CENTRAL INTELLIGENCE BULLETIN

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP79T00975A013500090001-2
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: T
• Document Page Count: 13
• Document Creation Date: December 15, 2016
• Document Release Date: December 16, 2003
• Sequence Number: 1
• Publication Date: April 21, 1969
• Content Type: REPORT

Approved Fo lease 2004/01/15: CIA-RDP79T009 01350 t2
DIRECTORATE OF
INTELLIGENCE
Central Intelligence Bulletin
Secret
51
21 April 1969
State Dept. review completed
Approved For Release 2004/01/15 : CIA-RDP79T00975A013500090001-2
 25X1 Approved For Release 2004/01/15 : CIA-RDP79T00975AO13500090001-2
Approved For Release 2004/01/15 : CIA-RDP79T00975AO13500090001-2
 Approved Fo lease 2004/0$ IR:VA-RDP79T0097 13500090001-2
No. 0095/69
21 April 1969
Central Intelligence Bulletin
CONTENTS
South Vietnam: Situation report. (Page 1)
North Korea: Pyongyang fails to win much interna-
tional support for its attack on the EC-121. (Page 3)
Czechoslovakia: Husak faces possible crisis in
student protest. (Page 4)
Dominican Re ublic: Recent terrorism and fears
t Rat Ba aguer will run again stir up storm. (Page 5)
25X1
Chile: The armed forces are again being drawn into
political controversy. (Page 7)
UK-Europe: Views on integration (Page 8)
Philippines: Doubts about SEATO (Page 8)
Approved For Release 2004/0 Iptjj j DP79T00975A013500090001-2
 Approved For Re a 2004/01/'BEeffiL- 79T00975A 00090001-2
NORTH \
)VIETNA
THAILAND
Tonle
Sap
.Q
QUANG TRI
Saravane
LAOS
CAMB.OD\A
0!_I FA NG
OUC
104
SIAM
SECRET
BINH
DINH
NINH
THUAN
Approved For Release 2004/01/15 : CIA-RDP79T00975AO13500090001-2
- ay Ninh t31NH `lf K~, ^~~:H (I
nunNC ~`` uINH
r `j f31Eh[ ~--TUT
HA'-1 iJAI /{
NGHI ON(~.
KILN }[ - - \
I'li lln 1,/
o..n wi _STUDNG
Regiment: '.VG 1,000-1,500
gTri NVA 1,200-2,000
QUANG NAM 1
J QUANG TIN
QUANG Q
25X1
 Approved Fo lease 2004W. IA'-RDP79T0097 13500090001-2
I South Vietnam: Maneuvering among South Viet-
nam's political groupings--set off by President
Thieu's plans to restructure the political order--
has yet to produce any clear-cut trend.
While many politicians initially gave cautious
support to Thieu's announcement of 7 April that he
intended to head a new progovernment political or-
ganization,most leaders have withheld firm commit-
ments. Some of these leaders are waiting until
Thieu's plans have taken better shape--others are
hoping to obtain promises of position and power.
At least several influential personalities, includ-
ing some close to Thieu, have voiced concern that
the new organization could develop into an authori-
tarian apparatus similar to the infamous Can Lao
Party of President Diem.
The political ferment sparked by Thieu's an-
nouncement nevertheless has led to mergers of some
political groups and to the appearance of new groups
seeking a place in the future power structure. There
are suggestions that some opposition forces may
close ranks in the hope of coalescing into the
"loyal opposition" suggested by Thieu.
Thieu has drawn fire from some quarters, where
he is accused of a lack of tolerance of dissent
despite his pledge to allow a real opposition to
operate. The government's recently heavy-handed
treatment of the press will fuel this criticism
and may undercut some of the favorable impact of
Thieu's earlier initiative. Last week's closing
of Saigon's most prestigious vernacular paper was
especially ill-timed inasmuch as the powerful sen-
ator who published it had just indicated his will-
ingness to back Thieu's proposals.
