Honduras: Journalist threatened by military officer
A Honduran journalist received a verbal death threat and has faced discrimination, believed to be in connection to his journalistic work. There is fear for his safety.
UA: 51/15 Index: AMR 37/1130/2015 Honduras Date: 9 March 2015
URGENT ACTION
JOURNALIST THREATENED BY MILITARY OFFICER
A Honduran journalist received a verbal death threat and has faced discrimination,
believed to be in connection to his journalistic work. There is fear for his safety.
On 24 January journalist César Omar Silva Rosales was denied access to the Honduran National Congress in
Tegucigualpa, the capital, while trying to cover a session discussing the constitutional range of the Military Policy.
César Omar Silva Rosales was told that his name was not in the list of authorized journalists and when he asked
for an explanation, a high-ranking military official pointed his finger at him saying: “You cannot come in because I
do not want you to and I am the one in charge here. Continue publishing videos of militaries eating dog and you will
see... in a ditch, gagged and with yellow legs you will be found” (No entras porque yo no quiero y yo soy el que
manda aquí y seguí publicando vídeos de militares comiendo perro y veras…amordazado y con las patas
amarillas en una cuneta te van a encontrar).
A formal complaint was filed on 29 January with the Special Prosecutor for Human Rights (Fiscalía Especial de
Derechos Humanos) but to date, César Omar Silva Rosales has not been called in to give a statement in order to
begin the formal complaint process.
It is believed that the threat is directly connected to César Omar Silva Rosales’s journalistic work. On 18 January a
television programme he works for transmitted an investigative report exposing the shocking practices in training
military members.
Please write immediately in Spanish or your own language:
Urging the authorities to provide effective protection and expressing serious concern for the safety of César
Omar Silva Rosales as a result of the threat received on 24 January;
Calling on them to carry out a swift and thorough investigation into the threat and discrimination received by
César Omar Silva Rosales on 24 January and for those responsible to be brought to justice;
Urging them to guarantee that the right to freedom of expression is respected and that journalists and media
workers can carry out their legitimate work without a fear of reprisals.
PLEASE SEND APPEALS BEFORE 20 APRIL 2015 TO:
Attorney General of the Republic
Óscar Fernando Chinchilla
Lomas del Guijarro
Avenida República Dominicana
Edificio Lomas Plaza II
Tegucigalpa, Honduras
Fax: +504 2 221 5667
Email: daniela.marine2@hotmail.com
Salutation: Dear Attorney
General/Estimado Fiscal General
Chief of the Armed Forces of Honduras
Fredy Díaz Zelaya
Comandancia General de las Fuerzas
Armadas
Colonia El Obelisco
Comayagüela
Honduras
Fax: +504 2 238 0005
Twitter: @FFAA_Hn
Salutation: Dear Chief/ Estimado Jefe
And copies to:
Comité de Familiares de Detenidos-
Desaparecidos en Honduras
(COFADEH)
Email: mail@cofadeh.org
Also send copies to diplomatic representatives accredited to your country. Please insert local diplomatic addresses below:
Name Address 1 Address 2 Address 3 Fax Fax number Email Email address Salutation Salutation
Please check with your section office if sending appeals after the above date.
URGENT ACTION
JOURNALIST THREATENED BY MILITARY OFFICER
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
César Omar Silva Rosales is the Director of a well-known Honduran television programme and during his career as a journalist
he has faced various intimidations and threatening events.
In February 2013 César Omar Silva Rosales and his cameraman were attacked by people believed to be members of a political
party, suffering an injury and property damage while covering a report near the Presidential Palace.
In December 2009, César Omar Silva Rosales was kidnapped by armed men and taken to an unknown location. After being
beaten, interrogated and threatened he was thrown out of a running car. He was forced to leave the country and the Inter-
American Commission on Human Rights granted him precautionary measures. However, these measures were never
implemented and were suspended in 2014.
In August 2009 while covering a demonstration, César Omar Silva was beaten with batons in his head by police officers who
also broke the camera he had been using to film the aggression.
In June 2009, César Omar Silva Rosales was detained in Guaimaca, Honduras while carrying out journalistic work. Luckily,
villagers interceded with demonstrations for his immediate release.
In Honduras being a media worker can be a dangerous profession and the issue seems to be escalating. According to a local
source in the past five years around 32 media workers have been killed, while many others have been intimidated in connection
to their work. The authorities have not implemented an effective protection and investigative mechanism, creating impunity and
fear among those working in the media.
Name: César Omar Silva Rosales
Gender m/f: m
UA: 51/15 Index: AMR 37/1130/2015 Issue Date: 9 March 2015