MONTHLY REPORT-- PANAMA BUREAU--SEPTEMBER 1987

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP88-00733R000100100004-9
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: K
• Document Page Count: 14
• Document Creation Date: December 22, 2016
• Document Release Date: June 18, 2012
• Sequence Number: 4
• Publication Date: October 6, 1987
• Content Type: MEMO

Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2012/06/18: CIA-RDP88-00733R000100100004-9
ROUTING AND RECORD SHEET
SUBJECT: (Optional)
Monthly Report -- Panama Bureau
FROM.
EXTENSION
NO.
Chief, Operations Group
DATE
ST
Se
tember 1987
p
TO: (Officer designation, room number, and
building)
DATE
OFFICER'S
COMMENTS (Number each comment to show from whom
RECEIVED
FORWARDED
INITIALS
to whom. Draw a line across column after each comment.)
C/Ops
2.
3.
C/E&PS
FBIS
DD
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5.
D/FBIS
6.
7.
PO/RA
8.
SA/CD
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9.
10.
C/AS
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11.
12.
C/AG
61
13.
Admin Staff
14.
C/B$F
15.
Exec. Reg.
FORM
1
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USE PREVIOUS
EDITIONS GPO : 1983 0 - 411-632
AT
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6 October 1987
MPA-7023
MEMORANDUM FOR: Director, Foreign Broadcast Information Service
THROUGH : Chief, Operations Group
SUBJECT : Monthly Report - Panama Bureau -- September 1987
U.S.-Panamanian relations continued to deteriorate throughout
September. A 13 September opposition march on the outskirts of Panama
City resulted in one death and several injuries when government
sympathizers opened fire on the marchers. Also at this march, the
embassy's economic counselor was arrested and hidden for 8 hours without
regard for diplomatic immunity. This incident, the expulsion of CNN's
Panama correspondent, and a U.S. Senate resolution calling for democratic
reforms in Panama further strained relations and led to a series of
strongly worded accusations by the Panamanian Government of alleged U.S.
attempts to destabilize Panama in order to maintain control of the canal.
The month ended with the Panamanian foreign minister listing before the
United Nations alleged U.S. Embassy abuses against Panama, among which
included an attempt to establish a satellite communications system.
A. Editorial/Monitorial
1. The 40,000-word state of the nation address by Mexican
President Miguel de la Madrid on 1 September was the focus of a
concentrated bureau effort. Thanks to an alert by the managing editor, in
coordination with headquarters' liaison branch, we were able to tailor our
FYI's and out-of-turn excerpts to meet the needs of consumers who had
expressed great interest in the speech.
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2. The Panama situation, including the behavior of Panamanian media,
continued to be of great interest. Local consumers frequently expressed
interest in local media reports on the situation and media behavior as
strict government censorship continued. When two Panamanian television
stations began carrying reports on opposition activities, the government
quickly sent the stations warning letters. As a result, one station
resumed its previous policy of not reporting national news, while the
other greatly reduced its coverage of opposition activities. Opposition
radios and newspapers remained closed.
3. Bureau coverage of the reaction to and results of the August
Esquipulas II summit continued throughout September. Nicaragua's
decisions to institute a unilateral cease-fire and to reopen opposition
mouthpieces LA PRENSA and Radio Catolica received substantial attention.
We also continued our focus on Salvadoran media, particularly rebel radios
Venceremos and Farabundo Marti, in an effort to pick up reports and
comment on upcoming talks between the Salvadoran Government and rebels.
B. Communications
1. On September 14, Captain Sotomayor of U.S. Army Information
Systems Command visited the bureau to discuss a new autodin system to be
introduced in early 1988. Sotomayor was told we would contact hip.
concerning possible interest in this system following Chief/Panama
Bureau's headquarters consultations.
2. The communications section began using the latest version of
Bach, 1.3B, on 1 September. The transition was smooth.
C. Cruising
The two major cruising projects in September were Cubavision and
Peruvian satellite media. First, after several weeks of trying, the
cruising section was able to provide a complete rundown on the
ever-changing Cubavision program schedule. Second, in an effort to
evaluate and enhance, if possible, the bureau's relatively new Peruvian
coverage, the cruising section conducted a time-consuming study of Lima
satellite radio and television program schedules, producing comprehensive
rundowns of all programs of possible monitoring interest.
D. Technical
A modular television rack was installed in the editorial room to hold
the closed circuit security monitor and three JVC 14-inch television
monitors used to receive local and satellite television.
Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2012/06/18: CIA-RDP88-00733R000100100004-9
 Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2012/06/18: CIA-RDP88-00733R000100100004-9
A. Personnel
1. Editor
field training and orientation.
arrived on 21 September for 12 weeks of
2. Senior monitor departed on September 9 for an
extended TDY to Key West Bureau. who is on a return engagement,
will be helping out while Key West's new monitor/editor is being trained.
3. Teletype support to Key West also continued during September
as Communications Section Deputy Chief returned for a
6-8-week TDY.
