Carlos Hilario Mejía Orellana, who had received threats in the past and who was head of sales and marketing for Radio Progreso, was stabbed to death in his home in Yoro department, Honduras, on 11 April 2014.
Carlos Hilario Mejía Orellana, head of sales and marketing for Radio Progreso and a member of the Reflection, Investigation and Communication Team (ERIC in Spanish) of the Jesús Company in Honduras, was stabbed to death in his home on the night of 11 April 2014. He lived in the Suazo Córdova neighbourhood in El Progreso, Yoro department, in northern Honduras.
In a press conference, a Jesuit priest, Ismael Moreno, said that the horrific crime was a direct attack, not only on Carlos Mejía and his family, but also on the work of Radio Progreso and ERIC.
“This crime against our colleague Carlos Mejía Orellana is a strike against our work, our institution, and for that we are condemning it. It jeopardizes our right to communication, our right to free expression and our right to life. It seems suspicious that this murder took place just before Semana Santa, when everyone goes on vacation, especially those working in the justice system,” said Father Moreno.
“This murder is a sign of the failure of the state’s security policies and the lack of political will to adopt effective safety measures as established by the Inter American Commission on Human Rights. We call for a serious and diligent investigation that will lead to the identification, judgement and punishment of those responsible for this murder,” said Joaquín Mejía, a member of ERIC.
In efforts to protect Mejía Orellana’s life and safety, the Inter American Commission on Human Rights had previously ordered precautionary measures for him on 2 July 2009, 16 April 2010, 3 May 2010, 2 June 2010 and 27 May 2011.
(Please note this is an abridged translation.)
