The Houston Chronicle states that although the Movimiento El Barzon Agrupacion Civil (Barzon Movement) originated "from a small group of farmers in northwestern Mexico in 1983, the Barzon claims 500, 000 members across Mexico" (26 Feb. 1995). The Financial Times states that El Barzon "claims more than one million members nationwide" (18 June 1996).

Please consult the attachments for additional information on the ideology, activities and political affiliation of this organization. Please note that with respect to political affiliations to specific parties, the secretary-general of the movement hinted that the Barzon Movement may align itself with the Zapatistas in Chiapas if "economic conditions don't improve" (Dallas Morning News 2 Sept. 1995) and that the Barzon Movement has politically aligned itself with the Partido de la Revolución Democrática (PRD) on certain issues (Radio Red Network 9 Sept.1995).

Please refer the following table for information on the states, cities and regions where members of the Barzon Movement have been recently active.

• STATE
• CITY OR REGION
• Baja California
• Tijuana
• (The Arizona Republic 7 Apr. 1995)
• Chiapas (UPI 12 Feb. 1994)
  

Chihuahua

Delicias and Camargo (UPI 20 June 1995)

• Colima
• Colima (La Jornada 24 Aug. 1995)
• Durango (La Jornada 28 Apr. 1995)
  

Guanajuato

Santiago valley (La Jornada 28 Apr.1995)

• Hidalgo
• Pachuca, Tula, Tulancingo, Ixmilquilpan
• (La Jornada 28 Apr. 1995)
• Jalisco
• Guadalajara (AP 7 Nov. 1995)
• Distrito Federal
• Mexico City (Reuters 5 Dec. 1995; Radio
• Red Network 6 Dec. 1995, 4 Aug. 1995;
• Austin American-Statesman 31 Dec.1995.)
• Michoacan (EFE 26 June 1995)
• Morelos
• Cuernavaca (La Jornada 24 Aug. 1995)
• Nuevo Leon (La Jornada 24 Aug. 1995)
• Monterrey (Reuters 4 June 1996,
• The Financial Times 18 June 1996)
• Puebla (La Jornada 28 Apr. 1995)
• Puebla (La Jornada 21 Apr. 1995)
• Xicotapec (La Jornada 28 Apr. 1995)

Queretaro

(La Jornada 24 Aug. 1995;

La Jornada 28 Apr. 1995)

• Quintana Roo
• Cancún (The Financial Times 19 Mar.1996)

Sinaloa (La Jornada 24 Aug. 1995)

• Tamaulinas
• Matamoros
• (The Arizona Republic 7 Apr. 1995)
• Tampico (La Jornada 24 Aug. 1995)
• Veracruz
• Tuxpan (UPI 24 Feb. 1995)
• Yucatan
• Progreso (La Jornada 28 Apr.1995)
• Zacatecas (La Jornada 28 Apr. 1995;
• Zacatecas City (UPI 25 Feb. 1994)
• The Houston Chronicle 26 Feb. 1995;

La Jornada 24 Aug. 1995)

Please note that according to La Jornada, "El Barzon is represented in all parts of the country, except Baja California. A meeting is to be held there next week to spread the movement to that state" (21 Apr. 1995).

Known leaders of the Barzon Movement include the president Juan Jose Quirino (The Guardian 18 Mar. 1996), Alfonso Ramirez Cuellar, the head of Mexico City branch (UPI 27 Dec. 1995) and secretary-general (Dallas Morning News 2 Sept. 1995), and Liliana Flores, a former congresswoman (AP 7 Nov. 1995).

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.

References

The Associated Press (AP). 7 November 1995. PM Cycle. Susana Hayward. "Crushed by Debt, Middle Class Debtors Angry and Fighting Back." (NEXIS)

The Arizona Republic [Phoenix]. 7 April 1995. State Edition. "Mexican Activists Vow to Shut Bridges to U.S." (NEXIS)

Austin American-Statesman. 31 December 1995. "Mexico City Protest." (NEXIS)

The Dallas Morning News. 2 September 1995. Home Final Edition. Tracey Eaton and Alfredo Corchado. "Zedillo Says Worst is Over for Mexico Reaction to Financial Recovery Plan Mixed." (NEXIS)

