In a 15 March 1998 telephone interview with the Research Directorate, an executive assistant to the National Party committee in Tegucigalpa stated that Ocotepeque candidate Ricardo Peña of the National Party was elected to the Honduran Congress during the 30 November 1997 national election. The village of Agua Caliente is located in the municipality of Ocotepeque in the Western Honduran department of the same name. She added that Manuel Humberto Rodríguez was elected president of the National Party's local chapter in Agua Caliente on 1 December 1996. The executive assistant could not provide the name of Rodríguez' predecessor.

Specific information on whether there were incidents of political violence between Liberal Party and National Party supporters in Agua Caliente could not be found among the sources consulted by the Research Directorate. However, AFP and DPA reported on 1 December 1997 that there had been no serious incidents or electoral irregularities reported during the period leading up to the 30 November 1997 national election in Honduras. La Tribuna describes the political atmosphere following the election as festive, peaceful and calm (1 Dec. 1997).This Response was prepared after researching publicly accessible information currently available to the Research Directorate within time constraints. This Response is not, and does not purport to be, conclusive as to the merit of any particular claim to refugee status or asylum. Please find below the list of additional sources consulted in researching this Information Request.

Agence France Presse (AFP). 1 December 1997. "Washington Pleased With Conduct of National Elections in Honduras." (NEXIS)

Deutsche Presse-Agentur (DPA). 1 December 1997. "Carlos Flores Declares Himself Winner in Honduran Presidential Vote." (NEXIS)

National Party, Tegucigalpa. 15 March 1998. Telephone interview with an executive assistant to the party committee.

La Tribuna [Tegucigalpa]. 1 December 1997. "Miles de hondureños fueron excluidos a última hora del censo." [Internet] http://www.latribuna.hn/1997/diciembre/1/ foro.htm [Accessed 13 Mar. 1998]

Central America NewsPak [Austin, Tex.]. 1997-1998.

Central America Report [Guatemala City]. 1997-1998.

Keesing's Record of World Events [Cambridge]. 1997.

La Prensa [Tegucigalpa]. 1997.

Latinamerica Press [Lima]. 1997-1998

Latin American Regional Report: Caribbean & Central America Report [London]. 1997-1998.

Electronic sources: IRB Databases, Global News Bank, LEXIS/NEXIS, Internet, REFWORLD (UNHCR database).