MONTHLY REPORT--PANAMA BUREAU--OCTOBER 1987

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP88-00733R000100100003-0
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: K
• Document Page Count: 14
• Document Creation Date: December 22, 2016
• Document Release Date: June 18, 2012
• Sequence Number: 3
• Publication Date: November 3, 1987
• Content Type: MEMO

Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2012/06/18: CIA-RDP88-00733R000100100003-0
O^j
Exec. Reg.
FORM 61 p USE PREVIOUS
f-79 EDITIONS
ROUTING AND RECORD SHEET
SUBJECT: (Optional)
Monthly Report -- Panama Bureau
FROM:
EXTENSION
NO.
Chief, Operations Group
DATE
ST
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
3.
~` C/EPS
4.
5.
D/FBIS
6.
7.
PO/RA
8
SA/CD
9.
,DDbxIS
10.
C/AS
11.
12.
C/AG
13.
Admin Staff
14.
C/B&F
15.
AT
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 Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2012/06/18: CIA-RDP88-00733R000100100003-0
3 November 1987
MPA-7026
MEMORANDUM FOR: Director, Foreign Broadcast Information Service
THROUGH : Chief, Operations Group
SUBJECT : Monthly Report -- Panama Bureau - October 1987
1. A large opposition demonstration scheduled for 22 October proved
to be a non-event. The Panamanian Government put large numbers of troops
on the street and conducted a roundup of suspected opposition activists
during the night of 21-22 October. One of the bureau's local employees
and his family were caught on the streets and summarily sentenced to 180
days in prison. Fortunately, thanks in part to a protest by the
ambassador and intervention with the necessary authorities by the
employee's relatives and friends, our employee and his family were freed
after a day and a half of confinement.
2. In general, local unrest continues with no end in sight, and
U.S.-Panamanian relations are at their lowest point in 20 years. The last
month saw increased harassment of U.S. personnel, including the arrest of
several military people on TDY who were walking along Balboa Avenue to
their hotel. Thus far, the bureau's U.S. employees have not encountered
such problems.
A. Editorial/Monitorial
1. The bureau remained open for a midnight shift on 6 October to
cover a long session of talks between the Salvadoran Government and
rebels. Although the rebels showed the good sense to hold their news
conference the following day, the late-night talks were followed by
broadcasts of a joint government-rebel communique and a news conference by
President Duarte.
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2. The August Esquipulas II agreement increased interest in
statements by Nicaraguan President Daniel Ortega, particularly those that
might shed light on Nicaraguan intentions concerning compliance with the
agreement. For example, the bureau was informed that the Ortega UN speech
covered and processed on 8 October was of "highest-level consumer
interest."
B. Communications
We recommended to headquarters on 30 October that the bureau
remain on autodin into 1988 to backup our 0 communications system. The
determining factors in this recommendation are the current stalemate in
the bureau's efforts to obtain a permanent microwave link to the embassy
and the unsettled political situation in Panama City. The bureau is now
scheduled to be removed from autodin on 1 January.
C. Lateral Services
Following the bureau's priority processing of a 26 October radio
interview with Panamanian Vice President Roderick Esquivel that was
critical of the government, the USIS director in Panama called the bureau
to say he was "most impressed" and "most appreciative" of the speed and
quality with which we processed the interview. He added that the
ambassador, whose office had expressed interest in the item, also greatly
appreciated having the translation of Esquivel's remarks on his desk first
thing that morning.
D. Technical
1. A nationwide power outage on 19 October burned out the bureau
generator's automatic power switch mechanism, causing a 1-hour loss of all
electrical power and telephone service. The generator was quickly fixed
and a temporary switching mechanism was provided by the U. S. Army. A new
transformer and motor for the transfer switch have been ordered. A
special maintenance check of the temporary mechanism was made by the army
at month's end to minimize the chances of another burnout.
2. The following accountable property was received from
headquarters:
One Victor Computer CPU VPCII, Model 2620-1, S/N 612011699;
one monitor, Model DM14, S/N V3000262-G; one keyboard, Model VPCII KB, S/N
610000839. Cost: $1,790.00
STAT
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3. The following accountable property was purchased locally
(September 1987):
A. One GE washing machine. Cost: $425.00
B. One Whirlpool dishwasher, Model GDP6000XRP1-MN, S/N
F70910303. Cost: $390.00
C. Two Fedders air conditioners, 8,000 BTU. Cost: $680.00.
D. Two Fedders air conditioners, 14,000 BTU, Model ASL14E2J,
S/N BY1535340447. Cost: $880.00.
