According to the Website of the Libertarian Movement Party (Partido Movimiento Libertario, PML):

Otto Guevara Guth was born on October 13, 1960. He has a law degree from the University of Costa Rica, an MBA in international business from [the] National University, and a Master of Law degree from Harvard University. He was [a] law professor at the University of Costa Rica from 1988 to 1999, and an attorney and international consultant. He also intensively defended free enterprise, writing articles and co-hosting a weekly television program. Co-founder of the Movimiento Libertario [in 1994] along with Rigoberto Stewart and Raúl Costales, he devoted his time exclusively to his legislative duties (2002a).

Moreover, the PML's Website stated that Guth is married to Nancy Clark Monge and that he had three children with her: Sebastian, Felipe, and Mariana (2002b).

Guth was elected congressman (diputado) of the San Jose province on 1 February 1998 (PML 2002b). Apparently, Guth was the first PML member elected to the National Parliament (ibid. 2002a), and during his tenure Guth has garnered a reputation as being the "best congressman" (mejor diputado) in the Legislative Assembly (Tiquicia.com 23 June 2001).

Participacion Ciudadana, a Website promoting citizen participation in Costa Rica, listed Guth as a member of a number of governmental committees such as the permanent commission on economics and the special permanent commission on the control of public income and expenses (n.d.).

In an article of 23 June 2001, Tiquicia.com reported that Guth announced that he would run as a presidential candidate in the 2002 elections with a platform aimed at opening up economic markets and "breaking away from the monopolies that hinder any services" (romper con los monopolios que obstaculicen todo servicio).

According to Electionworld's report on the 2002 elections in Costa Rica, as presidential candidate, Guth gained 1.7 percent of the vote, while his party took 9.3 percent of the vote in the legislative election, earning the PML 6 seats out of a total 57 in the Legislative Assembly (10 Aug. 2002).

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.

Electionworld. 10 August 2002. "Elections in Costa Rica." http://www.electionworld.org/election/costarica.htm [Accessed 11 Feb. 2003]

Participacion Ciudadana. n.d. "Actualidad Parlamentaria." http://www.participacion-ciudadana.or.cr/actualidad/info-diputados/diputados.html [Accessed 10 Feb. 2003]

Partido Movimiento Libertario (PML). 2002a. "Otto Guevara: First Libertarian Congressman in 1998." http://www.libertario.org/en/first_libertarian.htm [Accessed 11 Feb. 2003]

____. 2002b. "Otto Guevara Guth." http://www.libertario.org/otto/otto.htm [Accessed 10 Feb. 2003]

Tiquicia.com. 23 June 2001. "Otto Guevara anuncia su candidatura a la Presidencia." http://www.tiquicia.com/articulos/nacionales/candiOttoG.asp [Accessed 10 Feb. 2003]

IRB databases

World News Connection (WNC)

Internet sites:

Costa Rica, Asamblea Legislativa

Costa Rica, Tribunal Supremo de Elecciones (TSE)

Latin American Network Information Center (LANIC)

Transparencia Internacional Costa Rica

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