B. Building and Grounds
1. Renovation of monitorial booths and several bureau offices
began the 1st week of September. Aside from improving the bureau's
appearance, the renovation is aimed at assisting in the introduction of
certain organizational changes and in preparation
automation. The work is being done by contractor land is
scheduled to be completed by the middle of November.
2. On 29 September, contractors) (began
construction of a storage room to be attached to the main operations
building.
3. Contractor repaired the cables to the three
bureau antennas that were accidentally cut by the Army's Department of
Engineering and Housing during installation of new power lines.
C. Other
The bad news that editor) (car was stolen on
1 September while husband who was using the car, was swimming at the
Panama Canal Commission poo . The good news was that the thief was
stationed at Ft. Clayton and washed, waxed, and otherwise kept the car in
excellent shape so Anne and John had no problem recognizing it when they
drove by it on Ft. Clayton a week and a half later. The car has been
returned to its owners, and the thief, who has a long record of
transgressions, is being prosecuted.
1. On 2-9 September, Paraguay Bureau Deputy Chief
STAT
STAT
STAT
STAT
STAT
STAT
STAT
STAT
STAT
STAT
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visited the bureau for orientation and consultations. John also helped
the bureau continue its reputation of putting its TDYers to work through
his gracious and substantial contribution to the bureau's processing of
Mexican President De La Madrid's 1 September speech. He is welcome back
any time.
2. On 4 September, Staff Sergeant Gise and Anthony Mays of the U.S.
Army, Southern Command, visited the bureau for a briefing on Nicaraguan
media coverage.
3. On 9 September, 10 analysts from Howard Airbase's J-3, Psyops
Division, visited for a tour of the bureau.
4. From 9 to 18 September, Chief/Panama Bureau and Chief Technician
made a semiannual trip to the bureau's Central
American remote sites, except Managua. During the trip,
modified our contractors' fax machines so the contractors could send
material easily by either remote line or commercial telephone. Tests
proved that contractors are now able to send material to Key West over
commercial phone line should the need arise. The necessary modifications
in Managua will be made at a later date.
5. From 28 to 30 September, our well-traveled (like the pope) chief
visited headquarters for consultations on various subjects.
STAT
STAT
STAT
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Panama Bureau Production Report for SEPTEMBER 1987
I. TOTALS FROM ALL SOURCES:
TOTAL PUBLISHABLE WORDAGE FILED DURING MONTH: 415320
TOTAL NON-PUBLISHABLE WORDAGE FILED DURING MONTH: 36630
TOTAL NUMBER OF PUBLISHABLE ITEMS FILED DURING MONTH: 740
BROAD- PRESS PUBLI-
CASTS AGENCIES CATIONS
II. INPUT OF REGULAR COVERAGE: 14632.00 74700.00 220.00
(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 Nacional de Chile
Network in
Spanish
CLANDESTINES
Clandestine La Voz Popular in
Spanish to Guatemala
Clandestine Radio Farabundo Marti in
Spanish to El Salvador
Clandestine Radio Venceremos in
Spanish to El Salvador
COLOMBIA
Bogota Cadena Radial Super in
Spanish 470
Bogota Emisoras Caracol Network in
Spanish 3490
Bogota INRAVISION Television Cadena 1
in
Spanish 3810
Bogota INRAVISION Television Cadena 2
in
Spanish 1570
Bogota Radio Cadena Nacional in
Spanish 430
Bogota Radio Sutatenza Network in
Spanish 90
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 Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2012/06/18: CIA-RDP88-00733R000100100004-9
Bogota EL SIGLO in
Spanish
Bogota EL TIEMPO in
Spanish
COSTA RICA
San Jose Radio Impacto in
Spanish
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
BROAD- PRESS PUBLI-
CASTS AGENCIES CATIONS
90
0
1780
0
CUBA
Havana International Service in
Quechua 1180
Havana International Service in
Spanish 10360
Havana CUBAVISION Television in
Spanish 8230
Havana Tele-Rebelde Network in
Spanish 24740
Havana PRENSA LATINA in
English
Havana PRENSA LATINA in
Spanish
ECUADOR
Quito Radio Quito in
Spanish
Quito Voz de los Andes in
Spanish
EL SALVADOR
San Salvador Canal Cuatro Television in
Spanish
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- 3 -
BROAD- PRESS PUBLI-
CASTS AGENCIES CATIONS
San
Salvador
Spanish
Canal Doce Television in
12360
San
Salvador
Spanish
Canal Dos Television in
2360
San
Salvador
Spanish
Canal Seis Television in
3050
San
Salvador
Spanish
Domestic Service in
0
San
Salvador
Spanish
La Voz Panamericana in
1060
San
Salvador
Spanish