E. One Epson FX86E printer, Model P82AA, S/N 08010718.
Cost: $369.00.
F. Four Hitachi videorecorders, multisystem VHS, Model
VT-168EM. S/N's 70737819, 70737866, 70737560, and 70737703.
Cost: $2,856.0011.
A. Personnel
1. The Panamanian Government's detainment of a bureau employee
during the month brought home the need for updated emergency locator
information for bureau employees. All bureau employees provided emergency
contact information, which will be kept in their 201 files.
2. Senior communications operator departed
Panama 29 October for TDY at Key West Bureau. Communications deputy chief
returned from TDY at Key West on 31 October.
B. Building and Grounds
1. Bureau renovation continued throughout October. As of 1
November, one monitorial bay, the library, deputy chief's office, and
editorial room have been completed. The remaining monitorial bay and
storage room addition should be completed by the end of November.
2. Contractor completed painting the
outside of the building and parking area structures.
1. U.S. embassy political officer Barbara Stephenson visited the
bureau on 8 October for a briefing and tour. During a change-of-shift
STAT
STAT
STAT
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 Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2012/06/18: CIA-RDP88-00733R000100100003-0
wine and cheese party, she gave a talk and conducted a discussion with
bureau employees on the current local situation.
2.I ~ the USIS director in Panama, and
STAT
the USIS desk officer for Central America, visited the bureau for a
briefing and tour on 14 October.
3. Bureau chief technicia and his deputy, STAT
visited Managua 19-21 October to modify the fax machine at STAT
the contractor site so the contractor can transmit easily to both the
bureau and Key West.
4. Headquarters visitors:
23-28 October; I STAT
25-28 October.
STAT
STAT
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Panama Bureau Production Report for OCTOBER 1987
TOTAL PUBLISHABLE WORDAGE FILED DURING MONTH: 436150
TOTAL NON-PUBLISHABLE WORDAGE FILED DURING MONTH: 45540
TOTAL NUMBER OF PUBLISHABLE ITEMS FILED DURING MONTH: 831
BROAD- PRESS PUBLI-
CASTS AGENCIES CATIONS
II. INPUT OF REGULAR COVERAGE: 14962.00 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
Bogota Emisoras Caracol Network in
Spanish
Bogota INRAVISION Television Cadena 1
in
Spanish
Bogota INRAVISION Television Cadena 2
Spanish
Bogota Radio Sutatenza Network in
Spanish
Bogota EL SIGLO in
Spanish
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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
500
0
1920
1210
CUBA
Havana International Service in
Quechua
1170
Havana International Service in
Spanish
8430
Havana CUBAVISION Television in
Spanish
0
Havana Domestic Service in
Spanish
4740
Havana Tele-Rebelde Network in
Spanish
24190
Havana PRENSA LATINA in
English
Havana PRENSA LATINA in
Spanish
ECUADOR
Quito Cadena Ecuador Radio in
Spanish
Quito Radio Quito in
Spanish
Quito Voz de los Andes in
Spanish
Quito Domestic Service in
Spanish
EL SALVADOR
San Salvador Canal Doce Television in
Spanish
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 Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2012/06/18: CIA-RDP88-00733R000100100003-0
BROAD- PRESS
CASTS AGENCIES
PUBLI-
CATIONS
San
Salvador
Spanish
Domestic Service in
0
San
Salvador
Spanish
La Voz Panamericana in
1200
San
Salvador
Spanish
Radio Cadena Sonora in
0
San
Salvador
Spanish
Radio Cadena YSKL in
6010
San
Salvador
Spanish
Radio Cadena YSU in
15550
San
Salvador
Spanish
Television Nacional in
570
San
Salvador
Spanish
DIARIO LATINO in
310
San
Salvador
Spanish
EL DIARIO DE HOY in
700
San
Salvador
Spanish
EL MUNDO in
4580
San
Salvador
Spanish
LA NC)TICIA in
0
San
Salvador
Spanish
LA PRENSA GRAFICA in
1170
San
Salvador
Spanish
Radio El Mundo in
FRANCE
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
Guatemala City Radio Television
Guatemala in
Spanish
Guatemala City EL GRAFICO in
