CENTRAL INTELLIGENCE BULLETIN

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Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): 
CIA-RDP79T00975A012400100001-2
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RIPPUB
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T
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20
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December 15, 2016
Document Release Date: 
December 1, 2003
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1
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Publication Date: 
October 31, 1968
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REPORT
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Approved For Release 2004/01/15: CIA-RDP79T00975A012408t2 25X1 DIRECTORATE OF INTELLIGENCE Central Intelligence Bulletin State Dept. review completed Secret 31 October 1968 Approved For Release 2004/01/15 : CIA-RDP79T00975AO12400100001-2 25X1 Approved For Release 2004/01/15 : CIA-RDP79T00975AO12400100001-2 Approved For Release 2004/01/15 : CIA-RDP79T00975AO12400100001-2 Approved For Release 2004/&WATRDP79T00975A012400100001-2 No. 0301/68 31 October 1968 Central Intelligence Bulletin CONTENTS South Vietnam: Situation report. (Page 1) Panama: Junta suspends certain civil rights. (Page 2) 25X1 Chile-Bolivia: Relations again strained by Bolivia's aspiration to regain a port. (Page 5) 25X1 Iceland: Broader coalition which might include Communists 'reportedly under discussion. (Page 7) UN - Communist China: Efforts to seat the Communist Chinese are likely to fail again. (Page 8) Iran: Ruling party wins municipal elections. (Page 9) 25X1 Tunisia: Bourguiba continues to seek international commitments for his country's security. (Page 11) South Africa: Bantustan program is pursued as a solution to racial problems. (Page 13) Ghana: Government revises timetable for restoring civilian rule. (Page 14) Warsaw Pact: Moscow meeting (Page 15) Yugoslavia: Demonstrations (Page 15) Eastern Europe: Hoof and mouth (Page 16) Nicaragua: Party feud (Page 16) Approved For Release 2004/01M i rFPP79T00975A012400100001-2 Approved For Release 2004/0f1 I 8I -WDP79T00975A012400100001-2 I South Vietnam: Ground action on 29-30 October continued light. The most significant action occurred in An Xuyen Province when US Navy patrol boats moved into a river near the U Minh forest, which has been a traditional Communist supply base. Over 240 Viet Cong sampans and an extensive complex along the river bank were reported to have been destroyed or damaged in a fire fight between the US Navy boats and enemy forces ashore. F7 I 31 Oct 68 Central Intelligence Bulletin Approved For Release 2004/0g.pkDP79T00975A012400100001-2 Approved For Release 2004/01/ ,E(JLRQP79T00975A012400100001-2 Panama: The junta has arbitrarily suspended certain civil rights, in open violation of the con- stitution. The move is probably intended to give the national guard a free hand in dealing with its opponents. The military government has revoked an article of the constitution prohibiting the "penalty of death, expatriation or confiscation of property." Although there is no indication that the junta will actually invoke the death penalty, some government officials may threaten to do so to intimidate oppo- nents. Other constitutional privileges suspended for the first time in Panama s history include the guarantee of trial by competent authority, protection against double jeopardy, and the right to have un- constitutional orders or injunctions revoked. Senior guard officers, meanwhile, have been pressing the civilian cabinet members to give offi- cial positions to "friends," some of them unqualified but closely linked to the guard. There are also in- dications of dissension within the cabinet over the extent of reform measures to be proposed. The min- isters pushing for a more radical approach are those most closely associated with the military. The mod- erates appear to be gaining some support among the business community, which has withheld its backing in the hope of exacting a firm commitment from the junta for a return to ci government. 