CENTRAL INTELLIGENCE BULLETIN

Document Type: 
Collection: 
Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): 
CIA-RDP85T00875R000800020089-1
Release Decision: 
RIPPUB
Original Classification: 
S
Document Page Count: 
9
Document Creation Date: 
December 19, 2016
Document Release Date: 
January 10, 2002
Sequence Number: 
89
Case Number: 
Publication Date: 
April 22, 1972
Content Type: 
BULL
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PDF icon CIA-RDP85T00875R000800020089-1.pdf407.69 KB
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Approved For Release 2005/06/09 : CIA RQP85T00875R 0$00020p89-'I Approved For Release 2005/06/09: CIA-RDP85T00875R000800 DIRECTORATE OF INTELLIGENCE No Foreign Disrem Central Intellzence Bulletin State Dept. declassification & release instructions on file N2 592 22 April 1972 Approved For Release 2005/06/09 : CIA-RDP85T00875R000800020089-1 Approved For Release 2005/06M9 : CIA _ DP85T00875R000800020089-1 The CENTRAL INTELLIGENCE BULLETIN is produced by the Director of Central Intelligence to meet his responsibilities for providing current intelligence bearing on issues of national security to the President, the National Security Council, and other senior government officials. It is produced in consultation with the Departments of State and Defense. When, because of the time factor, adequate consultation with the depart- ment of primary concern is not feasible, items or portions thereof are pro- duced by CIA and enclosed in brackets. . Interpretations of intelligence information in this publication represent immediate and preliminary views which are subject to modification in the light of further information and more complete analysis. Certain intelligence items in this publication may be designated specifically for no further dissemination. Other intelligence items may be disseminated further, but only on a need-to-know basis. WARNING This document contains information affecting the national defense of the United States, within the meaning of Title 18, sections 793 and 794, of the US Code, as amended. Its transmission or revelation of its contents to or re- ceipt by an unauthorized person is prohibited by law. GROUP 1 Excluded from automatic downgrading and declassification S comet Approved For Release 2005/06/09 : CIA-RDP85T00875R000800020089-1 Approved For Release 2005/OE$4, I -i DP85T00875R000800020089-1 No. 0097/72 22 April 1972 Central intelligence bulletin SOUTH VIETNAM: Heavy fighting continues on three major fronts. (Page 1) CHILE: University election will provide a test of strength between Allende government and its oppo- nents. (Page 2) CZECHOSLOVAKIA: Moscow may have intervened to ease rivalry at top level of Czechoslovak party. (Page 3) FRANCE: Referendum on EC expansion (Page 4) LEBANON: Parliamentary elections (Page 4) Approved For Release 2005/0 -I&IW DP85T00875R000800020089-1 Approved For Release 2005/ONPC. RIDP85T00875R000800020089-1 THAILAND Domililarizod Zono UUnrf nr(n /(SU Dlf ,,. .. ~^4W_tnirl H. i lOn6.. t./ }'f +./ \ vF SAC ((( ~C ff.~( H/IAll11 / L 1 blhlh I (NYI Tl) . 5~ I Al 1 (I:N~ T:J UI,1 ti - 3aC\ ._l:lll!1. `!''~ }':jlNlltl .. IYh it .] Gulf of Thailand f'H7N J' --nINH ~~ N . ( { CONFIDENTIAL Approved For Release 2005/0( SEC- Approved For Release 2005/0&FCrWDP85T00875RO00800020089-1 F'D SOUTH VIETNAM: There was heavy fighting on all three major battlefronts yesterday. Although South Vietnamese forces are counterat'acking in some areas, much of the latest act:t.on is Communist-initiated. An Loc is still under siege, and the heavy en- emy shellings have become increasingly accurate. Allied air support has been severely hampered by poor weather and has not yet silenced Communist ar- tillery positions. South Vietnamese resupply ef- forts have also been largely unsuccessful, and evac- uation of wounded South Vietnamese troops remains a serious problem. A captured enemy document in- dicates that as of 18 April the Communists remained determined to capture An Loc. While admitting poor coordination between their infantry and armored units, a senior officer of, the Communist 9th Divi- sion expressed confidence that they could take the town. The Communists currently control approxi- mately 20 percent of An Loc. In the northern portion of the country, the situation at the district town of Hiep Duc in Quang Tin Province remains critical, with the town's de- fenders now withdrawn from the outer defensive perimeter into the headquarters compound. The nearby provincial capital of Quang Ngai was shelled early yesterday, and the Communists are attempting to isolate the city by knocking out bridges along Route 1 south of town and by disrupting traffic tL the north. Iii MR-2, a tank-led enemy attack forced the South Vietnamese to abandon a fire support base on Rocket Ridge in Kontum Province. There has been considerable movement of Communist units in the vicinity of Kontum city, southeast of