MONTHLY REPORT- OKINAWA BUREAU- OCTOBER 1987

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP88-00733R000100090003-2
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: K
• Document Page Count: 12
• Document Creation Date: December 22, 2016
• Document Release Date: June 18, 2012
• Sequence Number: 3
• Publication Date: November 5, 1987
• Content Type: MEMO

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0
ROUTING AND RECORD SHEET
SUBJECT: (Optional)
Monthly Report -- Okinawa Bureau
FROM:
EXTENSION
NO.
f
, Operations Group
Chie
DATE
3-5991
October 1987
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
01113
4.
5.
D/FBIS
7.
PO/RA
--- -----------
SA/CD
9.
10.
C/AS
11.
ClEtes
12.
C/AG
13.
Admin Staff
14.
C/B&F
15.
Exec. Reg.
FORM 61 0 USE PREVIOUS
I-79 EDITIONS
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FBIS 5000-87
5 November 1987
MEMORANDUM FOR: Director, Foreign Broadcast Information Service
THROUGH: Acting Chief, Operations Group
FROM:
SUBJECT:
I. GENERAL
Monthly Report - Okinawa Bureau - October 1987
STAT
A. "These are the times that try men's souls" is a historic phrase
that aptly describes Okinawa's multiple trials and tribulations in the
last 10 days of October. They came about when the bureau's most important
coverage event in 5 years, the 13th Chinese Communist Party Congress,
coincided precisely with inauguration of the new FBA-1 computer system and
numerous crashes thereof, the worst communications outages in recent
memory, and a seemingly endless flow of visitors in and out. We all
survived and learned from the crises, thanks to extra efforts and
dedication by our entire staff. Our joint translation with Hong Kong
Bureau of the major CPC Congress document, Zhao Ziyang's 2 1/2-hour work
report broadcast and televised on 25 October, earned "high praise" from
the BBC Monitoring Service for "extremely fast" processing. Countless
immediate and priority items reporting on Congress daily press briefings,
committee meetings and the like kept all consumers informed despite
recurring outages on both Mode I and V channels. We learned after only a
few days that the new FBA-1 press agency system could not cope with the
high volume of Xinhua English, building up enormous backlogs of
nonperishable materials until we changed back, with Headquarters approval,
to the previous paper print and tape system for this service. We sent
some 110 Xinhua items by military Express Mail to unclog the system. By
Congress' end the system stopped crashing and all staff became faster and
more adept at using it, and commo outages dropped to normal levels.
System problems were detailed in numerous messages to Headquarters.
B. Evan Hineman, Deputy Director for Science and Technology, paid his
first-ever visit to Okinawa and the bureau 25-27 October, meeting many
bureau and U.S. military personnel and families at cocktail buffets,
touring the bureau on CPC Congress opening day, and meeting and briefing
top U.S. commanders on 26 October, with a 1-hour helicopter tour of
Okinawa as a high point.
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C. Evidence of persistent Okinawan resentment against mainland
Japan's role in bringing widespread death and destruction at the close of
World War II surfaced in the bureau's local village, Yomitan, on 26
October. The Hinomaru, Japan's national flag, was burned by a Yomitan man
at the opening ceremonies for the softball tournament held in Yomitan as
part of Okinawa's first hosting of the National Athletic Games. The
protestor turned himself in after making a protest statement. No further
incidents were reported against the Emperor or Crown Prince Akihito, who
visited in place of his convalescing father, for the games' opening on 25
October.
A. Monitorial/Editorial
1. Our new, flexible processing approach in the Chinese Unit
passed its toughest test with flying colors for the CPC Congress opening
day, enabling us to move some 16,000 words of Zhao's main report in about
10 hours, while keeping up with video reportage from Beijing domestic TV
carrying its first public Congress opening. Our half was done entirely
from the excellent satellite TV sound, with secondary radio coverage being
deferred briefly to permit moving the main document.
2. The main problem with FBA-1 press agency processing, as shown
in our first experience starting 20 October, was the extremely slow,
cumbersome computer manipulations required to retrieve, process and pass
along Xinhua English items compared to the previous retrieval, editing and
handling system using Extel printouts and perforated tape. The FBA
program required moving back and forth from WriteNOW wordprocessing to
database modes and slow scanning of the computer-stored Xinhua log, and
the problem was accentuated by Xinhua's high traffic volume and long hours
of operation. Computer directories became so large it took editors 3-4
times as long to get an item as it did before. At month's end, Lockheed
specialists were devising a better way, while we were reducing our backlog
by using tape and printouts on Xinhua for current material. By contrast,
FBA-1 has greatly speeded handling of translated material once it reaches
the editors, and monitors are becoming familiar with the system.
