MONTHLY REPORT--PANAMA BUREAU--JULY 1987

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP88-00733R000100100006-7
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: K
• Document Page Count: 13
• Document Creation Date: December 22, 2016
• Document Release Date: June 18, 2012
• Sequence Number: 6
• Publication Date: August 6, 1987
• Content Type: MEMO

Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2012/06/18: CIA-RDP88-00733R000100100006-7
ROUTING AND RECORD SHEET
SUBJECT: (Optional)
Monthly Report -- Panama Bureau
FROM: EXTENSION NO.
DATE
Chief, Operations Group July 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.)
Chief, Operations Group
3.
Chi
PS
f
2
e
, E&
0
4
D/Director, FBIS
5.
Director, FBIS
6.
7.
C/ESG
8.
C/FED
9.
C/ADD
10.
C/HED
11
.
/40
Chief, Admin Staff
12.
Chief Analysis Group
13.
Admin Staff
14.
Chief, B$F
Exec .eS.
FORM 610 USEEDITI PREOVNSIOUS
1_79
STAT
STAT
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FOREIGN BROADCAST INFORMATION SERVICE
PANAMA BUREAU
DRAWER 927
APO MIAMI 34004
6 August 1987
MPA-7014
MEMORANDUM FOR: Director, Foreign Broadcast Information Service
THROUGH Chief, Operations Group
SUBJECT Monthly Report -- Panama Bureau -- July 1987
A. Unrest in Panama continued for a 2d month along with opposition to
Panamanian Defense Forces (PDF) commander General Manuel Noriega.
Although there has been relatively little violence thus far, almost daily
demonstrations and frequent confrontations between protesters and riot
police have made for a tense atmosphere. Early in the month, several
hundred people, including close relatives of bureau personnel, were
arrested by riot police, and many bureau employees have been affected in
some way by the current situation. Adverse Panamanian Government reaction
to U.S. Embassy statements on the situation has added to the tension.
B. On 30 July, the U.S. Embassy in Panama City received a diplomatic
note from the Panamanian Foreign Ministry advising the embassy that
further "legal and constitutional formalities must be complied with"
before FBIS may use the Intelsat frequencies necessary for Internet
G;WS operation. As the Panamanian Government had made no previous mention of
E such "formalities" in the 15-month effort to get Internet operational, it
appears that Internet has once again become a hostage in the current
. strained relations between the U.S. and Panamanian Governments. In
10#4 addition to the Internet frequencies, the Panamanian Ministry of
v VAU Government and Justice has put a hold on the frequencies it had approved
Apti #T in March for the bureau's microwave communications system.
C. In a related development, bureau personnel awoke on the morning of
e16c~~" 29 July to find a banner headline in the government-operated newspaper,
ok1$4 CRITICA, exclaiming "U.S. Violates Panamanian Sovereignty." The subject
Ja
of the article was a U.S. "space base" that had recently and mysteriously
arisen in Chiva Chiva. Chiva Chiva, coincidentally, is where the bureau
is located. Two days of somewhat unflattering media
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 Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2012/06/18: CIA-RDP88-00733R000100100006-7
coverage -- mostly in CRITICA -- followed, causing the bureau to take
additional security precautions in anticipation of possible
demonstrations. Fortunately, by month's end media coverage had ended, and
our only visitors had been two locally based reporters who were referred
to the embassy's Public Affairs Office.
A. Editorial/Monitorial
1. Despite an effort to tighten selection to ease headquarters'
workload during the move to Reston, bureau output for July approached the
600,000-word mark. In addition to the current Panama situation, major
speeches by Daniel Ortega, Fidel Castro, and Peru's Alan Garcia helped
account for the bureau's heavy July output. Throughout the month, the
bureau's operating hours often had to be extended past the normal midnight
COB because of the amount of priority material that needed to be
processed.
2. On 1 July, the bureau assumed daily coverage of 3 1/2 hours of
Moscow Spanish radio broadcasts. The bureau is currently covering and
providing commentary lists for two Moscow in Spanish casts, a Moscow to
Cuba cast, and two Radio Peace and Progress casts.
3. To check Key West's ability to backstop Central American
coverage, phonepatch links between the bureau's Central American remote
sites and Key West Bureau were tested on 2 July. All tests between burea.
contractors and Key West Bureau were successful. In addition, we supplies
Key West Bureau with a package of information on Panama Bureau's
contractors that included necessary phone numbers and procedures.
B. Communications
From 20 to 27 July, the bureau experienced an extended outage on its
autodin communications circuit. Problems with recently installed
equipment at the Ft. Detrick switching center were cited as the cause of
the outage.
