The public in Honduras circumvent the media by using grafitti. Photo: Robert Shaw/IMS

As the crisis in Honduras is likely to be debated among heads of state at the UN General Assembly in New York this week, a divided Honduran society feeding off a polarized media base keeps the imminent threat of violence just around the corner. Report by IMS staff Robert Shaw, who has just been in Honduras to assess the media situation

Since the former President Manuel Zelaya was overthrown by a military coup on June 28, Honduras has been thrust into the worst political crisis Central America has seen in years.

The current crisis has brought a long-existing undercurrent of division out into the open, heavily polarizing the media across political lines leading to a very lopsided  media picture.

Several of the Honduran media outlets are associated with the pro-coup side, while a handful of media – such as Radio Globo or Channel 36 – are perceived as being, or are clearly associated with, the “resistance movement”. Only very few media outlets – including El Tiempo and Channel 13 – have not taken a clear stand on either side and are perceived as being impartial or simply supporting the rule of law.

President ousted

President Zelaya, an ally of Venezuela's socialist President Hugo Chavez, was ousted as he sought a referendum to change the constitution. Opponents led by Roberto Micheletti accused him of trying to change the constitution to allow presidential re-election. The Supreme Court later ruled the referendum illegal. Zelaya denies all allegations.

According to the main candidates, the planned 29 November elections are the only way out of the current crisis. However, the organisation of American States, OAS and other international actors have said that they will not recognize the election nor the results in the current political situation.

Armed forces took control over media

Following the coup and complying with orders by opposition leader Roberto Micheletti, Honduran security forces shut down local broadcasters, blocked transmissions of international news networks, and briefly detained journalists.

In July, the greatest concern was the level of threats and intimidation against journalists, human rights defenders, and social movements or political leaders.

Aside from coverage of the stalled negotiations between Zelaya and the de facto authorities that ousted him, there was less and less news about events on the ground. Since 28 June, self-censorship by media outlets has continued to rise with ithe Honduran public as well as the international community being kept in the dark about a situation that could explode at any time.

Crack down on allegedly “pro-coup media”

Journalists covering the demonstrations against the coup who are associated with pro-coup media, have been targeted by the demonstrators, attacked or threatened, and have generally been unable to report freely.

Representatives from the international press freedom and freedom of expression communities have received several first-hand testimonies and examples of journalists and photographers being targeted and beaten up, their material destroyed by pro-Zelaya demonstrators because of their employer being seen as part of the media war against Zelaya and the resistance movement.

Curfews imposed by Micheletti and a heavy police presence patrolling key neighborhoods have ratcheted up the air of insecurity on the streets, with several journalists unable to move freely both to their offices or to simply cover the story.

Call for safe working conditions for media

For this reason, the main media support organisations in Honduras, including the Honduran Press Association (APH), the Association of Journalists and C-Libre have focused on the need for the media to be able to work safely.  Elan Reyes, the President of the Association of Journalists, explains:

- It is vital that the Government, the security forces, as well as resistance groups recognize the right for the media to work safely and free from harassment”.

Media – a voice for one or the other side

Graffiti plastered streets that have sprung up all across the capital Tegucigalpa have become one of the principle visual expressions of frustration by the public with both the political mismanagement that led to this crisis - as well as the public view that the media has become a voice for one side or the other.

In spite of Zelaya´s return to Tegucigalpa, the on-going political stalemate between the ousted President and his opponents is keeping the country in limbo as tensions continue to widen the social dividing-line.