CENTRAL INTELLIGENCE BULLETIN

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP79T00975A011800050001-5
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: T
• Document Page Count: 10
• Document Creation Date: December 16, 2016
• Document Release Date: April 28, 2005
• Sequence Number: 1
• Publication Date: August 6, 1968
• Content Type: REPORT

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DIRECTORATE OF
INTELLIGENCE
Central Intelligence Bulletin
Secret
50
6 August 1968
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No. 0227/68
6 August 1968
Central Intelligence Bulletin
CONTENTS
South Vietnam: Situation report. (Page 1)
USSR-Czechoslovakia: Communist leaders are trying
to assess the Cierna and Bratislava agreements.
(Page 2)
Bolivia: Barrientos' decision to convoke congress
has calmed political tensions. (Page 3)
South Korea: Shuffle of military leaders (Page 4)
Middle East Africa: Locusts (Page 4)
Dominican Republic: Bosch political activity (Page 5)
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SOUTH VIETNAM
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[South Vietnam:
enemy preparations for renewed attacks, possibly
countrywide, to be initiated sometime between now
and mid-August.
The present lack of hard indicators which would
normally appear in the days immediately prior to a
major enemy offensive suggests that the attacks are
unlikely in the next few days.
Most of the military activity noted on 4-5
August occurred in II and III corps. In the coastal
II Corps province of Phu Yen, two South Vietnamese
companies were attacked by an enemy company on 4
August. Just to the south of that engagement, six
Americans were wounded and six aircraft damaged when
27 mortar rounds struck the US Army airfield at Phu
Hiep. In northern Binh Dinh Province a South Viet-
namese platoon was attacked by two Viet Cong com-
panies on 5 August.
In III Corps, two enemy companies fought a day-
long battle on 3 August near Song Be in northwestern
Phuoc Long Province with South Vietnamese units. In
Long An Province at least 41 Communists were killed
on 4-5 August in a battle with US forces following
an enemy attack on a helicopter operation.
6 Aug 68
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Czechoslovakia-USSR: Czechoslovak and foreign
Communists alike are still trying to assess the
agreements reached at Cierna and at Bratislava.
Czechoslovakia's future relations with its al-
lies will depend in large part on how each interprets
the broad principles expressed in the Bratislava com-
muniqu6, and on how strongly the Soviets insist on
their point of view.
One Prague radio commentator has noted that
there would be no censorship in Czechoslovakia, but
that journalists had been requested, and had agreed,
to practice self-restraint as far as Czechoslovakia's
allies are concerned. The journalists interpret this
restriction, however, to mean that they can continue
to comment on other Communist parties, but without
vituperation.
Another result of the Cierna meeting, according
to Prague radio, is that the Czechoslovaks may uni-
laterally decide what is, and what is not hostile to
Communism in Czechoslovakia. In this context, the
commentator specifically mentioned the Club of Com-
mitted Nonparty People, which had come under severe
Soviet attack, and implied that it would continue to
exist without controls.
The chief of the Czechoslovak Socialist Party
probably voiced the skeptical reaction of many of
his countrymen yesterday when he indicated that the
Czechoslovaks had won toleration for the time being,
but that only time will tell if real friendship will
develop among the Bratislava conferees. Prague radio
has sounded a similar note, warning that more chap-
ters are yet to be written by leaders of other Com-
munist countries who had b e tile until a few
days ago.
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Bolivia: President Barrientos' decision to
convoke congress as scheduled has, temporarily at
least, calmed political tensions.
Barrientos had threatened earlier to resign,
but an all night meeting with political leaders and
armed forces commander General Ovando apparently
changed his mind. He reportedly gained the grudging
support of civilian politicians for his actions over
the past two weeks, including the declaration of a
state of siege and the arrest of two opposition sen-
ators. Barrientos, in turn, agreed to convoke con-
gress on 6 August, although he had indicated earlier
that he would delay the opening of congress until
after a supreme court ruling on congress' constitu-
tionality.
This move will deprive antigovernment groups
of a major issue, but political tensions could rise
again if the opposition in congress succeeds in pro-
voking a confrontation with the government over the
handling of the Guevara diary case. Student demon-
strations, such as the one in Cochabamba on 2 August
which resulted in two deaths,could also cause seri-
ous problems for Barrientos if they continue.
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South Korea: The unexpected shuffle of several
senior military commanders by President Pak on 4
August appears to have resulted from Pak's dissatis-
faction with the performance of his minister of de-
fense. A public controversy involving leaks of mil-
itary information to the press provided Pak with a
convenient excuse to make changes now. The new min-
ister of defense, Im Chung-sik, is reported to be
pro-US and most recentl was chairman of the joint
chiefs of staff.
Middle East - Africa: The locust swarms infest-
ing large parts of the Middle East and Africa since
early spring have moved into other areas. Dense
swarms have been reported in southern Iran, the
first such occurrence at this time of year in 50
years, and new swarms have been reported in Rajasthan
State in western India. Soviet experts are now as-
sisting both the Iranian and the Ethiopian govern-
ments to combat the threat.
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Dominican Republic: Revolutionary Party Sec-
retary General Pena Gomez claims that his recent
talks with party elder statesman Juan Bosch in Spain
have produced a "new political course" for the party.
He gave no explanation of what this course would be,
but some party leaders have criticized Bosch's pres-
sure for an even more vehemently anti-US and anti-
Balaguer policy.
Pena hinted that next year Bosch will return to
the Dominican Republic or at least shift the location
of his self-imposed exile to Puerto Rico. In the
meantime, Pena said, Bosch has been invited to visit
the USSR and several Eastern European countries and
is waiting for the party leadership to approve or
reject these controversial bids.
6 Aug 68
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