Emergency Decree Prohibits Criticism of De Facto Government
(New York) - Honduras's de facto government should immediately rescind an emergency decree that severely restricts press freedoms, Human Rights Watch said today. Honduran security forces seized the offices of Radio Globo and Cholusat Sur television early today and shut down their broadcasting, two days after the decree was issued. Both broadcasters have been openly supportive of deposed president Manuel Zelaya.
The de facto government issued the decree on September 26, 2009, prohibiting all public statements that offend public officials or question government decisions. It empowered the National Communications Commission to use the police or military to suspend broadcasters who do not comply.
"Roberto Micheletti has effectively outlawed public criticism," said José Miguel Vivanco, Americas director at Human Rights Watch. "This kind of decree has been the norm for authoritarian rulers - from Chile's Pinochet to Cuba's Castros - who tolerate freedom of speech only when it favors the government."
The decree is effective for 45 days.
International law recognizes that states may temporarily derogate from some of their human rights obligations, but only under exceptional circumstances, including in time of war, public danger, or another emergency that threatens the independence or security of the state. Such temporary derogations, however, must be strictly limited to the exigencies of the situation, and not restrict rights more than is absolutely necessary. The provisions in this decree effectively shutting down free press do not meet those criteria, Human Rights Watch said.
Human Rights Watch has condemned the coup and repeatedly called on the international community to exert concerted and effective pressure, including targeted sanctions, to press for an end to human rights abuses and the restoration of democratic rule in Honduras.
Supporters of ousted Honduran President Manuel Zelaya are reflected on a monitor showing a picture of Wendy Elisabeth Avila—an alleged victim of noxious gases inhaled during a protest—during her wake in Tegucigalpa, Honduras, on September 27. (Photo by MAURICIO LIMA/AFP/Getty Images)
By Lindsay Beyerstein
The tense standoff in Honduras has entered its second week. The latest phase of the crisis began last Monday, when the country's democratically elected president, Mel Zelaya, slipped back into the country last week after nearly three months in exile following a military coup on June 28.
Zelaya has taken refuge inside the Brazilian embassy, in the capital city of Tecucigalpa, from where he is calling on his supporters to rise up against the ruling junta and restore him to power. It's not clear from English-language media how serious Zelaya is about inspiring resistance, but of course, the junta is painting his utterances as incitements to armed insurrection.
Twenty-four-year-old labor organizer Wendy Elizabeth Avila died after suffering an asthma attack last week when police bombarded demonstrators outside the embassy with teargas. Avila's funeral was held yesterday; protest organizers say they will file charges against the police.
The entire country was briefly placed under de facto house arrest after Zelaya's return. On Sunday the regime asserted the right to shut down any media "offending the dignity" of public officials. A new curfew went into effect yesterday.
Amnesty International released a report last week detailing widespread human rights abuses by the regime against peaceful protesters.
"There has been a sharp rise in police beatings, mass arrests of demonstrators and intimidation of human rights defenders since the return to Honduras on Monday of President Manuel Zelaya Rosales," the report concluded. Hundreds of peaceful protesters have been arbitrarily detained or beaten by police, the report says.
Ten people have been killed since the coup, according to protesters. The government puts the toll at three, AP reported.
The junta has expelled several diplomats from the Organization of American States, who were sent to negotiate an end to the standoff. The regime also gave Brazil an ultimatum: Wrap up the Zelaya standoff within 10 days, or face expulsion.
At around 5:30 a.m., dozens of soldiers and police raided the offices of Radio Globo and Canal 36, according to international news reports. Officials confiscated material and equipment from the outlets, according to the Honduran daily El Heraldo. Two journalists covering the raid for the Guatemalan television station Guatevisión were assaulted by Honduran police, the daily La Prensa reported.
The two broadcasters are considered sympathetic to Zelaya and very critical of the interim government led by Roberto Micheletti. Radio Globo and Canal 36 have been forced off the air several times since Zelaya was ousted three months ago.
The media outlets were taken off the air today under the provisions of a government decree, announced late on Sunday, that suspends constitutionally guaranteed civil liberties for 45 days, government spokesman René Zepeda told reporters. The government said the suspensions were aimed at quelling unrest among Zelaya supporters, who had planned a rally today in the capital, Tegucigalpa
Article 4 of the decree, authorizes the National Telecommunications Commission to suspend any broadcaster that “attacks peace or public order,” or that broadcasts messages that “offend the human dignity, officials, threatens the law or government resolutions.”
