ABSENCE OF COMMUNISM IN THE AMAZON REGIONS

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP80-00809A000500490026-7
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: C
• Document Page Count: 2
• Document Creation Date: December 14, 2016
• Document Release Date: April 1, 1999
• Sequence Number: 26
• Publication Date: December 1, 1953
• Content Type: REPORT

Approved For Release 2001/09/11: CIA-RDP80-00809A000500490026-7
U.S. Officials Only
CONFIDENTIAL
INFORMATION RiZPORT
SUBJECT Absence of Communism in the Amazon Regions
25X1A
PLACE ACQU I RED
(by SOURCE)
DATE ACQUIRED
(Sr SOURCE)
SOURCE
DATE DISTR. 49mAy/'95f4
NO. OF PAGES 2
NO. OF ENCLS.
SUPP. TO
1. The entire region of the Amazon is considered to be a frontier
land insofar as polita_oal affairs are concerned. Its inhabit-
ants are not politically conscious as the majority. of the popu-
lation resides in the jungle. It is only in the scattered
villages and towns that one finds people who are politically
active. I would consider that Belem is the political but apoz,
during elections, of the entire Amazon and this is apparently
due to the presence of a large foreign element in that city.
2. I believe the Amazon River region to be fertile ground for the
spread of oommuuism. But five or six men own or control almost
everything of value with the result that the population is quite
poor and the region's economy has been sustained to a large ex-
tent by government grants. The Communist Party is illegal in
Brazil and although individual members still flourish I have
not heard of any organized communism in the Amazon and.I do not
believe that communism is to be considered a present threat.
Due to my many widespread contacts and the church whic% I repre-
aent*I am sure that if there have been any attempts to organize
the Communist Party or its cells I would know about such efforts.
3? I know of but two individuals in the upper Amazon who are con-
sidered to be Communists. One is Plinio Coelho who is the bond
of the Brazilian Workers r+srty (PTB) in Manuo. Coelho is not
a thoroughly incoc;trinated Communist but is, instead, a person
who has hoard that communion is a good thing. He is a Brazilian
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and occupies an influential position in that he eontroic the Anoka
at Mandua. Amazon newspapers have declared that Coelho to a
Communist although he has publicly denied such escusa?c.ious.
4. Another person who is believed to be a Communist is a Brazilian
doctor, whose nano I do not recall, who.. is the editor of a Com-
munist paper formerly published in Mandua and known as "LUTA"
(The eight). This paper has followed the Communist Party line
and has emphasized the theme of the Communists in Northern brazil
with statements such as "The Oil is Ours -- Keep the Yankees Out"
and similar items intended to inflame the public by implying
that American eapitaliste 'n nt to take brazil over for their own
gain. This paper was suppressed by the.Amazonae State government
about three years ago and, as far as I know, has not reappeared.
To the beat of my knowledge there is no Communist publication
being presently published in.the Amazon.
Other than the above two known Communists there are a few other
individuals who are considered to be Communists although quite
ineffectually no. For a period when I lived inMan4fue two barbers
resided a block away from me. These two considered themselves
as Communists but were so ridiavloue in their actions that the
people of Mandua who knew them couldn't take them seriously and
ma. _- fun of them.
6. Propaganda broadcasts are received in the Amazon from many dif-
ferent places. Radio Muecow enjoys perfect reception, being re-
ceived very clearly and with no interference. Its programs are
broadcast in both Portugtase and English and are,liatened to
occasionally by people who have access to radios. Those people
who listen to it do so only for the music that is broadcgat and
pay little, if any, attention to Radio Moscow's propaganda
aspects. The Voice of America comes in from Nov York City but
is not listened to, to any great extent. MW programo are also
beamed to the Amason with English programs, being reoeived.:.;Of
those who own or listen to radios by far a majority of them
listen to, and prefer, the average Brazilian radio station due
to the native music and programs hoard over such stations.
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Approved For Release 2001/09/11: CIA-RDP80-00809A000500490026-7