MONTHLY REPORT - PANAMA BUREAU - JULY 1985

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP86-00040R000300590006-3
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: K
• Document Page Count: 11
• Document Creation Date: December 22, 2016
• Document Release Date: September 13, 2010
• Sequence Number: 6
• Publication Date: August 7, 1985
• Content Type: MEMO

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FOREIGN BROADCAST INFORMATION SERVICE
PANAMA BUREAU
DRAWER 927
APO MIAMI 34004
7 August 1985
MPA-5032
MEMORANDUM FOR: Director, Foreign Broadcast Information Service
THROUGH : Chief, Operations Group
SUBJECT : Monthly Report - Panama Bureau -- July 1985
The first major technical problem to afflict the ROSET's since April
surfaced on 19 July. The servo system on the signals analysis antenna
failed to operate because of blown fuses on the azimuth motor controller.
The cause was found to be shorting in the rectifier assemblies on the
motor controller, caused by accumulations of moisture and dirt. An
engineer from Electrospace Systems, Inc., the servo system manufacturer,
cleaned and rebuilt the rectifier, using new insulators which were coated
to prevent the intrusion of moisture. To insure further that there will
be no recurrence of the problem, we have begun installation of air
conditioners in the bases of the two ROSET's; they will lower the humidity
and prevent the entrance of dirt-laden air.
Despite technical difficulties, cruising and monitoring continued
virtually uninterrupted. We found that the Mexican Morelos 1 satellite at
113.5 W became operational at the end of the month, and we have turned to
it exclusively for coverage of Mexican television. We supplemented
Paraguay Bureau's coverage of the Peruvian presidential inauguration,
recording on 28 and 29 July 15 one-hour-long videotapes of the ceremonies
and military parade. The most significant development in the cruising of
press agencies on satellite was the identification, on the 34.5 W
INTELSAT, of the Buenos Aires Reuter tributary circuit. The cast was the
first FBIS coverage lost to satellite technology, in 1968, and we seem now
to have recovered it.
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II. OPERATIONS
A. Monitorial/Editorial
Cuba was the focal point for coverage in July, with President
Fidel Castro delivering speeches and holding press conferences practically
non-stop. President Castro addressed graduating primary education
teachers, the participants at a journalists congress in Havana, the
persons attending the Latin American-Caribbean Trade Union Conference in
Havana, a rally in Guantanamo to commemorate the 32nd anniversary of the
assault on Moncada Barracks, and the participants at a Cuba-sponsored
meeting on the Latin American debt. This last meeting, sponsored and
organized by Cuba seemed to have been designed as a showcase for Castro's
opinions on the foreign debt and as a vehicle to convey this opinion to
the other countries in the hemisphere. To achieve this Radio Havana not
only devoted all of its Spanish-service transmitters to live coverage of
the event, but added an additional frequency for "listeners in South
America" and a 4-hour early morning "special cast" to retransmit coverage
of the events.
Nicaraguan President Daniel Ortega delivered his 19 July
anniversary day address within the framework of continuing military
confrontations with bordering Costa Rica and Honduras, increased attacks
by the Honduran-based Nicaraguan Democratic Force, FDN, and with Foreign
Minister Miguel D'Escoto beginning his 13th day of a "fast for peace."
On the heels of an OAS investigation into an earlier Costa
Rica-Nicaragua border incident, the two countries accused each other of
airspace violations on 26 July, while cross-border attacks were charged in
two incidents between Honduras and Nicaragua on 5 and 11 July.
The Honduras-based FDN stepped up its activities in July, with
attacks on Esteli and La Penca early in the month, while the Costa
Rican-based Democratic Revolutionary Alliance, ARDE, continued to break
apart. Sixty-two of its members reportdly surrendered to the Sandinist
Peoples Army (EPS) following heavy fighting with army troops last month; a
leading commander, Adolfo Chamorro, announced that he was giving up the
armed struggle, and Eden Pastors, ARDE's supreme commander, suffered minor
injuries in a helicopter accident on 24 July.
The Contadora Group, in the interim, continued in vain to try to
get the parties involved to come to some understanding, although it had
obtained the support of the French Government for its most recent
efforts.
In El Salvador the rebels continued their efforts to undermine
the economy by disrupting vehicular traffic and attacking the country's
power supply system. The most noteworthy attack during July was that on
the Mariona prison, which allowed many prisoners to escape.
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B. Technical
During the month, the bureau received as accountable
property one Motorola Receiver/Transmitter, Model H33BB3144-ASP45 Serial
No. 330AKLO129. Requisition No. 0532-84275-500-1F. Unit Price:
$1,346.00.
III. ADMINISTRATION
A. Personnel
our new spanish monitor entered
on duty 8 July.