Radio Cadena Sonora in
4060
San
Salvador
Spanish
Radio Cadena YSKL in
4160
San
Salvador
Spanish
Radio Cadena YSU in
6270
San
Salvador
Spanish
Television Educativa in
460
San
Salvador
Spanish
Television Nacional in
860
San
San
San
San
San
Salvador
Spanish
Salvador
Spanish
Salvador
Spanish
Salvador
Spanish
Salvador
Spanish
DIARIO LATINO in
EL DIARIO DE HOY in
EL MUNDO in
LA NOTICIA in
LA PRENSA GRAFICA in
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
Network in
Spanish
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4 -
Guatemala City Radio Television
Guatemala in
Spanish
Guatemala City EL GRAFICO in
Spanish
Guatemala City PRENSA LIBRE in
Spanish
BROAD- PRESS PUBLI-
CASTS AGENCIES CATIONS
HONDURAS
Tegucigalpa Cadena Audio Video in
Spanish 5680
Tegucigalpa Radio America in
Spanish 5360
Tegucigalpa Televisora Hondurena in
Spanish 0
Tegucigalpa Voz de Honduras Network in
Spanish 3080
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 Cadena RASA-IMER in
Spanish 0
Mexico City Domestic Service in
Spanish 37970
Mexico City Red Nacional 13 IMEVISION
Television in
Spanish 1000
Mexico City XEW Television Network in
Spanish 1160
Mexico City XHTV Television in
Spanish 1200
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
0
1890
2410
1330
1950
4310
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BROAD- PRESS PUBLI-
CASTS AGENCIES CATIONS
Mexico City UNOMASUNO in
Spanish 5220
NICARAGUA
Managua International Service in
Spanish
260
Managua Domestic Service in
Spanish
23470
Managua Radio Noticias in
Spanish
1580
Managua Radio Sandino in
Spanish
34440
Managua Sistema Sandinista Television
Network in
Spanish
2850
Managua ANN Diplomatic Information
Service in
Spanish
0
Managua ANN in
Spanish
2270
Managua NOTISAL in
Spanish
0
Managua NOTISAL-SALPRESS in
Spanish
0
Managua PRENSA LATINA in
Spanish to PRENSA LATINA Havana
370
Managua BARRICADA in
Spanish
Managua EL NUEVO DIARIO in
Spanish
PANAMA
Panama City Cadena Exitosa in
Spanish
4410
Panama City Circuito RPC
Television in
Spanish
1280
Panama City Domestic Service in
Spanish
12650
Panama City Panavision Television in
Spanish
3280
Panama City Radio America in
Spanish
130
Panama City Radio Exitosa in
Spanish
1770
Panama City Telemetro Television in
Spanish
5710
Panama City Television Service in
Spanish
250
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BROAD- PRESS PUBLI-
CASTS AGENCIES CATIONS
Panama City Televisora Nacional in
Spanish
Panama City ACAN in
Spanish
Panama City CRITICA in
Spanish
11170
Panama City DIALC)GO SOCIAL in
Spanish
0
Panama City EL SIGLC) in
Spanish
0
Panama City EXTRA in
Spanish
0
Panama City LA ESTRELLA DE PANAMA in
Spanish
12360
Panama City LA PRENSA in
Spanish
0
Panama City LA REPUBLICA DOMINICAL in
Spanish
3580
Panama City LA REPUBLICA in
Spanish
1900
Panama City MATUTINO in
Spanish
3240
Panama City QUIUBO GRAFICO in
Spanish
0
Panama City STAR AND HERALD in
English
3250
Panama City THE SUNDAY REPUBLIC in
English
0
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
U.S.A.
New York United Nations Television in
Spanish
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 Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2012/06/18: CIA-RDP88-00733R000100100004-9
BROAD- PRESS PUBLI-
CASTS AGENCIES CATIONS
USSR
Moscow Radio Peace and Progress in
Spanish 1140
Moscow in
Spanish to Latin America 350
Moscow in
Spanish to Cuba 110
VENEZUELA
Caracas Television Service in
Spanish
Caracas EL NACIONAL in
Spanish
Caracas EL UNIVERSAL in
Spanish
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PANAMA BUREAU PRODUCTION REPORT FOR SEPTEMBER 1987 -- ANNEX
TOTALS FROM ROSET SOURCES
COLOMBIA
Bogota INRAVISION Television Cadena 1 in
Spanish
3,810
Bogota INRAVISION Television Cadena 2 in
Spanish
1,570
CUBA
Havana CUBAVISION Television in
Spanish
8,230
Havana Tele-Rebelde Network in
Spanish
24,740
Havana PRENSA LATINA in
Spanish
3,470
MEXICO
Mexico City Red Nacional 13 INEVISION Television in
Spanish
1,000
Mexico City XEW Television Network in
Spanish
1,160
Mexico City XHTV Television in
Spanish
1,200
Mexico City CERIGUA in
Spanish
1,080
NICARAGUA
Managua ANN in
Spanish
2,270
Managua PRENSA LATINA in
Spanish to PRENSA LATINA Havana
PERU
Lima Domestic Service in
Spanish
870
Lima Pananericana Television Network in
Spanish
1,320
Lima Television Peruana in
Spanish
3,380
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U.S.A.
New York United Nations Television in
Spanish
VENEZUELA
Caracas Television Service in
Spanish
3,160
3,140
TOTAL FOR SEPTEMBER 1987 60,770
Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2012/06/18: CIA-RDP88-00733R000100100004-9