MONTHLY REPORT--PANAMA BUREAU--MARCH 1987

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP88-00733R000100100010-2
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: K
• Document Page Count: 11
• Document Creation Date: December 22, 2016
• Document Release Date: June 18, 2012
• Sequence Number: 10
• Publication Date: April 3, 1987
• Content Type: MEMO

Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2012/06/18: CIA-RDP88-00733R000100100010-2
3 April 1987
MEMORANDUM FOR: Director, Foreign Broadcast Information Service
THROUGH : Chief, Operations Group
SUBJECT : Monthly Report -- Panama Bureau - March 1987
A. On 1 April, our embassy in Panama City received a Panamanian
Government diplomatic note approving the bureau's Internet frequency
request. Specifically, the Panamanian note grants permission for the
bureau to construct an earth station and to transmit material to an
Intelsat satellite. Thus, this approval paves the way for the bureau's
participation in Internet. It also marks the end of an intense
10-and-a-half-month effort by the bureau and U.S. Ambassador Arthur Davis
on our behalf.
B. Earlier in the month, on 13 March, the embassy received the other
long-awaited diplomatic note from the Panamanian Government. This note
approved the bureau's request to establish a microwave communications link
between the bureau and the embassy via a relay point on Ancon Hill.
Construction of the microwave system will begin in approximately three
months, which is the time it will take for the necessary equipment to
arrive from the United States. The new microwave system should
substantially upgrade overall bureau communications. In addition to
increasing the speed and reliability of our primary communications
circuit, the new system could aid us in improving the quality of our
telephone communications and reception of the REUTER, ACAN-EFE, AND DPA
press agencies.
Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2012/06/18: CIA-RDP88-00733R000100100010-2
 Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2012/06/18: CIA-RDP88-00733R000100100010-2
A. Editorial/Monitorial
1. After several months of relatively low wordage, bureau
production increased significantly in March as a result of several
noteworthy events. Among these events were Honduran-Nicaraguan border
clashes, the mysterious downing of a DC-3 in Honduras, an increase in
political and military activity by rebels in both El Salvador and
Nicaragua, high-level North Korean and Soviet leader visits to Nicaragua
and Cuba, and natural and manmade upheavals in Ecuador.
2. We instituted two open-speaker watches during the month. The
first was to cover Ecuadoran radio stations during Vice President Bush's
brief visit to deliver aid to victims of the 5 March earthquake. The
second watch was instituted in response to reports that a U.S. Army
adviser had been killed in a Salvadoran rebel attack against the 4th
Infantry Brigade in Chalatenango Department. On this occasion, we filed
several reports from both government and rebel media and kept close watch
on overall media behavior.
3. Shortly before the Salvadoran rebels launched a 31 March attack on
a major Salvadoran military base, the bureau began to observe changes in
behavior of the two rebel radio stations: Farabundo Marti and
Venceremos. The first change involved the return of Farabundo Marti.
Between 11 November and 19 March, we had not observed the radio except for
brief sporadic transmissions. Although poor reception of the radio still
often precludes processing of items, it appears as if the radio has
resumed regular transmissions. The other Salvadoran rebel radio station,
Radio Venceremos, is now observed using two or more frequencies in the
same meter band, the first time we have seen Venceremos do this.
B. Communications
With Panamanian approval of the bureau's microwave communications
request in hand, headquarters decided to cancel the requirement for the
bureau to take part in the Army's current autodin MUX plan. Although the
bureau will try to keep its current autodin circuit through the end of
this year, we plan to take bureau communications off autodin completely by
1 January 1988.
C. Lateral Services
1. One of the bureau chief's findings during his recent Central
America trip was that almost all U.S. Embassies in Central America are
extremely interested in media reports of "contra" activity in Nicaragua.
After confirming this interest with each embassy, we asked Liaison and
Requirements Branch to institute a new lateral service based on this
requirement.
Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2012/06/18: CIA-RDP88-00733R000100100010-2
 Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2012/06/18: CIA-RDP88-00733R000100100010-2
2. At the request of the Panama Canal Commission, the bureau
translated a press interview with Panama's Democratic Revolutionary Party
Chairman Carlos Escobar and delivered the translation to the Commission's
headquarters.
3. The Southern Command's J-2 contacted the bureau concerning media
reports on popular support inside Nicaragua for the contras.
Subsequently, an officer from J-2 visited the bureau, and we gave him
access to our Nicaragua files so he could search for items of possible
interest to J-2.