Spanish
Guatemala City PRENSA LIBRE in
Spanish
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BROAD-
CASTS
PRESS
AGENCIES
PUBLI-
CATIONS
HONDURAS
Tegucigalpa
Spanish
Cadena Audio Video in
6850
Tegucigalpa
Spanish
Televisora Hondurena in
0
Tegucigalpa
Spanish
Voz de Honduras Network in
3790
San Pedro Sula LA PRENSA in
Spanish
0
San Pedro Sula TIEMPO in
Spanish
2750
Tegucigalpa
Spanish
EL HERALDO in
1000
Tegucigalpa
Spanish
LA TRIBUNA in
MEXICO
Mexico City Cadena RASA-IMER in
Spanish
90
Mexico City Red Nacional 13 IMEVISION
Television in
Spanish
990
Mexico City XEW Television Network in
Spanish
6700
Mexico City XHTV Television in
Spanish
460
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
Mexico City UNOMASUNO in
Spanish
NICARAGUA
Managua International Service in
Spanish 650
Managua Domestic Service in
Spanish 46820
Managua Radio Noticias in
Spanish 2890
2850
2630
760
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BROAD- PRESS PUBLI-
CASTS AGENCIES CATIONS
Managua Radio Sandino in
Spanish
Managua Sistema Sandinista Television
Network in
Spanish
13370
1910
Managua ANN Diplomatic Information
Service in
Spanish
0
Managua ANN in
Spanish
4400
Managua NOTISAL in
Spanish
0
Managua NOTISAL-SALPRESS in
Spanish
0
Managua PRENSA LATINA in
Spanish to PRENSA LATINA Havana
1220
Managua BARRICADA in
Spanish 5620
Managua EL NUEVO DIARIO in
Spanish 6580
Managua LA PRENSA in
Spanish 8510
PANAMA
Panama City Cadena Exitosa in
Spanish
11880
Panama City Circuito RPC
Television in
Spanish
6870
Panama City Domestic Service in
Spanish
4330
Panama City Panavision Television in
Spanish
1440
Panama City Radio America in
Spanish
1800
Panama City Radio Exitosa in
Spanish
200
Panama City Telemetro Television in
Spanish
2870
Panama City Television Service in
Spanish
700
Panama City Televisora Nacional in
Spanish
6400
Panama City ACAN in
Spanish
Panama City CRITICA in
Spanish
Panama City DIALOGO SOCIAL in
Spanish
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 Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2012/06/18: CIA-RDP88-00733R000100100003-0
BROAD- PRESS PUBLI-
CASTS AGENCIES CATIONS
Panama City EL SIGLO in
Spanish
0
Panama City EXTRA in
Spanish
0
Panama City LA ESTRELLA DE PANAMA in
Spanish
10600
Panama City LA PRENSA in
Spanish
0
Panama City LA REPUBLICA DOMINICAL in
Spanish
15970
Panama City LA REPUBLICA in
Spanish
3410
Panama City MATUTINO in
Spanish
3850
Panama City QUIUBO GRAFICO in
Spanish
0
Panama City STAR AND HERALD in
English
1330
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
USSR
Moscow Radio Peace and Progress in
Spanish 670
Moscow in
Spanish to Latin America 2390
Moscow in
Spanish to Cuba 1030
VENEZUELA
Caracas Television Service in
Spanish
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BROAD- PRESS PUBLI-
CASTS AGENCIES CATIONS
Caracas EL NACIONAL in
Spanish
Caracas EL UNIVERSAL in
Spanish
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PANAMA BUREAU PRODUCTION REPORT FOR OCTOBER 1987 -- ANNEX
TOTALS FROM ROSET SOURCES
COLOMBIA
Bogota INRAVISION Television Cadena 1 in
Spanish
Bogota INRAVISION Television Cadena 2 in
Spanish
CUBA
Havana Tele-Rebelde Network in
Spanish
Havana PRENSA LATINA in
Spanish
3,870
1,020
24,190
11,960
MEXICO
Mexico City Red Nacional 13 IMRAISION Television in
Spanish 990
Mexico City XEW Television Network in
Spanish 6,700
Mexico City XHTV Television in
Spanish 460
Mexico City Cadena RASA-IMER in
Spanish 90
NICARAGUA
Managua ANN in
Spanish
Managua PRENSA LATINA in
Spanish to PRENSA LATINA Havana
4,400
1,220
PERU
Lima Domestic Service in
Spanish 1,670
Lima Panamericana Television Network in
Spanish 3,360
Lima Television Peruana in
Spanish 10,400
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 Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2012/06/18: CIA-RDP88-00733R000100100003-0
VENEZUELA
Caracas Television Service in
Spanish
3,360
TOTAL FOR OCTOBER 1987 73,690
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