Central America: A Gamble on Terror

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Description: A view of Central American political and social troubles during the Twentieth Century and the impact of American foreign policy. Soviet and foreign newsreels were used in this film. The credits express thanks to the revolutionary cinema workers of El Salvador.
Duration: 27 mins 45 secs
Director: I. Sveshnikova
Credits: Script: Sergei Losev and Igor Timofeev Camera: Alexander Minaev Sound: V. Dorfman [Russian text read by V. Tatarsky]
Year: 1981
Subjects: Political conflicts, USA, Human rights violations, Revolutions, Oppression, Foreign policy, South America, Guerilla activities, Military operations
Segment 1: Press conference in Nicaragua. CIA representative speaks of 'secret war' being waged by the USA against Central American countries in order to suppress the revolutionary movements in countries such as El Salvador and Guatemala and Panama. Footage from various countries and their revolutions. Cuba, Castro addresses crowds stating that the revolutionary movement is invincible. Revolution in Nicaragua against the Samoza regime. El Salvador and the people's movement against the pro-American leadership. Clip from US and NBC news suggesting US panic at Left wing movements in Central America. Exterior shot of The White House. Ronald Reagan denounces the national liberation movements as acts of terrorism. US Secretary of State General Hague also announces a call for action against the movements. Weinberger, Secretary of Defence calls for the use of Rapid Deployment Forces. Footage of the CIA buildings. Funding of Secret Armies by the CIA. A counter-revolutionary speaks of his political point of view. Description of atrocities committed against Cuba. Chief of Cuban Counter Revolutionary CIA Agent speaks of the importance of US foreign policy in Cuba trying to bring about the fall of Castro. Plight of Cuban refugees in America. Includes interviews with Cubans now engaged in counter revolutionary activities in the USA.
Segment 2: Counter-revolutionary military supplies. Border between Nicaragua and Honduras. A Nicaraguan border guard speaks of counter revolutionary movements in Honduras. Footage of counter revolutionary training camps. Interview with a training camp agent who speaks of operations in Panama, Guatemala, Columbia, Mexico and atrocities in Cuba. Footage of Castro during the revolution and description of CIA attempts to assassinate him. A Senate Commission questions Richard Helms, CIA Chief, in regard to assassination plots to kill Castro. Further footage of counter revolutionary training camps. Agent describes training. Footage of the pro-American 'Panther' troops in Guatemala. Guatemalan civilians mourn at funerals. Samoza's troops in training. Ruins and economic despair in Nicaragua. Victims describe torture and atrocities under Samoza's regime including footage of the mass graves in volcano craters. Atrocities in El Salvador.
Segment 3: CIA relations with El Salvador regime includes President Napoleon Duarte. Atrocities against civilians in El Salvador by Junta movement. Revolutionary speaks of CIA involvement with El Salvador regime. Accusations of genocide in El Salvador committed by Junta and local sympathisers. Footage of recruits. A recruiting agent speaks of 'hunting humans'. Further footage of Junta troops. Revolutionaries develop and manufacture their own weapons. Farabundo Marti Popular Liberation Forces (Fuerzas Populares de Liberacion Farabundo Marti (FPL)). Radio Venceremos broadcast is heard on soundtrack followed by the slogan 'We Will Win', the oath of the patriots. Official statistics describing atrocities throughout Central America.
Persistent URL: http://edina.ac.uk/purl/isan/0002-0000-0036-0000-0-0000-0000-0
Written and compiled by the British Universities Film & Video Council © BUFVC 2005
Subject classification by University of Edinburgh Library © 2006