D. Technical
1. Thanks primarily to the persistence of the bureau's technical
staff, the bureau's remote line to Managua became fully operational once
again on 31 March after almost eight months of continuous problems. For
the moment at least, all bureau Central American remote lines are fully
operational.
2. In the course of ROSET cruising, the bureau discovered some
regular television feeds of live BBC and other ad hoc newscasts. The
newscasts are actually being carried in feeds from NHK London to NHK Tokyo
on the 1.0W Intelsat. We are currently exploring these feeds in depth.
3. The bureau received the following accountable property from
headquarters:
Four vertical cabinets, 19" panel width, Optima P/N R-771930.
III. ADMINISTRATION
A. Personnel
1. Editor departed Panama 21 March after
successful completion of his editorial training TDY.
2. The bureau continued to provide K West with TDY help in
the monitorial and communications areas. was the
bureau's first teletypist TDYer, arriving in Key West rch. Monitor
returned to thp hijrpan 2-1 Ma ch from a 4-week TDY and was
replaced by Senior Monitor
Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2012/06/18: CIA-RDP88-00733R000100100010-2
 Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2012/06/18: CIA-RDP88-00733R000100100010-2
B. Building and Grounds
1. The bureau's emergency generator became operational once again
on 26 March after installation of a repaired voltage regulator.
2. In conjunction with a planned electrical power upgrade, the Army
began building just outside the bureau compound a pad for new power
transformers. The planned upgrade includes a new power cable from Ft.
Clayton to the bureau.
1. The bureau chief was away from the bureau 15 March - 6 April for
the Bureau Chiefs Conference and annual leave.
2. On 30 March, the acting chief and chief engineer visited Colonel
Robert Abney, commander of the U.S. Army Information Systems Command, to
discuss FBIS's decision to cancel planned participation in the Army's
autodin communications upgrade.
Acting Chief,
Panama Bureau, FBIS
Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2012/06/18: CIA-RDP88-00733R000100100010-2
 Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2012/06/18: CIA-RDP88-00733R000100100010-2
Panama Bureau Production Report for March 1987
I. TOTALS FROM ALL SOURCES:
TOTAL PUBLISHABLE WORDAGE FILED DURING MONTH: 471470
TOTAL NON-PUBLISHABLE WORDAGE FILED DURING MONTH: 15510
TOTAL NUMBER OF PUBLISHABLE ITEMS FILED DURING MONTH: 1124
BROAD- PRESS PUBLI-
CASTS AGENCIES CATIONS
II. INPUT OF REGULAR COVERAGE: 11345.00 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
CLANDESTINES
Clandestine Radio Venceremos in
Spanish to E1 Salvador
12530
2160
COLOMBIA
Bogota Cadena Radial Super in
Spanish 820
Bogota Domestic Service in
Spanish 0
Bogota Emisoras Caracol Network in
Spanish 2700
Bogota INRAVISION Television Cadena 1
in
Spanish 5660
Bogota INRAVISION Television Cadena 2
in
Spanish 1230
Bogota Radio Sutatenza Network in
Spanish 380
Bogota EL SIGLO in
Spanish 3030
Bogota EL TIEMPO in
Spanish 3260
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 Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2012/06/18: CIA-RDP88-00733R000100100010-2
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
Spanish
Havana PRENSA LATINA in
English
Havana PRENSA LATINA in
Spanish
BROAD- PRESS PUBLI-
CASTS AGENCIES CATIONS
11710
1720
360
2870
0
800
880
910
64730
3250
20950
ECUADOR
Quito Domestic Service in
Spanish 5240
Quito Radio Quito in
Spanish 7180
Quito Voz de los Andes in
Spanish 9460
EL SALVADOR
San Salvador Canal Doce Television in
Spanish 5300
San Salvador Channel 2 Television in
Spanish 3020
San Salvador Domestic Service in
Spanish 0
San Salvador La Voz Panamericana in
Spanish 1760
San Salvador Radio Cadena Sonora in
Spanish. 8660
Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2012/06/18: CIA-RDP88-00733R000100100010-2
 Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2012/06/18: CIA-RDP88-00733R000100100010-2
San Salvador Radio Cadena YSKL in
Spanish
San Salvador Radio Cadena YSU in
Spanish
San Salvador Television Educativa in
Spanish
San Salvador DIARIO LATINO in
Spanish
San Salvador EL DIARIO D8 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 Hundo
Network in
Spanish
Guatemala City Radio Television
Guatemala in
Spanish
Guatemala City EL GRAFICO in
Spanish
Guatemala City PRENSA LIBRE in
Spanish
HONDURAS
Tegucigalpa Cadena Audio Video in
Spanish'
BROAD- PRESS PUBLI-
CASTS AGENCIES CATIONS
5710
0
1820
0
22060
9010
4230
9060
5960
4450
860
1250
2070
300
2680
280
390
Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2012/06/18: CIA-RDP88-00733R000100100010-2
 _.-.ice-...._.~ ~..__ _._+ ..- ._._. .. _.. _. _.._... _.. _ .. _ . . .. .___~""_____.
Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2012/06/18: CIA-RDP88-00733R000100100010-2
BROAD- PRESS PUBLI-
CASTS AGENCIES CATIONS
Tegucigalpa Radio America in
Spanish 1630
Tegucigalpa Televisora Hondurena in
Spanish 2640
Tegucigalpa Voz de Honduras Network in
Spanish 9860
San Pedro Sula LA PRE NSA in
Spanish 1130
San Pedro Sula TIEMPO in
Spanish 4500
Tegucigalpa EL HERALDO in
Spanish 300
Tegucigalpa LA TRIBUNA in
Spanish 1230
MEXICO
Mexico City Red Nacional 13 IMEVISION
Television in
Spanish 4500
Mexico City XEW Television Network in
Spanish 9650
Mexico City CERIGUA in'
Spanish 750
Mexico City ENFOPRENSA in
Spanish 880
Mexico City EL DIA in
Spanish 20790
Mexico City EL NACIONAL in
Spanish 4280
Mexico City EXCELSIOR in
Spanish 11000
Mexico City THE NEWS in
English 1470
Mexico City UNOMASUNO in
Spanish 4130
NICARAGUA
Managua International Service in
Spanish 3060
Managua Domestic Service in
Spanish 15270
Managua Radio Noticias in
Spanish 0
Managua Radio Sandino in
Spanish 5230
Managua Sistema Sandinista Television
Network in
Spanish 960
Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2012/06/18: CIA-RDP88-00733R000100100010-2
 Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2012/06/18: CIA-RDP88-00733R000100100010-2
BROAD- PRESS PUBLI-
CASTS AGENCIES CATIONS
Managua ANN Diplomatic Information
Service in
Spanish 0
Managua ANN in
Spanish 8260
Managua PRENSA LATINA in
Spanish to PRENSA LATINA Havana 6190
Managua SALPRESS-NOTISAL in
Spanish 620
Managua BARRICADA in
Spanish
Managua EL NUEVO DIARIO in
Spanish
PANAMA
Panama City Circuito RPC
Television in
Spanish 880
Panama City Domestic Service in
Spanish 5770
Panama City Television Service in
Spanish 670
Panama City Televisora Nacional in
Spanish 570
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
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
23010
5060
0
1840
560
1590
4750
1540
2120
2080
Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2012/06/18: CIA-RDP88-00733R000100100010-2 .
 Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2012/06/18: CIA-RDP88-00733R000100100010-2
Panama City EL SIGLO DOMINICAL in
Spanish
PERU
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
18020
Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2012/06/18 CIA-RDP88-00733R000100100010-2
 Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2012/06/18: CIA-RDP88-00733R000100100010-2
PANAMA BUREAU PRODUCTION REPORT FOR MARCH 1987 -- ANNEX
TOTALS FROM ROSET SOURCES
COLOMBIA
Bogota INRAVISION Television Cadena 1 in
Spanish 5,660
Bogota INRAVISION Television Cadena 2 in
Spanish 1,230
CUBA
Havana PRENSA LATINA in
Spanish
GERMANY
Hamburg DPA in
Spanish
20,950
1,270
MEXICO
Mexico City XEW Television Network in
Spanish 9,650
Mexico City Red Nacional IMEVISION Television in
Spanish 4,500
Mexico City CERIGUA in
Spanish 750
Mexico City ENFOPRENSA in
Spanish 880
NICARAGUA
Managua ANN in
Spanish
Managua PRENSA LATINA in
Spanish to PRENSA LATINA Havana
Managua SALPRESS-NOTISAL in
Spanish
SPAIN
Madrid EFE in
Spanish
VENEZUELA
Caracas Television Service in
Spanish
TOTAL FOR MARCH 1987
8,260
6,190
620
14,200
74,860
Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2012/06/18: CIA-RDP88-00733R000100100010-2 .