Student unrest at the University of Puebla involving porros between 1997 and June 1999 [MEX38415.E]

No reports of unrest at universities in Puebla involving porros (partisan gangs or groups of thugs) between 1997 and June 1999 could be found among the sources consulted by the Research Directorate. Please note that the research conducted for this Response dealt with the specific subject of porros and with universities in Puebla in general, not with specific forms of unrest that may have occurred at a particular university in the state of Puebla or in its capital city, Puebla.

Please note that one source states that the city of Puebla alone has at least 20 different universities; however, these include institutions that do not necessarily carry the word "university" in their name (such as the National Institute of Astrophysics, Optics and Electronics), and may include some national universities that have campuses in Puebla (UPAEP 27 Dec. 2000). The Cultural Information System of Mexico (Sistema de nformación Cultural) currently lists at least 19 universities located in Puebla (SIC 21 Mar. 2002). Various listings of universitites of Puebla, including the latter two sources cited, include educational institutions such as the Puebla Technological Institute and National Institute of Astrophysics, indicating that these offer professional and post-graduate degrees. The State of Puebla currently lists 11 institutions it describes as universities of the state of Puebla, carrying the word "university" in their name (Gobierno del Estado de Puebla 18 Mar. 2002).

No references to a university with the name "University of Puebla" (Universidad de Puebla) could be found among the sources consulted by the Research Directorate. Please note that the Autonomous University of Puebla (Benemérita Universidad Autónoma de Puebla, UAP), which is over 420 years old, was named "Universidad de Puebla" in 1937, became an autonomous institution in 1957, and added to its name the title of "Benemérita" in 1987 (UAP 24 Oct. 2001). The name "Universidad de Puebla" forms part of the UAP coat of arms (ibid. 26 Oct. 2001).

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.

References


Gobierno del Estado de Puebla, Puebla. 18 March 2002. "Universidades." http://www.puebla.gob.mx/entretenimiento/universidades.html [Accessed 20Mar. 2002]

Sistema de Información Cultural (SIC), Mexico City. 21 March 2002. "Infraestructura Cultura-Universidades-Estado: Puebla." http://sic.conaculta.gob.mx/infraestructura/universidades/estado.php3?estado=Puebla [Accessed 21 Mar. 2002]

Benemérita Universidad Autónoma de Puebla (UAP), Puebla. 26 October 2001. "Historia: Escudo." http://www.buap.mx/historia/escudo.htm [Accessed 21 Mar. 2002]

_____. 24 October 2001. "Historia: Cuatro Siglos." http://www.buap.mx/historia/csiglos3.htm [Accessed 21 Mar. 2002]

Universidad Popular Autónoma del Estado de Puebla (UPAEP), Puebla. 27 December 2000. "Puebla: Ciudad de Universidades." http://www.upaep.mx/puebla/ [Accessed 21 Mar. 2002]

Additional Sources Consulted


El Universal [Mexico City]. 1997-1999.

IRB Databases.

La Jornada [Mexico City]. Searchable archives. 1997-1999.

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

Internet websites and search engines.
Note:

This list is not exhaustive. Country-specific publications available at the Resource Centre are not included.