Cable Briefs (Press, 22 March 1984)

On 22 March 1984, significant international developments were reported across various regions. Firstly, a Soviet tanker, identified as the Duiker, sustained serious damage after hitting a mine planted by anti-Sandinist rebels in Puerto Sandino, Nicaragua. The incident resulted in several crew injuries, but the vessel managed to dock safely at the port, according to military sources. In the Caribbean, two United States sailboats carrying 19 individuals were detained by Cuban gunboats while participating in a race from Montego Bay, Jamaica, to Miami. The boats were escorted to the Cuban mainland, and discussions regarding the crews' fate were anticipated between diplomats in Washington and Miami. In Britain, thousands of police were deployed to prevent striking miners from shutting down coalfields, leading to a protest from union leader Arthur Scargill, who claimed the nation was turning into a police state. This marked the second consecutive day of heightened police presence in the English Midlands to thwart picket attempts at collieries where miners voted against participating in the strike. In Southeast Asia, the Indonesian Foreign Minister, Dr Mochtar Kusumaatmadja, announced that Vietnam had agreed in principle to withdraw its 180,000 troops from Kampuchea. However, the Vietnamese are unwilling to accept the return of the ousted Khmer Rouge regime led by Pol Pot. Dr Mochtar shared this information following discussions with his Vietnamese counterpart in Jakarta. Additionally, a scheduled meeting between Vietnamese and Thai diplomats was cancelled due to the Vietnamese Foreign Minister losing his voice. This meeting was part of a trip that included talks in Indonesia and Australia, predominantly focused on Vietnam's military involvement in Kampuchea. The Ford Motor Company is set to exit the Philippines within five months due to substantial losses and challenges within the local automotive industry. According to Ford's Philippines president, John Sagovac, the withdrawal will occur by August after fulfilling production schedules, affecting all of the company's operations in the country. Meanwhile, the Pentagon reported the arrival of a Soviet helicopter carrier, the Leningrad, and a guided missile destroyer, the Udaloy, in the Caribbean. These vessels are being closely monitored as they represent a significant presence of Soviet naval power in the region. In an event highlighting political tensions, seven Czechoslovakian tourists applied for political asylum in the United States or another Western country after failing to rejoin a Soviet cruise liner in Turkey. The group was located and taken to a refugee camp in Istanbul while their asylum status was processed. Finally, the West German Defence Ministry announced that State Secretary Joachim Hiehle, who played a pivotal role in a political scandal linked to the dismissal of General Guenther Kiessling, would retire for health reasons next month. The allegations that led to Kiessling’s sacking were never substantiated, and he was ultimately reinstated by Chancellor Dr Helmut Kohl.

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