233. Memorandum From the Chief of the Latin America Division, Central Intelligence Agency ([name not declassified]) to Robert Pastor of the National Security Council Staff1

SUBJECT

  • [less than 1 line not declassified] Information Reports on Panamanian Support to the FSLN of Nicaragua

The following represents a listing and summary of twenty-four [less than 1 line not declassified] Information Reports which describe the involvement of Panama, and specifically the Panamanian National Guard (GN), in providing weapons, ammunition and training to the Sandinist National Liberation Front (FSLN) from September 1978 to the present. The reports were obtained from various [1½ lines not declassified] In my opinion, these reports clearly reveal a direct and official role by Panama in aiding the Sandinist guerrillas.2 In many cases, Panama acted as a conduit3 to facilitate the delivery of weapons and supplies provided to the FSLN by other countries, including Cuba. There is also a large volume of special traffic and military reports which provide substantial confirmation of the clandestine human intelligence reports. In my judgment the totality of the reporting leaves little doubt that Panama has provided substantial support to the FSLN over the past eight months.

[Omitted here are summaries of the referenced reports.]

  1. Source: Carter Library, National Security Affairs, Staff Material, North/South, Box 42, Pastor, Country, Panama, 6/79. Secret; Noforn. All brackets except those that indicate omitted text are in the original.
  2. An unknown hand underlined this sentence.
  3. An unknown hand underlined “a conduit.”