31 Oct 68 Central Intelligence Bulletin 25X1 Approved For Release 2004/01/15 : CIA-RDP79T00975A012400100001-2 SECRET 25X1 Approved For Release 2004/01/15 : CIA-RDP79T00975AO12400100001-2 Approved For Release 2004/01/15 : CIA-RDP79T00975AO12400100001-2 Approved For Release 2004/gF'MJ.ZRDP79T00975A012400100001-2 Bolivia Seeks to Regain an "Outlet to the Sea" AREA OF MAP PERU f, ( BRAZIL BOLIVIA Approved For Release 2004/Qs1 U T DP79T00975A012400100001-2 Approved For Release 2004/01TWc"- P79T00975A012400100001-2 Chile-Bolivia: Relations are again strained as a result of Bolivia's aspiration to regain a port on the Pacific Ocean. Bolivian President Barrientos revived this per- ennial dispute in a speech on 21 October commemorating the centennial of the port of Antofagasta, formerly part of Bolivia but now in Chilean hands. He labeled Chile an "aggressor and usurper" and called for the return of the coastal lands seized by Chile in 1879. Shortly thereafter a Chilean flag was burned in La Paz. The two governments have exchanged heated pro- test notes, and newspapers in both countries have given the incident full play. In response to earlier Bolivian efforts to re- gain an "outlet to the sea," Chile granted Bolivia the use of port facilities in Arica and Antofagasta in northern Chile, but has not permitted the Boliv- ian flag to fly there. Bolivia also had duty-free use of an oil pipeline and a railroad in the area. Bolivia broke diplomatic relations with Chile in 1962 in a dispute over the use of the waters of the Lauca River, which drains both countries. This latest flurry probably will die down fairly 25X1 soon, but the emotional residue will ham er coo era- tion on economic integration projects. (Map) Central Intelligence Bulletin Approved For Release 2004/(119erf2DP79T00975A012400100001-2 25X1 Approved For Release 2004/01/15 : CIA-RDP79T00975AO12400100001-2 Approved For Release 2004/01/15 : CIA-RDP79T00975AO12400100001-2 Approved For Release 2004/0'i . GJ-IbP79T00975A012400100001-2 Iceland: The government and opposition parties are sago be discussing the formation of an all- party government which might include the Communists. The reported discussions are an extension of talks which began in early September and which focus on long-range measures to cope with Iceland's pro- longed economic crisis. If the negotiations succeed, Prime Minister Benediktsson's coalition of the Inde- pendence (Conservative) and Social Democratic parties might be broadened to bring in the Progressives and the Communist-front Labor Alliance. The Alliance is an important political force by virtue of its control of a considerable portion of organized labor. The entry of these two parties into the govern- ment probably would not have an immediate impact on such questions as membership in NATO and the contin- ued stationing of US forces in Iceland. In the longer run, however, the participation of these parties, both of which advocate removing US troops, could jeopardize the current good working relations between US and Icelandic officials on defense matters. 31 Oct 68 Central Intelligence Bulletin Approved For Release 2004gOLYE RDP79T00975A012400100001-2 25X1 Approved For Release 20Q1j EqA-RDP79T00975A012400100001-2 UN - Communist China: Efforts to seat the Com- munist Chinese appear likely to fail again this year. A group led by the Albanian delegation has once more submitted a draft resolution calling for ejection of the Chinese Nationalists from the Security Council in favor of a delegation from Communist China. A UN official has suggested that debate in the General As- sembly begin on 11 November. The US and other supporters of the Chinese Na- tionalists are again contending that any question of Chinese representation is an Important Question and, therefore, that any change requires a two-thirds ma- jority in the Assembly. Under the Charter, the Im- portant Question doctrine may be invoked by a majority of the Assembly. The vote on the Important Question issue prob- ably will decide the substantive question as well. If the Albanian group could win over a simple major- ity to defeat the Important Question proposal, it might well have sufficient support to pass the seat- ing resolution by a simple majority. If the group loses the Important Question vote, however, it will also fail to muster the two-thirds majority needed to approve the seating change, According to present indications, a simple majority will vote with the US again this year to apply the Important Question doctrine and defeat efforts to seat Communist China. 