Complaint launched against journalist for disclosing report on drug trafficking
(PFC/IFEX) – Journalist Renato Álvarez, host of the debate programme “Frente a Frente”, broadcast on Televicentro Corporation’s stations 3, 5 and 7, is facing a complaint for defamation for disclosing a report that reveals the names of individuals presumably implicated in drug trafficking in Honduras. The complaint was recently launched by lawyer Jorge Barralaga, who […]
Journalist threatened with legal action after disclosing report on drug trafficking
(PFC/IFEX) – Journalist Renato Álvarez, of TVC news television’s debate programme Frente a Frente, on Televicentro Corporation’s channels 3, 5 and 7, has been threatened with the filing of up to seven legal complaints against him for disclosing a report that reveals the names of individuals presumably implicated in drug trafficking. The complainants are demanding […]
Journalist survives assassination attempt in Santa Rosa de Copán
(PFC/IFEX) – On the night of 24 February 2003, journalist Germán Antonio Rivas survived an assassination attempt at his home in Santa Rosa, Copán department, near the Guatemalan border. Rivas is managing director of Corporacion Maya Vision and the Channel 7 television station. Rivas had returned home after finishing that day’s edition of the news […]
Hospital director dismissed after publishing column criticising government
(PFC/IFEX) – Gaspar Vallecillo, director of Escuela Hospital, has been dismissed following the publication of an editorial column in which he criticised the government. In the column, published in the daily “El Heraldo”, Vallecillo stated that “one cannot be sure that the public’s health is being looked after when hospitals operate without any support. The […]
Journalists attacked and injured during demonstration
(PFC/IFEX) – On 24 October 2002, the police violently broke up demonstrations staged in Tegucigalpa. The protests were organised by the Bloque Popular, the Honduran Teachers’ College (Colegio de Profesores de Educacion Media de Honduras, COPEMH) and the National Aqueduct and Drain Service (Servicio Nacional de Acueductos y Alcantarillados, SANAA) Union to protest the privatisation […]
Journalist could face 14 years in jail for “spying” and “illegal” journalism
(RSF/IFEX) – On 23 May 2002, RSF expressed concern that Honduran radio journalist Sandra Maribel Sánchez could be arrested and jailed for 14 years for “spying” and “illegally” working as a journalist. It urged the judge in the case not to issue an arrest warrant and to drop the legal proceedings. On her programme, “Contra […]
IAPA speaks out against bill’s violation of press freedom
(IAPA/IFEX) – The following is a 7 September 2001 IAPA press release: IAPA in Honduras defends professional secrecy, rejects licensing of journalists Free-press organization voices concern over murder of journalist in Guatemala SAN PEDRO SULA, Honduras (September 7, 2001) – Honduran President Carlos Flores pledged to ensure that no limits will be placed on press […]
IAPA to send mission to Guatemala, Honduras
(IAPA/IFEX) – The following is a 31 August 2001 IAPA press release: IAPA to send mission to Guatemala, Honduras MIAMI, Florida (August 31, 2001) – The Inter American Press Association (IAPA) announced today that a delegation will visit Guatemala and Honduras next week to review in public forums the two Central American countries’ legislation restricting […]
CPJ deeply concerned over safety of journalist
(CPJ/IFEX) – In a 25 May 2000 letter to President Carlos Roberto Flores Facussé, CPJ expressed deep concern for the safety of Julio César Pineda, coordinator of the press department of Radio Progreso in the town of El Progreso, near the northern city of San Pedro Sula. Pineda was seriously wounded in an attempt on […]
Journalist Jorge Luis Monroy assaulted
On 8 October 1996, Jorge Luis Monroy, a local news commentator for the daily program Las Verdades del Aire in Ocotepeque, was assaulted by two men. According to Monroy, he was on the air discussing local political issues and the recent results of an internal election within one of the two major Honduran parties when […]
WiPC Anniversary Action calls on authorities to pursue investigation into 1981 disappearance of journalist Tomas Nativi Galvez
In a recent Anniversary Action, the Writers in Prison Committee (WiPC) of International PEN has called on Honduran authorities to pursue investigations into the disappearance of university professor and journalist Tomas Nativi Galvez. At 2:30 in the morning on 11 June 1981, Bertha Oliva was roused from sleep by the sound of gunshots and a […]