Honduras - arson attack on community radio previously targeted by coup supporters

A community radio station that serves the Afro-Caribbean Garifuna community in the Atlantic-coast town of Triunfo de la Cruz was ransacked and torched yesterday morning. The station, called Faluma Bimetu or Radio Coco Dulce, has often been threatened because of its opposition to last June's coup d'état and to real estate projects in the region. "The arson attack on Faluma Bimetu confirms that news media that are independent or opposed to the coup are still in danger," Reporters Without Borders said. "The threat is all the greater for community radio stations, which are not recognised by Honduran Law." The press freedom organisation added: "The government should help Faluma Bimetu to resume broadcasting because it fills an important communication function for the isolated and often marginalised Garifuna community. Punishing those responsible for this attack will be a test for the government that is due to take office on 27 January."