BOLIVIA

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP85T00875R001100100042-9
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: S
• Document Page Count: 3
• Document Creation Date: December 21, 2016
• Document Release Date: February 14, 2008
• Sequence Number: 42
• Publication Date: August 21, 1971
• Content Type: IM

Approved For Release 2008/02/14: CIA-RDP85T00875R001100100042-9
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No. 1538/71
CENTRAL INTELLIGENCE AGENCY
Directorate of Intelligence
21 August 1971
INTELLIGENCE MEMORANDUM
BOLIVIA
(Situation Repcrt as of 1300)
1. The US Embassy has received a report that at
11:15 this morning the armed forces commanders gave
President Torres an hour to leave the country. We are
seeking confirmation of this report.
2. All army divisions outside of La Paz, with the
exception of the First Division at Viacha, have joined
the rebel ranks. In addition, the Military Air Trans-
port group has defected to rebel forces. The rebels
now have two aircraft, in Santa Cruz and Cochabamba
respect:i.vely, that can be used to transport rebel troops
to La Paz if they can secure El Alto airbase.
3. Meanwhile, radio Condor in Oruro, controlled
by the rebels, has claimed that peasants from the Potosi
Area plan to march toward La Paz in support of the
rebels. Other overt reports say that army units in
Cochambaba and Oruro will move on La Paz unless President
Torres steps down.
4. Late last night the La Paz military, which re-
mained loyal to Torres, took up positions at El Alto.
The primary objective of the general staff located
there is to avoid a confrontation with rebel forces
State Dept. review
completed
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SECRET
5. I4 President Torres is in fact at El Alto, he
may be preparing to resist any attack on La Paz from
points in the interior, or to leave the country.
6. Press reports indicate that the Torres govern-
ment has requested asylum in Chile for sixty people.
The sixty are said to include retired Army Col. Hugo
Banzer, who was yesterday proclaimed president of
Bolivia by the rightwing opponents-of Torres. Banzer
was one of the 30 people reported arrested Thursday
night in Santa Cruz. However, it is also possible
that Torres was seeking asylum for himself and some
of his followers.
bhU.K?tT
Approved For Release 2008/02/14: CIA-RDP85T00875RO01100100042-9