(continued)
21 Apr 69 Central Intelligence Bulletin
3
Approved For Release 2004 0 / R RDP79T00975A013500090001-2
 Approved For a ease 2004/Rth1 pRDP79T00975 13500090001-2
C Ground fighting remained generally light
throughout the country over the weekend. Indica-
tions are that the Communists are currently eval-
uating the results of their spring campaign. The
Da Nang Airbase and nearby Marble Mountain Air Fa-
cility were struck by Communist 122-mm. rocket fire
late last night, the second shelling of Da Nang in
the past four days, and the sixth since 23 February.
At least ten rockets hit the airfields, killing two
Americans and woundin 51 others Property damage
was light.
21 Apr 69 Central Intelligence Bulletin
Approved For Release 2004/01/15 : CIA-RDP79T00975AO13500090001-2
SECRET
 Approved Forrlease 2004/01 / `(6R-ii P79T00975"13500090001-2
North Korea: Pyongyang's light propaganda
coverage thus far of the EC-121 shootdown probably
reflects the realization that it is not receiving
international support for its claims.
The sparse coverage on the incident in the
North Korean press and radio seems geared primarily
to further the regime's domestic goals. A state-
ment by Defense Minister Choe Hyon and an editor-
ial in the party newspaper both interpret the 15
April incident as further proof that the Korean
people must prepare themselves "more thoroughly"
politically and ideologically to carry out the
party's program. The North Koreans have not yet
made any specific reference to the US announcement
that it will resume reconnaissance flights and
send a task force to Korean waters.
Only three Communist states--East Germany,
North Vietnam, and Cuba--have given full support
to Pyongyang's claims that the EC-121 Violated
North Korean airspace. Articles from Belgrade,
Warsaw, and Bucharest describe US flights as "near"
or "in the region of" North Korean borders. Peking
has made no comment on the incident, and Albania,
Peking's close ally, did not even mention North
Korea when commenting on Nixon's press conference.
Moscow still has made no authoritative commentary
on the attack, and this, combined with Soviet co-
operation in searching for survivors, is almost
certainly interpreted by Pyongyang as disapproval
of its conduct.
The Japanese Government has strongly supported
the US position and publicly censured Pyongyang.
Cabinet Secretary Hori stated that Japanese secur-
ity requires these reconnaissance flights, and he
dismissed opposition charges that President Nixon's
order to protect the flights would heighten tension,
saying that protection would prevent further inci-
dents.
21 Apr 69 Central Intelligence Bulletin
Approved For Release 2004/01SIPc fJ pP79T00975A013500090001-2
 Approved For"le ease 2004/01/i0t~C-P79T00979'13500090001-2
Czechoslovakia: Student dissidence may pre-
sent new party first secretary Husak with his first
crisis.
The students--mostly at the university level--
apparently are incensed by Husak's stern and fore-
boding central committee speech, which the news
media finally publicized on 19 April. They are
planning nonviolent demonstrations. Husak warned
that under his administration no demonstrations or
strikes would be tolerated, and that strong meas-
ures, including police action, would be justified
to terminate "illegal" public dissidence.
Husak may face widespread civil unrest, how-
ever, if he orders the police to intervene and
forcibly disperse students on their own campuses.
The workers, who sympathize with the students, re-
portedly promised earlier that. they would call a
general strike if the regime took harsh reprisals
against nonviolent demonstrations.
r- _F
21 Apr 69
Central intelligence Bulletin
25X1
Approved For Release 2004/01/15 : CIA-RDP79T00975AO13500090001-2
SECRET
 Approved Fo Wlease 2004/o1C ATRDP79T0097**013500090001-2
Dominican Republic: The recent rise in ter-
rorism, coup e with iposition fears that Presi-
dent Balaguer may run again in 1970, is stirring
up a political storm.
