The information that follows was provided during a 31 March 2000 telephone interview by a representative at the National Office of the Zapatista Front of National Liberation (FZLN) in Mexico City.

The Zapatista National Liberation Army (EZLN) has no offices outside Chiapas. However, to conduct a public consultation on 21 March 1999, the EZLN established coordinating offices throughout Mexico. After the consultation took place, those coordinating offices became contact offices (oficinas de contacto) between the FZLN and civil society.

The FZLN is a civilian political institution that has offices in Mexico City and in various states. To finance its activities, the FZLN carries out a variety of fundraising activities. The FZLN also takes part in a variety of public activities, assists in the self-organization (autoorganización) of the population and supports a variety of social movements.

References to the March 1999 Zapatista public consultation held throughout Mexico can be found in news reports available through Regional Documentation Centres.

Various sources report a number of other public activities throughout Mexico in which Zapatista supporters or representatives have participated. One report states that "Since the second week of January 1994, when the Carlos Salinas government (1988 to 1994) ordered an end to the offensive against the EZLN, the group has suspended the fighting, called meetings, national and international get togethers, marched to the capital and received visits from public figures in the forest"(IPS 11 Mar. 1999). One of the most recent references to participation of Zapatista supporters in a public activity is to a February 2000 protest march in Mexico City to demand the release of jailed leaders of a prolonged strike in 1999 at the National Autonomous University of Mexico (UNAM) at Mexico City (Weekly News Update 14 Feb. 2000). The marchers, estimated at more than 100,000, included "virtually all the different tendencies of Mexico's left and grassroots movements," including supporters of the EZLN (ibid.). Also in February 2000, the EZLN reportedly joined "activists from around the country" in supporting students, parents and other activists who demanded the removal of education authorities in a town of the State of Hidalgo (ibid. 21 Feb. 2000).

The FZLN provides in an Internet Website a description of the "Promotional Structure of the FZLN," including its work at municipal and state levels, indicating that there is at least one promotional commission in each state and each municipality of the country, made up of "members of civil society, accredited by the National Organizing Commission" (FZLN 29 Jan. 2000).

No published reports of specific offices or headquarters for either the EZLN or FZLN outside Chiapas could be found among the sources consulted by the Research Directorate. However, various sources refer to liaisons in Mexico City and elsewhere. A 1998 listing of "provisional committees" of the FZLN, for example, lists liaisons for 26 Mexican states, providing names and telephone numbers, and in some cases addresses for the contacts (FZLN 16 July 1998).

Although no specific description or identification of EZLN and FZLN sympathizers throughout Mexico could be found among the sources consulted, the Research Directorate Q&A Paper Mexico: Internal Flight Alternatives explains that the EZLN "is supported by peasant and indigenous organizations throughout Mexico," and describes events that illustrate "the scope of EZLN support." The Q&A Paper Mexico: Armed Insurgent Groups mentions that "the nation-wide, primarily middle-class, El Barzon" extended its support to the EZLN. For additional information on Zapatista supporters and activities, please refer to previous Responses, such as MEX29734.E of 23 July 1998, MEX29323.E of 24 April 1998, MEX25924.E of 29 January 1997, and to the Q&A Papers Mexico: Internal Flight Alternatives (Oct. 1997) and Mexico: Armed Insurgent Groups (May 1997).

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.

Inter Press Service (IPS). 11 March 1999. Diego Cevallos. "Mexico: Guerrillas Leave the Forest to Tour the Nation." (NEXIS)

Weekly News Update on the Americas [New York]. 21 February 20000. "Mexico; Town Seizes Hidalgo Police in School Dispute." (wnu@igc.apc.org)

_____. 14 February 2000. "Mexican Activists: 'Free Them'." (wnu@igc.apc.org)

Zapatista National Liberation Army (EZLN). 29 January 1999. "Promotional Structure of the FZLN." http://www.ezln.org/ fzln/fzln.html [Accessed 30 Mar. 2000]

Zapatista National Liberation Front (FZLN) National Office, Mexico City. 31 March 2000. Telephone interview with representative.

Zapatista National Liberation Front (FZLN). 16 July 1998. "Directorio de la Comision Provisional de Enlace Nacional." http://spin.com.mx/~floresu/FZLN/archivo/ congreso/directorio.htm [Accessed 30 Mar. 2000]