3. Two significant coverage transfers took place. Bangkok
Bureau assumed primary coverage of Hanoi's VNA English press agency
transmissions on 25 October, just in time to relieve Okinawa of that
burden as the CPC Congress opened; Okinawa continues to monitor and store
VNA in its FBA-1 press agency station to backup Bangkok. We took over
both Moscow and Beijing Korean commentary program coverage from Seoul
Bureau on 5 October to relieve Seoul's monitoring staff, reduced by
illness and resignation. At month-end we agreed to loan Japanese/Korean
senior monitor to Seoul starting 2 November to assist until
Seoul's monitoring staff returns to manageable levels.
STAT
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4. Our Japanese Unit had major coverage of its own--Prime
Minister Nakasone on 20 October chose ex-Finance Minister Noboru Takeshita
to succeed him, and the new Liberal Democratic Party chief held his first
televised press conference on 31 October. We also were urged by
Headquarters to provide expanded coverage of Japan's reaction to the 19
October Wall Street "Black Monday" crash and the gyrations of Tokyo's own
stock exchange, the world's largest, and other financial and economic
developments.
5. We exchanged views with Hong Kong, London and MOD on how best
to back up our primary coverage of Beijing Xinhua English when it shows
seasonal propagation problems each fall and spring, usually during local
late evening. All have agreed to continue with London as a primary backup
for this service, using its new computer storage, to avoid Hong Kong
late-night staffing problems.
B. Cruising
We reported another Moscow Mandarin change in announcements for
four local evening transmissions from 1100 through 1500 GMT, again
describing them as for listeners in Southeast Asia. Cruisers provided
fall seasonal updates on Beijing and Moscow Radio and Moscow Peace and
Progress broadcasts in international services and noted both Tokyo KYODO
English and Iran's IRNA English transmissions on the 63 East satellite.
Satellite cruising was very limited because of Beijing and Moscow TV
commitments on our single 10-meter dish.
1. Bureau technicians played a major role in timely completion
of the FBA-1 computer system installation, which had to be placed in steel
conduit to avoid serious EMI damage to low-level RF signals running in the
same cable trenches from our surrounding antenna field. They also rewired
press agency converters to serve both the FBA-1 press agency computer as
well as eight press printers for our most important press coverage. These
allow continuous monitoring of reception quality, not possible with FBA-1,
and also provide perforated paper tape for primary and backup use.
2. Regional Engineer was TDYed to Manila to STAT
install radios and related gear for the new remote monitoring system,
unfortunately right in the middle of catastrophic Okinawa communications
outages and new FBA-1 system crashes on 27-30 October. kept so busy STAT
inside the Embassy that none of the 28 October sniper attacks could target
him. As a result of the sniper attacks and general unrest in the
Philippines, Kadena Air Base has imposed tight controls over all travel to
Clark AFB, and leave travel to the Philippines is banned completely.
3. Technical installation of equipment for testing new
international direct dial modems was completed, allowing TDYing GE
contractor to test transmissions to Far Eastern bureaus and STAT
Headquarters during his 16-31 October TDY. The IDD system is a possible
future backup communications altroute.
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4. A new 4.5 -meter ROSET antenna system purchased by Bangkok
Bureau for Okinawa arrived on 27 October, only 4 days after MAC shipment,
and was being unpacked and readied for installation at month-end. It will
replace the "Pesos" dish destroyed by Typhoon Dinah on 29 August.
The bureau experienced its worst communications outages in at
least 5 years in late October, mostly on Mode I, simultaneously with
inauguration of the new FBA-1 system. Repeated checks and queries
established that the primary causes lie in Guam ASC. These outages
reemphasized the value of our Mode V Yokota ASC backup circuit, which
enables us to send and receive secure cables as well as back up other
1. Chinese monitor was promoted from trainee
FBN-7 to FBN-8. Trainee ____]advised us he intends to resign and
return to Taiwan in December. Processing of replacement monitor
applicants continue.
2. Four bureau TCN employees were presented federal service pins
in bureau chief's office ceremonies 21 October: associate edi
~25 years, Japanese monitor 20, associate editor
and Chinese monitor 10 years each.
