Honduran journalist dies of COVID-19 contracted in prison

[Judi Lynn]

A Honduran journalist known as a strong critic of President Juan Orlando Hernandez has died at a hospital of COVID-19 that he apparently contracted while in prison on a defamation sentence

ByThe Associated Press
July 18, 2020, 7:06 PM
2 min read

TEGUCIGALPA, Honduras -- A Honduran journalist known as a strong critic of President Juan Orlando Hernandez died Saturday at a hospital of COVID-19 that he apparently contracted while in prison on a defamation sentence.

The National Cardio-pulmonary Institute confirmed the death of Radio Globo director David Romero due to respiratory failure associated with the novel coronavirus. He had been imprisoned since March 2019, when Honduran police broke down the door of a radio station and arrested him.

Defamation has since been decriminalized under a new law in Honduras that took effect in June, and Romero could have been eligible for release.

Former President Manuel Zelaya wrote in his Twitter account that “the death of David Romero is a murder by the regime of JOH,” referring to the current president's initials. “The order was given that he serve an unfair sentence and to not take him out of prison until he had caught COVID-19.”

. . .

“I know they can kill me and, if that happens, the person responsible is the president,” Romero said as he was forced into a police vehicle when he was arrested in 2019.

More:
https://abcnews.go.com/International/wireStory/honduran-journalist-dies-covid-19-contracted-prison-71863595

Also posted in LBN:
https://www.democraticunderground.com/10142540766

By all means, the current Honduran administration is very US-friendly, business friendly, and very corrupt.



Honduran President Juan Orlando Hernandez and peer.

"This is how David Romero Ellner, director of Radio / TV Globo in full transmission, was captured"

Honduran journalist dies of COVID-19 contracted in prison