EFE [Madrid, in Spanish]. 26 June 1995. "El Barzon Movement Threatens to Paralyze Banking System." (FBIS-LAT-95-124 28 June 1995, pp. 12-13)

The Financial Times [London]. 18 June 1996. Leslie Crawford and Daniel Dombey. "News: The Americas: Banks Hold Key to Mexico's Recovery: Businesses Are Starved of Loans in Country's 'Can't Pay, Won't Pay' Culture." (NEXIS)

_____. 19 March 1996. Leslie Crawford. "Mexico's Banks Lick Their Wounds: Gloom Marked Bankers' Annual Get-Together in Cancun Sun." (NEXIS)

The Guardian [London]. 18 March 1996. Phil Gunson. "Mexican Debtors Demand Relief." (NEXIS)

The Houston Chronicle. 26 February 1995. 2 Star Edition. Dudley Althaus. "Economy Pushes Mexico's Middle Class to Protests." (NEXIS)

La Jornada [Mexico City, in Spanish]. 24 August 1995. "El Barzon Movement Criticizes Government Measures." (FBIS-LAT-95-166 28 Aug. 1995, pp. 14-15)

_____. 28 April 1995. Matilde Perez et al. "El Barzon Action in Several States." (FBIS-LAT-95-091 11 May 1995, pp. 6-7)

_____. 21 April 1995. Laura Gomez Flores et al. "New El Barzon Legal Defense Effort." (FBIS-LAT-95-083 1 May 1995, p. 16)

Radio Red Network [Mexico City, in Spanish]. 6 December 1995. Norma Vargas. "El Barzon Movement Demonstrates in Mexico City. (FBIS-LAT-95-234 6 Dec. 1995, pp. 15-16)

_____. 9 September 1995. Rafael Acevez. "PRD, El Barzon, Propose Creation of Plural Committee." (FBIS-LAT-95-175 11 Sept. 1995, p. 24)

_____. 4 August 1995. Norma Vargas. "El Barzon Members Stage Sit-In at U.S. Embassy." (FBIS-LAT-95-151 7 Aug. 1995, pp. 16-17)

Reuters. 4 June 1996. BC Cycle. "Mexican Stocks Thrive, Shrug Off Rate Hike Fears." (NEXIS)

_____. 5 December 1995. BC Cycle. Flor Cordero. "Thousands of Mexican Debtors Protest in Capital." (NEXIS)

United Press International (UPI). 27 December 1995. BC Cycle. "Mexican Debtor Group Leaders Released." (NEXIS)

_____. 20 June 1995. BC Cycle. Mark Stevenson. "Mexican Debtors to Step Up Protests." (NEXIS)

_____. 24 February 1995. BC Cycle. Mark Stevenson. "Debtors' Protest Closes Mexican Banks." (NEXIS)

_____. 25 February 1994. BC Cycle. Tally Neuman. "Mexican Farm Movement Shuts Down Regional Offices." (NEXIS)

_____. 12 February 1994. BC Cycle. Talli Nauman. "Farming Group Receives Support of Mexican Conflict Mediator." (NEXIS)

Attachments

The Associated Press (AP). 7 November 1995. PM Cycle. Susana Hayward. "Crushed by Debt, Middle Class Debtors Angry and Fighting Back." (NEXIS)

The Arizona Republic [Phoenix]. 7 April 1995. State Edition. "Mexican Activists Vow to Shut Bridges to U.S." (NEXIS)

Austin American-Statesman. 31 December 1995. "Mexico City Protest." (NEXIS)

_____. 3 December 1995. David Adams. "In Mexico, Anger Grows as Interest Rates Soar; Citizens' Group El Barzon Turns Growing Tide of Discontent into Political Clout." (NEXIS)

The Dallas Morning News. 2 September 1995. Home Final Edition. Tracey Eaton and Alfredo Corchado. "Zedillo Says Worst is Over for Mexico Reaction to Financial Recovery Plan Mixed." (NEXIS)

EFE [Madrid, in Spanish]. 26 June 1995. "El Barzon Movement Threatens to Paralyze Banking System." (FBIS-LAT-95-124 28 June 1995, pp. 12-13)

The Financial Times [London]. 18 June 1996. Leslie Crawford and Daniel Dombey. "News: The Americas: Banks Hold Key to Mexico's Recovery: Businesses Are Starved of Loans in Country's 'Can't Pay, Won't Pay' Culture." (NEXIS)