C. Cruising
1. In view of the current situation in Panama, the bureau's cruising
section continued close daily scrutiny of Panamanian radio and television
behavior. Early in the month, cruising, editorial, and main radio
personnel combined to provide a comprehensive rundown of radio and
television station ownership and affiliation in Panama.
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 Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2012/06/18: CIA-RDP88-00733R000100100006-7
2. In view of indications of changes in Cubavision's program
schedule, the cruising section began a detailed survey in mid-July of
Cubavision's program content. Cubavision's transmission times changed on
1 August, however, and the survey will now continue through 9 August.
D. Technical
1. The bureau's technical section has begun a training program
for all main radio operators and electronics technicians on personal
computer software and maintenance. The training course includes
familiarization with all aspects of the personal computer but concentrates
on DOS and Write Now software. In addition, the bureau's electronics
technicians have completed the first two units of the Heathkit computer
maintenance course.
2. Contractor) (completed the cleaning of the STAT
bureau's air conditioning exhaust ducts and ventilation system.
3. On 17 July, the bureau received the bulk of the equipment
necessary for installation of the microwave communications system. Four
items of equipment on the requisition have yet to be received: Three are
expected in early August, and the last item (a ring inverter and talk
battery for the telephones) is expected in January. We are currently
storing the equipment in the bureau carport and lounge areas until
specific frequency approval is provided by the Panamanian Government.
Personnel
1. The Key West TDY assistance program continued in
communications section chief and senior monitor STAT
as the latest Panama Bureau contributions to good interbureau karma.
STAT
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 Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2012/06/18: CIA-RDP88-00733R000100100006-7
Panama Bureau Production Report for July 1987
I. TOTALS FROM ALL SOURCES:
TOTAL PUBLISHABLE WORDAGE FILED DURING MONTH: 594490
TOTAL NON-PUBLISHABLE WORDAGE FILED DURING MONTH: 36080
TOTAL NUMBER OF PUBLISHABLE ITEMS FILED DURING MONTH: 1193
BROAD- PRESS PUBLI-
CASTS AGENCIES CATIONS
II. INPUT OF REGULAR COVERAGE: 13765.00 76590.00 220.00
(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 Service in
Spanish
CLANDESTINE
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
Spanish
Bogota INRAVISION Television Cadena 2
in
Spanish
Bogota Radio Cadena Nacional in
Spanish
Bogota Television Service in
Spanish
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Bogota EL SIGLO in
Spanish
Bogota EL TIEMPO in
Spanish
COSTA RICA
San Jose Radio Reloj in
Spanish
San Jose LA NACION in
Spanish
San Jose LA PRENSA LIBRE in
Spanish All"
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
3540
930
0
0
1310
CUBA
Havana International Service in
Quechua 1800
Havana International Service in
Spanish 49760
Havana Domestic Service in
Spanish 8860
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 Doce Television in
Spanish 4580
San Salvador Canal Seis Television in
Spanish 2300
San Salvador Domestic Service in
Spanish 0
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 Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2012/06/18: CIA-RDP88-00733R000100100006-7
BROAD-
CASTS
PRESS
AGENCIES
PUBLI-
CATIONS
San Salvador La Voz Panamericana in
Spanish 3290
San Salvador
Spanish
Radio Cadena Sonora in
2440
San Salvador
Spanish
Radio Cadena YSKL in
5880
San Salvador
Spanish
Radio Cadena YSU in
2990
San Salvador
Spanish
Television Educativa in
1770
San Salvador
Spanish
San Salvador
Spanish
Television Nacional
DIARIO LATINO in
500
San Salvador
Spanish
EL DIARIO DE HOY in
230
San Salvador
Spanish
EL MUNDO in
1040
San Salvador
Spanish
San Salvador
Spanish
FRANCE
Paris AFP in
English
Paris AFP in
Spanish
LA NOTICIA in
LA PRENSA GRAFICA in
37490
GERMANY
Hamburg DPA in
Spanish
5890
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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 Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2012/06/18: CIA-RDP88-00733R000100100006-7
BROAD- PRESS PUBLI-
CASTS AGENCIES CATIONS
