, the J-2 at Southcom requested that it be put on
distribution for wirefiled Trends items on Central and South America
and Cuba. This request was relayed to Liaison and Requirements
Branch.
D. Technical
The battle against the Panamanian rainy season continued
during July. We completed the drilling of holes in the bases of the
drive motors and the blower motor housing to allow moisture
accumulating from condensation to escape. We also found that two
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air conditioners were leaking in the bases of the analysis and main
radio antennas. We discovered the plastic drainage hose was twisted
and was preventing the water from draining. This hose was replaced
with a shorter hose leading directly out of the base of the antenna.
Maintenance also continued on several of the rhombic antenna towers.
In early July it was discovered that some 160 feet of
underground coaxial cable for the rhombic antennas had been stolen.
The appropriate authorities were notified of the theft, and the cable
has been replaced.
The following accountable property was procured locally:
Two portable color televisions, Hitachi, Model CK300, Serial
Nos.: S6C-000170 and S6C-000172. Unit price: $300.00.
One McCulloch Mac 95-A , Model 4000306, Serial No.
11-015790. Unit price: $337.00 (String trimmers).
The following accountable property was received from
Paraguay Bureau:
Two Crown recorders, Model SS-702, Serial Nos.: T-8146
(Amp-M-288) and T8145 (Amp-292). Crown recorder Serial No. T-8145
(Amp-292) is not functioning and will be cannibalized.
The following accountable property was received from
Headquarters:
One Crown recorder amplifier, Serial No. 329 (for Crown
recorder model SXM-702).
A. Personnel
1986:
-5/7),
9/4), ~
The followin employees received PSIs effective 6 July
(FBN 2/1 - 2 2 (FBN 5/6
FBN 8/1 - 8/2) (FBN 9/3 -
(FBN 8/1 - 8/2 an N 8/1 - 8/2).
Interim bureau chief
Bureau on 28 July 1986.
departed Panama
Editor trainee) )arrived Panama 28 July for 12
weeks of training.
Erstwhile bureau secretary) (departed Panama on
1 August to accompany her husband who has been trasferred to
Washington. Recruitment for successor is now underway.
STAT
STAT
STAT
STAT
STAT
JIHI
STAT
STAT
STAT
STAT
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B. Building and Grounds
Contractor) Ihas completed 473 feet of the
new Roset fence.
On 1 July, three members of the Linguist Team from the 142d MI
(LING) Battalion, Utah National Guard, visited the bureau for a
briefing and orientation. The Guardsmen are currently on TDY at the
193d Infantry Brigade at Ft. Clayton. Another group of three
individuals from the 142d MI (LING) Battalion visited the bureau on
15 July for the same purpose.
On 8 July, five TDY reservists assigned to the Southern
Command's Office of Treaty Affairs visited the bureau for a briefing
and orientation tour.
On 23 July, four watch officers from the Southern Command's J-2
visited the bureau for a briefing and orientation tour.
~m 31 July to 4 August, Paraguay Bureau technician
visited the bureau for an orientation and briefing on oset
operations.
On 15 July, the interim bureau chief and deputy chief visited
Mr. Jose Guanti, Intercomsa's representative on the Internet project,
to discuss the progress of the Internet project and introduce the new
deputy chief. Also on 15 July, the interim chief and deputy chief
paid a courtesy call on Colonel J.C. Lucas, Director of the Southern
Commands Operations Directorate, J-3.
On 16 Jul the de uty chief, chief electronic techni
communications section su ervis r
and assistant communications supervisor
visited USAISC Tech Control to receive a brief ng on t e new tonepack
configuration through which the bureau's primary communications
circuit now must pass on the way to the Ft. Detrick switching center.
On 31 July, the acting chief visited Colonel P.H. Corbett, the
Southern Command's deputy chief of staff for treaty affairs, to
discuss the status of the bureau's requests to the Panamanian
Government for frequency allocations.
On 31 July, the acting chief visited David Miller, the U.S.
