The Organización Campesina de la Sierra del Sur (OCSS) was formed in March 1994 and is comprised of hundreds of members (The San Diego Union-Tribune 7 July 1996). Hilario Mesino Acosta and Benigno Guzman (LARR 22 Aug. 1996; Reuters 7 Dec. 1996) are reportedly OCSS leaders. For additional information on the OCSS, please consult the attached documents. For information on the killing of 17 OCSS members by the Mexican police in the state of Guerrero in June 1995, please consult the attached Minnesota Advocates for Human Rights report.

This Response was prepared after researching publicly accessible information currently available to the DIRB 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.

Latin America Regional Reports: Mexico and NAFTA Report (LARR) [London]. 22 August 1996. "Nasty Signs: Clamping Down on Indians and the Press." (NEXIS)

Reuters. 7 December 1996. BC Cycle. "Mexico Rebel Group Launches Propaganda Campaign." (NEXIS)

The San Diego Union-Tribune. 7 July 1996. S. Lynne Walker. "Ripe for Rebellion: Government Sends Troops to Guerrero to Head Off Uprising." (NEXIS)

The Guardian [London]. 1 July 1996. Phil Gunson. "Mexican Troops Emergent 'Guerrilla' Group." (NEXIS)

_____. 15 January 1996. Phil Gunson. "Mexico Massacre Arrests Ignore Top-Level Suspects." (NEXIS)

Inter Press Service. 2 July 1996. Diego Cevallos. "Mexico: Rural Leaders Tortured Over Alleged Guerrilla Links." (NEXIS)

Minnesota Advocates for Human Rights (MAHR). December 1995. Massacre in Mexico: Killings and Cover-Up in the State of Guerrero. Minneapolis, Minn.: MAHR, pp. 1-33.

Reuters. 5 March 1996. BC Cycle. David Luhnow. "Zedillo Sends Mexico Massacre Case to Supreme Court." (NEXIS)

_____. 27 February 1996. BC Cycle. "State Governor Cleared in Mexico Peasant Massacre." (NEXIS)

The San Diego Union-Tribune. 7 July 1996. S. Lynne Walker. "Ripe for Rebellion: Government Sends Troops to Guerrero to Head Off Uprising." (NEXIS)