On 8 October 1996, Jorge Luis Monroy, a local news commentator for the daily program Las Verdades del Aire in Ocotepeque, was assaulted by two men. According to Monroy, he was on the air discussing local political issues and the recent results of an internal election within one of the two major Honduran parties when […]
On 8 October 1996, Jorge Luis Monroy, a local news commentator
for the daily program Las Verdades del Aire in Ocotepeque, was
assaulted by two men. According to Monroy, he was on the air
discussing local political issues and the recent results of an
internal election within one of the two major Honduran parties
when two men drove up to the radio station in a vehicle
identified as a grey Comanche Patrol, got out of the vehicle,
entered the station and, without permission, forced their way
into the broadcast booth while Monroy was transmitting his
program. During the live broadcast, one of the men punched Monroy
in the face, breaking his nose. The other man also hit him in the
face, and then both proceeded to pummel him with over fifteen
blows to the head and body. In addition, Monroy’s life was
threatened by one of the men who told him he would be killed if
he continued to broadcast his program or reported the attack. The
two men have been identified by Monroy as Luis Manuel Lopez, a
businessman, and Dr. Cesar Pinto Valle, an orthodontist. A
complaint was filed with the local police, but both men are still
at large.
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because of his journalistic work, which would constitute a
blatant violation of the right to freedom of expression
guaranteed under Article 19 of the United Nations Universal
Declaration of Human Rights
Ocotepeque to conduct a thorough investigation of this incident
Appeals To
His Excellency Carlos Roberto Reina
President of the Republic
Tegucigalpa, Honduras
Fax: +504 341460 o 343595
Dr. Miguel Angel Rivera Portillo
President of the Supreme Court of Justice
Tel: +504 337921
Edmundo Orellano Mercado
Attorney General
Fax: +504 394752
Efrain Moncadas Silva
Minister of Justice
Copies to:
Human Rights Commissioner (Honduras):
Lic. Leo Valladares Lanza
Comisionado Nacional de los Derechos Humanos
Avda. Los Proceres 3623
Tegucigalpa MDC., Honduras
Fax: +504 367213
e-mail: conadeh1@ns.gbm.hn
Please copy appeals to the originator if possible.