Embassy's Counselor for Economic Affairs, also to discuss the status
of the bureau's frequency allocation requests.
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On the night of 26 July, the Bureau's Social Activities
Committee gave a farewell party for departing bureau secretary 0
who served admirably for almost two months
as interim bureau chief. The party was held outdoors in the spacious
swimming pool area of the bureau chief's apartment building and
afforded a lovely view of the Bay of Panama. Despite a major Castro
speech that reduced the number of late attendees somewhat, the salsa
music played loud and long until 4:00 am Sunday. It was a fitting
tribute to both who both proved to be key people during
Attachment
Production Report
STAT
SIAI
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Panama Bureau Production Report for July 1986
TOTAL PUBLISHABLE WORDAGE FILED DURING MONTH: 513870
TOTAL NON-PUBLISHABLE WORDAGE FILED DURING MONTH: 33690
TOTAL NUMBER OF PUBLISHABLE ITEMS FILED DURING MONTH: 1261
BROAD- PRESS PUBLI-
CASTS AGENCIES CATIONS
II. INPUT OF REGULAR COVERAGE: 11880.00 90870.00 212.00
(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
CHILE
Santiago Television Service in
Spanish
Santiago 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 660
Bogota Domestic Service in
Spanish 0
Bogota Emisoras Caracol Network in
Spanish 2990
Bogota Television Service in
Spanish 8760
Bogota REUTER in
Spanish
Bogota REUTER in
English
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Bogota EL SIGLO in
Spanish
Bogota EL TIEMPO in
Spanish
BROAD- PRESS PUBLI-
CASTS AGENCIES CATIONS
COSTA RICA
San Jose Domestic Service in
Spanish 2990
San Jose Radio Impacto in
Spanish 3830
San Jose Radio Reloj in
Spanish 7010
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
CUBA
Havana International Service in
Quechua 140
Havana International Service in
Spanish 52620
Havana Domestic Service in
Spanish 9350
Havana PRENSA LATINA in
English
Havana PRENSA LATINA in
Spanish
ECUADOR
Quito Radio Quito in
Spanish
Quito Voz de los Andes'in
Spanish
Quito REUTER in
Spanish
Quito REUTER in
English
2670
1320
1380
1630
EL SALVADOR
San Salvador Canal Dace Television in
Spanish 8780
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BROAD- PRESS PUBLI-
CASTS AGENCIES CATIONS
San
Salvador
Spanish
Domestic Service in
7670
San
Salvador
Spanish
La Voz Panamericana in
3670
San
Salvador
Spanish
Radio Cadena 1080 in
940
San
Salvador
Spanish
Radio Cadena Sonora in
3280
San
Salvador
Spanish
Radio Cadena YSKL in
6780
San
Salvador
Spanish
Radio Cadena YSU in
9240
San
Salvador
Spanish
Television Educativa in
1130
San
San
San
San
San
San
San
Salvador
Spanish
Salvador
Spanish
Salvador
Spanish
Salvador
Spanish
Salvador
Spanish
Salvador
Spanish
Salvador
English
DIARIO LATINO in
EL DIARIO DE HOY in
EL MUNDO in
EL TIEMPO in
LA PRENSA GRAFICA in
PROCESO in
THE NEWS GAZETTE in
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
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BROAD- PRESS PUBLI-
CASTS AGENCIES CATIONS
Guatemala City TRECEVISION Television in
Spanish
Guatemala City EL GRAFICO in
Spanish
Guatemala City PRENSA LIBRE in
Spanish
HONDURAS
Tegucigalpa
Spanish
Cadena Audio Video in
3740
Tegucigalpa
Domestic Service in
Spanish
970
Tegucigalpa
Spanish
Radio America in
2220
Tegucigalpa
Spanish
Televisooa Hondurena in
1990
Tegucigalpa
Spanish
