Dokument #1242938
IRB – Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada (Autor)
The Partido Acción National (PAN) is
currently involved in the race for the upcoming presidential
elections. Its candidate, Diego Fern ndez de Cevallos, is running
third in the polls (Mexico and Nafta Report 24 Feb. 1994, 1;
ibid. 20 Jan. 1994, 2; BBC Summary 20 Jan. 1994). Following closer
alignment of the PAN's leaders with the Partido Revolucionario
Institucional (PRI) over the past few years, a faction of
neopanistas left the PAN to form the Foro Doctrinario
(Mexico and Nafta Report 2 Dec. 1993, 2-3; ibid. 28 October
1993, 3).
An article dated 17 June 1993 indicates
that the PAN held power in three governorships, 96 cities and one
third of the seats in the lower house of the national congress
(Latinamerica Press, 6).
In December 1993, the PAN criticized the
Federal Electoral Institute for approving a high figure for
spending during the presidential elections, thus giving leeway to
spending by the PRI, the wealthiest party (UPI 24 Dec. 1993).
A few weeks earlier, the PAN announced
civil protests in Yucat n after gubernatorial elections in that
state were marred by vote rigging (UPI 2 Dec. 1993). Although Yucat
n is a traditional panista land and the PAN was widely
expected to win by a strong majority, the PRI candidate won the
elections (ibid. 18 Nov. 1993, 3; Latin American Weekly
Report 16 Dec. 1993, 587). The PAN's presidential candidate
accused the PRI of massive fraud and asked:
"What is the point . . . of opening up to economic competition if
we are unable, within Mexico, to respect the law and open up to
political competition. [I fear] that what happened in Yucat n could
be a prelude to what might happen in the presidential elections of
1994" (ibid.)
Municipal elections were also held in Mexico State in November 1993. The PAN captured only one major municipality, while the PRI won in all the others (BBC Summary 18 Nov. 1993).
Earlier in April 1993, PAN and PRI
militants marched through Mérida, Yucat n's capital,
shouting slogans at each other (Latinamerica Press 17 June
1993, 6).
The home of the PAN's candidate for the
post of governor in Yucat n was broken into and her possessions
stolen last November during the state election campaign (UPI 2 Dec.
1993).
Information on beating, jailing,
disappearance and murder of members of the PAN is currently
unavailable to the DIRB in Ottawa.
For further information on the PAN, please
consult the attached documents.
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.
BBC Summary of World Broadcasts. 20
January 1994. "Authentic Party of the Mexican Revolution Nominates
Its Presidential Candidate." (NEXIS)
_____. 18 November 1993. "PRI Wins Most
Municipal Elections in Mexico State; PAN Retains Cuautitlan."
(NEXIS)
Latinamerica Press [Lima]. 17
June 1993. "PAN Gives a Little, Gets a Little in Mexico."
Latin American Weekly Report
[London]. 16 December 1993. "Major Scandal Over Yucat n
Elections."
Mexico and Nafta Report [London].
24 February 1994. "The PRI Starts to Contemplate the Unthinkable:
Electoral Defeat."
_____. 20 January 1994. "Under Starter's
Orders."
_____. 2 December 1993. "C rdenas's
Break for the Middle Ground."
_____. 18 November 1993. "The Importance
of Yucat n: PAN Victory Likely."
_____. 28 October 1993. "Still All to
Play For."
United Press International (UPI). 24
December 1993. "Mexican Election Board Limits Presidential Campaign
Spending." (NEXIS)
_____. 2 December 1993. Angela
Moscarella. "Political Crisis Rocks Mexico's Yucatan State."
(NEXIS)
BBC Summary of World Broadcasts. 20
January 1994. "Authentic Party of the Mexican Revolution Nominates
Its Presidential Candidate." (NEXIS)
_____. 18 November 1993. "PRI Wins Most
Municipal Elections in Mexico State; PAN Retains Cuautitlan."
(NEXIS)
The Christian Science Monitor
[Boston]. 2 November 1993. Kathleen Logan. "Women Gain Ground in
Mexican Politics." (NEXIS)
La Botz, Dan. 1992. Mask of
Democracy: Labor Suppression in Mexico Today. Boston: South End
Press, pp. 106, 123, 136, 151.
Latinamerica Press [Lima]. 17
June 1993. "PAN Gives a Little, Gets a Little in Mexico," p. 6.
Latin American Weekly Report
[London]. 16 December 1993. "Major Scandal Over Yucat n Elections,"
p. 587.
Mexico and Nafta Report [London].
24 February 1994. "The PRI Starts to Contemplate the Unthinkable:
Electoral Defeat," p. 1.
_____. 20 January 1994. "Under Starter's
Orders," pp. 2-3.
_____. 2 December 1993. "C rdenas's
Break for the Middle Ground," pp. 2-3.
_____. 18 November 1993. "The Importance
of Yucat n: PAN Victory Likely," p. 3.
_____. 28 October 1993. "Still All to
Play For," p. 2-3.
Political Handbook of the World:
1992. 1992. Edited by Arthur S. Banks. New York: CSA
Publications, pp. 503-504.
Reuters. 1 September 1993. Eduardo
Kragelund. "Proposed Reform Sparks Racism Debate in Mexico."
(NEXIS)
United Press International (UPI). 24
December 1993. "Mexican Election Board Limits Presidential Campaign
Spending." (NEXIS)
_____. 2 December 1993. Angela
Moscarella. "Political Crisis Rocks Mexico's Yucatan State."
(NEXIS)