HONDURAS
Tegucigalpa Cadena Audio Video in
Spanish 1860
Tegucigalpa Televisora Hondurena in
Spanish 200
Tegucigalpa Voz de Honduras Network in
Spanish 3640
San Pedro Sula LA PRENSA in
Spanish 1280
San Pedro Sula TIEMPO in
Spanish 3920
Tegucigalpa EL HERALDO in
Spanish 870
Tegucigalpa LA TRIBUNA it
Spanish 380
MEXICO
Mexico City Red Nacional 13 IMEVISION
Television in
Spanish 1090
Mexico City XEW Television Network in
Spanish 1190
Mexico City XHDF Television in
Spanish 1020
Mexico City XHTV Television in
Spanish 1930
Mexico City CERIGUA in
Spanish 640
Mexico City EL DIA in
Spanish 6710
Mexico City EL NACIONAL in
Spanish 2540
Mexico City EXCELSIOR in
Spanish 7140
Mexico City-THE NEWS in
English 0
Mexico City UNOMASUNO in
Spanish 1980
NICARAGUA
Managua International Service in
Spanish 2490
Managua Domestic Service in
Spanish 34400
Managua Radio Noticias in
Spanish 1090
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 Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2012/06/18: CIA-RDP88-00733R000100100006-7
BROAD- PRESS PUBLI-
CASTS AGENCIES CATIONS
Managua Radio Sandino in
Spanish 14940
Managua Sistema Sandinista Television
Network in
Spanish 1410
Managua ANN Diplomatic Information
Service in
Spanish 470
Managua ANN in
Spanish 12270
Managua NOTISAL in
Spanish 0
Managua NOTISAL-SALPRESS-in
Spanish 0
Managua PRENSA LATINA in
Spanish to PRENSA LATINA Havana 450
Managua BARRICADA in
Spanish
Managua EL NUEVO DIARIO in
Spanish
PANAMA
Panama City Cadena Exitosa in
Spanish
2910
Panama City Circuito RPC
Television in
Spanish
10730
Panama City Domestic Service in
Spanish
22720
Panama City Panavision Television in
Spanish
15920
Panama City Radio America in
Spanish
540
Panama City Radio Exitosa in
Spanish
4780
Panama City Radio Mundial in
Spanish
2340
Panama City Radio Uno Soberana in
Spanish
370
Panama City Telemetro Television in
Spanish
5820
Panama City Television Service in
Spanish
600
Panama City Televisora Nacional in
Spanish
13220
Panama City ACAN in
Spanish
Panama City CRITICA in
Spanish
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 Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2012/06/18: CIA-RDP88-00733R000100100006-7
BROAD-
CASTS
PRESS PUBLI-
AGENCIES CATIONS
Panama City DIALOGO SOCIAL in
Spanish
0
Panama City EL SIGLO in
Spanish
11080
Panama City EXTRA in
Spanish
8010
Panama City LA ESTRELLA DE PANAMA in
Spanish
11260
Panama City LA PRENSA in
Spanish
29780
Panama City LA REPUBLICA DOMINICAL
Spanish
in
12150
Panama City LA REPUBLICA?in
Spanish
6710
Panama City MATUTINO in
Spanish
5350
Panama City QUIUBO GRAFICO in
Spanish
1630
Panama City STAR AND HERALD in
English
1170
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
21370
SPAIN
Madrid EFE in
Spanish
USSR
Moscow Radio Peace and Progress in
Spanish 130
Moscow in
Spanish to Latin America 1390
Moscow in
Spanish to Cuba 0
VENEZUELA
Caracas Television Service in
Spanish 3830
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 Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2012/06/18: CIA-RDP88-00733R000100100006-7
BROAD- PRESS PUBLI-
CASTS AGENCIES CATIONS
Caracas EL NACIONAL in
Spanish 250
Caracas EL UNIVERSAL in
Spanish 90
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PANAMA BUREAU PRODUCTION REPORT FOR JULY 1987 -- ANNEX
TOTALS FROM ROSET SOURCES
CHILE
Santiago Television Service in
Spanish
COLOMBIA
Bogota INRAVISION Television Cadena 1 in
Spanish
Bogota Television Service in
Spanish
CUBA
Havana PRENSA LATINA in
Spanish ?`
5,120
11,430
16,910
MEXICO
Mexico City XEW Television Network in
Spanish 1,190
Mexico City Red Nacional IMEVISION Television in
Spanish 1,090
Mexico City XHTV Television in
Spanish 1,930
Mexico City XHDF Television in
Spanish 1,020
Mexico City CERIGUA in
Spanish 640
NICARAGUA
Managua ANN in
Spanish 12,270
Managua ANN Diplomatic Information Service in
Spanish 470
Managua PRENSA LATINA in
Spanish to PRENSA LATINA Havana 450
PERU
Lima Television Peruana in
Spanish 12,460
Lima Panamericana Television Network in
Spanish 1,270
Lima Domestic Service in
Spanish 21,370
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 Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2012/06/18: CIA-RDP88-00733R000100100006-7
VENEZUELA
Caracas Television Service in
Spanish
3,830
TOTAL FOR JULY 1987
91,710
Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2012/06/18: CIA-RDP88-00733R000100100006-7