CENTER FOR JUSTICE AND INTERNATIONAL LAW CONDEMNS RESTRICTIONS OF FUNDAMENTAL FREEDOMS IN HONDURAS

De Facto Government are attacking foreign and domestic journalists Lunes 28 de Septiembre de 2009 14:10 Monday September 28, 2009 14:10 Ariela Caceres radio GLOBO reports: Delmer Membreño photojournalist newspaper The Liberator, was captured, beaten, burned his body with cigarettes, took away his computer and was freed on the outskirts of Tegucigalpa, sent message to the editor of the newspaper they will kill him ...   ASSAULT ON MEXICAN JOURNALISTS The reporter and cameraman Alberto Cardona Rony Sanchez, special envoys to Honduras, they were beaten by police officers de facto government Micheletti, while covering the taking of a broadcaster  28, 2009 .- Alberto Cardona, Televisa Newscasts envoy to Honduras, Rony Sanchez and his cameraman were attacked in Tegucigalpa Monday while covering the political crisis in that country after the coup against President Manuel Zelaya. A primeras horas de la mañana de este lunes, el reportero y su camarógrafo se dirigieron hacia la radiodifusora hondureña Radio Globo pues se les había informado que las fuerzas militares y policíacas, fieles al presidente de facto, Roberto Micheletti, habían tomado dicha radiodifusora con la intención de sacarla del aire. In the early hours of Monday morning, the reporter and his cameraman headed to the Honduran radio station Radio Globo as they had been informed that the military and police forces, loyal to the de facto president, Roberto Micheletti, the broadcaster had taken the intention of removing it from the air. As Alberto Cardona and Rony Sanchez performed the coverage of the facts arrived at the scene on patrol with police officers who began to beat the collaborators television news programs. The police seized the camera and removed Rony Sanchez also money and passport.  They were at gunpoint by officers, who demanded they hand over the material that was recorded during the making of the radio station.   Cardona and Sanchez did not suffer serious injuries, but bruising from blows to the arms, legs and stomach. After the beatings and assaults to which they were subjected, the reporter and cameraman were followed for several minutes as they headed to their hotel. The events did not happen during a demonstration or confusion, it became clear that the police officers went directly against the partners of Newscasts Televisa, while they performed their work.   On Sunday afternoon three photographers also international agencies were overwhelmed by an unmarked vehicle. One of them, of Salvadoran origin, is injured in one leg due to beatings after being struck.  Guatemala denounces attack on two journalists in Honduras Guatemala's government denounced on Monday to the Organization of American States (OAS) to Honduran police arrested and beat two Guatemalan journalists in Tegucigalpa, so it demanded the intervention of the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights. Guatemala's ambassador to the OAS, Jorge Skinner said in a special session of the OAS Permanent Council that journalists Alberto Cardona and Rony Sanchez, Guatevisión, were beaten and subjected to "harassment" and were unaware of his whereabouts.   "Not knowing of his whereabouts and physical condition, Guatemala's government blames the de facto authorities for the safety and welfare of journalists," said Skinner.   The representative initially said the military aggression committed them, but soon corrected himself and said he had clarified that the taunts were part of police. The OAS Permanent Council cited a new special session after the Honduran government refused entry facto a hemispheric organization's mission to prepare a visit of foreign ministers, in addition to the suspension of various individual rights. Honduras' interim gov't silences key broadcasters By MARK STEVENSON (AP) – 1 hour ago TEGUCIGALPA, Honduras — Honduras' coup-installed government silenced two key dissident broadcasters on Monday just hours after it suspended civil liberties to prevent an uprising by backers of ousted President Manuel Zelaya. Dozens of soldiers raided the offices of Radio Globo. Officials also shut down Channel 36 television station, leaving it broadcasting only a test pattern. Rene Zepeda, a spokesman for the interim government, said the two outlets had been taken off the air in accordance with a government emergency decree announced late Sunday that limits civil liberties and allows authorities to close news media that "attack peace and public order." Supporters of the deposed leftist president vowed to march in the streets Monday in defiance of the emergency order and carry out what Zelaya calls a "final offensive" against his ouster on the three-month anniversary of the coup. "They took away all the equipment. This is the death of the station," said Radio Globo owner Alejandro Villatoro, describing the dawn raid on the station. Station employees scrambled out of an emergency exit to escape the raid that Villatoro said involved as many as 200 soldiers. He said the office remained surrounded by soldiers. It was the second time soldiers have barged into the station — the first was June 28, the same day Zelaya was ousted. The interim government has long argued it is trying to preserve democracy in Honduras, and even cited the fact that pro-Zelaya media such as Channel 36 were operating freely as proof. But the emergency decree showed a tough new stance domestically and internationally, a reversal from last week, when interim President Roberto Micheletti indicated his administration was willing to hold talks with Zelaya, who has taken shelter at the Brazilian Embassy after sneaking into the country a week ago. The Organization of American States in Washington called a high-level emergency meeting on Monday to discuss the Honduras crisis after the interim government expelled at most members of an OAS advance team that had arrived Sunday to try to restart negotiations. Micheletti's Foreign Minister Carlos Lopez said the team had not given advance warning of its arrival and said it did not come "at the right time ... because we are in the middle of internal conversations." Officials also issued an ultimatum to Brazil on Sunday, giving the South American country 10 days to turn Zelaya over for arrest or grant him asylum and, presumably, take him out of Honduras. Lopez said Brazil had broken relations by withdrawing its ambassador and said if it does not restore ties, the diplomatic mission would become a private office — implying it could be raided by police. Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva responded, saying that his government "doesn't accept ultimatums from coup-plotters." Micheletti has pledged not to raid the embassy where Zelaya has been holed up with more than 60 supporters. The building is surrounded by armed police and soldiers, who have been there since baton-wielding troops used tear gas and water cannons to chase away thousands of his backers when he returned to the country Sept. 21. Protesters say at least 10 people have been killed since the coup, while the government puts the toll at three. The government's suspension of civil liberties limits rights guaranteed in the Honduran Constitution: The decree prohibits unauthorized gatherings and allows police to arrest without a warrant "any person who poses a danger to his own life or those of others." It also allows officials to shut down media outlets for "statements that attack peace and the public order, or which offend the human dignity of public officials, or attack the law." The Honduran Constitution forbids arrests without warrants except when a criminal is caught in the act. In a nationally broadcast announcement, the government explained it took the steps it did "due to the calls for insurrection that Mr. Zelaya has publicly made." Zelaya is demanding to be reinstated and has said that Micheletti's government "has to fall." While many nations have announced they would send diplomatic representatives back to Honduras to support negotiations, the interim government said Sunday that it would not automatically accept ambassadors back from some nations that withdrew their envoys. Copyright © 2009 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.  Trade Groups Pressure Clinton on Honduras Trade Groups Pressure Clinton on Honduras by Kristi Ellis Posted Monday September 28, 2009 From WWD Issue 09/28/2009 WASHINGTON — A coalition of fashion trade associations called on Secretary of State Hillary Clinton to pressure the Honduran government to fully restore commercial activity,... IFJ said that journalists have the right to work freely in Honduras hace 1 hora 10 mins 1 hour 10 mins ago   Brussels, Sept. 28 (EFE) .- The International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) today urged all journalists and media in Honduras have "right to work freely and without threats," after the de facto government of Honduras has closed two media critical of the coup. Continue reading the printed article Foto y Vídeo relacionado Photo and video related El Gobierno de facto cierra un canal de televisión y una radio afines a Zelaya Ampliar fotografía The de facto government closed a TV station and a radio similar to Zelaya Enlarge photo Más fotografías sobre: Honduras More photos about: Honduras   The IFJ said in a statement its "maximum sentence" for the closure and militarized Radio Globo television network Channel 36, both headquartered in Tegucigalpa and related to the deposed president, Manuel Zelaya. "We reject aloud the de facto Government's efforts to punish those who report on the activities of the country's legitimate president or report the demonstrations in the streets and in the media, continue to reject the coup," said The IFJ General Secretary Aidan White.   The Federation alleged that the administration of the current president, Roberto Micheletti, has issued a decree that allows closures, restrictions and censorship of the media favor the legitimate president. " Thus, said he supports the demands of its affiliates in the region and the Federation of Journalists in Latin America and the Caribbean (FEPALC) requiring the cessation of all attacks against the media trying to "report freely on the crisis or the activities of Manuel Zelaya, ousted in late June by a military coup. The IFJ also noted the request for guarantees of the Special Rapporteur for Freedom of Expression of the Organization of American States (OAS), which noted "further deterioration of freedom of information and journalists" since Zelaya returned to Honduras and took refuge in the Brazilian embassy more than a week ago.   According to the minutes of the OAS, Channel 36 and Radio Globo had already suffered before blockade and power outages and technical means of transmission.   "The accusing finger pointed Roberto Micheletti accusing them of 'media terrorism', simply because they reported the return of Zelaya," he said IFJ.   While he said that other media like Radio Progreso, the department of Yoro, have decided to discontinue its operation "to threats from the military," and stressed that its director, the priest Ismael Moreno, has been threatened with death. On the other hand, lamented that reporters from Reuters and Associated Press were forced to leave the area for the dispersal of demonstrators showed their support Zelaya near the Brazilian embassy.   IFJ also reported the case of Radio Liberty journalist Agustina Flores, who was "savagely beaten and detained.

