CENTRAL INTELLIGENCE BULLETIN

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP79T00975A012800020001-7
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: T
• Document Page Count: 12
• Document Creation Date: December 15, 2016
• Document Release Date: June 2, 2003
• Sequence Number: 1
• Publication Date: December 19, 1968
• Content Type: REPORT

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DIRECTORATE OF
INTELLIGENCE
Central Intelligence Bulletin
Secret
5019 December 1968
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NO. 0343/68
19 December 1968
Central Intelligence Bulletin
CONTENTS
Vietnam: Situation report. (Page 1)
Cuba: Two new SAM sites have been located. (Page 3)
Nigeria: Civil war principals reaffirm a hard line
on a negotiated settlement. (Page 4)
India: Kerala's Communist-run government faces
serious ous problems. (Page 5)
Laos: No new fighting (Page 6)
Arab Terrorists: Arms supply (Page 6)
Sierra Leone: Draft constitution (Page 6)
Dominican Republic: Political accbrd (Page 7)
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CAM
RANH
SOUTH VIETNAM
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3 ,Vietnam: There are indications that the Commu-
nists hope to intensify significantly their military
operations--possibly countrywide--in the days just
prior to their announced Christmas truce.
Perhaps as a prelude to such operations, the en-
emy on 17-18 December staged a number of small-scale
rocket and mortar attacks against major allied bases
stretching from Da Nang to the Saigon area.
Most of the indicators still point to the Saigon
area as the focal point of any upcoming Communist mil-
itary action. There are strong indications that the
Viet Cong 9th Division, which has played a key role
in major Communist offensive actions during the year,
is now moving from its Cambodian border base camp to-
ward Saigon.
Three enemy personnel, captured on 17 December
in Gia Dinh Province adjacent to Saigon, claimed that
their parent unit, a battalion of the 9th Division's
271st Regiment, is already located southwest of Sai-
gon near the Long An provincial capital of Tan An.
They further asserted that the 9th Division will at-
tack Tan Son Nhut airbase within the next ten days.
The Viet Cong announced yesterday the release of
three US prisoners on Christmas Day in the Tay Ninh
area near the Cambodian border. A Liberation Radio
broadcast went on to call for a suspension of US op-
erations in the area during the time of the transfer
of the US prisoners.
19 Dec 68 Central Intelligence Bulletin 1
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New SAM Sites Revealed in Remote Cuban Area
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100
Miles
2 SAM sites under
construction
Cuba: SAM Sites
? Operational SA-2 site
? SAM site under construction
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Cuba: Two new surface-to-air missile (SAM) sites
have appeared in recent aerial photography of the re-
mote Moa area of eastern Cuba.
Each site is still in the early to middle stage
of construction and consists of six revetted drive-
through launch positions, a revetted guidance area,
and three missile-hold positions. No missiles or
missile-associated equipment can be seen.
The reason for the construction of two SAM sites
in this region is not clear. There are no known mil-
itary installations of importance, there, and the only
facility of economic significance is the Moa nickel
mine and processing plant. The last time a SAM site
was observed in the Moa area was in 1967 when a
field site was set up temporarily during a training
exercise.
19 Dec 68 Central Intelligence Bulletin
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Nigeria: Both sides in the civil war have re-
affirmed their basically hard-line positions on a
negotiated settlement as the military stalemate con-
tinues.
In a recent meeting in Biafra with a British MP,
Biafran leader Ojukwu said he would not negotiate on
any basis that would undermine Biafra's "sovereignty."
He was probably reflecting the Biafran belief that a
prolongation of the military stalemate can only work
in the secessionists' favor. Meanwhile, Nigerian
military leaders also appear as determined as ever
to carry on with the war.
In the war itself, the Biafrans are continuing
to counterattack in several areas as well as mounting
sustained operations against two federal-held towns.
Despite repeated attempts, the Nigerian Air Force
has failed to knock out the airstri through which
Biafrans receive their supplies.
19 Dec 68 Central Intelligence Bulletin
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India: The communist-dominated government of
Kerala isfaced with serious problems, but shows no
inclination to abdicate power. Although New Delhi
appears especially concerned about the recent dete-
rioration of law and order in the state, it is hesi-
tant to intervene.
Kerala's Left Communist chief minister, E.M.S.
Namboodiripad, despite a host of political, economic,
and social problems, appears anxious to hold on to
power in Kerala and to avoid intervention from New
Delhi. The Left Communists would like to extend
their infiltration of the state bureaucracy and to
stamp their influence more firmly on state policies.
Many party members are thoroughly enjoying the spoils
of power and are reluctant to revert to the less com-
fortable opposition status.
Communist extremists in Kerala--a small, dis-
organized, but growing group that has broken with
the Left Communists--have inspired several violent
incidents in recent weeks. Non-Communist opposition
groups, suffering under the progovernment bias of
the state security forces, are displaying a vigilante
mentality that could lead to bloody clashes in the
streets.
New Delhi appears increasingly concerned about
this situation, but is reluctant to oust the Kerala
regime and to impose direct rule. The non-Communist
parties of Kerala, some of which are in the govern-
ing coalition, are deeply split, as is the local Con-
gress Party unit. Under these circumstances, the
new elections that would have to follow intervention
by the central government could result in an even
stronger Communist grip on the Kerala state overn-
ment. 25X1
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Laos: No significant new fighting has been re-
portedi the Thateng area or elsewhere in southern
Laos. At last report, North Vietnamese troops were
still dug in around Thaten and a fresh assault
could come at any time.
Arab Terrorists: The Palestine Liberation
Organization (PLO) is negotiating with the Polish
Government for the purchase of 1,000 Soviet-made
Kalashnikov submachine guns. The arms are to be
delivered to the Iraqi forces in Jordan for further
distribution to PLO terrorist units. The PLO had
earlier purchased a shipment of the same type of
weapon from the Bulgarians. The purchases are a
departure from the PLO's usual policy of leaving
all aspects of arms acquisition to the Egyptian and
Iraqi governments.
Sierra Leone: Prime Minister Stevens, at a
closed parliamentary caucus, has urged immediate
passage of a bill that will transform Sierra Leone
into a republic. He stated that his northern dom-
inated government intends to push for approval of
the draft republican constitution that was passed
initially by the previous parliament in 1967 when
southerners were in power. Passage for a second
time would put into effect the new constitution,
which is designed to strengthen significantly the
powers of the prime minister. This would bolster
Stevens' shaky regime and could be used as a lever
to impose a more radical one-party system of govern-
ment. Stevens' proposal has aroused considerable
opposition within his own part., however, and he may
be forced to move cautiously.
Central Intelligence Bulletin
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Dominican Republic: Differences between Juan
Bosch and more mo erate leaders of the opposition
Dominican Revolutionary Party appear to have been
papered over. Bosch has dropped his threat to quit
the party and has agreed that under some circum-
stances it can participate in elections. In a sub-
sequent speech, however, he gave no indication that
he intends to abandon his efforts to radicalize the
party, and additional efforts by party radicals to
ush for more militant opposition tactics seem likely.
19 Dec 68 Central Intelligence Bulletin
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