LATIN AMERICAN TRENDS: STAFF NOTES FEBRUARY 5, 1975[SANITIZED] - 1975/02/05

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Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): 
03192943
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RIPPUB
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U
Document Page Count: 
24
Document Creation Date: 
April 3, 2019
Document Release Date: 
April 12, 2019
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Publication Date: 
February 5, 1975
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PDF icon LATIN AMERICAN TRENDS STA[15515086].pdf547.17 KB
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Approved for Release: 2018/10/01 C03192943 57/YFT secra Latin American Trends Approved for Release: 2018/10/01 C03192943 Secaf 3.5(c) 1 Februar1y8 5, 1975 No. 0495/75 Approved for Release: 2018/10/01 C03192943 Approved for Release: 2018/10/01 C03192943 3.5(c) Approved for Release: 2018/10/01 C03192943 G4 LATIN AMERICAN TRENDS This publication is prepared for regional specialists in the Washington com- munity by the Western Hemisphere Division, Office of Current Intelligence, with occasional contributions from other offices within the Directorate of Intelligence. Comments and queries are welcome. They should be directed to the authors of the individual articles. CONTENTS February 5, 1975 Argentina: Resurgence of Left� Wing Terrorism 9 -1- Approved for Release: 2018/10/01 C03192943 NR Approved for Release: 2018/10/01 C03192943 Approved for Release: 2018/10/01 C03192943 NR Approved for Release: 2018/10/01 C03192943 Approved for Release: 2018/10/01 C03192943 NR Approved for Release: 2018/10/01 C03192943 Approved for Release: 2018/10/01 C03192943 NR Approved for Release: 2018/10/01 C03192943 Approved for Release: 2018/10/01 C03192943 NR Approved for Release: 2018/10/01 C03192943 Approved for Release: 2018/10/01 C03192943 Approved for Release: 2018/10/01 C03192943 Approved for Release: 2018/10/01 C03192943 NR NR Approved for Release: 2018/10/01 C03192943 Approved for Release: 2018/10/01 C03192943 NR Approved for Release: 2018/10/01 C03192943 Approved for Release: 2018/10/01 C03192943 Approved for Release: 2018/10/01 C03192943 Argentina:, Resurgence Resurgence of Left-Wing Terrorism Following a period of reduced activity, the extremist People's Revolutionary Army (ERP) appears prepared to raise its profile. The ERP last week threatened to conduct a cam- paign of "indiscriminate execution" against govern- ment officials and Peronist leaders if police author- ities did not show publicly that 19 captured guer- rillas were still active. The 72-hour deadline set by the ERP ultimatum passed without full government compliance, and a major terrorist action could be attempted to make good on the threat. Although the ERP has been weakened by the government's counter- insurgency drive, it still has the force to carry out random acts of terrorism. The summer lull was shattered by a new round of killings last week and security forces are braced for another onslaught soon. A high-ranking Labor Ministry official and his bodyguard were slain in Buenos Aires following a series of assassinations that claimed the lives of several policemen and busi- nessmen during the month. The January edition of the clandestine ERP mouthpiece El Combatiente declared that a campaign of retaliation was being launched in retribution for each "companero" killed by security forces. Government officials, military men, police, and businessmen were designated as targets. Actually, these have been the usual ERP victims for some time. 3.5(c) Meanwhile, federal police continue to have suc- cess in some aspects of their war on terrorism. They dealt a strong blow recently when they raided a print- ing plant and several propaganda dissemination sites used by the terrorists. 3.3(b)(1) February 5, 1975 -9- Approved for Release: 2018/10/01 C03192943 3.3(b)(1) 3.5(c) = Approved for Release: 2018/10/01 C03192943 SECRET the police believe that the print- ing network was used to produce and distribute all copies of the two principal terrorist publications-- Estrella Roja and El Combatiente. If this mechanism has been effectively dismantled, the morale of the ERP could suffer. Other setbacks have included the arrest of litany ERP activists and sympathizers, including some key leaders. In many cases the captures have led to new information that has enabled police to conduct addi- tional raids. The recent terrorist offensive is probably cal- culated to show that the ERP is not on the run as the government claims. Moreover, the terrorists may be attempting to take advantage of the uneasy atmos- phere created by reports circulating widely in Argentina that presidential adviser Lopez Rega's extraordinary power is generating tensions within the Peronist government. Military, labor,and opposi- tion party distaste for the imperious presidential secretary became the subject of much public specula- tion shortly after the President moved toher summer retreat and apparently left Lopez Rega to conduct government business. Should infighting within the Peronist ranks in- tensify or should Mrs. Peron be faced with a govern- mental crisis, the terrorists would be encouraged to expand their attacks in hopes of amtravatina 1-hp ) situation. 3.5(c February 5, 1975 -10- -SECRET' Approved for Release: 2018/10/01 C03192943 Approved for Release: 2018/10/01 C03192943 Approved for Release: 2018/10/01 C03192943 NR Approved for Release: 2018/10/01 C03192943 Approved for Release: 2018/10/01 C03192943 NR NR Approved for Release: 2018/10/01 C03192943 Approved for Release: 2018/10/01 C03192943 NR Approved for Release: 2018/10/01 C03192943 Approved for Release: 2018/10/01 C03192943 NR Approved for Release: 2018/10/01 C03192943 Approved for Release: 2018/10/01 C03192943 NR Approved for Release: 2018/10/01 C03192943 Approved for Release: 2018/10/01 C03192943 NR Approved for Release: 2018/10/01 C03192943 Approved for Release: 2018/10/01 C03192943 NR Approved for Release: 2018/10/01 C03192943 Approved for Release: 2018/10/01 C03192943 NR Approved for Release: 2018/10/01 C03192943 Approved for Release: 2018/10/01 C03192943 NR Approved for Release: 2018/10/01 C03192943 Approved for Release: 2018/10/01 C03192943 NR Approved for Release: 2018/10/01 C03192943 Approved for Release: 2018/10/01 C03192943