Honduras

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The country continues to suffer significant setbacks to freedom of the press and expression with developments ranging from threats, interference with broadcast frequencies and confiscations to the murder of journalists – all situations that are incompatible with the full exercise of those fundamental rights. There is evidence of at least 28 cases of attacks upon free speech and press freedom, which makes this one of the most dangerous countries in the world to work as a journalist, above all because of the extreme violence against the press and the impunity enjoyed by its perpetrators and masterminds, not to mention to the lack of progress in preventing or punishing this kind of offense on the part of the government, which shows an appalling apathy toward such aggressions. The United Nations Office of Special Rapporteur for Human Rights has declared that “it is essential that the Honduran government demonstrate with concrete actions and effective investigations its commitment to the prevention of these crimes, protection of journalists at risk and the fight against lack of punishment in the reported murders,” pointing out the “absence of significant progress” in investigations into these murders. International pressure by organizations such as the Inter American Press Association (IAPA) has succeeded in having the Honduran government commit to take battle against impunity and protect journalists, including offering to set up special teams to investigate the murders of news men and women. However, to date these offers have not materialized. This year community radio stations received more threats. Also to be noted are the shutting off of access that reporters had to a public office, a refusal of public information on the part of the National Congress, a court ruling ordering a mayor’s office to hand over public information and a threat made to a human rights advocate. Among the developments of most concern are the murders of five journalists this year and several attacks on media and reporters. On April 27 Arnulfo Aguilar reported having been followed by armed men to his home located in San Pedro Sula city, which they tried to enter by climbing over a wall, but failed to do so thanks to the presence and support of his neighbors. Aguilar, who works for Radio Uno radio station, is the beneficiary of legal protection provided by the Inter-American Commission for Human Rights (IACHR) and is associated with the Popular Resistance Front of Honduras. On May 23 Manuel Acosta Medina was attacked in Tegucigalpa. He is the general manager of the newspaper La Tribuna in the Honduran capital. To date those responsible have not been charged. During the incident Medina was shot four times, but survived thanks to rapid medical action. On May 10 Héctor Francisco Medina Polanco, 36, was murdered. He was producer and host of the cable television news program “TV9” broadcast by Omega Visión in Morazán, Yoro province. He was approached a few blocks from his home by unidentified persons who, like him, were on a motorcycle. They shot him three times in the back and once in the arm, wounding him. He was rushed to hospital in San Pedro Sula, where he died the following day. On May 19 the murder took place in Danlí city, El Paraíso province, of Luis Ernesto Mendoza Cerrato, 38, a businessman who was engaged in news media, real estate and coffee production. He was ambushed by three hooded men riding in a car and wielding AK-47 rifles, 9mm pistols and other weapons. Contrary to the police theory, his family said his murder was linked to his work in the press and formal complaints he had made about some public agencies. On July 4 Adán Benítez, 42, who was a reporter for local televisions channels 45TV and Tele Ceiba Canal 7, was murdered. He was shot to death in La Ceiba city, Atlántida province, after being robbed of his valuables. That day, at around 6:30 p.m., he was intercepted by unidentified persons who shot him as he had just left work and was heading home. On July 14 the murder occurred of Nery Jeremías Orellana, 26. He was manager of the Radio Joconguera radio station in Candelaria, Lempira province, part of the Community Radio Stations Alternative Network. He was member of Honduras Popular Resistance Front. On September 8 Medardo Flores was shot to death that evening in the town of Puerto Cortés as he was returning from a farm he owned. He worked for Radio Uno radio station in San Pedro Sula and was finance manager of the Broad Front for Popular Resistance (FARP). On October 8, the television group TELEUNSA widened its denunciation of the slow pace of justice, especially the lack of resolution of the legal appeals taken before the Supreme Court of Justice for confiscation of its channel 8. Thus, the group complained of the refusal by authorities to act in the cases of interference on the frequencies of its other television channels by a private operator, and of the non- inclusion of those channels by a cable provider, in spite of the law that obligates them to do so. All of this lacks a response from competent authorities, especially the National Telecommunications Commission (CONATEL) and the Public Prosecutor’s Office, which have not sanctioned nor taken measures against those responsible for the infractions.

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