No information about a group called "Antorcha Popular Campesina" could be found among the sources consulted by the Research Directorate; however, there was information about a group called "Peasant Torch" (Antorcha Campesina). According to its own Website, Peasant Torch is a leftist political and legal organization created in 1974 to defend the interests of marginalized rural and urban communities in Mexico (Antorcha Campesina n.d.). Peasant Torch's Website also indicates that there are 75 regional leaders across the country and one national Secretary General (ibid.).

Please refer to MEX27351.E of 14 August 1997 and MEX31259.E of 3 March 1999 for information about Peasant Torch, and MEX37863.E of 18 September 2001 for a description of a violent confrontation between Peasant Torch members and followers of the Organization of Towns and Urban Communities (Organizacion de Pueblos y Colonias, OPC) after a 17-18 August 2000 take-over of Chimalhuacan city hall by OPC members.

No information about the take-over of a federal building in Mexico City by Peasant Torch members in early 2000 could be found among the sources consulted by the Research Directorate.

With regard to the Francisco Villa Popular Front (Frente Popular Francisco Villa, FPFV), MEX38341.E of 17 January 2002 provides a description of the group's origins, leaders, activities, number of members, location, and its involvement in land disputes in Mexico City. MEX37951.E of 28 November 2001 also reports on whether the FPFV was involved in any land disputes in the vicinity of a nature reserve in Ajusco.

No information about the take-over of a federal building by FPFV members in early 2000 could be found among the sources consulted by the Research Directorate; however, one news source reported a January 2000 protest of about 150 FPFV members in front of the East Preventive Prison (Reclusorio Preventivo Oriente) in Mexico City (La Jornada 11 Jan. 2000). After the arrest of FPFV leader, Alejandro Lopez Villanueva, as a suspect in the murder of judge Abraham Polo Uscanga, security officials had reportedly prepared themselves for a "violent reaction" (reaccion violenta) from FPFV supporters (ibid.). After protesting and demanding the release of Villanueva in front of the office of judges at the prison for two and a half hours, the FPFV supporters then blockaded a street for 15 minutes before dispersing (ibid.).

No information about whether there are links between the police, Peasant Torch and the FPFV or whether state protection is available to persons threatened or harassed by these groups could be found among the sources consulted by the Research Directorate. However, in respect to state protection, please refer to the country report on Mexico that was prepared in 2002 for inclusion in the 2003 edition of the World Factbook of Criminal Justice Systems at http://www.ojp.usdoj.gov/bjs/pub/ascii/wfcjsmx.txt. As well, Amnesty International has provided a March 2003 report on the Mexican criminal justice system that is available online at http://web.amnesty.org/aidoc/aidoc_pdf.nsf/Index/AMR410072003ENGLISH/$File/AMR4100703.pdf.

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.

References

Antorcha Campesina. n.d. "¿Que es Antorcha Campesina?" http://www.antorchacampesina.org.mx/fram2.htm [Accessed 14 Nov. 2003]

La Jornada [Mexico City]. 11 January 2003. Angel Bolanos Sanchez. "Anticiparon a El Grandote la formal prision." http://www.jornada.unam.mx/2000/ene00/000111/cap2.html [Accessed 14 Nov. 2003]

Additional Sources Consulted

IRB databases

World News Connection/Dialog

Internet sites, including:

Amnesty International

Centro de Investigaciones Economicas y Politicas de Accion Comunitaria, A.C. (CIEPAC)

Freedom House

Human Rights Watch

El Independiente [Mexico City]

Mexico, Procuraduria Agraria

Reforma [Mexico City]

El Universal [Mexico City]

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