CENTRAL INTELLIGENCE BULLETIN

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP79T00975A021500070001-5
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: T
• Document Page Count: 8
• Document Creation Date: December 14, 2016
• Document Release Date: June 24, 2003
• Sequence Number: 1
• Publication Date: March 27, 1972
• Content Type: REPORT

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DIRECTORATE OF
INTELLIGENCE
Central Intelligence Bulletin
Secret
N? 41
27 March 1972
Approved For Release 2003/08/05 : CIA-RDP79T00975A021500070001-5
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No. 0074/72
27 March 1972
Central Intelligence Bulletin
EL SALVADOR: Government forces are in control.
(Page 1)
BANGLADESH: Food stocks are low but help is on
the way. (Page 2)
LAOS: North Vietnamese positions on Skyline Ridge
(Page 3)
YUGOSLAVIA: Smallpox (Page 3)
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E SALVADOR: Government forces are in control
of the country following the coup attempt this week-
end.
The attempted overthrow, which caused an esti-
mated 600 casualties, was led by Colonel Benjamin
Mejia, an officer with little past political in-
volvement. It had the support of a number of younger
officers but involved only the 1st Infantry Brigade
and the Artillery Brigade. President Sanchez was
held prisoner for ten to 12 hours but was freed un-
harmed on Saturday afternoon when the first rebel
installation fell to government forces.
The rebels said they were dissatisfied with
the way the recent elections were conducted, but
the take-over was planned and initiated without the
knowledge of opposition leaders. Nevertheless,
Jose Napoleon Duarte, the defeated coalition's
presidential candidate, went on radio around mid-
day Saturday urging support for the rebel junta.
Duarte and two other civilians involved have been
promised their freedom provided they leave the
country at once. No decision has yet been made as
to the fate of the military personnel involved, but
a number of persons are seeking asylum in local
embassies.
This weekend's bloodletting may have exhausted
the strength of those discontented with the outcome
of this year's elections, and the limited military
support given the coup attempt will probably con-
vince the opposition that another such attempt would
be futile. Sanchez and President-elect Molina, who
will be inaugurated on 1 July, now have the diffi-
cult task of resting public confidence.
Central Intelligence Bulletin
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BANGLADESH: Food stocks are unusually low but
some help is on the way.
Government foodgrain stocks reportedly have
declined to 257,000 tons, the lowest level in at
least several years. Rice prices in Dacca are now
30-percent higher than they were during the famine
scare last fall.
The UN estimates that Bangladesh will need to
import 200,000 tons of foodgrain monthly through
December. Over one million tons have already been
pledged by foreign donors. India has sent 116,000
tons and has agreed to speed up the delivery of an
additional 384,000 tons. The US has pledged 375,000
tons, Canada 100,000 tons, and the USSR 30,000 tons.
Burma also is providing 65,000 tons on a barter
basis. Islamabad, which traditionally supplied
rice to the east wing, has offered 122,000 tons of
rice, but Dacca has not yet accepted.
Transport bottlenecks are keeping food stocks
from moving inland in sufficient amounts from the
ports of Chittagong and Chalna. In an effort to
speed upcountry deliveries, the UN is using for-
eign contributions, including $35.3 million from
the US, to provide additional transport equipment.
In addition, the USSR has sent seven salvage ships,
three mine-sweepers, and two other naval craft,
which are to arrive at Chittagong next week. They
will be used to clear the port of sunken vessels
and mines laid during the war last year.
27 Mar 72 Central Intelligence Bulletin 2
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NOTES
C LAOS: The North Vietnamese are holding their
positions on Skyline Ridge despite persistent gov-
ernment attacks. Vang Pao's irregulars this week-
end assaulted enemy positions on the western and
central portions of the ridge, but were turned back
by enemy fire.
accurate air strikes an artillery ire have caused
heavy enemy
The irregu ars
suffered heavily in their attacks.
YUGOSLAVIA: Belgrade is alarmed that the cur-
rent outbreak of smallpox will damage a major hard-
currency earning industry--tourism. Over 20 cases
and three deaths have been reported since Muslim
pilgrims returning from Mecca brought the disease
back to the province of Kosovo in mid-March. The
disease has spread to Belgrade where two of the
three deaths have occurred and where two hospitals
have been quarantined. A nationwide vaccination
program is under way, however, and the Yugoslavs
have the situation under control. Yugoslavia earned
some $200 million in hard currency from tourism last
27 Mar 72 Central Intelligence Bulletin 3
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LONG TIENG AREA
Government-held location
Communist-held location
0 Highpoint
0 5
Miles
Tho Tam
$leuna_
am Thong
Four Positions held
by enemy. 2 arch
S
0
Ong Tiang T :;
Pha gn
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druong Pot
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Secret
Secret
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