MONTHLY REPORT--PANAMA BUREAU--MAY 1987

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP88-00733R000100100008-5
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: K
• Document Page Count: 12
• Document Creation Date: December 22, 2016
• Document Release Date: June 18, 2012
• Sequence Number: 8
• Publication Date: June 4, 1987
• Content Type: MEMO

Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2012/06/18: CIA-RDP88-00733R000100100008-5
ROUTING AND RECORD SHEET
SUBJECT: (op$onal)
Monthly Report -- Panama Bureau
FROM:
EXTENSION
NO.
DATE
Chief, Operations Group
0
May 1987
TO: (Officer designation, room number, and
building)
DATE
OFFICER'S
COMMENTS (Number each comment to show from whom
REalVED
FORWARDED
INITIALS
to whom. Draw a lino, across column after each comment.)
1.
l~
Chief, Operations Group
2.
3.
-
Chief, E&PS
1
7
4.
D/Director, FBIS
5.
/j
y
Director, FBIS
6.
'
PO-RA/E&PS
7.
1S
f/V
C/ESG
B.
C/FED
9.
C/ADD
10.
C/HED
11.
Chief Admire Staff
12.
Chief Analysis Group
13.
Admire Staff
14.
15.
Exec. Reg.
FOR
1-79M 61OuEDTRioN
STAT
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 Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2012/06/18: CIA-RDP88-00733R000100100008-5
FOREIGN BROADCAST INFORMATION SERVICE
PANAMA BUREAU
DRAWER 927
APO MIAMI 34004
4 June 1987
MPA-7009
MEMORANDUM FOR: Director, Foreign Broadcast Information Service
THROUGH : Chief, Operations Group
SUBJECT : Monthly Report -- Panama Bureau -- May 1987
A. Chief/Operations Group,l (visited the bureau 28-31
May on the second leg of his management visit to the three Latin American
bureaus. Although Bob was able to spend only one day at the bureau, he
met with several U.S. staffers individually and with everyone as a group
to update us on current issues and gossip at headquarters. Social
activities included a cocktail buffet at the bureau chief's residence,
which allowed Bob to meet various embassy, military, and Program
Development Group officers, and a Sunday picnic at the Albrook Air Force
Base bohio, to which all bureau employees were invited.
B. Just when we thought we had put the year-long frequency battles
with the Panamanian Government behind us, the telecommunications section
of the Panamanian Ministry of Government and Justice informed the embassy
that the four frequencies we had been authorized to select for the
bureau's microwave link to the embassy might interfere with already
existing or reserved Panamanian frequencies. We are currently working
directly with the telecommunications section to resolve the situation
without having to change frequencies any more than absolutely necessary.
A. Editorial/i?Ionitorial
1. During lay, Central American rebel activities were the focus
of much interest. In addition to the excitement in the region stirred by
the Iran-Contra affair, rebel groups in El Salvador and Guatemala were
also active.
STAT
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In El Salvador, the FMLN-FDR issued a new 18-point proposal on 28
lay to "humanize" the current civil strife in that country. Playing a
hunch, the bureau opened an hour early on the day the proposal was
broadcast, thus ensuring we received the entire proposal from the
clandestine rebel radio station, Radio Venceremos.
In Guatemala, a new clandestine radio station began broadcasting
on 22 May. Acting on information contained in a Guatemalan press item and
in a Havana Radio Rebelde item, we were able to locate and monitor the
inaugural broadcast of the new "La Voz Popular" radio station. We are
currently filing program summaries of this weekly broadcast for
headquarters evaluation.
2. During a Peruvian police strike the weekend of 15-17 May, the
bureau, in coordination with Paraguay Bureau, assumed some Peruvian
television coverage, including a 13,000-word speech by Peruvian President
Alan Garcia.
3. A new Latin American Sunday television program, "Latino
Americano," began appearing on Buenos Aires ATC Televisora Color Network
(transmitted over the 27.51W7 Intelsat) on 17 I'iay. The program is produced
by the Latin American and Caribbean Broadcasting Union and contains
generally low-level reports and reviews of the previous week's activities
in Latin America. After covering the program for three weeks and
reporting on its content, we decided the material was not of regular
monitoring interest.
4. In response to a Focus Committee initiative to rationalize the
workload of the three Latin American bureaus, we reviewed our workload and
coverage capabilities. The issues involved in satellite monitoring (both
pro and con) figured largely in our resulting paper, which focused on
coverage of Mexico, Peru, and Chile. One major issue is whether satellite
monitoring can provide the reliability and depth of coverage currently 7
provided by more "conventional" means. ~-- "Z
B. Cruising
1. On 13 May we experienced a series of malfunctions with the Signal
Analysis antenna's control system. We finally determined that the
elevation drive motor, which replaced one that was found to be defective
last December, was the problem. We manually positioned the antenna on the
24.5W Intelsat as we await the necessary parts from headquarters.
2. With the beginning of May came the semiannual Moscow Radio
frequency changes. The bureau's cruising section spent the first week of
May conducting the necessary round-the-clock observations. The results
were filed in a three-take cruising report.
