Miami (December 27, 2023) - The Inter American Press Association (IAPA) condemned the murder in Honduras of journalist Francisco Javier Ramírez Amador despite having state protection measures. The organization urged authorities to conduct a timely and thorough investigation so that the crime does not remain unpunished.
The murder of Ramírez Amador, who was the victim of an attack in May, adds to this year's list alongside that of José Amílcar Chávez, correspondent for Hoy Mismo news and owner of a Christian radio station in Olanchito, Yoro department, Honduras, murdered on April 1st.
Ramírez Amador, 39, was killed on the night of December 21 in the city of Danlí, department of El Paraíso, about 68 kilometers east of the capital Tegucigalpa, according to local press reports. Armed individuals attacked him along with a police officer assigned by authorities to ensure his safety. The police officer was injured in the attack, but his condition is stable, according to reports.
IAPA President Roberto Rock condemned the crime and urged Honduran authorities "to investigate the crime and prosecute those responsible. It is outrageous that this happened despite the victim having precautionary measures for his protection." Rock, director of the La Silla Rota portal, added, "This case should help competent authorities identify and correct the evident flaws in the protection mechanism."
After surviving an assassination attempt in May, Ramírez Amador requested security through the Protection System for Human Rights Defenders, Journalists, Social Communicators, and Justice Operators, created in 2015. He was a reporter and news anchor for Canal 24 in Danlí, an activity he suspended due to death threats. Press reports did not specify the motive or origin of the threats.
The President of the IAPA's Committee on Press Freedom and Information and editor of La Voz del Interior, Argentina, Carlos Jornet, said, "This crime once again draws attention to the urgency of evaluating the functioning of protection systems, which generally tend to be more reactive than preventive and lack sufficient economic and human resources, and adequate training to ensure their efficiency."
IAPA is a non-profit organization dedicated to defending and promoting freedom of the press and expression in the Americas. It comprises more than 1,300 publications from the western hemisphere and is based in Miami, Florida, United States.
