Reports of National Action Party (Partido Accion Nacional, PAN) members intimidating/harassing other PAN members who confront the party about its corruption were limited among the sources consulted by the Research Directorate.

However, a high-profile incident that occurred in September 2001 involved the murder of PAN municipal councillor Maria de los Angeles Tames for attempting to expose corruption by the Mayor of Atizapan, who was also a member of PAN (St. Petersburg Times 28 July 2002). Please refer to MEX41297.FE of 20 March 2003 for more details about this case.

The St. Petersburg Times reported that while the Atizapan story was an extreme case of PAN internal corruption, Tames' father, who was also a PAN member, explained that this was "no exception," (28 July 2002) and later stated that the "PAN has been infected with the same contagion of corruption as the PRI" (Latinamerica Press 2 July 2003). A July 2003 Latinamerica Press article also reported on other incidents of PAN corruption that have led to criminal investigations and convictions for offences such as money laundering, perjury, and extortion (2 July 2004). Moreover, the newspaper a.m., based in Leon, Guanajuato, reported on four incidents in which PAN deputies reportedly "protected" party members involved in acts of corruption in Guanajuato state (a.m. 26 July 2004). According to a.m., PAN members used their majority in the state congress to throw out four reports (dictamenes) calling for criminal indictments against PAN officials who worked in state and municipal government agencies (ibid.).

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

a.m. [Leon, Guanajuato]. 26 July 2004. Catalina Reyes and Miguel Zacarias. "Protege PAN corrupcion." http://www.am.com.mx/imprime.asp?ID=38494 [Accessed 1 Sept. 2004]

Latinamerica Press [Lima]. 2 July 2003. John Ross. Vol. 35, No.13. "Crime Pays: Convicts, Crooks and Their Cronies Run for Political Office." http://www.latinamericapress.org/main.asp [Accessed 2 July 2003]

St. Petersburg Times [Florida]. 28 July 2002. David Adams. "High Hopes Faltering in Mexico." (NEXIS)

An academic source specializing in politics and political parties in Mexico could not provide the information requested.

Internet: Interhemispheric Resource Center - Americas Program, La Jornada [Mexico City], Mexidata.info, Overseas Security Advisory Council (OSAC), Partido Accion Nacional (PAN) Website, Resource Center of the Americas, El Universal [Mexico City].