Chief Technicia received an
Exceptional Accomkplishment Award during July together with a $2,500
check. The award was based primarily on his efforts to establish and
maintain the valuable Central American remote system.
Promotions effective 7 July were
Maintenance Clerk from FBN-1
Spanish Monitor from FBN-7/1 to FBN-8/1;
received by:
/2 to FBN-2/1;
Monitor FBN-10/5 to Monitor Supervisor FBN-11/4; Mercedes Guardia, Admin
Assistant from FBN-8/4 to FBN-9/3; Spanish Monitor from
FBN-7/1 to FBN-8/1; and Spanish Monitor from FBN-7/2 to
FBN-8/1.
PSI's effctive 7 July were received b :
Spanish Monitor from FBN-10/6 to FBN-10/7; and
Communications Operator from FBN-3/1 to FBN-3/ .
Both
their maternity leaves in July.
order to take advantage
Social Security.
Spanish
began
22 July in
benefits offered by the Panama
leave effective 29 July.
of the maternity
began her sick
last day at the bureau was 19 July. A
small ceremony was held in the Bureau Chief's office to wish her farewell
and good luck.
B. Building and Grounds
Construction work began during the month on the screened
porches for the FBIS houses on Ft. Clayton. We anticipate the project
will be completed by the contractor, by the middle of
August.
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IV. VISITS
The bureau chief returned on 7 July, after a month of annual leave
and TDY in the United States.
Deputy Chief
began an orientation/coordination TDY at
Paraguay Bureau on 29 July.
Visitors to the bureau during the month were Editor
and family, en route from Key West Bureau to Paraguay Bureau PCS, for TDY
on 4 and 5 July; C/CommCtr, for a review of bureau
communications, on 10 and 11 July; UD's on two-week
military reserve duty with SOUTHCOM, on 13 July for a walkthrough and
briefing on operations; and DRD Special Assistan on his way
back to Washington from a lengthy TDY in Paraguay, for Panama Bureau
orientation and a review of the editorial training program, on 22 and 23
July.
Chief, Panama Bureau, FBIS
Attachment:
Production Report
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Panama Bureau Production Report for July 1985
I. TOTALS FROM ALL SOURCES:
TOTAL PUBLISHABLE WORDAGE FILED DURING MONTH: 565580
TOTAL NON-PUBLISHABLE WORDAGE FILED DURING MONTH: 21310
TOTAL NUMBER OF PUBLISHABLE ITEMS FILED DURING MONTH: 1272
BROAD- PRESS PUBLI-
CASTS AGENCIES CATIONS
Ii. INPUT OF REGULAR COVERAGE: 11100.00 42300.00 205.00
(minutes or issues per week) min. min. issues
III. OUTPUT FROM ALL SOURCES:
(publishable words per month)
ARGENTINA
Buenos Aires LATIN in
Spanish
Buenos Aires REUTER in
Spanish
CLANDESTINES
Clandestine Radio Farabundo Marti in
Spanish to El Salvador 11240
Clandestine Radio Venceremos in
Spanish to El Salvador 34110
Clandestine Voice of Sandino in
Spanish to Nicaragua 0
COLOMBIA
Bogota Cadena Radial Super in
Spanish 970
Bogota Domestic Service in
Spanish 0
Bogota Emisoras Caracol Network in
Spanish 2350
Bogota Radio Sutatenza Network in
Spanish 600
Bogota Television Service in
Spanish 2230
Bogota REUTER in
English
Bogota EL SIGLO in
Spanish
Bogota EL TIEMPO in
Spanish
COSTA RICA
San Jose Radio Impacto in
Spanish
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BROAD- PRESS PUBLI-
CASTS AGENCIES CATIONS
San Jose Radio Reloj in
Spanish
San Jose LA NACION in
6240
Spanish
San Jose LA PRENSA LIBRE in
500
Spanish
San Jose LA REPUBLICA in
4090
Spanish
San Jose LIBERTAD REVOLUCIONARIA in
450
Spanish
San Jose LIBERTAD in
2770
Spanish
San Jose RUMBO CENTROAMERICANO in
5850
Spanish
CUBA
Havana International Service in
Quechua
Havana International Service in
Spanish
Havana International Service in
English
Havana Domestic Service in
Spanish
Havana PRELA in
English
Havana PRELA in
Spanish
Havana GRANMA in
Spanish
Havana JUVENTUD REBELDE in
Spanish
ECUADOR
Quito Radio Quito in
Spanish
Quito Voz de los Andes in
h
i
