Things not pretty for journalists following Honduran coup

Saturday, November 07, 2009 9:51 PM

News

The Spike

Sunday, July 05, 2009

FOLLOWING the June 28 ousting of Honduran President Manuel Zelaya, the new authorities have harassed and briefly detained journalists, interfered with several broadcast media outlets and imposed a 48-hour curfew, putting free expression at risk, say IFEX member in Honduras Comité por la Libre Expresíon (C-Libre), the Inter American Press Association (IAPA) and other
IFEX members.

IFEX is the Canada-based International Freedom of Expression eXchange, a global network of 88 organisations working to defend and promote the right to free expression.

After the Honduran army arrested Zelaya and expelled him from the country, Roberto Micheletti was sworn in as president of Honduras at Congress and a two-day curfew was imposed. Zelaya had been seeking a referendum on a constitutional change to eliminate presidential term limits and allow him a second run.

As soon as the state of emergency was declared, the National Telecommunications Commission (CONATEL) blocked cable television transmissions, which affected international networks such as CNN Español, Telesur and Cubavisión Internacional, C-Libre is quoted by IFEX as saying in its latest bulletin.

State television outlet Canal 8 went off the air from early Sunday to late Monday night, while the private TV station Canal 36, which supported Zelaya, remained off the air as of Tuesday afternoon, reports the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ).

According to C-Libre, power cuts ordered by the government prevented radio and television broadcasts from airing, such as those of the popular national station Radio Cadena Voces. Telephone lines and Internet access were also cut and mobile phone signals were constantly interrupted.

Meanwhile, journalists report they have been attacked while they have been working. According to Reporters Without Borders (RSF), in the northern city of El Progreso, around 25 soldiers stormed into the studios of Radio Progreso, a station affiliated to the Latin American Association of Radio Education, four hours after the coup and forced the staff to stop working.
In a statement, station manager Ismael Moreno said the intervention of local residents prevented more serious violence. Radio Progreso has not yet resumed broadcasting.

Other journalists have been arbitrarily detained. On June 29, at least 10 soldiers armed with rifles detained three journalists from the Venezuela-based regional television network Telesur and four journalists and media workers from the Associated Press inside their hotel in Tegucigalpa, reports the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ). They were brought to an immigration office and released a short while later.

According to CPJ, Telesur reported that Honduran military officials said the journalists were detained for "security reasons".

Adriana Sivori, a journalist from Telesur, told ARTICLE 19 after her release: "They arrested us without any provocation and provided no explanation; it felt like we were back in the dictatorships of the 1980s."
At least seven media workers are now missing, says ARTICLE 19, and others have been threatened, including C-Libre's Gustavo López.

IAPA is requesting that the Honduran authorities waive the curfew for local and foreign journalists "whose duties must be respected so that citizens and the international community may be kept fully informed."
Meanwhile, local media complained that protesters in Tegucigalpa and San Pedro Sula opposed to Zelaya's overthrow attacked and insulted reporters and photographers and destroyed newspaper vending kiosks.

La Prensa in San Pedro Sula declared that "a group of reporters, photographers and drivers from the newspaper were threatened while covering the crisis in the country" and were photographed by demonstrators who attempted to seize their equipment, while a distribution van was attacked by a mob, says IAPA.

Maxine Whittingam takes leave of Red Stripe
Media friend, Maxine Whittingham on June 30 left Red Stripe, in keeping with the separation agreement announced three months ago. We hope she won't go too far from media but we wish her all the very best in her future endeavours. I'll share two brief notes from Maxine, one to Spike and one to all her friends and associates in media:

Hi Desmond, since the announcement of my departure from Red Stripe, I must say the reaction from colleagues in the media, the business community and well-wishers from across the length and breadth of Jamaica has been quite heartening. I am particularly grateful to you for your support and wish to use this medium to express my sincere gratitude. It has been a tremendous journey and I have been blessed to have had the distinction of so many supporters along the way.

Dear Friend, on the eve (June 29) of my departure from Red Stripe, I wish to use this opportunity to extend a very special thank you for your tremendous support during my tenure. Thank you for your assistance, cooperation, words of encouragement, sound advice and kindness over the years. My successful journey at Red Stripe is due in large part to the amazing relationships and bonds that I shared with great people like you. It's been seven years and the time has now come for me to transition to another exciting phase in my life. I know we will be in touch, so this is not goodbye, it's see you around. Please do adjust your address book (effective immediately) to reflect my new email address: Email: maximom_whit@yahoo.com

My Cell number will remain the same 855-0338 Ciao! Maxine Whittingham-Osborne

Send comments to The Spike at desal@cwjamaica.com.
Desmond Allen, aka The Spike, a 35-year veteran of journalism, is a former president of the Press Association of Jamaica and founding general secretary of the regional Association of Caribbean Media Workers (ACM).

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