Colombia: Independent Liberal Movement (Movimiento Independiente Liberal, MIL); platform and status as a political party; whether it issues membership cards; whether the party is active in local politics in Tuluá, Valle del Cauca; treatment of members (1995 - April 2001)

Described as "left-wing" by the Facts on File World News Digest (3 Mar. 1978), the Independent Liberal Movement (Movimiento Independiente Liberal, MIL) took part in the 1978 elections as a member of the National Opposition Union (Unión Nacional de Oposición, UNO), a coalition of parties which included the Communist Party of Colombia (Partido Comunista de Colombia, PCC) (Political Handbook of the World 1999).

The MIL is not included on lists of registered political parties published by the National Electoral Council (Consejo Nacional Electoral, CNE) (2001) or by the Ministry of Interior's General Directorate on Political and Electoral Issues (Dirección General de Asuntos Políticos y Electorales) (2001).

Among the sources consulted by the Research Directorate, only two reports published between 1980 and 2001 refer to the MIL. The first, published on 24 August 2000 by the Barranquilla newspaper El Heraldo, stated that the MIL was supporting Jorge Ospina Vergara as candidate for mayor of Sincelejo, Sucre in the October 2000 elections. The second report indicated that Fernando Vergara Hernandez, who was seeking election as governor of Sucre, had obtained the backing of the MIL and the liberal Colombia My Country Movement (Movimiento Colombia Mi País) (ibid. 28 Oct. 2000). Both reports identified the Merlano Fernández brothers as the leaders of the MIL without specifying their first names (ibid.; ibid. 24 Aug. 2000).

No information on whether the MIL issues membership cards or is active in Tuluá, Valled del Cauca could be found among the sources consulted by the Research Directorate.

No mention of the treatment of individuals affiliated with the MIL could he found among the sources consulted by the Research Directorate.

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

Consejo Nacional Electoral. 2001. "Listado de partidos con personería jurídica vigente." [Accessed 9 Apr. 2001]

Dirección General de Asuntos Políticos y Electorales, Ministerio del Interior. 2001. "Partidos y movimientos políticos con personería jurídica vigente." [Accessed 9 Apr. 2001]

Facts on File World News Digest [New York]. 3 March 1978. "Liberals Win Elections." (NEXIS)

El Heraldo [Barranquilla]. 28 October 2000. "Nombran Gobernador." [Accessed 12 Apr. 2001]

_____. 24 August 2000. "Candidatos a la alcaldía de Sincelejo." [Accessed 12 Apr. 2001]

Political Handbook of the World 1999. 1999. Edited by Arthur S. Banks. [Accessed 9 Apr. 2001]

Additional Sources Consulted

Alcadía Municipal de Tuluá.

Dirección General de Asuntos Políticos y Electorales, Ministerio del Interior.

IRB databases.

Latin American Regional Reports: Andean Group Report [London]. Jan. 1995-Mar. 2001.

Latin American Weekly Report [London]. Jan. 1995-Mar. 2001.

LEXIS-NEXIS.

Unsuccessful attempts to contact two oral sources.

Internet sites including:

Colombia Human Rights Network.

Elecciones 2000.

El Espectador [Bogotá]. 2001.

National Democratic Institute.

Political Database of the Americas.

Political Resources on the Net.

Semana [Bogotá]. 2001

World News Connection (WNC)