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 Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2012/06/18: CIA-RDP88-00733R000100100008-5
3. Following several weeks of round-the-clock observations, the
bureau identified 10 regularly scheduled (Mon-Fri) television news feeds
transmitted on the 24.5W Intelsat. We plan similar observations for the
18.5W and 34.5W Intelsats.
4. On 15 May we discovered a new video carrier on the 53.0W Intelsat
that appears to be leased full time for television feeds. Feeds observed
thus far have been identified as either "WTN London for TCN 9 LA Via
BONDSAT" or "Channel Nine London for TCN 9 Sydney." Regularly scheduled
feeds include transmissions of ITN London's "545 News" and the two-part
"News Ten," which is featuring expanded coverage of the upcoming British
elections.
5. Routine spotchecks of Havana's international service on 19-20 May
indicated several changes in frequency use. As a result, we did a
complete update of the broadcast schedule. In addition to the frequency
changes, we also noted that the announced target areas for several beams
had been changed and that two programs had been retimed.
C. Technical
1. The bureau's technical staff has completed installation of the
following:
a. New cruising console for signal analysis room. All
high-frequency cruising equipment has been transferred from old racks to
new console.
b. New closed circuit television. New system completes
recent bureau security upgrade.
c. Internet orderwire equipment. All equipment has been
installed, except for extra phone in editorial room.
2. The following accountable property was transferred to
headquarters: One Test Set, Portable, Hewlett Packard, Model HP3550B,
Serial No. 0964A-09937, Unit Price $2,037.00
3. The follwoing accountable property was transferred with
headquarters' approval to London Bureau: Two Stelma modems, Model 674(P),
Serial Nos. 65 and 783, Unit Price $710.00.
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A. Personnel
1. EditO (departed PCS 15 May for brief TDY at
headquarters and lateral assignment to Okinawa Bureau.
12-week training TDY.
arrived 18 May for her
STAT
STAT
3. Monito~ was promoted to FBN-07 effective 6 May. STAT
1. DAILY REPORT editor
orientation TDY.
2. Lockheed software engineers
to the bureau 2-8 May for an
and 4-8 May for familiarization tour ot bureau in preparation
3. Staff Sergeant Hartman from the 36th Ordnance Detachment,
Explosive Disposal, Ft. Clayton, to the bureau on 7 May to deliver a bomb
briefing to bureau personnel as part of bureau's security program.
4. Chie/FBIS Admin Staff
to the bureau 12-15 May.
5. General Manager of Intercomsa
May to discuss impending Internet operation.
6. Chief/Operations Group
and C/FBIS Personnel
to the bureau 28-31 May.
STAT
STAT
STAT
STAT
STAT
STAT
STAT
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Panama Bureau Production Report for MAY 1987
I. TOTALS FROM ALL SOURCES:
TOTAL PUBLISHABLE WORDAGE FILED DURING MONTH: 434770
TOTAL NON-PUBLISHABLE WORDAGE FILED DURING MONTH: 30400
TOTAL NUMBER OF PUBLISHABLE ITEMS FILED DURING MONTH: 975
BROAD- PRESS PUBLI-
CASTS AGENCIES CATIONS
II. INPUT OF REGULAR COVERAGE: 11845.00 76590.00 220.00
(minutes or issues per week) min. min. issues
III. OUTPUT FROM ALL SOURCES:
(publishable words per month)
ARGENTINA
Buenos Aires REUTER in
Spanish
CHILE
Santiago Television Service in
Spanish
CLANDESTINE
Clandestine La Voz Popular in
Spanish to Guatemala 450
Clandestine Radio Farabundo Marti in
Spanish to El Salvador 2800
Clandestine Radio Venceremos in
Spanish to El Salvador 13060
COLOMBIA
Bogota Cadena Radial Super in
Spanish
Bogota Emisoras Caracol Network in
Spanish
Bogota INRAVISION Television Cadena 1
Spanish
Bogota INRAVISION Television Cadena 2
in
Spanish
Bogota Radio Sutatenza Network in
Spanish
Bogota EL SIGLO in
Spanish
2360
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Bogota EL TIEMPO in
Spanish
COSTA RICA
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 in
Spanish
CUBA
Havana International Service in
Quechua
Havana International Service in
BROAD- PRESS PUBLI-
CASTS AGENCIES CATIONS
Spanish
Havana EFE in
Spanish
Havana PRENSA LATINA in
English
Havana PRENSA LATINA in
Spanish
640
10890
20640
ECUADOR
Quito Radio Quito in
Spanish
9300