Parties and leaders across the political spec-
trum attacking the administration. An official
communique" of the major opposition Dominican Revo-
lutionary Party (PRD), published on 17 April, called
for all political organizations to oppose terrorism
and Balaguer's plans for re-election with "total
abstention from the 1970 elections." The PRD par-
liamentary bloc, with nearly one third of the leg-
islature's seats, withdrew from congress last week.
The two other major opposition parties, the moder-
ately leftist Revolutionary Social Christian Party
and the far rightist Democratic Quisqueyan Party,
also published hard-hitting attacks on the govern-
ment, alleging the administration has at times in-
stigated violence.
Ex-president Rafael Bonnelly has also publicly
appe to Balaguer not to run in 1970. One of
the capital's major dailies echoed the appeal. Other
political organizations, including Communist fac-
tions, have also published protests.
President Balaguer is reportedly drafting a
speec in response to the terrorism and political
attacks but, in view of his sharp replies to oppo-
sition charges last week, his speech is unlikely
to have any immediate calming effect. The anniver-
sary of the revolt of 24 April 1965 will spark
evitable rumors and also helpep tensions high.
25X1
21. Apr 69 Central Intelligence Bulletin
Approved For Release 2004/08PJ]_1'-PDP79T00975A013500090001-2
 25X1 Approved For Release 2004/01/15 : CIA-RDP79T00975AO13500090001-2
Approved For Release 2004/01/15 : CIA-RDP79T00975AO13500090001-2
 Approved F% lease 2004/01MC-AWTDP79T009UA013500090001-2
Chile: The armed forces once again are being
drawn into political controversy.
A routine request for Senate approval of the
promotion of Alfredo Mahn from brigadier to major
general has been opposed by the Socialist Party.
The Socialists object to Mahn because he presided
at a military court that sentenced a Socialist
senator to jail in 1968 for defaming the armed
forces. The Socialists claim that Mahn acted under
pressure from the government, which in turn was in-
fluenced by "North American interests." The admin-
istration has rejected these charges.
The Socialist position on the promotion will
force Communist and Radical senators to choose be-
tween the Socialists and the military. The Commu-
nists in particular have been careful to maintain
friendly relations with the armed forces because
they fear repression if the militar should take
active interest in politics,
21 Apr 69
Central Intelligence Bulletin 7
25X1
Approved For Release 2004/01 /1OE6-1f 79T00975A013500090001-2
 Approved For Fe ease 2004/01/15 : CIA-RDP79T00975..3500090001-2
SECRET
NOTES
UK-Europe: The UK Foreign Office official in
charge of European integration affairs has denied
that there is any change in British opposition to
acceptance of a free trade area or a commercial ar-
rangement with the Six of the Communities. He said
that recent conversations of both Prime Minister
Wilson and Foreign Minister Stewart had shown that
Britain would not be sidetracked from its objective
of full membership in the Common Market. In Stew-
art's conversation with French Foreign Minister
Debre last week, Debre had shown no interest in
pursuing a dialogue at the present-time with t:h
British on the f ure of Euro e.
Philippines: To officials are voicing long-
held private doubts about the effectiveness of SEATO
apparently in the hope of influencing the May minis-
terial meeting. President Marcos and Foreign Secre-
tary Romulo have stated recently that the Philippines
favors a stronger regional organization. Presumably
they would like to cull out France and Pakistan as
inactive SEATO members and perhaps to include such
nations as South Korea, Taiwan, and Japan. Marcos'
and Romulo's remarks, however, probably are princi-
pally designed to obtain assurances of a US st-
V?etnam military commitment in Southeast Asia.
21 Apr 69 Central Intelligence Bulletin 8
Approved For Release 2004/01/15 : CIA-RDP79T00975A013500090001-2
SECRET
 Secrbroved For lease 2004/01/15: CIA-RDP79T0097NW13500090001-2
Secret
Approved For Release 2004/01/15 : CIA-RDP79T00975AO13500090001-2