Journalists Await Details of Free Press Restrictions

Honduras Weekly
The president of the College of Journalists in Honduras, Juan Ramón Mairena, today issued an alert to Honduran journalists in response to a law President Porfirio Lobo will propose to Congress aimed at regulating freedom of the press. "We need to see what the measure intends so as to make sure that it doesn't trample on the right of freedom of expression," said Mr. Mairena. "We'll wait to see the initiative the President of the Republic will submit in order to analyze it in depth and understand what he is trying to do. We hope that what he wants to do is improve the manner in which the image of Honduras is portrayed internationally... of how the media, journalists, and everyone who has anything to do with this system support the country so we can come out ahead."

President Lobo has offered few details about the regulatory legislation which he announced yesterday, leading to concerns among members of the press that this could represent yet another attempt by the government to control the media and limit freedom of expression in Honduras. The interim government of President Roberto Micheletti placed restrictions on the press following the overthrow of President Manuel Zelaya in June 2009 and occasionally blocked television and radio broadcast signals.

On May 24, 2007, President Zelaya issued a decree requiring all TV and radio stations to simultaneously broadcast interviews with public officials. Mr. Zelaya sought the official broadcasts "to counteract the misinformation of the news media" about his administration. Regulations passed by the National Telecommunications Commission gave Mr. Zelaya the authority to pre-empt TV and radio programming for emergency broadcasts. Ultimately, the authority was declared unconstitutional. (1/26/12)