Quito Voz de los Andes in
Spanish
5260
EL SALVADOR
San Salvador Canal Doce Television in
Spanish
4330
San Salvador Canal Seis Television in
Spanish
4330
San Salvador Domestic Service in
Spanish
0
San Salvador La Voz Panamericana in
Spanish
1260
2400
740
1270
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BROAD- PRESS PUBLI-
CASTS AGENCIES CATIONS
San Salvador Radio Cadena Sonora in
Spanish 3780
San Salvador Radio Cadena YSKL in
Spanish 9590
San Salvador Radio Cadena YSU in
Spanish 4690
San Salvador Radio Cuscatlan in
Spanish 870
San Salvador Television Nacional in
Spanish 1880
San Salvador DIARIO LATINO in
Spanish
San Salvador EL DIARIO DE HOY in
Spanish
San Salvador EL MUNDO in
Spanish
San Salvador LA NOTICIA in
Spanish
San Salvador LA PRENSA GRAFICA in
Spanish
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 Domestic Service in
Spanish
Guatemala City Radio Nuevo Mundo
Network in
Spanish
Guatemala City Radio Television
Guatemala in
Spanish
Guatemala City EL GRAFICO in
Spanish
Guatemala City PRENSA LIBRE in
Spanish
580
880
1880
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BROAD- PRESS PUBLI-
CASTS AGENCIES CATIONS
HONDURAS
Tegucigalpa Cadena Audio Video in
Spanish 10730
Tegucigalpa Televisora Hondurena in
Spanish 3630
Tegucigalpa Voz de Honduras Network in
Spanish 12380
San Pedro Sula LA PRENSA in
Spanish
San Pedro Sula TIEMPO in
Spanish
Tegucigalpa EL HERALDO in
Spanish
Tegucigalpa LA TRIBUNA in
Spanish
MEXICO
Mexico City Radio Felicidad in
Spanish 260
Mexico City Red Nacional 13 IMEVISION
Television in
Spanish 3230
Mexico City XEW Television Network in
Spanish 1630
Mexico City XHTV Television in
Spanish 1110
Mexico City CERIGUA in
Spanish
Mexico City EL DIA in
Spanish
Mexico City EL NACIONAL in
Spanish
Mexico City EXCELSIOR in
Spanish
Mexico City THE NEWS in
English
Mexico City UNOMASUNO in
Spanish
NICARAGUA
Managua International Service in
Spanish 160
Managua Domestic Service in
Spanish 23190
Managua Radio Noticias in
Spanish 2760
1370
2580
2000
1060
3580
2330
5010
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BROAD- PRESS PUBLI-
CASTS AGENCIES CATIONS
Managua Radio Sandino in
Spanish 17450
Managua Sistema Sandinista Television
Network in
Spanish 2470
Managua ANN Diplomatic Information
Service in
Spanish 0
Managua ANN in
Spanish 6800
Managua NOTISAL in
Spanish 2410
Managua NOTISAL-SALPRESS in
Spanish 1440
Managua PRENSA LATINA in
Spanish to PRENSA LATINA Havana 1070
Managua BARRICADA in
Spanish
Managua EL NUEVO DIARIO in
Spanish
PANAMA
Panama City Circuito RPC
Television in
Spanish 4300
Panama City Domestic Service in
Spanish 720
Panama City Television Service in
Spanish 0
Panama City Televisora Nacional in
Spanish 5540
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
Panama City LA REPUBLICA in
Spanish
2180
0
640
2380
2230
3540
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Panama City MATUTINO in
Spanish
Panama City QUIUBO GRAFICO in
Spanish
Panama City STAR AND HERALD in
English
Panama City THE SUNDAY REPUBLIC in
English
Panama City EL SIGLO DOMINICAL in
Spanish
PERU
Lima Domestic Service in
Spanish
Lima Panamericana Television
Network in
Spanish
Lima Television Peruana in
Spanish
SPAIN
Madrid EFE in
Spanish
VENEZUELA
Caracas Television Service in
Spanish
Caracas EL NACIONAL in
Spanish
Caracas EL UNIVERSAL in
Spanish
BROAD- PRESS PUBLI-
CASTS AGENCIES CATIONS
10190
2630
2420
480
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PANAMA BUREAU PRODUCTION REPORT FOR MAY 1987 -- ANNEX
TOTALS FROM ROSET SOURCES
COLOMBIA
Bogota INRAVISION Television Cadena 1 in
Spanish
CUBA
Havana PRENSA LATINA in
Spanish
Havana EFE in
Spanish
6,130
20,640
MEXICO
Mexico City XEW Television Network in
Spanish 1,630
Mexico City Red Nacional IMEVISION Television in
Spanish 3,230
Mexico City XHTV Television in
Spanish 1,110
Mexico City CERIGUA in
Spanish 700
NICARAGUA
Managua ANN in
Spanish
Managua PRENSA LATINA in
Spanish to PRENSA LATINA Havana
Managua NOTISAL in
Spanish
Managua NOTISAL-SALPRESS in
Spanish
PERU
Lima Television Peruana in
Spanish
SPAIN
Madrid EFE in
Spanish
VENEZUELA
Caracas Television Service in
Spaiii sh
TOTAL FOR MAY 1987
6,800
1,070
2,410
1,440
23,430
6,890
75,710
Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2012/06/18: CIA-RDP88-00733R000100100008-5