No reports of federal deputies of the Party of the Democratic Revolution (Partido de la Revolución Democratica, PRD) being harassed or mistreated by the Judicial Police or by agents of the Institutional Revolutionary Party (Partido de la Revolución Institucional, PRI) could be found among the sources consulted by the Research Directorate.

However, some reports provide information on violence against PRD members, particularly in Guerrero State, that involves the PRI party or the Judicial Police.

According to a 24 February 1998 IPS report, some 270 members of the PRD have been killed over the last three years. Ovando y Gil Foundation, a group that provides support to the families of PRD victims, stated in the report that members of the party were most at "risk" in the states of Guerrero, Oaxaca, Chiapas and Michoacan.

La Jornada reported in July 1998 that Alfredo Barragan Renteria, leader of the PRD in Guerrero State, was kidnapped allegedly by members of a paramilitary group or by Judicial Police agents following a PRD rally in Chilpancingo (27 July 1998).

In another incident in Guerrero State, the PRD blamed state police for the death of Pedro Romero Macedo, a party activist (AP 4 Aug. 1998). According to the report, Romero Macedo was involved in an anti-corruption campaign against the PRI mayor in the municipality of Tlachapa, who had been accused of diverting local funds. The PRD asserted in the report that it was the subject of a "harassment campaign" by the ruling PRI in the State of Guerrero and that some of its members had been detained by police.

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

The Associated Press (AP). 4 August 1998. "Opposition Activist's Body Found in Western Mexico." (NEXIS)

Inter Press Service (IPS). 24 February 1998. Diego Cevallos. "Rights-Mexico: Impunity For Hundreds of Murderers of Opponents." (NEXIS)

La Jornada [Mexico City]. 27 July 1998. "Guerrero Community Activists Kidnapped." (FBIS-LAT-98-209 28 July 1998/WNC)

Excélsior [Mexico City]. 1997-1999.

Inter-American Commission on Human Rights. 1998. Report on the Situation of Human Rights in Mexico.

Latinamerica Press [Lima]. 1997-1999.

Latin America Regional Reports: Mexico&NAFTA Report [London]. 1997-1999.

Mexico NewsPak [Austin, Tex.]. 1997-1999.

NACLA Report on the Americas [New York]. 1997-1999.

Electronic sources: IRB Databases, REFWORLD, LEXIS/NEXIS, Internet, WNC News Connection.