82 280. The patterns of violence and repression were said to have occurred because the laws in place were inadequate and enabled abusive activities. In its report, the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights observed that in many cases an ambiguous or imprecise formulation of the law allowed “for arbitrary application, particularly of criminal legislation, of the Police and Social Coexistence Law, the Telecommunications Law and the Emergency Law, as well as of provisions criminalizing sedition and illegal demonstrations.”340 Furthermore, the events were said to have occurred in a context in which freedom of expression and the free flow of information and ideas were severely restricted. The Truth and Reconciliation Commission concluded that the media outlets identified as being in favor of the government of deposed President Zelaya “had their electric power cut, their antenna damaged to the point of being inoperable; their broadcasts were interrupted, their broadcasting equipment was confiscated and staff were subjected to threats, intimidation and persecution to get them to stop broadcasting.”341 281. Despite these serious events, the IACHR observed that no institutions were in place to process complaints, investigate the facts, punish those responsible and make reparations to the victims of human rights violations.342 In its report, the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights observed that: 67. The institutions responsible for protecting human rights and guaranteeing the rule of law failed in many instances to accomplish their mandate, mainly due to a lack of independence. 68. During the period covered by this report, the lack of independence of the judiciary and the unequal and discriminatory application and interpretation of the law have been evident. The Attorney General’s Office, judges and the Supreme Court of Justice have, in http://www.sjdh.gob.hn/recomendacionesCVR/sites/default/files/VOLUME-IFINAL%20Para%20que%20los%20hechos%20no%20se%20repitan%20-%20Informe%20de%20la%20CVR.pdf. 340 United Nations. Human Rights Council. A/HRC/13/66. Report of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights on the violations of human rights in Honduras since the coup d’état on 28 June 2009. March 3, 2010, paragraph 13. Available at: http://www2.ohchr.org/english/bodies/hrcouncil/docs/13session/A-HRC-13-66.pdf 341 Truth and Reconciliation Commission. Report titled Para que los hechos no se repitan [So That Events Are Not Repeated].. July 2009. Volume I, p. 347. Available at: http://www.sjdh.gob.hn/recomendacionesCVR/sites/default/files/VOLUME-IFINAL%20Para%20que%20los%20hechos%20no%20se%20repitan%20-%20Informe%20de%20la%20CVR.pdf. The IACHR confirmed that the flow of information and news was controlled by temporarily shutting down some media outlets; orders were given to block transmission of the signal from certain cable television networks that were covering the coup d’état; selective power outages were used to affect broadcasting by audiovisual media covering the coup, and journalists from media outlets whose editorial positions were opposed to the coup d’état were attacked and threatened. IACHR. Honduras: Human Rights and Coup d’état, 2009. OEA/Ser.L/V/II. Doc. 55. December 30, 2009. Paragraph 12. Available at: http://www.cidh.org/countryrep/Honduras09eng/Toc.htm 342 IACHR. Honduras: Human Rights and Coup d’état, 2009. OEA/Ser.L/V/II. Doc. 55. December 30, 2009. Paragraph 14. Available at: http://www.cidh.org/countryrep/Honduras09eng/Toc.htm