31 Oct 68 Central Intelligence Bulletin Approved For Release 2TE TlA-RDP79T00975A012400100001-2 S Approved For Release 2004/01 1C:RCIAT E-RDP79T00975A012400100001-2 Iran: Elections held on 4 October to form Iran's first municipal councils resulted in a predictably massive victory for the ruling Iran Novin Party. An extremely low turnout of voters reflected both widespread apathy and the belief that the elec- tions would be government-controlled. In fact, how- ever, the authorities apparently intervened directly only to ensure that the minority parties would gain some representation on the councils. The Ministry of Interior says it is anxious to delegate as much authority as possible to the new councils and to enlist their help in executing Iran's development program. Such decentralization might well produce a sense of participation at the local level, and help to alleviate public apathy. It re- mains to be seen, however, whether the central gov- ernment will actually be willing to delegate real authority and whether local officials--accustomed to following Tehran's dictates--will have the ini- tiative to participate effectively. Central Intelligence Bulletin 9 Approved For Release 2004/06BWYDP79T00975A012400100001-2 25X1 25X1 Approved For Release 2004/01/15 : CIA-RDP79T00975AO12400100001-2 Approved For Release 2004/01/15 : CIA-RDP79T00975AO12400100001-2 q-Wa Approved For Release 2004/01T1P79T00975A012400100001-2 Tunisia: President Bourguiba continues to search for international commitments that would assure Tuni- sia's security. On 25 October, Bourguiba again indicated to the US that Tunisia feels isolated in the wake of its boy- cott of the Arab League and his feud with Nasir. The Tunisian ambassador in Washington made the same point last month. Bourguiba's fears of possible Algerian or Egyp- tian subversion or aggression have been compounded by his growing anxiety over Soviet expansion in the Mediterranean. This concern has heightened since the Soviet invasion of Czechoslovakia and Bourguiba's forthright condemnation of the action. n ecem er 1967, he publicly raised the issue of a military alliance and implied that only France or the US would qualify as a partner. The subject of "cooperation in the field of security" was reportedly raised with De Gaulle when the Tunisian secretary of state for the presidency visited Paris earlier this month, and may have been broached during the subsequent visit of the Turkish foreign minister. France and Turkey, as well as the US, are helping to train and equip the small Tunisian armed forces. 31 Oct 68 Central Intelligence Bulletin Approved For Release 2004/(1?AIRDP79T00975A012400100001-2 25X1 25X1 Approved For Release 2004/0111 DP79T00975A012400100001-2 South Africa Expands Bantustan Program ANC )IA 25X1 SOUTH-WEST AFRICA (International Territoryi Bantustan or Homeland Cape Town MANQUES Li (+!)MHA ANE SWAZILAND Approved For Release 2004/01/15 : CIA-RDP79T00975A012400100001-2 SECRET Approved For Release 2004/01 /1~cc - P79T00975A012400100001-2 South Africa: A recent flurry of activity in South Africa's Bantustan program again illustrates Pretoria's dedication to "separate development" as a solution to the country's racial problems. The Transkei, the country's oldest and most po- litically advanced Bantustan, went to the polls on 23 October to elect a new legislative assembly. Be- cause the South African Government retains the right to appoint a number of tribal chiefs to the assembly, the chief minister, backed by South Africa, could not have been turned out. Nevertheless, the election campaign was fairly open, and afforded the Transkei population an opportunity to debate political ques- tions--including such unlikely topics as "immediate independence"--in a manner that may whet the Africans' appetite for true political authority. In South West Africa, the South Africans--in defiance of world-wide criticism--acted earlier this month to establish a Bantustan (homeland) for the Ovambo tribe. A legislative council was appointed that provided an extremely limited degree of self- rule as a theoretical predecessor to eventual "in- dependence." On the heels of the Transkei elections, officials announced that the Ciskei area would receive "self- rule" in November and the Tswana tribal area in De- cember, to be followed next year by "limited self- rule" for other tribal groups. Despite the use of such terms as "independence" and "self-rule," nothing in Pretoria's action so far lends much credibility to its claim of nurturing po- litical freedom in the Bantustans. None of the ex- isting or proposed Bantustans is economically viable, and South Africa tightly controls the purse strings. Several of the proposed Bantustans are noncontiguous bits of territory scattered over a wide geographic area. Yet, the Bantustan is still the keystone of Pretoria's apartheid policy, and no significant ele- ment of the South African electorate is looking for any other racial policy. 25X1 31 Oct 68 Central Intelligence Bulletin Approved For Release 2004/0f1fiG h -' 'DP79T00975A012400100001-2 Approved For Release 2004/0WV*f!