Information on a political movement called Izquierda Socialista, 1989-97 [CHL27215.E]

Please find attached the only published reference to a political group called Socialist Left, or Izquierda Socialista, found among the sources consulted by the DIRB. The attached 8 April 1997 CHIP News article reports the departure from the Socialist Party (Partido Socialista, PS) ranks of a group of dissidents led by Francisco Rivas, who announced the creation of a new political party named Socialist Left.

Representatives of three of Chile's main human rights organizations and of the Socialist Party of Chile, all in Santiago, stated during a 5 August 1997 telephone interview that their organizations have no recollection or record related to an established political group called Izquierda Socialista. All four sources stated that Francisco Rivas had recently parted from the Socialist Party, although none was certain of which formal name his newly formed group might have adopted, if any. The Socialist Party representative stated that there is no political party in Chile with the name Izquierda Socialista, and added that Francisco Rivas might be trying to establish a political party with that name, although the status of his group is currently uncertain. The telephone directory assistance service was unable to locate a telephone number for a group called Izquierda Socialista in Santiago or Valparaiso.

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. Please find below the list of sources consulted in researching this Information Request.

References


Agrupacion de Familiares de Detenidos Desaparecidos, Santiago. 5 August 1997. Telephone interview with representative.

Comision Chilena de Derechos Humanos, Santiago. 5 August 1997. Telephone interview with representative.

Comision Chilena de Reparacion y Reconciliacion, Santiago. 5 August 1997. Telephone interview with representative.

Partido Socialista de Chile, Santiago. 5 August 1997. Telephone interview with representative.

Telephone directory assistance, Santiago. 5 August 1997.

Attachment


CHIP News [Santiago]. 8 April 1997. "Current Events Briefs: Dissidents Leave Socialist Party." [Internet] [Accessed 14 May 1997]

Additional Sources Consulted


Amnesty International Report. Yearly.

Andean Newsletter [Lima]. Monthly.

Communist and Marxist Parties of the World. 1990. London: St. James Press.

Countries of the World and Their Leaders Yearbook. 1988-present. Yearly. Detroit: Gale Research Inc.

Country Reports on Human Rights Practices. Yearly.

The Europa World Year Book [London]. Yearly.

Foreign Broadcast Information Service (FBIS) Reports. Daily.

Human Rights Watch World Report. Yearly

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

Latinamerica Press [Lima]. Weekly.

Latin American Regional Reports: Southern Cone Report [London].

LCHR Critique: Review of the Department of State's Country Reports on Human Rights Practices. Yearly.

News from Americas Watch [New York]. Monthly.

Political Handbook of the World. Yearly. Edited by Arthur S. Banks. New York: CSA Publications.

Political Parties of the Americas, 1980s to 1990s: Canada, Latin America and the West Indies. 1992. Westport, CT: Greenwood Press.

Problèmes d'Amérique latine [Paris]. Quarterly.

Revolutionary and Dissident Movements: An International Guide. 1991. Edited by Henry W. Degenhartd. London: Longman.

South America, Central America & the Caribbean [London]. Yearly.

World Encyclopedia of Political Systems and Parties. 1987. 2nd ed. Vol. 1. Edited by George E. Delury. New York: Facts on File Publications.

Yearbook on International Communist Affairs. 1989. Edited by Richard F. Starr. Stanford, Ca: Hoover Institution Press.

Material from the Indexed Media Review (IMR) or country files containing articles and reports from diverse sources (primarily dailies and periodicals) from the Weekly Media Review.

Newspapers and periodicals pertaining to the appropriate region.

Internet, IRB and UNHCR databases.

Note:

This list is not exhaustive. Country-specific books available in the Resource Centre are not included.