3. The dollar began sinking to new all time record lows against
the Japanese yen at month-end, in the 137 to $1.00 range, apparently
ensuring that Okinawa's Class 25 COLA will remain intact for the
forseeable future. This is the lowest rate since 1948.
STAT
STAT
STAT
STAT
STAT
STAT
STAT
STAT
STAT
4. Regional medical officer I I paid his STAT
first visit to Okinawa since arriving this summer, examining and
certifying three TCN families for Overseas Medical Benefits Program
coverage, and paying calls on major commanders at the Camp Lester Navy
Hospital, accompanied by admin officer We have now arranged STAT
a charge system with Lester hospital, so that a monthly billing will take
care of all bureau personnel medical visits.
B. Buildings and Grounds
Lt. Col Jerry Berry, Okinawa Area commander, Corps of Engineers,
visited the bureau 20 October with his staff to provide the first of new
monthly updates on our FBIS housing recap program. We have been advised
that all materials have now arrived to complete the new 3-bedroom duplex
and the seven 4-bedroom house renovations. We were given revised cost
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estimates to remodel a 3-bedroom house into a 2-bedroom duplex, but costs
still appear too high. We also discussed further the next design stage
for the 16-house GSWK renovation project. GSWK houses were inspected to
determine the extent of any termite damage in roof substructures and air
conditioning units. We expect to have 90 percent design drawings
completed by the end of November, with contract award early in 1988.
Lockheed ed Electronics Co. computer specia
arrived 2 October for FBA-1; LEC's
on 9 October; ADD's and GE cont
Tokyo communications trainer on 19 October; Seoul security technicians to
install alarm systems 22-24 October; DD/S&T Evan Hineman 25-27 October;
RMO 28-30 October for orientation and tour of Camp
Lester Navy Hospital; DOD Special Representative Yokota specialists Randy
Casper and Sergeant Clack, on 7 October for briefing on ROSET antenna
capabilities.
Bureau chief to First Special Forces Group, First Battalion, Torii
Station, on 5 October for courtesy call on commander Lt. Col Travis
Griffin; bureau chief, accompanying Evan Hineman, for courtesy calls and
briefings with 313th Air Division commander Brig. Gen. Peter D. Robinson
and III Marines Amphibious Force/3rd Marine Division Commander Maj. Gen.
Norman H. Smith, and to Hanza Naval Security Group Activity commander
Capt. John Moore, all on 26 October; Logistics officer
Headquarters TDY on 19 October while on R&R leave in the U.S.; regional
engineer to Manila 27-30 October for installation of Hong
Kon remote equipment; LEC computer installers
de arted 22 and 24 October, and on 29 October; GE
contractor departed on 31 October for Seoul and further modem
testing.
A number of FBIS and Lockheed employees with families made a 12
October Columbus Day boat trip to Tsuken Island for snorkeling, SCUBA
lessons and picnicking. Bureau personnel and spouses met DDS&T Evan
Hineman at a 25 October cocktail buffet at the bureau chief's residence,
and Okinawa military and consul general leadership met him on 26 October
ATTACHMENTS :
Production Report
Engineering Equipment Attachment
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 Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2012/06/18: CIA-RDP88-00733R000100090003-2
OKINAWA BUREAU ENGINEERING EQUIPMENT ATTACHMENT
EQUIPMENT RECEIVED: SONY U-MATIC VIDEO RECORDER, MDL 5630,
S/N 64236, 64252, 64255, 64257.
SHARP TV MONITOR, MDL 14S11-A1, S/N
311954, 311133, 312040.
DATA SPECIALTIES, READER/PUNCH, MDL
NC2400M, S/N 112683.
SATELLITE DISH ANTENNA, 4.5 METER, NSN,
RECEIVED FROM BANGKOK.
