Two journalists gunned down in ambush, bringing media death toll in March to five
| Publisher | Reporters Without Borders |
| Publication Date | 28 March 2010 |
| Cite as | Reporters Without Borders, Two journalists gunned down in ambush, bringing media death toll in March to five, 28 March 2010, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/4bb06c521a.html [accessed 17 September 2023] |
| Disclaimer | This is not a UNHCR publication. UNHCR is not responsible for, nor does it necessarily endorse, its content. Any views expressed are solely those of the author or publisher and do not necessarily reflect those of UNHCR, the United Nations or its Member States. |
Reporters Without Borders offers its condolences to the relatives and colleagues of local radio journalists Bayardo Mairena and Manuel Juárez, who were ambushed and slain by gunmen on 26 March in eastern Honduras. After spraying their car with bullets, the gunmen cold-bloodedly finished them off with shots fire at close range, witnesses said.
Their deaths bring the number of journalists killed in Honduras since the start of the year to five. All of these murders took place in March.
"Honduras and Mexico rank as the western hemisphere's two deadliest countries by far for journalists in 2010," Reporters Without Borders said. "Five have been killed in Honduras even if investigators have not yet completely established the motive in some cases. Aside from the problem of organised crime, the Honduran media continue to be major targets of the post-coup repression. We urge the authorities to act energetically to curb this violence and identify those responsible."
Mairena and Juarez were ambushed near Juticalpa, in the eastern province of Olancho, while on their way back from hosting a radio programme in Catacamas. Colleagues described Mairena, 52, as a radio journalism pioneer in Olancho province. Juárez, 55, had worked for Radio Nacional for years.
The head of the Honduran Press Association urged President Porfirio Lobo to rein in the wave of killings of journalists. Reporters Without Borders is also concerned about recent threats against the staff of Radio Uno, a privately-owned opposition station in San Pedro Sula. Despite being in the army's sights since last June's coup d'état, it continues to take risks by covering human rights violations.