DISSENSION WITHIN THE COMMUNIST PARTY OF COLOMBIA

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP80-00810A001100460004-5
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: C
• Document Page Count: 2
• Document Creation Date: December 14, 2016
• Document Release Date: September 20, 2001
• Sequence Number: 4
• Publication Date: May 6, 1953
• Content Type: REPORT

Approved For Release 2001/11/21: CIA-RDP80-0081 OA001100460004-5
CENTRAL INTELLIGENCE AGENCY
INFORMATION REPORT
CONfiDENTIAL
SECURITY INFORMATION
PLACE ACQUIRED
25X1X
Dissension within the Conmertist Party
of Colombia
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This D--& oa t tns infarmation affecting the Na-
tiooal Defense of the United States, Within the mean-
ing of Title 18.Qectians'P8C3and793,oftheU.S.Code,as
ameoded_ Its tran?imjl3n or rersdatiw.ofitsecntents
to or receipt by en unauthoatsed puma is piohiblted
by law. The reproduction of this form is prohibited.
REP= No.
DATE DISTR. 6 May 1953
NO. OF PAGES 2
REQUIREMENT NO. RD
THE SOURCE EVALUATIONS IN THIS REPORT ARE DEFINITIVE
THE APPRAISAL OF CONTENT IS TENTATIVE.
(FOR KEY SEE REVERSE)
25X1A
1. The arrest and-subsequent release of Gilberto VIEIRA White, Secretary General
of the Coftunist Party of Colombia (P(;C), has produced different reactions
on Party members. Some believe that the release of VIEIRA was a triumph for
the Party, while others have expressed the opinion that it was a trick on the
part of the government, to create the impression that political persecution
does not exist in the country. It is also stated that the government, inspired
by the U. S. Embassy, wished to give the Party a false sense of security by
convincing it that it is not being persecuted and can exist peacefully, and then,
at a later date, take more drastic action against the Party. This last idea is
particulrly strong amopg Party members in view-of the! fact that during the meeting
of-the-Presidents of Colombia and enezuela at the Colombian border city of- ucuta,
on 21 M a r e 19 ,one of Ethe announced pu poses o hei a `was the solution of
the Co st'problems of both countries.
2. Dissension within the Party is also arising over the attitude of the Communists
toward the guerrillas. The leaders of the Party are being criticized for not sending
political directors to the guerrilla chiefs. The leaders are also being criticized
for neglecting the farmers, for not presenting. them with concrete proposals for
land distribution, and for not continuing the anti-Yankee propaganda among them.
Complaints are also being heard about the Party's failure to support the attack
by the guerrillas on the Palanqu.ero air base, on l January 1953, and its lack of
initiative in not organizing committees to combat the propaganda which resulted from
the meetings of the two Presidents in Cucuta. The Party leaders are also being
attached by some members for their weakness in not adopting more aggressive actions,
such as those recommended by Pedro Jose Ate. The directorate has claimed that
all these accusations are baseless, and states that the Party leaders must remain
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CONFIDBNT'IAL
 Approved For Release 2001/11/21 : CIA-RDP80-00810A001100460004-5
CO 1FIDENTIAL
in tie large cities to maintain the honor of the Communist Party, and to
demonstrate that the Party does not fear the action of tie government.
Communist leaders are pleased with the imprisonment and release of
VIEIRA. They feel that the trial exhibited him as a martyr, and that if
the government cannot establish satisfactory evidence against the PCC Secretary
General, it will be able to do even less against subordinate members of the
Party. In general, these informants, including Jaime BIOS Rodriguez, Juan
Francisdo PUJICA, Julio C. PCSADA, and Diego MONTANA Cuellar, have expressed
their satisfaction. over recent events and their belief that the authorities
have rendered the PCC ' a service. This group considers it possible that
the methods pursued by the government might oring Augusto DL'RAN back into
the PCC.. Communist leaders are also pleased by the report that 2nd Lieutenant
Alvaro TAFLDI Mercado had ordered three soldiers to shoot VIEIRA one night
while he was at Usaquen, but that the latter had refused to do so, and had
carried the matter to their superiors.
CONFIDENTIAL
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Approved For Release 2001/11/21 : CIA-RDP80-00810A001100460004-5