Journalists Killed in 2011 - Motive Unconfirmed: Nery Geremías Orellana

Committee to Protect Journalists, Journalists Killed in 2011 - Motive Unconfirmed: Nery Geremías Orellana, 20 December 2011, https://www.refworld.org/reference/annualreport/cpj/2011/en/84276 [accessed 08 September 2024]
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Radio Joconguera, Radio Progreso
July 14, 2011, in Lempira, Honduras

Journalist and political activist Orellana, 26, was shot in the head by unknown assailants while he was riding his motorcycle to work. He was found on the road between the towns of San Lorenzo and Candelaria and taken to a nearby Salvadoran hospital, where he later died.

Orellana was manager of the local radio station Radio Joconguera and correspondent for the Christian-oriented station Radio Progreso. He was also an active member of the National Front of Popular Resistance, or FNRP, an organization that supported the ousted President Manuel Zelaya.

Although Radio Joconguera was primarily devoted to music, Orellana regularly allotted airtime to the FNRP, local news reports said. He also coordinated a news program for the station that denounced local corruption, according to a colleague, the Rev. José Amílcar.

Amílcar told CPJ that he and Orellana had received anonymous death threats via text message and had been heckled on the street.

Motive Unconfirmed: CPJ is investigating to determine whether the death was work-related.

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