Voz de Honduras Network in
3620
San Pedro Sula LA PRENSA in
Spanish
690
San Pedro Sula TIEMPO in
Spanish
5800
Tegucigalpa
Spanish
EL HERALDO in
1710
Tegucigalpa
Spanish
LA TRIBUNA in
MEXICO
Mexico City Red Nacional 13 IMEVISION
Television in
Spanish
Mexico City XEW Television Network in
Spanish
Mexico City CERIGUA in
Spanish
Mexico City REUTER in
English
Mexico City EL DIA in
Spanish
3380
Mexico City EL NACIONAL in
Spanish
1020
Mexico City EL UNIVERSAL in
Spanish
2660
Mexico City EXCELSIOR in
Spanish
6510
Mexico City THE NEWS in
English
1020
Mexico City UNOMASUNO in
Spanish
4360
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BROAD- PRESS PUBLI-
CASTS AGENCIES CATIONS
NICARAGUA
Managua International Service in
Spanish
8290
Managua Domestic Service in
Spanish
28210
Managua Radio Noticias in
Spanish
340
Managua Radio Sandino in
Spanish
22640
Managua Sistema Sandinista Television
Network in
Spanish
6970
Managua Television Feed in
Spanish
1260
Managua ANN Diplomatic Information
Service in
Spanish
0
Managua ANN in
Spanish
25000
Managua PRENSA LATINA in
Spanish
2920
Managua SALPRESS-NOTISAL in
Spanish
250
Managua BARRICADA in
Spanish 12640
Managua EL NUEVO DIARIO in
Spanish 3380
Managua LA PRENSA in
Spanish 0
PANAMA
Panama City Circuito RPC
Television in
Spanish
1170
Panama City Domestic Service in
Spanish
1170
Panama City TELEMETRO Television in
Spanish
3650
Panama City Television Service in
Spanish
0
Panama City Televisooa Nacional in
Spanish
1900
Panama City ACAN in
Spanish
Panama City CRITICA in
Spanish
Panama City DIALOGO SOCIAL in
Spanish
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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 OUIUBO GRAFICO in
Spanish
Panama City STAR AND HERALD in
English
Panama City THE SUNDAY REPUBLIC in
English
PERU
Lima Panamericana Television
Network in
Spanish
Lima Television Peruana in
Spanish
Lima REUTER in
English
Lima REUTER in
Spanish
SPAIN
Madrid EFE in
Spanish
USSR
Moscow TABS in
Spanish
VENEZUELA
Caracas Radio Rumbos Network in
Spanish
Caracas Television Service in
Spanish
Caracas REUTER in
English
BROAD- PRESS PUBLI-
CASTS AGENCIES CATIONS
3710
4790
7150
10630
1200
2350
4960
0
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BROAD- PRESS PUBLI-
CASTS AGENCIES CATIONS
Caracas EL NACIONAL in
Spanish
Caracas EL UNIVERSAL in
Spanish
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PANAMA BUREAU PRODUCTION REPORT FOR JULY 1986 -- ANNEX
TOTALS FROM ROSET SOURCES:
CHILE
Santiago REUTER in
English
COLOMBIA
Bogota Television Service in
Spanish 8,780
Bogota REUTER in
English 1,390
Bogota REUTER in
Spanish 250
CUBA
Havana PRENSA LATINA in
Spanish
ECUADOR
Quito REUTER in
Spanish
12,790
MEXICO
Mexico City XEW Television Network in
Spanish 4,230
Mexico City Red Nacional 13 IMEVISION Television in
Spanish 9,440
Mexico City CERIGUA in
Spanish 820
Mexico City REUTER in
English 240
NICARAGUA
Managua Television Feed in
Spanish 1,260
Managua ANN in
Spanish 25,000
Managua PRENSA LATINA in
Spanish 2,920
Managua SALPRESS/NOTISAL in
Spanish 250
PERU
Lima Television Peruana in
Spanish
Lima Panamericana Television Network in
Spanish
Lima REUTER in
English
SPAIN
Madrid EFE in
Spanish
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VENEZUELA
Caracas Television Service in
Spanish
12,620
Caracas REUTER in
English
2,050
TOTAL FOR JULY 1986
85,790
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