Guillermo Javier Valladares,
Chargé d'Affaires of Honduras to Canada
Honduras Embassy
151 Slater St. Suite 805
Ottawa, ON. K1P-5H3
July 21, 2010

Dear Mr. Valladares,

I am writing on behalf of Canadian Journalists for Free Expression (CJFE), a non-profit, non-governmental organization that works to promote and protect press freedom and freedom of expression around the world. CJFE is deeply concerned that the murder of eight Honduran journalists between March and June 2010, remain unpunished and that the Honduran authorities have been unable to determine the motives or identify those responsible for the killings.

The journalists are as follows:
- Joseph Ochoa, Canal 51 TV, killed March 1, 2010
- David Meza Montesinos, Abriendo Brecha TV and radio El Patio, killed March 11, 2010
- Nahúm Palacios, Televisora de Aguán - Canal 5, killed March 14, 2010
- Bayardo Mairena, Canal 4 TV, killed March 26, 2010
- Manuel Juárez, Radio Excélsior, killed March 26, 2010
- Luis Antonio Chévez, radio W105, killed April 11, 2010
- Georgino Orellana, Televisión de Honduras, killed April 20, 2010
- Luis Arturo Mondragón, Canal 19 TV, killed June 14, 2010

CJFE was encouraged by the news that Honduran President Porfirio Lobo Sosa officially recognized press freedom as "the driving force and basis of mankind's fundamental rights" when he signed the Declaration of Chapultepec on February 18, 2010. CJFE calls on President Lobo to live up to this commitment by encouraging legal reforms that result in "prompt investigations"" of assaults on freedom of expression and crimes against journalists in accordance with Article 4 of the declaration.

Impunity and violence against journalists in Honduras must end. When a journalist is killed in reprisal for his professional work, it is not only an infringement on the right to life but also every citizen's right to freely receive information. We call your attention to these cases and urge you to make these investigations a high priority, so that the killing of journalists does not go unpunished. In addition, we urge the Honduran government to establish and implement effective measures to prevent further threats and attacks on the media, and all those exercising their right to freedom of expression.

We thank you for your attention and look forward to your reply.

Yours sincerely,

Arnold Amber, CJFE President