Mexico: Treatment of Rastafarians (rastafaris) and members of the Razteca movement
| Publisher | Canada: Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada |
| Author | Research Directorate, Immigration and Refugee Board, Ottawa |
| Publication Date | 29 December 2003 |
| Citation / Document Symbol | MEX42315.E |
| Cite as | Canada: Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada, Mexico: Treatment of Rastafarians (rastafaris) and members of the Razteca movement, 29 December 2003, MEX42315.E, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/485ba86fc.html [accessed 3 November 2019] |
| Disclaimer | This is not a UNHCR publication. UNHCR is not responsible for, nor does it necessarily endorse, its content. Any views expressed are solely those of the author or publisher and do not necessarily reflect those of UNHCR, the United Nations or its Member States. |
No information on the situation or treatment of Rastafarians (rastafaris) could be found among the sources consulted by the Research Directorate.
The Razteca Movement (Movimiento Razteca, MR), purportedly representing a fusion of Mexican culture and Rastafarian philosophy, was the name given to a group of Mexican reggae performers and others who were responsible for organizing the Razteca music festival (Reggae México Razteca n.d.). This festival, described by the newspaper La Jornada as the most important Rastafarian event in the country (3 Apr. 2000), was first held in Mexico City on 13 March 1993, attracting approximately 2,000 people along with such musical groups as the Rastrillos, Antidoping, Walla and Los Yerberos (Reggae México Razteca n.d.). Growing in popularity over subsequent years (La Jornada 11 Nov. 2002a), the festival has become increasingly commercialized, leading several of those originally involved in the movement to disassociate themselves from it (ibid. 2 Dec. 2001). For example, on 11 November 2002 La Jornada published excerpts from an open letter written by former MR members in which they disavowed any link to the sixth Razteca festival (11 Nov. 2002b), held in Mexico City's Colonia Puente de Vigas in November 2002 (ibid. 11 Nov. 2002a).
No information on the treatment of individuals linked either to the MR or the Razteca music festival could be found among the sources consulted.
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
La Jornada [Mexico City]. 11 November 2002a. "Después de dos años, volverá a realizarse el Festival Razteca."
_____. 11 November 2002b. "Ex Movimiento Razteca se desvincula."
_____. 2 December 2001. Patricia Peñaloza. "Mira al cielo, festival-taller para aprender a observar las estrellas."
_____. 3 April 2000. "Más de 12 horas de reggae para 10 mil súbditos de la cultura rasta."
Reggae México Razteca. n.d. "Razteca: principe hijo del sol."
Additional Sources Consulted
IRB databases
Unsuccessful attempts to contact México Rasta and the Comisión de Derechos Humanos del Distrito Federal
Internet sites, including:
Adherents.com
Centro de Derechos Humanos "Miguel Agustín Pro Juárez" (PRODH)
Comisión Nacional de Derechos Humanos (CNDH)
La Crónica de Hoy [Mexico City]
El Heraldo de México [Mexico City]
La Jornada [Mexico City]. 1996-2003
México Rasta
Proceso [Mexico City]
Reggae México Razteca
El Universal [Mexico City]
