Guatemala: Information on whether the failure to vote in a national election could result in an individual being targeted by police and/or paramilitary groups
| Publisher | Canada: Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada |
| Author | Research Directorate, Immigration and Refugee Board, Canada |
| Publication Date | 1 November 1994 |
| Citation / Document Symbol | GTM19025.E |
| Cite as | Canada: Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada, Guatemala: Information on whether the failure to vote in a national election could result in an individual being targeted by police and/or paramilitary groups, 1 November 1994, GTM19025.E, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/3ae6abd920.html [accessed 17 September 2023] |
| 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. |
In a 17 November 1994 letter sent to the DIRB in Ottawa, the Oficina de Derechos Humanos Arzobispado de Guatemala stated that it has no records of people receiving threats for not voting in a national election. This office added that voting is not mandatory under the Constitution (17 Nov. 1994; see also Country Reports for 1992, 412; Country Reports for 1991, 620).
The same office reported, however, that in the January 1994 referendum on constitutional reforms, people in the Quiché region were pressured to vote "yes" by paramilitary Civil Patrols (Latin America Press 3 Feb. 1994, 1). Public employees in the region had to vote out of fear of losing their jobs (Latin America Press 3 Feb. 1994, 1).
Further information could not be found. However, for information on voter turnout in the latest national congress elections in August 1994, please refer to the attached documents. Also attached are documents on the low participation of voters in the 9 May 1994 municipal elections and the January 1994 referendum on constitutional reforms. These documents might be of interest.
This response was prepared after researching publicly accessible information currently available to the DIRB 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.
References
Latinamerica Press [Lima]. 3 February 1994. Trish O'Kane. "Guatemalans Ignore Referendum en Masse."
Oficina de Derechos Humanos, Arzobispado de Guatemala, Guatemala City. 17 November 1994. Letter sent to the DIRB in Ottawa.
Attachments
Central America Report [Guatemala city]. 19 August 1994. Vol. 21, No. 31. "Guatemala: Conservative Wins Congress; Most Voters Stay Home," pp. 1-3.
. 14 May 1994. Vol. 20, No. 17. "Guatemala: Municipal Elections: Absenteeism the Big Winner, " pp. 132-33.
. 4 February 1994. Vol 21, No. 4. "Guatemala: Voters Abstain, Crisis Remains," pp. 4-5.
Centroamerica [Minneapolis]. September 1994. Vol. 9, No. 9. "Guatemala: Rios Montt's Party Sweeps Elections," p. 2.
Houston Chronicle. 1 February 1994. "Guatemala Referendum." (Central America Newspak [Austin, Tex]. 24 Jan.-6 Feb. 1994, p. 9)
Inter Press Service (IPS). 19 August 1994. Fabiana Frayssinet. "Right Wins Abstention-Marred Legislative Elections." (Central America Newspak [Austin, Tex]. 8-21 Aug. 1994, pp. 5-6)
Latinamerica Press [Lima]. 3 February 1994. Trish O'Kane. "Guatemalans Ignore Referendum en Masse," pp. 1-2.
Miami Herald. 15 August 1994. "Amid Skepticism, Guatemalans Vote." (Central America Newspak [Austin, Tex]. 8-21 Aug. 1994, p. 5)
. 31 January 1994. Tim Johnson. "Guatemalans Vote for Reform." (Central America Newspak [Austin, Tex]. 24 Jan.-6 Feb. 1994, p. 8)
Oficina de Derechos Humanos, Arzobispado de Guatemala, Guatemala City. 17 November 1994. Letter sent to the DIRB in Ottawa.