(PROBIDAD/IFEX) – In the hamlet of El Amatillo in the township of La Virtud, Lempira, in western Honduras, rural correspondent Elder Martínez, of the Tegucigalpa-based radio station HRN, was attacked by a local teacher, Holmer Serrano Aguirre, in the presence of the departmental director of education, Teófilo Enamorado, while the reporter was covering a gathering […]
(PROBIDAD/IFEX) – In the hamlet of El Amatillo in the township of La Virtud, Lempira, in western Honduras, rural correspondent Elder Martínez, of the Tegucigalpa-based radio station HRN, was attacked by a local teacher, Holmer Serrano Aguirre, in the presence of the departmental director of education, Teófilo Enamorado, while the reporter was covering a gathering of parents who object to the the teacher’s behaviour and attitude.
The incident took place on 26 September 2006. Serrano Aguirre works as a teacher in El Amatillo, as well as as a technical assistant for the municipal school board.
Martínez says that he attended the gathering at the request of local residents: “They called me because the teacher had made a big deal about his party (Liberal) being in power, saying that he was the boss of the town and would not pay attention to the community’s complaints against him.”
Once he began covering the event, according to Martínez, Serrano Aguirre “accosted me and said: ‘You son of a bitch, why are you filming here if you aren’t a journalist? Where is your press card?’ When I showed him my card, he punched me in the shoulder and then began to throw chairs at me, eventually cutting me on the eyebrow.”
Martínez, who also owns his own local cable television station on which he broadcasts news, added that Enamorado, who witnessed the attack, initially said he would take action against the teacher, but has not yet done so – presumably due to political pressure. Serrano Aguirre continues in his teaching post.
Martínez received eight stitches to the cut on his brow.
