Impunity Watch: North America: Post Coup Violence Against Journalists Escalates in Honduras

By Sovereign Hager

Impunity Watch Reporter, North America

Photo Courtesy of Daily Kos

TEGUCIGALPA, Honduras - Violence against the press in Honduras has increased since the June 28 coup, including physical attacks on journalists, vandalism of media headquarters, and threats. Reporters without borders condemned attacks on journalists in Honduras, saying that "the de facto government has again illustrated its concept of press freedom by pitting soldiers and police against news media that are critical of the coup."

Photo Courtesy of Reuters

On August 12th police and military officers attacked journalists and camera operators as they covered a protest against the coup d'etat. One reporter was filming the protest when a commando unit and military officers hit his leg with a baton and struck his video camera. Another journalist reported that a high-ranking police officer threatened her and warned her not to publish anything. Venezuelan reporters and video journalists from the Associated Press were detained in July, when the ruling government also reportedly blocked television broadcast signals.

Other journalists state that they were threatened by protesters after a riot. Protesters are also thought to be responsible for molotov cocktails being thrown into the offices of a publication which has supported the coup. Reporters Without Borders urged protesters to avoid targeting the military, but referred to the incidents as the ruling Honduran government, "reaping what it sowed" after oppressing members of the press. Protesters writing graffiti on the walls that reportedly said, "while the media is silent, the walls continue talking."

More recently, information sent by various media personnel report that the Honduran military detained and destroyed camera material of journalists. Julio Amaña was among those detained. According to the Honduran publication El Tiempo, he identified himself as a reporter for TIME. Footage from his arrest was missing from the camera when it was returned upon his release. Other reporters were reportedly beaten. The ruling government insists that the detentions are necessary for "security measures".

Meanwhile, an Organization of American States observation team arrived in Honduras on Monday to work on a report regarding the human rights situation there. Human Rights Watch expressed concern over the ruling government's censorship of the media and urged the OAS mission to press for rights protections.

For more information, please see:

El Tiempo - Violento Desalojo de Manifestante en Choloma; Detienen a Reportero Gráfico de Tiempo y le Borran el Material Periodístico - 18 August 2009

Journalism in the Americas - Reporters Without Borders Denounces Violence Against the Media in Honduras, Blames Current Government - 17 August 2009

La Tribuna - Atentados y Agresiones a la Libertad de Prensa - 17 August 2009

IFEX - Journalists Threatened, Attacked During Protest Against the Coup-d'etat - 14 August 2009

Rueters - Interview: Media Crackdown in Honduras Worsens: Activist - 4 August 2009