Danger Increases for Journalists

The second attack on a Honduran journalist in less than week comes with the usual measure of doubt over whether it was a personal attack, robbery or a way to silence a public critic in one of the worst countries for press freedom in the hemisphere.

Acosta, manager of the daily newspaper La Tribuna, was ambushed as he drove home from work in Tegucigalpa. Attackers boxed him in between two vehicles and sprayed his car with gunfire. The 70-year-old Acosta somehow survived and drove home despite his wounds; his family took him to a hospital.

Co-workers said Acosta didn’t have other business interests, and no known conflicts with anyone.

“Yes, the problem of common crime is shocking, but his car had 30 bullet holes in it,” noted Lauria at the Committee to Protect Journalists.

Some attacks and intimidation seem clearly linked to journalists’ work.

Excerpts from story by By FREDDY CUEVAS and MARK STEVENSON here.


You must be logged in to post a comment Login