Get Rid Burst Capillaries

Community radio remains prey with great difficulty by the simple fact that there

Reporters Without Borders Press release

April 13, 2011 HONDURAS


House of Teresa Reyes and Alfredo Lopez, director of Radio Faluma Bimetu (Radio Coco Dulce), originating in the Afro-Caribbean Garifuna located in Triunfo de la Cruz, was torched by unknown persons on April 7, 2011 at midnight.

This fire is in addition to the long list of aggressions committed against Dulce Coco Radio and its members. The attacks on this community radio have become frequent since the coup of June 28, 2009. Assaults were heightened in early 2010, when a group of people ransacked and burned the facilities of the broadcaster. A lack of real research, these crimes remain unpunished (see: http://es.rsf.org/honduras-saqueo-de-una-radio-comunitaria-en-07-01-2010, 35965.html) .

Reporters Without Borders and the World Association of Community Radios - Latin America and the Caribbean (AMARC-LAC) reiterate its call to the Honduran authorities to investigate as quickly as possible the recent aggression against members of the radio. The international community must ask Honduras to protect the fundamental rights of its citizens, in this case, the right freedom of expression of this community radio.

Calvary Radio Dulce Coco resumed for the local elections in January 2011 after which members of the station were victims of unjustified and criminal threats. This, although several of them should have enjoyed protection measures, as ordered by the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights (IACHR) since 2006. These measures were never implemented by the Honduran authorities (see: http://www.cidh.org/annualrep/2006sp/Honduras906.03sp.htmet, http://www.cidh.org/annualrep/2007sp/Honduras1118.03sp. htm, and www.cidh.oas.org/annualrep/2010sp/HOAD1119-03ES.doc).

Radio Fresh coconut is known for defending the rights of Triunfo de la Cruz community, especially their right to land, before the expropriation risk faced by major tourism projects undertaken by a group of politicians and entrepreneurs.

The constant attacks on members of the Radio Coco Dulce and the impunity that prevails, constitute a serious violation of freedom of expression community Triunfo de la Cruz and merely show the intention of public authorities to silence her . Sad anniversary

Voice Zacate Grande

is in this climate of tension that radio Voice prepares Grande Grass to celebrate its first anniversary, this Thursday 14 April.

A week ago Amapala court ordered the arrest of eight leaders of the peasant organization ADEPZA, La Voz de Grass Great is your media. Several contributors to the radio were affected by this measure. The allegations, which date back several months, having to do directly with the pursuit of their activities.

Apparently, the authorities are reluctant to make arrests in the community for fear of public demonstrations in support of the contributors to the radio. These run the risk of being arrested every time they leave the community, especially when they go to court, where forced to report every fortnight.

The celebration of the first anniversary of the radio will lead to a gathering of community radio stations in all regions of Honduras. So, includes representatives of the Radio Coco Dulce, OFRANEH Garifuna organization, which operates in the community Triunfo de la Cruz.

Reporters Without Borders and the World Association of Community Radio in Latin America and the Caribbean (AMARC-ALC), we urge the authorities in Honduras, the completion of the actions of harassment and respect for the exercise of freedom of expression of community radio stations and the requirement that security measures are in place for the Assembly AMARC can take place this coming April 14.