Tensions have escalated in Honduras
Press freedom conditions have seriously deteriorated since Zelaya was overthrown, CPJ research shows. Honduran security forces shut down local broadcasters, blocked transmissions of international news networks, and briefly detained journalists in the aftermath of the coup, according to CPJ research. As political tension, protests, and violence have intensified, coverage has been skewed at times. Unidentified assailants have attacked media outlets and harassed journalists covering both sides of the political crisis. The offices of the national daily El Heraldo have been attacked by unidentified assailants on August 15. A reporter was shot dead on July 4. CPJ is investigating whether his death is linked to the political crisis or to his reporting.
http://cpj.org/2009/09/honduras-must-allow-pro-zelaya-broadcasters-to-reo.php
The de facto government issued the decree on September 26, 2009, prohibiting all public statements that offend public officials or question government decisions. It empowered the National Communications Commission to use the police or military to suspend broadcasters who do not comply.
"Roberto Micheletti has effectively outlawed public criticism," said José Miguel Vivanco, Americas director at Human Rights Watch. "This kind of decree has been the norm for authoritarian rulers - from Chile's Pinochet to Cuba's Castros - who tolerate freedom of speech only when it favors the government."
The decree is effective for 45 days.
International law recognizes that states may temporarily derogate from some of their human rights obligations, but only under exceptional circumstances, including in time of war, public danger, or another emergency that threatens the independence or security of the state. Such temporary derogations, however, must be strictly limited to the exigencies of the situation, and not restrict rights more than is absolutely necessary. The provisions in this decree effectively shutting down free press do not meet those criteria, Human Rights Watch said.
Human Rights Watch has condemned the coup and repeatedly called on the international community to exert concerted and effective pressure, including targeted sanctions, to press for an end to human rights abuses and the restoration of democratic rule in Honduras.
Honduran Labor Organizer Dead After Tear Gas Attack
Monday
September 28
1:33 pm
September 28
1:33 pm
Supporters of ousted Honduran President Manuel Zelaya are reflected on a monitor showing a picture of Wendy Elisabeth Avila—an alleged victim of noxious gases inhaled during a protest—during her wake in Tegucigalpa, Honduras, on September 27. (Photo by MAURICIO LIMA/AFP/Getty Images)The tense standoff in Honduras has entered its second week. The latest phase of the crisis began last Monday, when the country's democratically elected president, Mel Zelaya, slipped back into the country last week after nearly three months in exile following a military coup on June 28.
Zelaya has taken refuge inside the Brazilian embassy, in the capital city of Tecucigalpa, from where he is calling on his supporters to rise up against the ruling junta and restore him to power. It's not clear from English-language media how serious Zelaya is about inspiring resistance, but of course, the junta is painting his utterances as incitements to armed insurrection.
Twenty-four-year-old labor organizer Wendy Elizabeth Avila died after suffering an asthma attack last week when police bombarded demonstrators outside the embassy with teargas. Avila's funeral was held yesterday; protest organizers say they will file charges against the police.
The entire country was briefly placed under de facto house arrest after Zelaya's return. On Sunday the regime asserted the right to shut down any media "offending the dignity" of public officials. A new curfew went into effect yesterday.
Amnesty International released a report last week detailing widespread human rights abuses by the regime against peaceful protesters.
"There has been a sharp rise in police beatings, mass arrests of demonstrators and intimidation of human rights defenders since the return to Honduras on Monday of President Manuel Zelaya Rosales," the report concluded. Hundreds of peaceful protesters have been arbitrarily detained or beaten by police, the report says.
Ten people have been killed since the coup, according to protesters. The government puts the toll at three, AP reported.
The junta has expelled several diplomats from the Organization of American States, who were sent to negotiate an end to the standoff. The regime also gave Brazil an ultimatum: Wrap up the Zelaya standoff within 10 days, or face expulsion.
Committee to Protect Journalists Worldwide Journalists: Honduras must allow pro-Zelaya broadcasters to reopen
New York, September 28, 2009—The interim government of Honduras
“Honduran citizens have the right to be fully informed about what’s going on in the country at this very sensitive moment,” said Carlos Lauría, CPJ Americas senior program coordinator. “We urge the interim government to withdraw restrictions on the media, immediately reopen the suspended broadcasters, and respect journalists’ right to report the news freely.”
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