Cardinal Maradiaga condemns murder of Honduran journalist

May 17, 2012: Honduran Cardinal Oscar Rodriguez Maradiaga, Archbishop of Tegucigalpa has condemned the murder of fellow countryman, the journalist Alfredo Villatoro. The Honduran broadcast reporter was found executed Tuesday night in the village of Guasculile, north of Tegucigalpa. Villatoro had been abducted near his home by a gang of young men travelling in two vehicles on May 9.

He is the 22nd journalist to be killed in the country since 2010. Cardinal Rodriguez said, “Alfredo Villatoro was a brave journalist. He was a great professional. He was also my friend. My prayers are with his family and colleagues. “Alfredo shone a light on the violence and drug trafficking that is strangling Honduras. He is the latest journalist to be murdered for telling the truth about Honduras."

“These murders must end now. A free press is the cornerstone of any democracy. The intimidation and abuse of the media in Honduras must be stopped.” Honduras has the highest murder rate on the planet, according to the UN, with 82 homicides per 100,000 inhabitants, and has become increasingly dangerous for journalists given the recent rise in drug trafficking and organised crime.

Cardinal Rodriguez is also the President of Caritas Internationalis, the Catholic aid network. He is currently in Rome on Caritas business.