MONTHLY REPORT -- PANAMA BUREAU -- JANUARY 1986

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP87-01104R000100120012-6
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: K
• Document Page Count: 12
• Document Creation Date: December 22, 2016
• Document Release Date: May 22, 2012
• Sequence Number: 12
• Publication Date: February 6, 1986
• Content Type: MEMO

Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2012/05/22 : CIA-RDP87-01104R000100120012-6
FOREIGN BROADCAST INFORMATION SERVICE
PANAMA BUREAU
DRAWER 927
APO MIAMI 34004
6 February 1986
MPA-6005
MEMORANDUM FOR: Director, Foreign Broadcast Information Service
THROUGH : Chief, Operations Group
SUBJECT : Monthly Report -- Panama Bureau -- January 1986
After an abortive effort in December, cruisers) and
in late January completed a survey, from northern Costa
Rica, of major Nicaraguan transmitters now being monitored from the remote
site at the embassy in Managua. The cruisers were able to hear throughout
the broadcast day, with reception ranging from excellent through good to
fair, Managua Radio Sandino, Managua Domestic Service, Managua
International Service, the audio portion of Managua Domestic Television,
and Bluefields Radio Zinica. It appears that the northern Costa Rican
site, in the city of Liberia, would provide an adequate fallback, through
a remote operation, for monitoring Nicaraguan transmitters in the event of
a break in diplomatic relations between Managua and Washington. A full
cruising report is being pouched.
Progress continues on the site preparation for the three additional
ROSET's. The concrete work is finished - pads, sidewalks, cable tray
supports -- and much of the landscaping has been completed. The seavans
with the antenna hardware are in Panama, awaiting customs clearance.
In what is hoped to be a major step in improving check turn-around
time (and thus an assuaging of vendors), the bureau has arranged with the
embassy to have non-payroll vouchering and disbursement handled by the
embassy and RAMC/Mexico. The first packet of vouchers from the bureau
went forward at the end of January. It is anticipated checks will be back
to the bureau in ten days, as opposed to the thirty days and more when
transactions were handled by pouching to Headquarters and checks were
issued by the Washington Finance Center. Panama is the last overseas
bureau to go to the embassy/RAMC arrangement.
Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2012/05/22 : CIA-RDP87-01104R000100120012-6
 Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2012/05/22 : CIA-RDP87-01104R000100120012-6
A. Editorial/Monitorial
The new year opened with a summit meeting between President
Reagan and Mexican President De La Madrid in the border town of Mexicali,
Mexico. The meeting of the two heads of state was covered through ROSET
monitoring of Mexican television. The text of De La Madrid's welcoming
remarks was provided from ROSET coverage and subsequent Mexican reaction
to the summit was filed from Mexico City newspapers.
On 7 January, the Bureau's attention turned to Cuba as rumors
began circulating that Fidel Castro was either seriously ill or dead.
Available Cuban media was placed on open speaker watch and late that same
evening the Bureau filed the official Cuban denials of problems with
Castro s health from both Havana's International Service and the PRENSA
LATINA press agency. Later it was alleged that the rumors about Castro's
illness or death had begun in the Cuban emigre community in Miami.
In Central America, Guatemalan President-elect Vinicio Cerezo
Arevalo was inaugurated on 14 January. The Bureau covered the nearly
7-hour long live relay of the inaugural ceremonies and texted both
Cerezo's inaugural address and the speech by the outgoing head of state,
General Guillermo Mejia Victores.
On 27 January, Honduras also inaugurated a new president, Jose
Azcona Hoyo. The bureau covered a 4-hour live relay of the inaugural
ceremonies in Tegucigalpa and texted Azcona's inaugural address.
Honduras remained in the spotlight late in the month with the
on-again, off-again, on-again resignation of its armed forces chief,
General Walter Lopez Reyes. Initial reports on 30 January reported Lopez
Reyes was resigning because of a "lack of discipline" of his
subordinates. On the very next day, after a talk with Honduran President
Azcona and other high government officials, Lopez Reyes withdrew his
resignation but then on 1 February announced his irrevocable resignation
for "personal reasons." The Honduran media were making the most of the
general's turnabouts with many claims of U. S. involvement in Lopez Reyes
departure.