_____. 19 March 1996. Leslie Crawford. "Mexico's Banks Lick Their Wounds: Gloom Marked Bankers' Annual Get-Together in Cancun Sun." (NEXIS)

The Guardian [London]. 18 March 1996. Phil Gunson. "Mexican Debtors Demand Relief." (NEXIS)

The Houston Chronicle. 26 February 1995. 2 Star Edition. Dudley Althaus. "Economy Pushes Mexico's Middle Class to Protests." (NEXIS)

La Jornada [Mexico City, in Spanish]. 24 August 1995. "El Barzon Movement Criticizes Government Measures." (FBIS-LAT-95-166 28 Aug. 1995, pp. 14-15)

_____. 25 April 1995. Matilde Perez et al. "El Barzon Actions in Several States." (FBIS-LAT-95-091 11 May 1995, pp. 6-7)

_____. 21 April 1995. Laura Gomez Flores et al. "New El Barzon Legal Defense Effort." (FBIS-LAT-95-083 1 May 1995, p. 16)

Mexico Service (IACSM). 11 March 1994. "Banks Renegotiate Farm Debt." (IAC Newsletter Database/NEXIS)

Radio Red Network [Mexico City, in Spanish]. 6 December 1995. Norma Vargas. "El Barzon Movement Demonstrates in Mexico City. (FBIS-LAT-95-234 6 Dec.1995, pp. 15-16)

_____. 17 November 1995. Antonio Guzman. "Authorities, Bankers, El Barzon to Negotiate on 3 Dec." (FBIS-LAT-95-223 20 Nov. 1995, pp. 27-28)

_____. 9 September 1995. Rafael Acevez. "PRD, El Barzon, Propose Creation of Plural Committee." (FBIS-LAT-95-175 11 Sept. 1995, p. 24)

_____. 25 August 1995. Gustavo Diaz. "El Barzon Leaders Willing to Negotiate on Debtors Proposal." (FBIS-LAT-95-167 29 Aug. 1995, pp. 15-16 )

_____. 4 August 1995. Norma Vargas. "El Barzon Members Stage Sit-In at U.S. Embassy." (FBIS-LAT-95-151 7 Aug. 1995, pp. 16-17)

Reforma [Mexico City, in Spanish]. 29 December 1995. Daniela Pastrana. "Judge Releases Detained El Barzon Movement Leaders." (FBIS-LAT-96-003 4 Jan. 1996, p. 7)

_____. 20 April 1995. Julieta Medina. "El Barzon Decision to Use 'Commandos'." (FBIS-LAT-95-083 1 May 1995, pp. 15-16)

Reuters. 4 June 1996. BC Cycle. "Mexican Stocks Thrive, Shrug Off Rate Hike Fears." (NEXIS)

_____. 5 December 1995. BC Cycle. Flor Cordero. "Thousands of Mexican Debtors Protest in Capital." (NEXIS)

Rocky Mountain News [Denver]. 15 April 1996. Julia Preston. "Mexican Economy Creates Fiscal Rebels Variable Interest Rates on Loans Shake Faith in Banking System." (NEXIS)

United Press International (UPI). 27 December 1995. BC Cycle. "Mexican Debtor Group Leaders Released." (NEXIS)

_____. 20 June 1995. BC Cycle. Mark Stevenson. "Mexican Debtors to Step Up Protests." (NEXIS)

_____. 7 April 1995. BC Cycle. Tim Vandenack. "Mexicans Protest Against Interest Rates." (NEXIS)

_____. 24 February 1995. BC Cycle. Mark Stevenson. "Debtors' Protest Closes Mexican Banks." (NEXIS)

_____. 25 February 1994. BC Cycle. Tally Neuman. "Mexican Farm Movement Shuts Down Regional Offices." (NEXIS)

_____. 12 February 1994. BC Cycle. Talli Nauman. "Farming Group Receives Support of Mexican Conflict Mediator." (NEXIS)

XEW Television Network [Mexico City, in Spanish]. 27 December 1995. "Authorities Arrest Two Leaders of El Barzon Movement." (FBIS-LAT-96-002 3 Jan. 1996, p. 23)

_____. 6 July 1995. "Secretariat Reaches 4 Accords With El Barzon." (FBIS-LAT-95-132 11 July 1995, p. 14)