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Honduran journalists face 'growing threat' | Honduran journalists face 'growing threat' |
(about 14 hours later) | |
Journalists in Honduras are facing growing danger, the country's human rights commissioner has warned. | Journalists in Honduras are facing growing danger, the country's human rights commissioner has warned. |
Ramon Custodio was speaking to the Spanish news agency, Efe, a day after a radio host was shot dead. | Ramon Custodio was speaking to the Spanish news agency, Efe, a day after a radio host was shot dead. |
Luz Marina Paz was the 17th media worker to be killed in Honduras over the past couple of years, rights groups say. | Luz Marina Paz was the 17th media worker to be killed in Honduras over the past couple of years, rights groups say. |
Honduras has the highest murder rate in the world: 82 killings per 100,000 people, according to the UN. | Honduras has the highest murder rate in the world: 82 killings per 100,000 people, according to the UN. |
Ms Paz and her driver were shot dead by gunmen on motorcycles as they travelled through the capital, Tegucigalpa. | |
The journalist, who had a morning news programme, was reported to have received death threats for refusing to pay extortion money. | The journalist, who had a morning news programme, was reported to have received death threats for refusing to pay extortion money. |
Hours earlier, gunmen had shot at the offices of La Tribuna newspaper, injuring a security guard. | Hours earlier, gunmen had shot at the offices of La Tribuna newspaper, injuring a security guard. |
"We are in more danger than ever, because we don't know where the attacks against journalists and media organisations are coming from," La Tribuna's editor, Adan Elvir, told Efe. | "We are in more danger than ever, because we don't know where the attacks against journalists and media organisations are coming from," La Tribuna's editor, Adan Elvir, told Efe. |
His comments were echoed by Human Rights Commissioner Ramon Custodio. | His comments were echoed by Human Rights Commissioner Ramon Custodio. |
"The danger we all in Honduras are experiencing is intensifying in an important part of society, namely the media, which are suffering threats, attacks and murders," Mr Custodio said. | "The danger we all in Honduras are experiencing is intensifying in an important part of society, namely the media, which are suffering threats, attacks and murders," Mr Custodio said. |
Government officials have also been targeted, especially those linked to the fight against drug trafficking. | Government officials have also been targeted, especially those linked to the fight against drug trafficking. |
On Wednesday, a former anti-drugs adviser Alfredo Landaverde was shot dead in the same area of Tegucigalpa as Ms Paz. | |
Mr Landaverde, who was travelling in a car with his wife, was killed by unidentified gunmen on a motorbike. | |
He had been an outspoken critic of police corruption. | He had been an outspoken critic of police corruption. |
Mr Landaverde accused police officers of being behind the murder in 2009 of the country's head of anti-drug trafficking oeprations, retired Gen Julian Aristides Gonzalez. | |
Police upheaval | Police upheaval |
According to rights groups, some 17 journalists have been killed in Honduras since 2009 when the military helped to overthrow the then president Manuel Zelaya. | According to rights groups, some 17 journalists have been killed in Honduras since 2009 when the military helped to overthrow the then president Manuel Zelaya. |
Current President Porfirio Lobo, who was elected in November 2009, expressed deep regret at the news of Ms Paz's murder. | Current President Porfirio Lobo, who was elected in November 2009, expressed deep regret at the news of Ms Paz's murder. |
"There is no doubt that we are facing an escalation (in violence) and we have to identify clearly where it is coming from," Mr Lobo said. | "There is no doubt that we are facing an escalation (in violence) and we have to identify clearly where it is coming from," Mr Lobo said. |
"Given the difficult moments the national police is experiencing, there are some who are taking advantage of the latest upheaval." | "Given the difficult moments the national police is experiencing, there are some who are taking advantage of the latest upheaval." |
Last month, dozens of police officers were sacked in a crackdown on corruption and organised crime. | Last month, dozens of police officers were sacked in a crackdown on corruption and organised crime. |
The alleged involvement of officers in the high-profile murders of two students in November also increased calls for police reform. | The alleged involvement of officers in the high-profile murders of two students in November also increased calls for police reform. |
The Honduran government has begun deploying troops to help combat criminal gangs and drug traffickers. | The Honduran government has begun deploying troops to help combat criminal gangs and drug traffickers. |