Attacks on journalists escalate; crackdown on protesters in Choluteca; another social leader killed in the Bajo Aguán region

Introduction

As previously reported by the CIVICUS Monitor, in December 2022, President Xiomara Castro declared a state of emergency in several regions of Honduras to address gang violence. Since then, it has been renewed every 45 days, suspending constitutional guarantees, including freedoms of association and assembly. In addition, it has granted power to the police, in collaboration with the military police, to carry out arrests and raids without warrants. Supposedly temporary, the state of emergency remains in effect, and is currently scheduled to expire in July 2024 (Executive Decree (PCM 13-2024).

In March 2024, the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) expressed concern about the militarisation of public security, the disproportionate use of force and the prolonged duration of the state of emergency without justification and adequate judicial controls. The OHCHR also highlighted alleged human rights violations committed in the implementation of the state of emergency.

The militarised approach to public security and suspension of constitutional guarantees have posed significant risks, leading to grave human rights violations. According to Contra Corriente, an independent digital media outlet, the National Human Rights Ombudsman’s Office of Honduras (CONADEH) issued a report that 2,147 complaints of abuse of authority, incrimination with false evidence, death threats, inhumane and cruel treatment, forced disappearances, theft and murder were filed against state security forces since December 2022 in relation to the state of emergency.

Expression

Killings of journalists

On 26th January, unknown individuals fatally shot journalist Luis Alfonso Teruel Vega while he was heading towards the community of La Ceibita to carry out a move. He was intercepted, removed from his vehicle and attacked. Subsequently, the National Police transferred him to the Materno Infantil Clinic, where he passed away. Teruel Vega worked at the local TV station “Pencaligüe Televisión” in Atima, Santa Bárbara Department, western Honduras. Teruel Vega had recently exposed critical issues, including deforestation and alcohol sales, in the community.

On 22nd March 2024, unknown individuals fatally shot journalist Henry López, a collaborator with Suyapa Medios, a Catholic Church media in Tegucigalpa. López was heading to work from home at around 3:30 a.m. when he noticed that one of his vehicle’s tyres was deflated. While repairing the tyre, he was approached and shot at least five times. He was immediately transported to a hospital, but he died from his injuries shortly after arrival. This is the second journalist killed as of April 2024.

Civil society organisations have warned about the violence faced by journalists in Honduras. In April 2024, Dina Meza, the executive director of the Association for Democracy and Human Rights (Asopodehu), denounced that journalists reporting on deforestation and other environmental issues have received death threats.

Journalists are targets of attacks for exposing human rights abuses, in particular when reporting corruption, organised crime, public security, migration and agrarian and mining conflicts. In 2024, Reporters Without Borders (RSF) ranked Honduras in the 146th position out of 180 countries in its World Press Freedom Index. Despite climbing 17 spots compared to the previous year, the state of press freedom in Honduras continues to be very serious. Alongside Nicaragua, it is one of the other Central American countries to receive such a classification.

According to the National Human Rights Ombudsman’s Office of Honduras (CONADEH), at least 97 killings of journalists and media workers have been recorded, and 90 per cent of these cases remain in impunity. In 2023, the Committee for Free Expression (Comité por la Libre Expresión, C-Libre), a Honduran press freedom organisation, recorded the highest number of incidents since 2018, revealing a persistent pattern of violence, predominantly perpetrated by non-state actors and unidentified individuals.

Peaceful Assembly

Garífuna people’s protest met with repressive tactics from authorities

On 12th April 2024, the Black Fraternal Organisation of Honduras (OFRANEH) organised a large peaceful march in Tegucigalpa to demand that the state restore their territory in accordance with three Inter-American Court of Human Rights (IACtHR) rulings: Case of the Community Garífuna of San Juan and its members v. Honduras (2023), Case of the Community Garífuna Triunfo de la Cruz and its members v. Honduras (2015), and Case of the Garífuna Punta Piedra Community and its members v. Honduras (2015).