On 31 January, the Haitian population's dissatisfaction with its
government boiled over with widespread public disorder reported. After
some confusing message from the U.S. Embassy in Port-au-Prince, White
House spokesman Larry Speaks erroneously reported that Haitian
President-for-life "Baby Doc" Duvalier had fled the country. Although the
only Haitian transmitter audible here, Cap Haitien Radio 4VEH, carried
only international news in its brief newscasts in English and French,
press agency reports monitored by the bureau clarified the situation and
confirmed that Duvalier remained - at least for now -- still in Haiti and
very much in control.
Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2012/05/22 : CIA-RDP87-01104R000100120012-6
 Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2012/05/22 : CIA-RDP87-01104R000100120012-6
B. Communications
In the continuing effort to upgrade bureau communications, bureau
officers and the chief technician met on the 13th with a representative
from Motorola and on the 14th with a U.S. Army civilian (the de facto
Granger representative) to discuss a planned bureau-Ancon Hill-embassy
microwave link. Motorola has given us its bid. We're awaiting more
information on a Granger system, and we are pursuing other possibilities.
On the 16th the bureau chief, deputy chief, staff engineer, and technician
toured the Army communications site on Ancon Hill to confirm line of sight
for a passive reflector or an active repeater.
There have been no significant developments on the Army MUX plan
which would involve installation of Mode I equipment at the bureau.
C. Technical
During the month, the following accountable property was
One Leader Audio Generator, Model LAG 120B, Serial No. 5080229.
Unit Price: $295.00
Thirty Talk-A-Phone, Model K-C-4930 Master Station for Intercom
System. Unit Price: $317.00
One Camera RCA Mdl. TC1006 with 12.5mm auto iris with filter S/N
014561. Unit Price: $1,962.00
Two Cameras RCA Mdl. 1006UZO with 160mm zoom lens S/N 014499 &
014534. Unit Price: $3,463.00
III. ADMINISTRATION
A. Personnel
Administrative Assistant received a
promotion from FBN-7/4 to FBN-8/3, effective 19 January 1986.
B. Building and Grounds
The Army's DEH connected the new air-conditioning system to the
bureau's power grid. For two hours commercial power and the emergency
generator were shut off.
The long-awaited shipment of carpet tile from Headquarters
arrived. Carpeting has been completed in the press agency room, the
teletype room, and the chief technician's office. Carpeting of the main
hallways has begun. The complex of EXTEL machines has been moved into the
press agency room with the completion of the carpeting of the room.
STAT
Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2012/05/22 : CIA-RDP87-01104R000100120012-6
 Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2012/05/22 : CIA-RDP87-01104R000100120012-6
trail
-4-
arrived on 7 January to begin his 12-week editorial
STAT
were in Costa Rica 21 - 28 January STAT
to conduct a cruising survey in the north of that country.
Marv Francis, the chief of the Army's Program Development Group
(PDG), visited the bureau on 16 January for a briefing and walkthrough.
STAT
Chief, Panama Bureau, IS
Attachment:
Production Report
Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2012/05/22 : CIA-RDP87-01104R000100120012-6
 Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2012/05/22 : CIA-RDP87-01104R000100120012-6
