Condemning murder of Honduran journalist, UNESCO chief urges investigation

The head of the United Nations agency tasked with defending press freedom today condemned the killing of Juan Carlos Argeñal Medina, who was shot dead in his home in southeastern Honduras.

“The bullet must not be allowed to replace the pen,” said the Director-General of the UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), Irina Bokova.

“This killing is not just a crime against an individual but against Honduran society as a whole,” she noted, adding that every country should enjoy a free press in which journalists and media owners are allowed to exercise independence in collecting and reporting news without fearing violent reprisals.

Mr. Medina, the owner of the Christian television station Vida Televisión and a correspondent for Globo television network, was killed on Saturday in his home in Danlí, El Paraíso province.

He is the third Honduran journalist killed this year. His name will be added to UNESCO’s dedicated webpage for journalists killed in the line of duty.