MONTHLY REPORT -- PANAMA BUREAU -- OCTOBER 1988

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP91-01355R000400120003-0
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: K
• Document Page Count: 3
• Document Creation Date: December 23, 2016
• Document Release Date: June 18, 2013
• Sequence Number: 3
• Publication Date: November 2, 1988
• Content Type: MEMO

Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2013/06/18: CIA-RDP91-01355R000400120003-0
ROUTING AND RECORD SHEET
SUBJECT: (optional)
Monthly Report -- Panama Bureau
EXTENSION
htik
Fan
UMW
NO
FROM:
Chief, Operations Group
DATE ST
October 1988
TO: (Officer designation, room number, and
building)
DATE
OFFICER'S
INITIALS
COMMENTS (Number each comment to show from whom
to whom. Draw a line across column after each comment.)
RECEIVED
FORWARDED
1 .
C/Ops
)-
tdfl
;50/1V
C/EUS
Z
4.
aeR14441S----'
. -
th-D/FBIS
Al
,4
PO/RA
1/4
- 7
al)
SA/CD
//
1V---
9.
..- -----4- _
0 ,-.- =--, ,-. ?,,,
10.
C/AS
1 1 . ,e..461.-S
c/B&F/As
24
,
7ii:27
12.
13.
14.
C/AG
15.
Exec. Reg.
.....--
FORM i 0 USE PREVIOUS
3 -79 EDITIONS
Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2013/06/18: CIA-RDP91-01355R000400120003-0
Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2013/06/18: CIA-RDP91-01355R000400120003-0
FOREIGN BROADCAST INFORMATION SERVICE
PANAMA BUREAU
DRAWER 927
APO MIAMI 34004
2 November 1988
MEMORANDUM FOR: Director, Foreign Broadcast Information Service
THROUGH Chief, Operations Group
SUBJECT Monthly Report -- Panama Bureau -- October 1988
I. GENERAL
A. Although Assistant Secretary of State Elliott Abrams
appeared to wash the administration's hands of Panama in a 30
October statement to U.S. media, U.S. sanctions continued to
indirectly affect employees of U.S. companies and former Canal
Zone offices. In response to prohibitions against paying those
taxes U.S. companies and government offices withdraw from
employees' salaries, the Panamanian regime has threatened to
seize property of employees whose taxes are not being paid.
B. To add to its woes, Panama was sideswiped by Hurricane
Joan in an extremely rare appearance by such a storm (the first
this century). In fact, bureau employees anxiously awaited the
storm's crossing from the Atlantic to the Pacific in order to
witness the birth of the world's first hurriphoon, or tycane.
However, although northwestern Panama was severely affected by
the storm, warranting a state of emergency, Panama City
experienced little more than 8 straight days of heavy rain as
Joan veered north, unleashing the worst of its destruction on
Nicaragua.
II. OPERATIONS
A. Monitorial/Editorial
1. Despite Hurricane Joan and the continuing quagmires in
Nicaragua and Panama, a noticeable increase in civil unrest and
rebel activity in El Salvador and Colombia brought about a slight
shift in editorial/monitorial focus. An FMLN diplomatic
offensive was reflected through rebel leader visits to several
regional heads of state. At the same time, however, the
rebels were not neglecting the military option as several
guerrilla attacks were recorded in San Salvador, including one on
the USAID building. In Colombia, drug-related violence and
political dissent appeared to be on the rise. A nationwide
strike on 27 October required a substantial Defense Ministry
effort to contain rebel activity.
Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2013/06/18: CIA-RDP91-01355R000400120003-0
Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2013/06/18: CIA-RDP91-01355R000400120003-0
2. After a hiatus of several years, the bureau resumed
coverage of the Ecuadoran newspapers EL COMERCIO and EL
UNIVERSAL.
B. Cruising
Significant cruising results were recorded on both
HF and satellite. Discoveries included the apparent reemergence
of the Salvadoran rebel clandestine radio, Farabundo Marti, and a
new Colombian clandestine station, Radio Patria Libre. In
addition, a new Venezuelan satellite television channel and a
regular television feed from Spain to Latin America were also
first observed during October.
C. Communications
On 24 October, Panama became the first FBIS bureau to
successfully convert its DTS communications from Baudot to full
ASCII. The only consumer to experience problems with our
switchover was the Department of State, but the line
incompatibility problem between the Department and the switching
center was apparently resolved within 24 hours.
III. ADMINISTRATION
A. Building and Grounds
1. In responding to our call concerning a drop in the
bureau's water pressure, army engineers discovered that about 50
feet of the bureau's water pipe had been stolen (again) near our
antenna field. The army replaced the pipe, and we again alerted
the military police to the possibility of continued
theft attempts.
2. Utility desks have been built in the bureau library and
communications room to facilitate newspaper and communications
logging, respectively.
IV. VISITS
Newly arrived embassy Political Counselor Michael Polt
visited the bureau on 21 October for a briefing and tour.
Panama Bureau
STAT
Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2013/06/18: CIA-RDP91-01355R000400120003-0