(RSF/IFEX) – RSF voiced outrage at the forced temporary closure of Virtud Stéreo radio station, based in the southwestern town of La Virtud, and recent death threats against the station’s manager, Jaime Díaz. These developments appear to stem from party rivalry during the pre-election campaign. Presidential, legislative and local elections are scheduled for 27 November […]
(RSF/IFEX) – RSF voiced outrage at the forced temporary closure of Virtud Stéreo radio station, based in the southwestern town of La Virtud, and recent death threats against the station’s manager, Jaime Díaz. These developments appear to stem from party rivalry during the pre-election campaign. Presidential, legislative and local elections are scheduled for 27 November 2005.
“The role of the media is key to ensuring that election campaigns and polling take place in a transparent fashion and it is unacceptable that they should be subjected to pressure and harassment by political parties,” the press freedom organisation said.
According to the Honduran organisation Committee for Free Expression (Comité por la Libre Expresión, C-Libre), Virtud Stéreo was forced to suspend its broadcasts on 5 November after its power cables were severed by machete-wielding members of the Liberal Party (Partido Liberal). La Virtud Mayor Mariano Aguirre is a member of the party.
Since that time, Liberal Party supporters have repeatedly harassed and threatened to kill Díaz.
Díaz attributes the harassment to the party’s resentment of the fact that the ruling National Party has bought more airtime on his station. He told C-Libre the National Party paid for 90 publicity spots a day during the campaign while the Liberal Party arranged for just 25 a day. The Liberals asked the station manager to reduce the number of National Party publicity spots aired on his station and refund the party for the extra monies paid. Díaz refused.