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EX-PESOS "REQUISAT IN PACEM"
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OKINAWA BUREAU PRODUCTION REPORT FOR OCTOBER 1987
I. TOTALS FctOM ALL SOURCES:
TOTAL PUBLISHABLE WORDAGE FILED DURING MONTH: 985,890
TOTAL NON-PUBLISHABLE WORDAGE FILED DURING MONTH: 543,150
TOTAL NUMBER OF PUBLISHABLE ITEMS FILED DURING MONTH: 2,909
BROAD- PRESS PUBLI-
CASTS AGENCIES CATIONS
II. INPUT OF REGULAR COVERAGE:
(minutes or issues per week)
21,225 17,280 175.79
min. min. issues
III. OUTPUT FROM ALL SOURCES:
CAMBOD IA
Phnom Penh SPK in
English
CHI14A
Beijing International Service to East and South Africa in
English
Beijing International Service to North America in
English
2,940
Beijing International Service in
Japanese
1,040
Beijing International Service in
Korean
1,070
Beijing International Service in
Mandarin
Beijing to Taiwan in
Mandarin
3,490
Beijing to the USSR in
Russian
6,380
Beijing Domestic Service in
Mandarin
32,950
Beijing Television Service in
Mandarin
22,210
Fuzhou Fujian Provincial Service in
Mandarin
980
Hangzhou Zhejiang Provincial Service in
Mandarin
910
Hefei Anhui Provincial Service in
Ma nd a ri n
4,500
Nanchang Jiangxi
Mandarin
Provincial Service in
5,460
Nanjing Jiangsu
Mandarin
Provincial Service in
3,310
Shanghai City Service in
Mandarin
6,580
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Beijing HONGQI in
Chinese
Beijing XINHUA in
English
Beijing XINHUA Domestic Service in
Chinese
Beijing BEIJING REVIEW in
English
Fuzhou FUJIAN RIBAO in
Chinese
Hefei ANHUI RIBAO in
Chinese
Hangzhou ZHEJLANG RIBAO in
Chinese
Nanjing XINHUA RIBAO in
Chinese
Shanghai JIEFANG RIBAO in
Chinese
Shanghai WEN HUI BAO in
Chinese
Miscellaneous
Editorial Reports
JAPAN
Naha Radio NFIK in
Japanese
Tokyo NHK Television Network in
Japanese
Tokyo J PS in
English
Tokyo KYODO in
English
Tokyo J IJ I in
English
Tokyo AKAHATA in
Japanese
Tokyo ASAHI SHIMBUN in
Japanese
Tokyo ASAHI EVENING NEWS in
English
Tokyo JAPAN ECONOMIC JOURNAL in
English
Tokyo MAINICHI DAILY NEWS in
English
BROAD- PRESS PUBLI-
CASTS AGENCIES CATIONS
4,040
450,970
88,860
9 50
115, 350
5,480
27,660
1,660
2,240
3,410
530
2,110
3,450
7,360
700
8,510
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BROAD- PRESS PUBLI-
CASTS AGENCIES CATIONS
Tokyo MAINICHI SIIIMJUN in
Japanese
Tokyo NIHON KE IZA I SH IMBUN in
Japanese
Tokyo SANKEI SIiIHkUN in
Japanese
Tokyo THE D1JILY YOMIUI:I in
English
Tokyo THE JAPAN TINES in
English
Tokyo TOKYO SH IMISUN in
Japanese
Tokyo YOMIURI JHIMLUN in
Japanese
Naha OKINAWA TIMES in
Japanese
Naha RYUKYU SHIMPO in
Japanese
KOREA (NORTH)
Pyongyang KCNA in
English
LAOS
Vientiane KPL in
English
MONGOLIA
Ulaanbaatar MONTSANE in
English
Ulaanbaatar MONTSA~ME in
Russian
TA IWAN
Taipei International Service in
English
Taipei Domestic Service in
Mandarin
Taipei CNA in
English
Taipei CHINA POST in
English
Taipei CHING CHI JIH PAO in
Chinese
Taipei CHUNG KUO SHIH PAO in
Chinese
Taipei CHUNG YANG JIH PAO in
Chinese
6,890
4,910
1,610
7,970
4,570
4,460
3,150
3,860
15,170
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BROAD- PRESS PUBLIO
CASTS AGENCIES CATIONS
Taipei LIEN HO PAO in
Chinese
Taipei TZU LI WAN PAO in
Chinese
UNION OF SOVIET SOCIALIST REPU13LICS
Moscow to Japan in
Japanese
3,230
Moscow International Service in
Mandarin
7,410
Moscow to Southeast in
Mandarin
---
Moscow Radio Peace & Progress to Asia-Pacific Region in
Mandarin
1,110
Moscow International Service in
Korean
650
Moscow Domestic
Russian
Television Service in
7,720
V IETNAM
Hanoi International Service in
Mandarin
Hanoi VNA in
English
52 , 710
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