Washington D.C., April 26, 2010<\/p>\n
The Center for Justice and International Law (CEJIL) condemns the April 20th<\/sup> murder of Honduran journalist Jorge Alberto \u201cGiorgino\u201d Orellana and expresses profound concern over the series of crimes recently committed against members of the press in that nation.\u00a0 Seven journalists have been murdered since March.<\/p>\n CEJIL insists that Honduran authorities diligently investigate these crimes so as to identify, prosecute, and punish those who carried out and ordered them.\u00a0 In addition, the Honduran government should publicly condemn these crimes and reaffirm its commitment to freedom of the press and public debate.<\/p>\n The assassination of journalists affects all of Honduran society by intimidating the news media and limiting the free expression of ideas.\u00a0 It is urgent that the government clearly and forcefully demonstrates its determination to prevent impunity for these crimes and avoid further violence against the media and the even greater damage it would bring to fundamental rights in Honduras.<\/p>\n Orellana, a 48-year-old TV reporter in San Pedro Sula, was shot dead upon leaving the studio the evening of April 20, after finishing his news and debate program.<\/p>\n Since March, journalists Jos\u00e9 Bayardo Mairena, Manuel Ju\u00e1rez, Nah\u00fam Palacios Arteaga, David Meza, Joseph Hern\u00e1ndez Ochoa, and Luis Antonio Ch\u00e9vez have been shot dead.\u00a0 In 2009, three other reporters \u2013 Bernardo Rivera, Santiago Murgu\u00eda and Gabriel Fino Noriega\u2013 were also slain.\u00a0 None of the crimes have been solved.<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n Press Contact in Washington D.C.<\/p>\n