CEJIL CONDENA RESTRICCIÓN DE LIBERTADES FUNDAMENTALES EN HONDURAS San José, Costa Rica, 28 de septiembre de 2009 El Centro por la Justicia y el Derecho Internacional (CEJIL) condena el decreto emitido por el gobierno de facto de Honduras, publicado el pasado sábado 26 de setiembre que suspende durante 45 días las garantías constitucionales, y a la vez repudia la toma militar y cierre, esta mañana, de Radio Globo y Canal 36. CEJIL también expresa su más profundo disgusto por la detención y expulsión de una misión preparatoria de la OEA que intentó ingresar ayer a Honduras. El decreto ejecutivo PCM-16-2009 impone nuevamente el toque de queda, suspende la libertad de tránsito, prohíbe las reuniones públicas no autorizadas por la policía o el ejército, impide la libre expresión y autoriza la suspensión de cualquier radioemisora o canal de televisión que ofenda funcionarios gubernamentales o atente contra resoluciones gubernamentales. Las amenazas contenidas en el mencionado decreto se concretaron esta mañana cuando efectivos militares procedieron a cerrar el Canal 36 y Radio Globo. En este último lugar representantes del Comité de Familiares de Detenidos Desaparecidos (COFADEH) intentaron levantar un acta del cierre y se les impidió el acceso a las instalaciones por parte de las fuerzas de seguridad. Estas actuaciones dejan al descubierto las verdaderas intenciones represivas del gobierno de facto. En este contexto, en el cual, los y las hondureñas no pueden ejercer sus derechos civiles y políticos con libertad, es evidente que no existen las condiciones para que se lleve a cabo una campaña electoral. Actualmente no hay espacio para el debate político ni para que los ciudadanos se informen y se expresen sin temor a sufrir represalias. A los hechos antes citados se suma la muerte de Wendy Elisabeth Ávila, debido presuntamente a los efectos de gases lacrimógenos lanzados por fuerzas policiales y militares, y las agresiones sufridas por dos periodistas guatemaltecos, Alberto Cardona y Rony Sánchez, de Guatevisión, quienes fueron golpeados y sometidos a vejámenes por parte de elementos policiales. “Hacemos un llamado al Congreso de la República de Honduras para que conozca el decreto que establece la suspensión de las garantías constitucionales y lo impruebe, y  pedimos a la Corte Suprema de Justicia que declare la inconstitucionalidad de ese documento. Para CEJIL es urgente que tanto el Congreso como la Corte suprema de Justicia intercedan para autorizar una visita urgente de la Comisión Interamericana de Derechos Humanos, que verifique la situación de derechos humanos en  Honduras”, dijo la directora ejecutiva de CEJIL, Viviana Krsticevic. Contacto en Costa Rica Nancy Marín Espinoza Difusión y Prensa Tel: 506-2280-7473/7608 Fax: 506-2280-52 Correo electrónico: nmarin@cejil.org www.cejil.org El Centro por la Justicia y el Derecho Internacional (CEJIL) es una organización de defensa y promoción de los derechos humanos en el hemisferio americano. El objetivo principal de CEJIL es asegurar la plena implementación de normas internacionales de derechos humanos en los Estados miembros de la Organización de Estados Americanos (OEA), mediante el uso efectivo del sistema interamericano de derechos humanos y otros mecanismos de protección internacional. CEJIL es una organización no gubernamental sin fines de lucro con estatus consultivo ante la OEA, la Organización de las Naciones Unidas (ONU) y con calidad de observador ante la Comisión Africana de Derechos Humanos.