STAFF NOTES: LATIN AMERICAN TRENDS

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP86T00608R000300120018-8
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: S
• Document Page Count: 14
• Document Creation Date: December 19, 2016
• Document Release Date: June 21, 2005
• Sequence Number: 18
• Publication Date: May 7, 1975
• Content Type: REPORT

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~4G1FP GJ?TE:
Latin American Trends
Secret
May 7, 1975
No. 0508/75
126
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LATIN AMERICAN TRENDS
CONTENTS
May 7, 1975
Ecuador: Reopening the Political
Prisoner Controversy, . . . . . . . . . . . 2
Colombia: Labor Reformer Reelected
--With Reservations . . . . . .
Brazil: Vietnamese Reifugees . . . ,
Argentina: Increasing Censorship . . . .
Trinidad-Tobago: Strikes End -
Conference Begins.; . ,
Netherlands Antilles: Local
Election Results . . . . . . . . . . . . .
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Ecuador,.- Reopening the Polit',ral Prisoner Controversy
The military regime's hypersensitivity to'npposi-
.++ion seems undiminished by' its critics' new and in-
creasingly credible charges 6f government harassment.
In fact, the government has'esorted to ,a little-used
tactic in exiling the nation+41 director of the Conserv-
ative Party, Julio Cesar Trd'-jillo, to a remote military
post in the jungle. Trujii.o was charged with holding
an unauthorized political Y).itleting and writing a pamphlet
that allegedly slandered a'cabinet minister.
Banishment to the juri~,Jle was a more common fate
for opponents of the government during the two years fol-
lowing its taking power itn,February 1972. For about a
year now, however, there ;nave been no known political
prisoners. Socialist len?''er Gonzalo Oleas Zambrano, the
last political prisoner of importance prior to the cur-
rent spate of criticism, was released from jungle con-
finement in May 19 74. His release resulted at least in
part from a strong public outcry against the denial of
due process and political imprisonment in general.
Although Trujillo lacks the following of Oleas,
the press is almost certain to make an issue of the case.
This in turn may tempt,'the government to intensify its
campaign against jouri'ialists, at least two of whom have
been arrested recently,,', At that point, editorialists
such as Julio Prado,,1iho is writing from underground to
evade an arrest order,.',';; would surely reiterate their
charge of government'a,arassment. This cycle is likely
to continue until thqC'regime. either tempers its reaction
or cracks down hard ttnou h to silen public criticism.
F
May 7, 1975
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Colombia: Labor Reformer Reelectod-With Reservations
The unexpectedly discordant' reelection of Tulio
Cuevas as president of Colombia's largest labor con-
federation may foreshadow a'slowing of the organiza-
tion's leftward drift.
Since he was first elected president of the Union
of.Colombian Workers (UTC) in 1963, Cuevas has gradual-
ly liberalized the.orgarlization, guiding it away from
its traditional Roman Catholic ties and occasionally
allying it in the past with Communist labor groups.
Cuevas has always been careful to promote only programs
with great appeal to the rank-and-file, thus virtually
guaranteeing the grudging support of more conservative
UTC leaders. Over'the years, his tactics, as well as
his programs, have increasingly antagonized the UTC
hierarchy, although his popularity with the masses has
never diminished.
Cuevas' present' reelection , was by the narrowest
margin of his tenures and the, congress at which the
balloting took place was the' most contentious in recent
memory. After the vote,:the main opposition candidate
and the eight unions supporting him walked out, announc-
ing their intention not to participate in affairs of the
UTC except to.try to reform it. This will strengthen
Cuevas' control of-the organization, but his base will
be somewhat diluted, 'particularly;ifthe dissidents form
a splinter confederation.
For the first time, Cuevas seems to recognize'the
existence 'of a threat to' his. ' position and to the integ-
rity,'of the UTC. Prior to the, election, he tried to work
out "a single compromise slate.of candidates incorpora-
ing as broad an ideological spectrum as possible. The
failure of that effort, combined'with the apparent de-
fection of the dissidents, is likely to subdue. Cuevas
in.the future. He can-,be' expected to show lens progres-
sive zeal and 'more'.'conciliation in 'formulating, UTC:
-
policy and particular
the UTC leadership;.
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Brazil: Vietnamese Refugees
The prospects for securing active Bra"?lian' as-
sistance in the resettlement of large numbers of
Vietnamese refugees do not appea' bright. The non-
committal response to Embassy approaches on this sub-
ject reflects a substantial lack of enthusiasm for
the idea.
Another, perhaps more significant indication
comes from an influential Rio de Janeiro newspaper,
waich sometimes expresses official views. Or May 2
the paper referred to a Foreign Ministry statement
pointing out the "lack of any political motive" for
Brazil to help solve a problem it did not create.
