The head of the national telecommunications company Hondutel, Marcelo Chimirri, sued the dailies La Prensa and El Heraldo yesterday, demanding 26.4 million dollars in damages for reports that allegedly tarnished the company’s image. Recent articles in the two newspapers about alleged irregularities in Hondutel’s management led the United States to advise its telecom companies not to have any dealings with Hondutel.
The case was preceded by a controversy about a draft telecommunications law that would have reinforced Hondutel’s role in Honduras. It was rejected by congress. Hondutel and government officials blamed the failure on various lobbies including the owners of news media such as La Prensa and El Heraldo. The two newspapers have denied waging a campaign to discredit the company.