Panama Bureau Production Report for January 1986
I. TOTALS FROM ALL SOURCES.
TOTAL PUBLISHABLE WORDAGE FILED DURING MONTH. 503530
TOTAL NON-PUBLISHABLE WORDAGE FILED DURING MONTH. 14760
TOTAL NUMBER OF PUBLISHABLE ITEMS FILED DURING MONTH. 1217
BROAD- PRESS PUBLI-
CASTS AGENCIES CATIONS
II. INPUT OF REGULAR COVERAGE. 10705.00 42150.00 212.00
(minutes or issues per week) min. min. issues
III. OUTPUT FROM ALL SOURCES.
(publishable words per month)
ARGENTINA
Buenos Aires REUTER in
Spanish
Buenos Aires REUTER in
English
CLANDESTINES
Clandestine Radio Farabundo Marti in
Spanish to El Salvador
Clandestine Radio Venceremos in
Spanish to El Salvador
COLOMBIA
Bogota Cadena Radial Super in
Spanish 1680
Bogota Domestic Service in
Spanish 6110
Bogota Emisoras Caracol Network in
Spanish 4530
Bogota Radio Sutatenza Network in
Spanish 210
Bogota Television Service in
Spanish 5470
Bogota REUTER in
Spanish
Cartagena REUTER in
English
Bogota EL SIGLO in
Spanish
Bogota EL TIEMPO in
Spanish
COSTA RICA
San Jose Radio Impacto in
Spanish
Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2012/05/22 : CIA-RDP87-01104R000100120012-6
 Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2012/05/22: CIA-RDP87-01104R000100120012-6
- 2 -
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 RUIMBO CENTROAMERICANO in
Spanish
BROAD- PRESS PUBLI-
CASTS AGENCIES CATIONS
CUBA
Havana International Service in
Quechua 2170
Havana International Service in
Spanish 46590
Havana EFE in
Spanish 360
Havana PRENSA LATINA in
English 9990
Havana PRENSA LATINA in
Spanish 18570
ECUADOR
Quito Domestic Service in
Spanish 1430
Quito Radio Quito in
Spanish 1220
Quito Voz de los Andes in
Spanish 3900
EL SALVADOR
Ban Salvador Canal Doce Television in
Spanish 2850
San Salvador Channel 2 Television in
Spanish 620
San Salvador Domestic Service in
Spanish 980
San Salvador Radio Cadena Sonora in
Spanish 2130
San Salvador Radio Cadena YSKL in
Spanish 1580
San Salvador Radio Cadena YSU in
Spanish 21060
320
1840
1490
2330
Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2012/05/22 : CIA-RDP87-01104R000100120012-6
 Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2012/05/22: CIA-RDP87-01104R000100120012-6
3 -
BROAD- PRESS
CASTS AGENCIES
PUBLI-
CATIONS
San
San
San
San
Salvador
Spanish
Salvador
Spanish
Salvador
Spanish
Salvador
Spanish
Television Educativa in
NOTISAL in
SALPRESS in
DIARIO LATINO in
1080
San
Salvador
Spanish
EL DIARIO DE HOY in
3110
San
Salvador
Spanish
EL MUNDO in
1710
San
Salvador
Spanish
EL TIEMPO in
0
San
Salvador
Spanish
LA PRENSA GRAFICA in
1040
San
Salvador
Spanish
PROCESO in
0
San
Salvador
English
THE NEWS GAZETTE in
FRANCE
Paris AFP in
English
Paris AFP in
Spanish
GERMANY
Hamburg DPA in
Spanish
GUATEMALA
Guatemala City Cadena de Emisoras
Unidas in
Spanish
2810
Guatemala City Domestic Service in
Spanish
5260
Guatemala City Radio Nuevo Mundo in
Spanish
100
Guatemala City Radio Television
Guatemala in
Spanish
9200
Guatemala City SIGNO in
Spanish
Guatemala City EL GRAFICO in
Spanish
Guatemala City PRENSA LIBRE in
Spanish
Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2012/05/22 : CIA-RDP87-01104R000100120012-6
 Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2012/05/22 : CIA-RDP87-01104R000100120012-6
BROAD-
CASTS
PRESS
AGENCIES
PUBLI-
CATIONS
HONDURAS
Tegucigalpa
Spanish
Cadena Audio Video in
15450
Tegucigalpa
Spanish
Domestic Service in
4120
Tegucigalpa
Spanish
Radio America in
4920
Tegucigalpa
Spanish
Televisooa Hondurena in
2220
Tegucigalpa
Spanish
Voz de Honduras Network in
15590
San Pedro Sula LA PRENSA in
Spanish
820
San Pedro Sula TIEMPO in
Spanish
4550
Tegucigalpa
Spanish
EL HERALDO in
