SIGNIFICANT DEVELOPMENTS IN THE LATIN AMERICAN COUNTRIES ON THE COUNTERIN-SURGENCY CRITICAL LIST

Document Type:

CREST [1]

Collection:

General CIA Records [2]

Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST):

CIA-RDP79T00429A001200030020-2

Release Decision:

RIPPUB

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Document Creation Date:

December 15, 2016

Document Release Date:

July 6, 2004

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Case Number:

Publication Date:

September 17, 1963

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File:

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CIA-RDP79T00429A001200030020-2.pdf [3]	165.87 KB

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Approved For Releast 2004/07/16Sd #- T00429A00f490030020-2 OCI No. 2819/63 CENTRAL INTELLIGENCE AGENCY Office of Current Intelligence 17 September 1963 CURRENT INTELLIGENCE MEMORANDUM SUBJECT: Significant Developments in the Latin American Countries on the Counterinsur- gency Critical List A. Countries on the Critical List 1. Guatemala A wave of minor violence has broken out in Guatemala City for the first time since the Guate- malan military seized power late in March 1963. Sev- eral bombings have been reported, and on 6 September an attack on a police station in the capital resulted in several casualties. The terrorists have not yet been identified. The resumption of violence in the capital may involve elements either of the extreme left or the far right, both of which are becoming increas- ingly dissatisfied with the government for various reasons. Elements from both groups, as well as sev- eral chronic plotters, reportedly are conspiring against the government, but there are no indications that any group now has the strength or support nec- essary for a successful coup attempt. There has been no recent news concerning guerrilla activities outside the capital, and ex- treme leftist groups reportedly have decided to de- emphasize their program of rural violence and adopt the tactics of urban terror used by the Communist- dominated Armed Forces of National Liberation (FALN) in Venezuela. 2. Venezuela The Armed Forces of National Liberation (FALN) unleashed a wave of bombings and arson in 25X1 Approved For Release 2004/1116 ' CIA RU12 0429A001200030020-2 25X1 3E URET Approved For Reletrse 2004/07/1f~' IUVf00429A00'1-@00030020-2 Caracas on 13 September in an effort to disrupt a mass meeting of President Betancourt's Democratic Action (AD) Party. The meeting was held as sched- uled, with about half as many present as had been expected by the organizers. Among the absentees was AD's presidential candidate, Raul Leoni. Nine top leaders of FALN escaped from prison on 16 September, including four ringleaders of the .1962 revolt at Carupano. Only a few hours before the escape, the government had announced the capture of one of the FALN group which hijacked the Venezuelan freighter Anzoategui in February, Reportedly, the Venezuelan Communist Party (PCV) has gone on "alert" because a rightist revo- lution is thought to be imminent. The PCV's objective is to give the insurrection;an appearance of popular support and cause maximum violence to hinder the gov- ernment's efforts to defeat the rightist revolt. B. Other Countries 1. Honduras-Nicaragua The President of Honduras, through the chief of the Honduran armed forces, has requested helicopter support from the US for Honduran military operations against the Castroite guerrillas reportedly based in the Patuca River area, The guerrillas appear to be operating primarily against the Nicaraguan Government at the present time. About 300 Honduran troops, under the command of officers who received US counterinsurgency train- ing, plan to establish blockades at the junctures of the Cuyamel and Patuca rivers and of the Guayape and .Guayambre rivers and then make a sweep through the intervening area. However, the Honduran Air Force is unable to provide the essential logistical support. There has been no contact between Honduran military units and the insurgents thus far, On 14 September, Honduran security police in Tegucigalpa arrested three members of the National 25X1 Approved For Release 2004/07/1 CIA-RDP79T0b429A001200030020-2 25X1 Approved For Release 2004/07/16SL1tc-00429A009"0030020-2 25X1 Liberation Front (FLN), the Nicaraguan Communist revolutionary organization which reportedly is sponsoring the guerrilla activity. The police are trying to locate and arrest other members of the FLN. (Map). Approved For Release 20 25X1 1J410~711~6T Approved For Release 2004/07/16 : CIA-RDP79T00429A001U00030020-2 TEG C\16 CPA Raiti Ramon Bocay ~.Garrobo 'Golondrina L. Anoi tegaa-/-' I Sauce c,Y I atagalpa /~ ICARAGUA Approved For Release 2004/07/16 : CIA-RDP79T00429AO01200030020-2