Indeed, Brasilia undoubtedly perceives strong
motives for not helping the US. For one thing, the
administration'may well feel that to assist in any
way with the refugee problem could harm Brazil's
image in the Third World, by identifying Brasilia,
however remotely, with the war in Indochina. More-
over, the current situation provides a perfect op-
portunity for Brazil to make a conspicuous show of
its independence of the US, at little cost to its
relations with this country.
The practical problems of absorbing an influx
of aliens, ill prepared linguistically and in most
cases professionally, to make their own way in a new
environment, are, of course, very real. If and when
the government formally decides in the negative, it
is likely to point to such problems as the reason be-
hind the refusal.
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Argentina: increasing Censorship
The Argentine government has started to ban the
circulation of books it deems "subversive." Accord-
ing to a respected Buenos Aires newspaper, the Office
of Communications recently prohibited the mailing of
several works, including the classic Cuba, Our America,
and the United States by Jose Marti. This move con-
st tins an "about .ace" for the Peronist leaders, who
following their return to power in March 1973 lifted
all censorship restrictions on books and magazines
that had been in force under the preceding military
governments of Ongania, Lev ingston, and Lanusse.
At the same time right-wing terrorists, whose
activities are tacitly supported by Mrs. Peron, have
forced the suspension of the prestigious Panorama
magazine, a weekly publication similar in format to
Time and Newsweek.' The suspension occurred when the
puhtishers,long with several other writers and artists,
left Argentina two weeks ago after receivin assassina-
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Trinidad-Tobago: Strikes End - Conference Begins
The strikes that had crippled the key petroleum
and sugar industries ended late last month with no
final resolution of the issues that caused them, but
it is clear that the government of Prime Minister
Eric Williams emerged on top in both cases. Instead
of the more than 100 percent wage increase that the
oil workers had demanded from the Texaco affiliate,
they eventually accepted the company's offer of a 25
percent interim increase plus a bonus of 6 percent of
1974 wages, with the other outs&hding issues to be
settled by the labor courts. T1ia~ ; sugar workers' dis-
pute, which involved issues such as legal recognition
of unions and profit-sharing, iti addition to wages,
will also be dealt with by the courts, and the workers
have returned to their jobs.
Williams also used the oil workers' strike to
achieve his goal of securing public support for taking
over Texaco's distribution operations, and for obtaining
partial control of the company's 300,000-barrel-per-day
refinery--Texaco's major asset in Trinidad_
Williams' antipathy to multinational corporations
in general was the major theme of his speech to the 16th
session of the UN Economic Commission for Latin America,
which opened in Port of Spain on May 6. As chairman of
the conference, Williams lost no time in launching his
attack and proposing the creation of a center to monitor
the activities of all multi-nationals in Latin America.
May 7, 1975
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Netherlands Antilles: Local Election Results
Unofficial returns from the elections on Curacao,,
Aruba, and Bonaire on April 25 indicate no major sur-
prises (see April 23 Staff Notes) but may foreshadow
some significant policy changes for the three Dutch
dependencies. Approximately 85 percent of the reg-
istered voters cast ballots.
Curacao "Papa" Godett's leftist Workers Libera-
tion Front won a plurality that apparently gives it 8
of the 21 seats in the Curacao Island Council. Before
the election, Godett said that if his party won a
plurality but not a majority he would prefer to form
a governing coalition with the Democratic Party and
might even consider an alliance with the National
People's Party or t;,e Social Democratic Party.
If he emerges with control of the council, Godett
will have the power to create considerable mischief
on Curacao and the other islands. He would be likely
to demand and get a minimum of two ministerial posts
in the Netherlands Antilles central government. Prime
Minister Evertsz would attempt to isolate'Godett's men
but, as a minimum price for their participation in his
cabinet, he would have to accept some leftist policy
initiatives. If economic conditions do not improve be-
fore the next general elections in mid-1977, Godett's
socialist rhetoric and popular but impractical schemes
could increase his appeal and catapult him into a
leadership role in the central government.
Aruba The People's Electoral Movement, apparently
winning 133 of the 21 seats in the Aruba Island Council,
has a clear mandate to press ahead with its demand that
Aruba cut its ties with the central government of the
Netherlands Antilles. Pressure from The Hague, conces-
(dons from the central government,'as well as internal
party differences may still prevent separation.
May .7, 1.975.
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lJanaj ra The incumbent Bonaire Patriotic Union
has apparently captured only 4 of the 9 seats in that
ialand'e council, but it should be able to negotiate
s:i alliance " nabling it to ^ontii nt~n nnvnrn I nn m>nb-1 -In
it has.
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