Upon reaching the Presidential House, the Honour Guard members of the presidential guard threatened OFRANEH coordinator Miriam Miranda with a firearm. The authorities also physically assaulted other HRDs and prevented the march from entering the house. In addition, public officials took photographs of HRDs throughout the protest.

Crackdown on protesters

There were reports of clashes during a protest against a new private bus station in Choluteca. From 15th to 17th April 2024, protesters blocked one of the main roads leading to the border crossing with Nicaragua to oppose the relocation to the new private bus station outside the city, known as the Pacific Grand Terminal project. According to media reports, merchants demanded that transportation in the area not be removed, as this would negatively impact their commercial activity. Additionally, residents opposed the construction because it would result in public transportation users incurring higher costs, as they would have to pay double fares.

On 16th April, riot police fired tear gas to disperse protesters. As a result, several people, including police officers, were injured. Following this, representatives of 53 bus lines, the Choluteca municipality, the National Police and the Honduran Transportation Institute (IHTT) agreed that buses could enter the new Pacific station and maintain passenger pick-up in the city centre. However, residents continued until the end of April. On 25th April, protesters took to the streets again to denounce the closure of the Choluteca Municipal Bus Station. As reported by Radio Progreso, a grassroots radio station, the National Police used tear gas and water cannon to disperse the peaceful protest the following day.

A few days later, on 24th April, the grassroots organisation “Frente Triunfeño en Defensa por la Vida” and residents from El Triunfo blocked the main highway connecting Choluteca to Guasaule on the Nicaraguan border for two days. In addition to halting the rerouting to the new private bus station in Choluteca, they demanded the construction of the La Pacona bridge, which would connect several communities in El Triunfo.

In response, on 26th April 2024, around 500 hundred National Police officials used gunshot, tear gas and water cannon on at least 200 residents protesting at the detour in Las Hormigas, El Triunfo, department of Choluteca, Southern Honduras. As a result, at least 10 protesters and journalists were injured by gunshots. Additionally, there was a power outage in the area. C-Libre recorded home raids against protesters.

“Social conflict in Honduras has intensified in recent years, with up to six protests recorded in a single day. These protests range from road blockades to the occupation of state buildings, indicating a state of constant social struggle,” said German Chirinos, Civil Society Councillor to the National Protection System.

The OHCHR expressed concern over violent acts against demonstrators during protests in Choluteca on 26th April. It also called on Honduran authorities to promptly investigate the incidents.

On 30th April 2024, “Concepcion de Soluteca” residents blocked the highway near Comayagua to demand that authorities repair roads in their communities. This highway links Tegucigalpa and San Pedro Sula, the country’s main cities. Six hours later, the National Police clashed with protesters, and one police officer opened fire. On the same day, the Secretariat of State in the Office of Security of Honduras announced that three police officials were injured by protesters and that one officer was suspended for firearm misuse. A thorough investigation into the incident is under way.

Association

Social leader killed in the Bajo Aguán region

On 17th March 2024, unknown armed individuals shot dead social leader Marvin Dubón in Tocoa, while he and his partner, Elizabeth Gómez, were on their way home after visiting their family in the La Confianza neighbourhood. Dubón was an active community spokesperson and a member of the Tranvio Farmers Agricultural Cooperative in the Bajo Aguán.

As indicated by the InterReligious Task Force on Central America (IRTF), during the fatal incident, witnesses reported the presence of a leader of a criminal group involved in evictions against peasant communities in the region. Despite this, there has been a lack of serious investigative actions by the Public Prosecutor Offices and the Police Investigation Directorate (DPI), raising concerns about potential collusion among assassins, private companies and local law enforcement agents in Tocoa.

Arbitrary detention of land defender in El Progreso

On 30th April 2024, National Police officers arbitrarily detained land defender Lilian Borjas at a police checkpoint in Pico Bonito, La Ceiba, Atlántida, northern Honduras. She is the coordinator of the National Union of Farmworkers (CNTC) in El Progreso region and a member of the National Network of Women Human Rights Defenders in Honduras (RNDDH). According to the RNDDH, Borjas’ detention was related to a 2013 judicial process against her due to her land rights activism against agro-industrial companies in the region. After a few hours, she was released.