For information on armed actions committed by the EZLN against the landowners in Chiapas, 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.

Attachments

Americas Watch. 1 March 1994. Mexico: The New Year's Rebellion: Violations of Human Rights and Humanitarian Law During the Armed Revolt in Chiapas, Mexico. New York: Human Rights Watch, p. 15, p. 21.

The Christian Science Monitor [Boston]. 14 April 1994. David Clark Scott. "Chiapas Ranchers Vow to Take Law into Their Own Hands." (Mexico NewsPak [Austin], 11-24 Apr. 1994, Vol. 2, No. 6, pp. 1-2)

_____. 3 March 1994. David Clark Scott. "Chiapas Peasants Reclaim Land They Say Was Stolen by Ranchers." (Mexico NewsPak [Austin], 28 Feb.-13 Mar. 1994, Vol. 2, No. 3, p. 8)

Dallas Morning News. 4 July 1994. Tracey Eaton. "Chiapas Militants Speed Up Drive for Land." (Mexico NewsPak [Austin], 20 June-3 July 1994, Vol. 2, No. 11, pp. 4-5)

The Houston Chronicle. 30 January 1995. "Mexican Ranchers Eager to Regain Land." (Mexico NewsPak [Austin], 16-29 Jan. 1995, Vol. 2, No. 26, pp. 9-10)

_____. 26 November 1994. "Activists in Chiapas Kidnap 2 Ranchers Over Land Dispute." (Mexico NewsPak [Austin], 21 Nov.-4 Dec. 1994, Vol. 2, No. 22, p. 7)

Inter Press Service. 19 January 1994. Pablo Iacub. "Mexico: Gubernatorial Merry-Go-Round Highlights Political Crisis."

La Jornada [Mexico City]. 12 January 1995. David Aponte. "'White Guards' Acting with Impunity." (Mexico NewsPak [Austin],

2-15 Jan. 1995, Vol. 2, No. 25, p. 10)

_____. 10 June 1994. Elio Henríquez & José Gil Olmos. "Oceítas Detain 8 People in Comitán, Chiapas." (Mexico NewsPak [Austin], 6-19 June 1994, Vol. 2, No. 10, p. 3)

The New York Times. 17 February 1994. Anthony DePalma. "Mexican Negotiator Meets Rebels as Former Governor is Released." (Mexico NewsPak [Austin], 14-27 Feb. 1994, Vol. 2, No. 2, p. 2)

Reuters. 31 January 1994. BC Cycle. Kieran Murray. "Mexico's
Mayan Rebels Strike at Heart of Ranchers' Power." (NEXIS)

_____. 23 January 1994. BC Cycle. Kieran Murray. "Mexico Peace Envoy, Rebels to Hold Talks." (NEXIS)

San Antonio Express News. 29 May 1994. "Peasant Leaders Removed from Ranches in Chiapas." (Mexico NewsPak [Austin], 23 May-5 June 1994, Vol. 2, No. 9, p. 10)

The Toronto Star. 28 January 1994. Final Edition. "Mexican Peasants Flee as Rebels Gain Control." (NEXIS)

United Press International. 27 January 1994. BC Cycle. Laurence Iliff. "Rights Groups Say Abuses Continue in Southern Mexico." (NEXIS)

Additional Sources Consulted

Foreign Broadcast Information Service (FBIS) Reports. Daily.

Human Rights Watch. 1995. Human Rights Watch World Report. New York: Human Rights Watch.

Inter-Church Committee on Human Rights in Latin America (ICCHRLA). Yearly. Annual Reports: General Concerns and Brief Country Reports.

Keesing's Record of World Events. 1994. Edited by Roger East. London: Longman.

Latin America Update [Washington]. 1994.

Latinamerica Press [Lima]. 1994.

Latin American Newsletters [London]. 1994.

On-line searches.