-DP79T00975A012400100001-2 Ghana: The military government has made signifi- cant revisions in its timetable for returning the country to civilian rule next year. General Joseph Ankrah, chairman of the ruling National Liberation Council, announced in a nation- wide address on 28 October that the council has de- cided to move up by several months the date for con- voking a constituent assembly to review a draft con- stitution, The assembly may meet before the end of the year. Under the revised plan, the majority of the assembly's 150 members are to be nominated by major interest groups; one third will be elected in- directly. The assembly was originally slated to con- vene in May 1969, and was to be composed entirely of delegates elected on a nonpartisan basis. Ankrah also confirmed that the government plans an early removal of the ban on political parties. Civilian political aspirants have long been restive over the proscription of parties and have engaged in unofficial politicking. The ban may be lifted in January or possibly earlier, and all Ghanaians, ex- cept some ranking members of Nkrumah's old party, will be eligible to seek public office. Some council members, notably Ankrah himself, harbor political ambitions and may be anxious to have the ban on po- litical activity lifted in order to build bases of political support for themselves. These long-rumored changes are designed to en- able the council to meet its September 1969 target date for restoration of civilian government. The original timetable, highly unrealistic, would have permitted only one or two months for political par- ties to organize and campaign. A number of other delays in election preparations have also occurred, making it necessary for the council to seek short- cuts. 31 Oct 68 Central Intelligence Bulletin Approved For Release 2004/01/15 : CIA-RDP79T00975A012400100001-2 SECRET Approved For Release 2004/01fl]EpP79T00975A012400100001-2 NOTES Warsaw Pact: The defense ministers of the Warsaw Pact states, including Rumania and Czecho- slovakia, met in Moscow on 29-30 October. A Moscow announcement said only that "questions of strengthening the Warsaw Pact" were discussed and that the talks had produced an "identity of views?" The ministers may have gone over plans for next year's Pact training cycle, which reportedly may include a combined ex- ercise on Rumanian soil? They may also have taken up plans for creating a multinational Pact staff. Whatever the substance of the talks, Moscow un- doubtedly feels that this show of Pact unity is a political bonus at the present time. Yugoslavia: A number of locally prominent educators and teachers have been arrested for taking part in recent "anti-Yugoslav" demonstrations in the autonomous province of Kosovo and Metohija (the Kosmet), along the border with Albania. The demon- strations, almost unprecedented in this area, re- flect the nationalist aspirations of the large Al- banian minority for greater equality in Yugoslav affairs. Belgrade has shown its concern by pub- licizing the demonstrations in the leading daily, Borba, and blaming them on "foreign intelligence services." 25X1 The question of raising the Kosmet to the status equivalent to a republic will probably be a bone of contention between the Serbs and the Al- banian minority at the Serbian Party Congress, scheduled to convene on 21 November. 25X1 (continued) 31 Oct 68 Central Intelligence Bulletin Approved For Release 2004/01/15 : CIA-RDP79T00975A012400100001-2 SECRET Approved For Release 2004/01/1 ~,, PUT 79T00975A012400100001-2 Eastern Europe: The first outbreaks of hoof and mouth disease in nearly a year have been re- ported in Eastern Europe, Italy has banned live- stock imports from Rumania, Yugoslavia, and pos- sibly Hungary through mid-November. Should the ban be extended, hard currency earnings by these countries would be seriously reduced. Yugoslavia's exports of cattle to the European Common Market area, especially Italy, are already down this year Nicaragua: A personalistic feud in the Tradi- tionalist Conservative Party, Nicaragua's main opposition party, could spark violence at the na- tional convention on 3 November. Both Fernando Aguero, party leader since 1960 and defeated 1967 presidential candidate, and Pedro Chamorro, out- spoken editor of the country's largest newspaper, are already seeking the party's 1972 presidential nomination, This convention, which will choose the party president for two years, will provide a test of strength, Although delegate support heavily favors Aguero, Chamorro's followers did succeed in disrupting and dissolving some of the earlier de- partmental conventions, d spite being outnumbered. 25X1 31 Oct 68 Central Intelligence Bulletin 16 Approved For Release 2004/01/15 : CIA-RDP79T00975A012400100001-2 SECRET Sec roved For Release 2004/01/15 : CIA-RDP79T00975AO12400100001-2 Secret Approved For Release 2004/01/15 : CIA-RDP79T00975AO12400100001-2