CENTRAL INTELLIGENCE BULLETIN

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP79T00975A016800090001-6
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: T
• Document Page Count: 11
• Document Creation Date: December 15, 2016
• Document Release Date: February 10, 2004
• Sequence Number: 1
• Publication Date: August 4, 1970
• Content Type: REPORT

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DIRECTORATE OF
INTELLIGENCE
Central Intelligence Bulletin
Secret
PJ V
DIA and DOS review(s) completed.
4 August 1970
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No. 0185/70
4 August 1970
Central Intelligence Bulletin
CONTENTS
Cambodia: The situation at Kompong Thom appears to
be stabilizing. (Page 1)
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India: Pressures to hold elections in West Bengal
are expected to build. (Page 3)
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Israel: Cut-down cabinet (Page 7)
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Cuba: Haven (Page 8)
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THAILAND
Kompnng'.
KompongSom6
(Sihanoukviffe)
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Cambodia: The situation at Kompong Thom appears
to be stabilizing.
The battle for the besieged city continued yes-
terday, but the Communist offensive appeared to be
losing some of its momentum. Urgently needed sup-
plies of food and ammunition were airdropped to gov-
ernment troops. Initial casualty reports indicate
more than 110 Communists have been killed; most of
these losses probably were from air strikes.
The situation at the town of Skoun, south of
Kompong Thom, remains confused. Phnom Penh is out
of radio contact with government reinforcements
converging on Skoun. The town's original defenders,
consisting of a newly formed battalion, were com-
pletely routed by the Communists.
In the southwest, the government's planned of-
fensive to retake Kirirom has encountered more de-
lays. Press reports indicate that enemy harassing
attacks near Sre Khlong, southeast of Kirirom,have
blocked Route 4, preventing the movement of supplies
and reinforcements for government units already pro-
ceeding toward the resort town. A provincial offi-
cial told journalists that Communist troops around
Sre Khlong must be dislodged before a full counter-
attack on Kirirom can be made. He also claimed that
despite heavy allied air strikes, the enemy is still
sendin reinforcements into the Kirirom area.
4 Aug 70 Central Intelligence Bulletin
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India: Pressures to hold elections in Commu-
nist-oriented West Bengal are expected to build now
that the state legislative assembly has been dis-
solved.
Increasing violence within the state led to the
collapse of the Communist-dominated ruling coalition
last March and forced the imposition of "president's
rule"--direct government from New Delhi. The state
assembly was not dissolved, however, leaving a slight
possibility that the state's political parties might
be able to form a new coalition.
The old government was dominated by the mili-
tant Communist Party of India/Marxist (CPM), whose
efforts to increase its power at the expense of its
left-wing coalition partners were responsible for
much of the violence. In mid-July, attempts by a
group of anti-CPM parties to build a coalition broke
down and it appeared likely that the Marxists would
try again to attract enough support to form a new
government. Apparently to forestall any possible
CPM success, New Delhi dissolved the legislature on
30 July.
The central government must now either call for
new elections or continue president's rule, which
can be extended for six-month periods until March
1973. That long a delay appears unlikely, however,
and many local observers believe that elections are
possible as early as next February. Most of the
leftist parties seem inclined to try their luck with
the electorate as soon as possible.
The CPM has already announced plans to initiate
a "struggle" on 15 August that will last until the
government announces an election date. The other
left-wing parties presumably will launch similar
campaigns, increasing the likelihood of new outbreaks
of violence. New Delhi apparently anticipates trou-
ble, particularly in Calcutta; the press indicates
that security forces in West Bengal are being
strengthened.
4 Aug 70 Central Intelligence Bulletin 3
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NOTES
C Israel: Gahal's departure from the cabinet
breaks up the "wall-to-wall" coalition of parties
which, though unwieldly and disparate, has been main-
tained since the eve of the June 1967 war as the sym-
bol of Israeli unity. Mrs. Meir's government--with
the backing of the prestigious and popular Minister
of Defense Dayan--retains a comfortable majority and
continues to have the support of the great majority
of Israelis. The US Embassy believes Mrs. Meir's
willingness to forgo the Gahal partnership at this
early stage of the peace effort underscores the gap
between her own views and the dogmatic nationalism
of Gahal leader Menahem Begin. The embassy believes,
however, that only time will tell whether the cut-
down cabinet will be better or less able to negotiate
a settlement. Israeli requirements for a settlement
remain high, and Mrs. Meir has been quick to point
out that her government without Gahal will be no less
11 r
resolute "in the defense of Israel.
(continued)
4 Aug 70 Central Intelligence Bulletin
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Cuba: Fidel Castro continues to offer Havana
as a maven for Latin American terrorists. Ten Bo-
livian political prisoners who were released on 22
July in exchange for two West German hostages are
scheduled to board a Cuban merchant ship due in Chile
this week to pick up cargo. Former senator Baltazar
Castro of Chile attempted to arrange passage for the
Bolivians to Cuba via Mexico, but the Mexican Govern-
ment refused them even transit visas. Mexico had
become irritated when Cuba refused to extradite a
Mexican citizen and three Dominicans, who had re-
ceived asylum in Mexico, after they hijacked a Mexi-
can plane to Havana recently.
4 Aug 70
Central Intelligence Bulletin
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