Honduras emerges as world's most dangerous places to be a reporter

Alemán is one of the lucky ones. Last month, five journalists were gunned down in a month of unprecedented violence. So what is behind the recent wave of attacks?

Part of the problem is the general climate of violence that exists in Honduras. Poverty and rising unemployment are fuelling drug trafficking and crime and youth gangs have become a serious security issue, states the World Bank.

But it is political divisions brought about by last year's coup d'ètat that is causing the surge in violence against journalists, says a report by several organisations including anti-censorship group Article 19 and Reporters without Borders, an NGO that advocates freedom of the press.

On 28 June 2009, Honduran President, Manuel Zelaya, was forced into exile amid a power struggle over his plans to amend the constitution in what critics say was a move to pave the way to re-election. During the coup there was a crack down on all media organisations that supported President Zelaya or opposed the seizure of power, says Reporters without Borders. And despite the election, in November, of a new president, Porfirio Lobo, attacks on journalists continue.

"On one side there is intimidation and harassment from authorities and on the other the constant threat from radical groups against the coup against those in favour," the report states.

Worryingly the report tells of "journalist black lists" drawn up by supporters of both sides, which are circulating on the Internet creating unease among journalists. Luis Edgardo Vallejo, a reporter at Radio América, says that he no longer feels safe when working. "We have to cover our identification on our mobile phones because journalists on one political side attack those on the other," he says.

To understand why journalists are being killed you have to know how the Honduran media operates says Vilma Gloria Rosales, a member of the Committee for Free Expression (C-Libre), a coalition for the defence of free speech in Honduras.

"In the last 15 years the main difficulty for journalists has been and continues to be that free expression does not exist," she states. The reason, she explains, is that owners of media organisations have economic interests and use the media as a way of pressuring the government to favour certain businesses. Since the coup, "Those economic and political groups who allied with the military now have a strong presence in the country," she states.

Before the coup, she continues, the main threat to free speech was inside media organisations. But the situation has now worsened, "Because the few voices that spoke out against it have been suppressed, threatened and have had their equipment confiscated," she says.

For Rosales, last year's election has merely served to cover up the coup and to give the impression that the people of Honduras are living in a democracy. "Those that are responsible for repression are still there, still operating and remain untouchable," she says. "If I dare to say it," she adds, "Some of these deaths are linked to the current political situation".

A failure by the Honduran government to protect journalists is adding to the problem. The Committee to Protect Journalists, a non-profit organisation that promotes press freedom, has called on the Honduran authorities to condemn the attacks and find those responsible. But this has fallen on deaf ears. "Those responsible for the attacks have not been punished," says Rosales. "Impunity is a message to continue killing and threatening journalists".

The future for journalism in Honduras looks bleak. As those involved in business and politics continue to defend their interests journalists are turning to self censorship to protect themselves. Rosales says she is not optimistic. "Journalists will end up censoring themselves and independent journalists have two options," she states. "Adapt to the system or disappear".