PROBABLE FORMATION OF FRENTE DEMOCRATICO-POPULAR AS CLANDESTINE COMMUNIST PARTY OF COLOMBIA

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP82-00457R010000350003-3
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: C
• Document Page Count: 2
• Document Creation Date: November 16, 2016
• Document Release Date: April 18, 2000
• Sequence Number: 3
• Publication Date: January 19, 1952
• Content Type: REPORT

IIYItuUI-AX b
Approved For Release 2000/06/08 : CIA-RDP82-00457RO10000350003-3
CLASSIFICATION UU1F11''j1?1i1"
tiC URITY INFOI TION
CENTRAL INTELLIGENCE AGENCY REPORT NO.
INFORMATION REPORT CD NO.
COUNTRY Colombia
25X1A
DATE DISTR. 19 Jane 1952
SUBJECT Probable Formation of Frente Democratico- NO. OF PAGES 2
Popular as Clandestine Communist Party of Colombia
rft.
PLACE 25X1 A r ?,
OF ENCLS.
ACQUIRED
blED BELOW)
tj .3
25X1 A RLFLI "'wo 4,
P
DATE OF
INFO.
SUPPLEMENT TO
DO NOT CIRCULATE REPORT NO.
25X1X
Since the beginning of November 1951 the Partido Comunista de Colombia (PCC)
has been seriously considering the possibility that the Party may be declared
illegal at any time and therefore has been preparing for this contingency.
The PCC has reportedly received orders from the Cominform to plan the organization
of a new party which mould not be labelled Communist and which would endeavor
to enlist the support of all those persons who are discontented with present
conditions. Known Marxists should continue to head the remains of the ostensible
Communist Party, but the clandestine group must be directed by man not openly
affiliated with the PCC. It is pointed out that the governments of the United
States and Colombia have a more or less complete list of local Communists and
sympathizers.
20 One of the principal persons being considered for leadership of the secret
organization, vh ich is to be called the Frente Democratico-Popular, is Enrique
Perez Arbelaez,* a Catholic priest and a scientist who is well knovm in many
countries. Perez has not been censored by his superiors thus far, and further-
more, he enjoys the respect of the Conservative regime. He was one of the
signers convoking the American Continental Conference for Peace, scheduled for
December 19510 Perez has attempted to persuade the government that it should
participate in more international scientific assemblies., and he is now engaged
in organizing a Third South American Botanical Congress for 1953,
3. At a meeting of Party leaders on 26 November Juan Francisco Mujica stated that
the activities of the PCC are in danger of being officially suppressed by the
government, basing this fear in large part on the recent appointment of Luis
Ignacio Andrade as Minister of Government. Andrade, who is an extreme rightist
and "Who was until November Colombian Ambassador to the Vatican, has stated
that the PCC might become dangerous if allowed to continue its present
organizational activities. ltica pointed out that the selection of Andrade
is lilImdse a strike at the Liberals, and that the latter might also be forced
to organize popular fronts. It was argued by Mujica that the Party should
follow the legal line in all respects and at the same time emphasize the building
up of secret sources of opposition mong labor groups. Criticizing the
Independent Confederacjon de Trabajadoxes (CTC) sharply, he stated that the
directors lacked the energy and the capacity to carry on the Communist struggle
in labor.
CLASSIFICATION CONFIDENTIAL
X NSRB I I DISTRIBUTION
Approved For Release 2000/06/08 : CIA-R
 Approved For Release 2000/06/08 : CIA-RDP82-00457RO10000350003-3
COIF 111 NT IJ .L
C.aGU;:ITY =11 CMUTIOFJ
25X1A
40 The PCC Ue,ntral Committee has taken note of the recent estabiishraent of
a Coaaando Conservador Anticomunta, which reportedly has connections xith
OlnlUr-gro,upa.An M ax .coo It is learned that this organization is setting
up branches throughout the country for.tho purpose of snatching the activities
of PCC mmbel-s and sympathizers. It is estimated that the Bogota group has
about 50 units in various professional lines, The organizer is said to be
Jose Almonacid, a Jesuit priest, The headquarters are in offices supervised
b;r the Pontificia Universidad Javerian-ao Present plans of the PCC call only
for passive and silent resistance to the new movement, but Jairo Barrios
has been ordered to make a thorough investigation of the organization,
5. The diroctorato of the PCC is considering moving its offices from the present
address, Carrara 6 No, 12?71, because of official vigilance. flecontly
the offices of the inactive Commando Contral. Electoral vero searched by the
police, but no comprormising documents mere found,
6, Tlx Party leaders are also stucbying the matter of establishing a printir
prow a, and it is hoped that a new company can be set uap with goneral
facilities. Tho greater part of the MW a former equi pmnt is t reportedly
in the house of Carlos :Arturo Aguirre. It is suggested that a near printing
shop should publish a. T ekly paper to stress the them) of "peace and
democracy" and serve as a propaganda outlet for the projected :arty, the
Drente ?enocratico-Popular,
25X1A "Of-
Approved For Release 2000/06/08 : CIA-RDP82-00457RO10000350003-3