OAS :: Special Rapporteurship for Freedom of Expression

Freedom of Expression

Press Release R29-10

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PRESS RELEASE

R29/10

OFFICE OF THE SPECIAL RAPPORTEUR CONDEMNS THE MURDER OF A JOURNALIST IN HONDURAS

Washington D.C., March 15, 2010 – The Office of the Special Rapporteur for Freedom of Expression of the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights (IACHR) condemns the murder of David Meza Montesinos, a journalist with Channel 10 and radios ‘América’ and ‘El Patio’, which occurred in Honduras on March 11th. The Office of the Special Rapporteur urges the Honduran authorities to investigate this crime in a rapid and effective fashion, to determine if it is related to Mr. Meza’s professional activities, and to try and punish those responsible.

According to the information received, Meza died in La Ceiba, Department of Atlántida, after shots were fired at his vehicle while he was driving. As a result, he lost control of his vehicle and crashed into a building. The journalist was reportedly threatened after he published several reports on drug trafficking. Meza is the second journalist killed in Honduras in 2010.

The Office of the Special Rapporteur exhorts the State of Honduras to investigate the murder of journalist Meza, to try and punish those responsible, and to create effective measures to guarantee the life and physical integrity of at risk media workers.

The Office of the Special Rapporteur recalls that Principle 9 of the Declaration of Principles on Freedom of Expression of the IACHR states that "[t]he murder, kidnapping, intimidation of and/or threats against social communicators, as well as the material destruction of communications media, violates the fundamental rights of individuals and strongly restricts freedom of expression. It is the duty of the state to prevent and investigate such occurrences, to punish their perpetrators and to ensure that victims receive due compensation."