(PROBIDAD/IFEX) – Jorge Canahuati Larach, owner of “La Prensa” daily, which is published in the northern city of San Pedro Sula, 250 km. from Tegucigalpa, the capital, is facing a complaint for libel and defamation, launched against him on 22 July 2005 by the soft-drink bottling company Embotelladora de Honduras S.A. (EMBOHSA) after publishing a […]
(PROBIDAD/IFEX) – Jorge Canahuati Larach, owner of “La Prensa” daily, which is published in the northern city of San Pedro Sula, 250 km. from Tegucigalpa, the capital, is facing a complaint for libel and defamation, launched against him on 22 July 2005 by the soft-drink bottling company Embotelladora de Honduras S.A. (EMBOHSA) after publishing a series of reports alleging that a soft-drink factory that EMBOHSA intends to set up will damage San Pedro Sula’s principal water reservoir.
Canahuati, who also owns the Tegucigalpa daily “El Heraldo”, is the first media owner to be taken to court in a quarter of a century. He is also the Honduras representative of the Pepsi Cola soft-drink franchise, which EMBOHSA would compete with. As well, he is one of the vice-presidents of the Freedom of Expression Commission of the Inter American Press Association (IAPA) in Central America.
This is the second suit of this nature filed against “La Prensa” in 2005, and the first aimed directly against the paper’s owner. It was filed in response to the May publication of several newspaper reports warning about the impact that the construction of the soft-drink factory will allegedly have on the Sunseri aquifer, San Pedro Sula’s principal water source. The reports alleged that EMBOHSA had engaged in illegalities to set up operations in the area. As a result of the newspaper’s criticisms, the project was suspended.
EMBOHSA’s largest share-holder, businessman Róger Valladares, denies the allegations, saying they are part of “La Prensa'”s campaign to discredit the company. “There is documented evidence, issued by the San Pedro Sula municipal administration, that the factory would be completely outside of the area where it could affect the aquifer,” he says. Valladares also alleges that “La Prensa” “twisted the facts” in its titles and in its quoting of public officials and environmental experts.
EMBOHSA is suing for US$1.6 million (approx. 30 million lempiras) for damages caused by the reports.EMBOHSA legal representative Óscar Matute insinuates that Canahuati’s commercial interests are really what is behind the conflict.
Meanwhile, “La Prensa” published a piece stating it will not give up its reporting work and categorising the suit as an attack on freedom of expression by sectors with economic interests in the project.It also sent a complaint to the IAPA.
The Honduran Journalists’ College, CPH, condemned the suit against Canahuati, expressing concern about the escalated attack on freedom of expression because it saw “that the intention is no longer to just restore people’s good names, but to take people to jail, take away their assets and close down media.”
