The Panchitos (Los Panchitos) extort protection money from shop owners in the areas of Observatorio and around the police station Miguel Hidalgo by threatening them (El Universal 14 Aug. 2000). The Public Ministry (Ministerio Publico) had 30 agencies investigating the Panchitos after one of the shop owners filed a complaint (ibid.). As a result, Alejandro Lopez Hernandez, Jose Eduardo Martinez Bastida and Pablo Rosales Huerta were arrested for having obtained more than 150 thousand pesos from their illegal activities (ibid.). They were accused of extortion and aggravated theft and brought before a criminal judge (ibid. 17 Aug. 2000).

Comprised of ex-Panchito members such as Andres Castellanos, also known as "El Pancho Mayor," the "Consejo Popular Juvenil 'Ricardo Flores Magon'" was founded in 1985 (Biblioteca 1996). It offers rehabilitation and new opportunities in life to young drug addicts (El Universal 4 June 2000).

An ex-member of the Panchitos, Humberto Morgan Colon, known as "El Morgan," claims to have been marginalized by the members of the National Action Party (Partido Accion Nacional) because of his previous membership in the street gang (Reforma 10 Mar. 2003).

A movie entitled La Banda De Los Panchitos was made in 1985 (Academia Mexicana de Artes y Ciencias Cinematographicas. n.d.) with the "authentic gangs" portraying the activities of the "Panchitos" gang (Compañia OXXO n.d.).

No reference to the targeting of homosexuals could be found among the sources consulted by the Research Directorate.

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.

Academia Mexicana de Artes y Ciencias Cinematographicas. n.d. "XXIX Entrega del Ariel (1987)." http://www.academia-ariel.org.mx/academia/e29.htm [Accessed 28 May 2003]

Biblioteca ciudades para un futuro mas sostenible. 1996. "Proyecto de Animacion Urbana AXIS (Mexico)." http://habitat.aq.upm.es/bpal/onu/bp204.html [Accessed 23 May 2003]

Compañia OXXO. n.d. "Todos los titulos (All Titles): La Banba de los Panchitos (The Panchitos Gang)." http://www.oxxofilms.com/www/cart/customer/product.php?productid=246&cat=&page=&PHPSESSID=c729864e1dc5966d3b31b640b684454f [Accessed 21 May 2003]

El Universal [Mexico City]. 17 August 2000. Silvia Otero. "Accion penal contra 'Panchitos'." http://www.el-universal.com.mx/pls/impreso/version_imprimir?id_nota=14308&tabla=ciudad_h [Accessed 21 May 2003]

_____. 14 August 2000. Ricardo H. Andonaegui. "Detienen a tres miembros de 'Los Panchitos'." http://www.el-universal.com.mx/pls/impreso/version_imprimir?id_nota=14226&tabla=ciudad_h [Accessed 21 May 2003]

_____. 4 June 2000. Rafael Gonzalez. "'Padroteara' Silva votos, advierten." http://www.el-universal.com.mx/pls/impreso/version_imprimir?id_nota=11830&tabla=ciudad_h [Accessed 21 May 2003]

Reforma [Mexico City]. 10 March 2003. Alberto Gonzalez. "Renuncia 'El Morgan" al PAN." http://www.reforma.com/ciudaddemexico/articulo/276299/default.htm [Accessed 21 May 2003]

IRB Database

LEXIS/NEXIS

World News Connection

Internet sites, including:

Gaceta [MexicoCity]

La Cronica de Hoy [MexicoCity]

La Jornada [MexicoCity]

Mexico Online

Sol De Mexico [MexicoCity]

Washington Post, Mexico