LEFTIST REVOLUTIONARY ACTIVITY IN SOUTH AMERICA

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP87M00539R001602450009-2
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: S
• Document Page Count: 3
• Document Creation Date: December 22, 2016
• Document Release Date: February 23, 2010
• Sequence Number: 9
• Publication Date: August 8, 1985
• Content Type: MEMO

Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2010/02/23: CIA-RDP87MOO539ROO1602450009-2
SECRET
The Director of Central Intelligence
Washington, D.C. 20505
MEMORANDUM FOR: Director of Central Intelligence
Deputy Director of Central Intelligence
FROM:
NIC 03997-85
8 August 1985
Acting National Intelligence Officer for Latin America
Leftist Revolutionary Activity in South America
1. Leftist revolutionary activity in South America has increased
significantly in the past five to six years and has been focused
primarily on the Andean countries. Since 1979 the number of countries
with serious insurgent problems has grown from one -- Colombia -- to
four: Colombia, Peru, Chile, and Ecuador. In each of these cases we
believe the trend toward more leftist activity will continue.
2. Only in Chile and Colombia have government forces demonstrated
some success in coping with the threat, even though they do not appear to
have the capability to eliminate it. They will probably have difficulty
dealing with the increase in activity we anticipate in both countries.
Peru and Ecuador have had little or no success in containing their
insurgents and that situation is unlikely to change appreciably under
current conditions.
3. The insurgent movements involved, with one exception (the Sendero
Luminoso), are supported by Cuba, Nicaragua, the USSR and Libya. Cuba,
of course, is the principal source of direct external support. In
general terms, Cuba selectively provides the wherewithal to turn would-be
insurgents into activists. The Soviets and Nicaraguans provide
complementary services or resources. Libya furnishes mostly funds and
weapons; however, it does not appear to coordinate these efforts entirely
with the others.
4. Unless the upward trend for insurgency in these four countries is
reversed in the next few years, the USSR, Cuba and their allies will
probably conclude that an intensification of their efforts would be
advantageous and cost effective. Outbreaks or revivals of insurgencies
in other nearby countries, such as Argentina, Uruguay, and Bolivia, would
probably be encouraged and facilitated.
Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2010/02/23: CIA-RDP87MOO539ROO1602450009-2
 Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2010/02/23: CIA-RDP87M00539R001602450009-2
SUBJECT: Leftist Revolutionary Activity in South America NIC 03997-85
DISTRIBUTION:
1-DCI
1 - DDCI
1 - C/NIC
1 - VC/NIC
1 - ER
1 - NI0/LA
NIO/LPG
8Aug85
25X1 SECRET
Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2010/02/23: CIA-RDP87M00539R001602450009-2
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