LATIN AMERICA - 10. NEW GUERRILLA INCURSION IN NICARAGUA

Created: 5/10/1960

OCR scan of the original document, errors are possible

HISTORICAL REVIEW PROGRAM RELEASE AS7

LATIN AMERICA

Guerrilla Incursion tn Nicaragua; Patrols of the Nlcaraguan National Guardhreeand of guerrillas in tho mountainous along the Honduras borderay, according to guard commander General Anastasio Somoza. The guerrillas abducted an American citizen whoanch In the area and apparently are holding bin hostage. The band hasretired back across the Ronduran border, but new raids are likely. The raids occurred near territorybetween Nicaragua and Honduras. President Luis Somoza has tried thus far without success to convene the Mixed Militaryoint Honduran-Nlcaraguan militaryeries of border Incidents

General Soaoza, who estimated the guerrillas to number abouttra'.ncd, disciplinedold tbe American Embassy he has unverified reports that the guerrillas have been In radio communication with Cuba; he said local residents report seeing aircraft land on tho Honduran side and disembark "boarded personnel."

There is no indication that this band of guerrillas will be any more effective against the Somoza government than the numerous others that have raided Nlcaraguan territory in the past year. Other small bands of would-be rebels operating in this area as well as along the Costa Rlcan border failed to win support from the local populace and eventually wore

Is doubtful that the current guerrilla raids werefrom Cuba, but there may be Cubans in the band, and the leaders may have received material assistance from the Castro regime. President Somoza identified tho loaders of the band as pro-Communists who are sympathetic to the Castro regime, and believes that the present incursion is only continuing olan of svstematlc armed attacks

May 60

INTELLIGENCE DIGEST

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