the ridge, and an attack on the city remains a distinct pos- sibility. Enemy shelling attacks were reported in other sectors of MR-2, chiefly in northern Binh Dinh Province. Communist mortar attacks and ground probes con- tinue throughout the delta provinces. (SECRET NO FOREIGN DISSEM) 22 Apr 72 Central Intelligence Bulletin Approved For Release 2005/00/J:t1- RDP85T00875R000800020089-1 Approved For Release 2005/06/85T00875R000800020089-1 CHILE: The elections next week at the Univer- sity of Chile are an important test of strength be- tween the Allende government and its opposition. Edgardo Boeninger, who is up for re-election as rector, is supported by the Christian Democrats, the National Party, and other opposition groups. Felipe Herrera, former head of the Inter-American Development Bank, was personally chosen by President Allende as the candidate of the parties of his Pop- ular Unity government. Making it a four-way race are two spoilers on the far left, one of them Al- lende's nephew, Andres Pascal, who is running for the Castroite Movement of the Revolutionary Left. Both Boeninger and Herrera have support outside the groups they represent and both are considered competent by their colleagues. While the campaign is ostensibly being fought over university reorgan- ization, the real issue is whether the new adminis- tration will resist greater government control of the university. At the moment, Boeninger, the anti- government candidate who would take the more inde- pendent line, may have a slight edge. The result will be considered by many Chileans as an indicator of Allende's political strength. (SECRET NO FOREIGN DISSEM) 22 Apr 72 Central Intelligence Bulletin 2 Approved For Release 2005/06/67.~fA-~DP85T00875R000800020089-1 25X1 C Approved For Release 2005/06/c"'UP85T00875R000800020089-1 CZECHOSLOVAKIA: Moscow may have intervened to ease the reported rivalry between party chief Gustav Husak and Vasil Bilak, considered to be the number two man in the party and chief rival to Husak. Bilak, in a routine speech to a trade union meeting this week, suddenly denied that differences exist between himself and Husak and stated that he personally holds Husak in esteem. The existence of a power struggle has been reported I Despite f a t s disclaimer, his remarks convey the impression that significant differences do exist. His statement that "false flattery and unprincipled evasion of problems...always lead to serious conse- quences" is an obvious reference to the "cult of personality" and serves notice that Husak's author- ity may be under challenge. The US Embassy in Prague reports that there have been "rumors" since late February that Husak secretly journeyed to Moscow at that time to com- plain to Brezhn.ev about the activities of his most powerful presidium colleague, a..though there is no evidence that he was in Moscow at that time. Husak was not seen in Czechoslovakia between 23 February, when he attended a party plenum, and 1 March. He missed the important cel-,)ration marking the Com- munist coup of 1948. On 22 March Bilak himself was invited to Mos- cow for a talk with Brezhnev, who may have suggested that he find some public forum in which to demon- strate his support of Husak. Husak's performance since taking over in 1969 apparently has c:tisfied Moscow, and the Soviets may have taken action to assure his continued hold on the party leadership. (SECRET NO FOREIGN DISSEM) 22 Apr 72 Central Intelligence Bulletin Approved For Release 2005/06/05 fI 1 P85T00875R000800020089-1 25X1 C Approved For Release 2005/06/WCiR.-['85T00875R000800020089-1 FRANCE: Although assured of victory in Sunday's referendum on Common Market expansion, the govern- ment has campaigned briskly to limit the number of abstentions. The latest opinion poll, which shows 35 percent planning to abstain, reflects the apathy of a public that feels the enlargement issue is al- ready settled. If abstentions are kept at about that level and if--as the poll suggests--74 percent of those who go to the polls vote yes, President Pompidou can interpret the vote as a strong mandate for his European policy. He has already divided the opposition on the left, and a clear victory will undercut his orthodox Gaullist critics on the right. (CONFIDENTIAL) LEBANON: Voters in two provinces, the South and Biqa' , go to the polls tomorrow in the second of three rounds of parliamentary elections. Elections in the north and Beirut last week went smoothly and produced few surprises, except for the election of one Nasirist candidate in Beirut. Pre-election ac- tivities in Biqa Province, on the other hand, have already resulted in three deaths, and the area has been designated a military zone. The presence of fedayeen in both provinces increases the possibil- ity of incidents during the elections. (CONFIDEN- TIAL) 22 Apr Central Intelligence Bulletin 4 Approved For Release 2005/06A `CAA P85T00875R000800020089-1