Span s
1070
78120
0
10450
Quito REUTER
Spanish
in
EL
San
SALVADOR
Salvador
Spanish
Domestic Service in
0
San
Salvador
Spanish
Radio Cadena Sonora in
5870
San Salvador Radio Cadena YSKL in
Spanish 5590
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San Salvador Radio
BROAD- PRESS PUBLI-
CASTS AGENCIES CATIONS
San
San
San
Spanish
Salvador
Spanish
Salvador
Spanish
Salvador
NOTISAL in
SALPRESS in
DIARIO LATINO in
650
San
Spanish
Salvador
Spanish
EL DIARIO DE HOY
2840
San
Salvador
EL MUNDO in
2720
San
Spanish
Salvador
EL TIEMPO in
0
San
Spanish
Salvador
LA PRENSA GRAFICA
2680
San
Spanish
Salvador
PROCESO in
0
San
Spanish
Salvador
English
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
Guatemala City EL GRAFICO in
Spanish
Guatemala City PRENSA LIBRE in
Spanish
HONDURAS
Tegucigalpa Cadena Audio Video in
Spanish
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BROAD-
CASTS
PRESS
AGENCIES
PUBLI-
CATIONS
Tegucigalpa
Spanish
Domestic Service in
2060
Tegucigalpa
Spanish
Radio America in
3800
Tegucigalpa
Spanish
Televisooa Hondurena in
500
Tegucigalpa
Spanish
Voz de Honduras Network in
1630
San Pedro Sula LA PRENSA in
Spanish
1840
San Pedro Sula TIEMPO in
Spanish
2970
Tegucigalpa
Spanish
EL HERALDO in
0
Tegucigalpa
LA TRIBUNA in
1400
Spanish
MEXICO
Mexico City XEW Television Network in
Spanish
Mexico City XHDF Television
Network in
Spanish
Mexico City REUTER in
English
Mexico City EL DIA in
Spanish
Mexico City EL NACIONAL in
Spanish
Mexico City EL SOL DE MEXICO in
Spanish
Mexico City EL UNIVERSAL in
Spanish
Mexico City EXCELSIOR in
Spanish
Mexico City THE NEWS in
English
80
150
3230
520
Mexico City UNOMASUNO in
Spanish
NICARAGUA
Managua International Service in
Spanish
240
Managua Domestic Service in
Spanish
41670
Managua Radio Noticias in
Spanish
3110
Managua Radio Sandino Network in
Spanish
13230
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BROAD- PRESS PUBLI-
CASTS AGENCIES CATIONS
Managua Radio Sandino in
Spanish
Managua Sistema Sandinista Television
Network in
Spanish
38670
2360
Managua ANN in
Spanish
9680
Managua ANN in
English
9290
Managua PRELA in
Spanish
830
Managua BARRICADA in
Spanish 11350
Managua EL NUEVO DIARIO in
Spanish 0
Managua LA PRENSA in
Spanish 6380
PANAMA
Panama City Circuito RPC
Television in
Spanish
5070
Panama City Domestic Service in
Spanish
26840
Panama City PANAVISION in
Spanish
960
Panama City Radio Continente in
Spanish
1530
Panama City Radio Mia Network in
Spanish
230
Panama City Televisora Nacional in
Spanish
3330
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
1260
0
240
250
4210
1580
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BROAD- PRESS PUBLI-
CASTS AGENCIES CATIONS
Panama City MATUTINO in
So
Spanish
Panama City QUIUBO GRAFICO in
1110
Spanish
Panama City
STAR AND HERALD in
610
English
Panama City THE SUNDAY REPUBLIC in
English
SPAIN
Madrid EFE in
Spanish
VENEZUELA
Caracas Domestic Service in
Spanish
Caracas Television Service in
Spanish
Caracas REUTER in
English
Caracas EL NACIONAL in
Spanish
Caracas EL UNIVERSAL in
Spanish
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PANAMA BUREAU PRODUCTION REPORT FOR JULY 1985 -- ANNEX
TOTALS FRPM ROSET SOURCES:
COLOMBIA
Bogota Television Service in
Spanish
Bogota REUTER in
English
CUBA
Havana PRELA in
Spanish
ECUADOR
Quito REUTER in
Spanish
EL SALVADOR
San Salvador NOTISAL in
Spanish
San Salvador SALPRESS in
Spanish
2,230
5,350
1,530
MEXICO
Mexico City XEW Television Network in
Spanish 6,960
Mexico City XHDF Television Network in
Spanish 2,670
Mexico City REUTER in
English 550
NICARAGUA
Managua ANN in
English 9,290
Managua ANN in
Spanish 9,680
Managua PRELA in
Spanish 830
SPAIN
Madrid EFE in
Spanish
VENEZUELA
Caracas Television Service in
Spanish
Caracas REUTER in
English
1,330
6,080
TOTAL FOR JULY 1985 47,870
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