0
Tegucigalpa
Spanish
LA TRIBUNA in
1970
MEXICO
Mexico City XEW Television Network in
Spanish
Mexico City XHDF Television
Network in
Spanish
Mexico City CERIGUA in
Spanish
Mexico City REUTER in
English
Mexico City EL DIA in
Spanish
3820
Mexico City EL NACIONAL in
Spanish
610
Mexico City
Spanish
EL UNIVERSAL in
380
Mexico City
Spanish
EXCELSIOR in
2290
Mexico City
English
THE NEWS in
2210
Mexico City
Spanish
UNOMASUNO in
1500
NICARAGUA
Managua International Service in
Spanish
Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2012/05/22 : CIA-RDP87-01104R000100120012-6
 Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2012/05/22 : CIA-RDP87-01104R000100120012-6
BROAD- PRESS PUBLI-
CASTS AGENCIES CATIONS
Managua Domestic Service in
Spanish
Managua Radio Noticias in
Spanish
Managua Radio Sandino in
Spanish
Managua Sistema Sandinista Television
Network in
Spanish
18350
3400
24180
2980
Managua ANN Diplomatic Information
Service in
Spanish
540
Managua ANN in
Spanish
11560
Managua ANN in
English
940
Managua PRENSA LATINA in
Spanish
3500
Managua TABS in
Spanish
2330
Managua BARRICADA INTERNACIONAL in
English
3560
Managua BARRICADA in
Spanish
10830
Managua EL NUEVO DIARIO in
Spanish
3070
Managua LA PRENSA in
Spanish
1660
PANAMA
Panama City Circuito RPC
Television in
Spanish
Panama City Domestic Service in
Spanish
Panama City PANAVISION Television in
Spanish
Panama City Televisora Nacional in
Spanish
1810
9080
710
2460
Panama City ACAN in
Spanish
22340
Panama City CRITICA in
Spanish
2020
Panama City DIALOGO SOCIAL in
Spanish
360
Panama City EL SIGLO in
Spanish
1370
Panama City EXTRA in
Spanish
1750
Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2012/05/22 : CIA-RDP87-01104R000100120012-6
 Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2012/05/22 : CIA-RDP87-01104R000100120012-6
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 OUIUBO GRAFICO in
Spanish
Panama City STAR AND HERALD in
English
Panama City THE SUNDAY REPUBLIC in
English
SPAIN
Madrid EFE in
Spanish
VENEZUELA
Caracas Television Service in
Spanish
Caracas REUTER in
English
Caracas EL NACIONAL in
Spanish
Caracas EL UNIVERSAL in
Spanish
BROAD- PRESS PUBLI-
CASTS AGENCIES CATIONS
1470
9590
0
370
3520
550
1330
Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2012/05/22 : CIA-RDP87-01104R000100120012-6
 Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2012/05/22: CIA-RDP87-01104R000100120012-6
TOTALS FROM ROSET SOURCES:
ARGENTINA
Buenos Aires REUTER in
English
1,640
COLOMBIA
Bogota Television Service in
Spanish 5,470
Bogota REUTER in
English 250
Cartagena REUTER in
English 180
CUBA
Havana PRENSA LATINA in
Spanish
Havana EFE in
Spanish
EL SALVADOR
San Salvador NOTISAL in
Spanish
San Salvador SALPRESS in
Spanish
GERMANY
Hamburg DPA in
Spanish
GUATEMALA
Guatemala City SIGNO in
Spanish
18,570
MEXICO
Mexico City XEW Television Network in
Spanish 2,280
Mexico City XHDF Television Network in
Spanish 5,880
Mexico City CERIGUA in
Spanish 270
Mexico City REUTER in
English 1,370
Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2012/05/22 : CIA-RDP87-01104R000100120012-6
 Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2012/05/22 : CIA-RDP87-01104R000100120012-6
NICARAGUA
Managua ANN Diplomatic Information Service in
Spanish 540
Managua ANN in
Spanish 11,560
Managua ANN in
English 940
Managua PRENSA LATINA in
Spanish 3,500
Managua TASS in
Spanish 2,330
SPAIN
Madrid EFE in
Spanish
VENEZUELA
Caracas Television Service in
Spanish
Caracas REUTER in
English
2,070
9,950
2,480
TOTAL FOR JANUARY 1986 71,170
Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2012/05/22 : CIA-RDP87-01104R000100120012-6