7/8/2020 Mexico 9768, 9780 and 9828 59. As to the absence of pressure on Chilean voters during the 1988 plebiscite, the Commission points out in the abovementioned Annual Report, “the existence of a wide range of resources employed by the government, whose effect is to cast a favorable light on its policies among citizens. Some of these resources, consist in legal norms and others are practices indulged in because of lack of controls to present these government actions.” (page 308) 60. In this regard the Commission points out three types of situations: the intimidation campaign as a result of official statements on the effects of a triumph of the opposition, the activities carried out by mayors and the threats and actions against opposition leaders originating from unidentified groups which have been occasionally linked to security forces (page 308). 61. In its Report on the Human Rights Situation in Panama in 1989, the Commission stated regarding the electoral process that lead to the elections of May 7, 1989: The general conditions in which the process was taking place … were slanted in favor of the ruling party coalition and against the opposition because of the lack of freedom of expression, the serious restrictions on the opposition’s right to personal liberty, the grave violations of the right of assembly and the intimidation of members of the opposition and pressures exerted against voters to support the ruling party candidates, both by high-ranking government officials and by officers of the Defense Forces. (Page 52) ii. Organization of the voting process 62. Another aspect linked to the authenticity of elections is the organization of electoral process and the actual casting of voters. With regard to this subject there have also been numerous statements by the Inter-American Commission in connection with specific situations analyzed in its annual or special reports. Some extracts are included in order to refer to their main features. 63. Therefore, in the 1978 Report on the Situation of Human Rights in El Salvador, after analyzing the exercise of political rights, the Commission reaches the following conclusion: There is a generalized skepticism on the part of citizens with regard to the right to vote and participation in government. In particular, opposition political parties go as far as doubting the possibility of having pure and free elections, but also with respect to the structure of the electoral system and the obstacles which parties face to organize in the interior of the country. Because of all this, the Commission is of the opinion that electoral rights are not effective in the present circumstances. 64. In view of the aforementioned, the Commission recommends to the Government of El Salvador in that Report to “Reform the electoral system, especially reorganizing the Central Council on Elections with the aim of achieving an equitable representation of political parties in it so that confidence in the system is restored.” (page 153) 65. In the Seventh Report on the Situation of Human Rights in Cuba, in 1983, the Commission deems that one of the elements that determines the limited political participation of the population in important matters is the result of electoral mechanisms and control exercised over it by the Government and the Cuban Communist Party. After analyzing the principal characteristics of the Cuban electoral system, it points out as a “counterproductive” element the preponderance of that political party, whose leaders intervene “in a decisive manner in the operation of mechanisms to selects candidates to occupy free elective offices” (pages 44, 45, and 48). 66. The Commission also refers to the legal and institutional system entrusted with the organization of elections in the Special Report on Paraguay in 1987, when, referring to elections in that country, it analyzes the effect of proportional representation current when its measures were applied to the Electoral Statute (Law 886/81). According to said measures, two thirds of the members of electoral boards are members of the government party, when these cidh.org/annualrep/89.90eng/Mexico9768.htm 11/17