Miami (June 2, 2025) – The Inter American Press Association (IAPA) condemns the murder of Salvadoran journalist Javier Hércules Salinas in Honduras and calls for strengthening the protection mechanisms.
Miami (June 2, 2025) – The Inter American Press Association (IAPA) condemns the murder of Salvadoran journalist Javier Hércules Salinas in Honduras and calls for strengthening the protection mechanisms.
Hércules, 50, was shot on June 1 in the Copán department while traveling in a vehicle used as a taxi. According to reports, he was intercepted by armed men on motorcycle. Since 2023, he had been under protection measures from the National Protection System of Honduras, after receiving threats and being kidnapped.
The journalist worked for the A Todo Noticias (ATN) channel and, like many journalists in the region, supplemented his income with other activities. A Salvadoran national, he had lived in Honduras for five years with his wife and two children. The Honduran Journalists' Association condemned the attack and called for a "transparent and credible" investigation.
José Roberto Dutriz, president of IAPA and CEO of La Prensa Gráfica in El Salvador, stated: "We stand in solidarity with his family and colleagues. This crime confirms the serious risks faced by journalists in Honduras. It cannot be tolerated that those who inform, are murdered without consequences. Impunity only fuels violence."
Martha Ramos, president of IAPA's Committee on Freedom of the Press and Information and editorial director of Organización Editorial Mexicana (OEM), said: "It is essential to consider journalistic work as a possible motive for the murder. Authorities must investigate promptly, transparently, and decisively to bring those responsible to justice."
The IAPA also urged the Honduran government to thoroughly evaluate the functioning of the protection mechanism and to adopt reforms to make it more effective and reliable. "The existence of a system is not enough," Ramos added, "if it cannot fulfill its fundamental purpose: preventing serious attacks."
The 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.