TV journalists assaulted
2006/05/09
Country / Topic: Mongolia
Date: 08 May 2006
Source: Globe International NGO
Person: journalists B. Uuganbayar, M. Batdorj, L. Bayanbat, T. Orgil
Type of violation: Assault (physical, on infrastructure)
On the night of May 8, 2006, a television crew with reporters M. Batdorj and T. Orgil and cameramen B. Uuganbayar and L. Bayanbat, all from the independent Eagle TV channel, were assaulted by policemen in the centre of Ulaanbaatar, the capital of Mongolia, in Sukhbaatar Square, while covering actions by Mongolian police who were breaking and tearing down the gers (traditional Mongolian dwellings) of the protesters.
Several civil movements had been protesting against the current government since March this year, the pending stability agreement with Ivanhoe mines (Canadian mining company)/, corruption, and the 2006 budget revisions.
Starting mid-April, traders of the burned-down SAPU shopping centre who had lost all their stock and were being denied compensation, joined the protesters. Because of an official visit by the South Korean President, city authorities demanded that the protesters remove their gers. However the protesters did not comply and police came at the dead of night to break them down.
The Eagle TV reporters were roughed up by police when they tried to video the action for the morning news. Police demanded ID from the journalists to be allowed onto Sukhbaatar Square (a public place) and then told them that they had no right to record the events, forcibly preventing the Eagle TV crew from taping. One police officer repeatedly smashed his fist into the camera and damaged it. Another officer took journalist T. Orgil by the collar and dragged him away from the area controlled by police.
T. Orgil said that none of the senior police at the scene would answer his question, ”Why do journalists need to get advance permission to record events on a public place like the central Sukhbaatar Square?”
The Eagle TV crew met a Globe International lawyer and monitor and handed over a video showing violent action by police.
The Globe International NGO was deeply concerned about the incident, and asked for a meeting with Colonel A. Davaakhuu of the Mongolian General Police Department, who said, “Police who were at Sukhbaatar Square on this night contacted me when the Eagle TV crew arrived and I allowed them to enter and report. I did not hear anything about any conflict between the TV crew and police.”
Globe International has issued a media release on the incident addressed to Mr. D. Sandag-Ochir, General Police Department General Director, demanding an investigation of the case and a calling to account of police who are found guilty of these actions.
Globe International strongly reminded him, ”Under current Mongolian law, it is a crime to interfere with the lawful professional activity of a journalist with the aim of promoting one’s own interests, and no action or irresponsibility by a goverment organization or its staff should deny the public its right to seek and receive information, as guaranteed by the Constitution.”
Date: 08 May 2006
Source: Globe International NGO
Person: journalists B. Uuganbayar, M. Batdorj, L. Bayanbat, T. Orgil
Type of violation: Assault (physical, on infrastructure)
On the night of May 8, 2006, a television crew with reporters M. Batdorj and T. Orgil and cameramen B. Uuganbayar and L. Bayanbat, all from the independent Eagle TV channel, were assaulted by policemen in the centre of Ulaanbaatar, the capital of Mongolia, in Sukhbaatar Square, while covering actions by Mongolian police who were breaking and tearing down the gers (traditional Mongolian dwellings) of the protesters.
Several civil movements had been protesting against the current government since March this year, the pending stability agreement with Ivanhoe mines (Canadian mining company)/, corruption, and the 2006 budget revisions.
Starting mid-April, traders of the burned-down SAPU shopping centre who had lost all their stock and were being denied compensation, joined the protesters. Because of an official visit by the South Korean President, city authorities demanded that the protesters remove their gers. However the protesters did not comply and police came at the dead of night to break them down.
The Eagle TV reporters were roughed up by police when they tried to video the action for the morning news. Police demanded ID from the journalists to be allowed onto Sukhbaatar Square (a public place) and then told them that they had no right to record the events, forcibly preventing the Eagle TV crew from taping. One police officer repeatedly smashed his fist into the camera and damaged it. Another officer took journalist T. Orgil by the collar and dragged him away from the area controlled by police.
T. Orgil said that none of the senior police at the scene would answer his question, ”Why do journalists need to get advance permission to record events on a public place like the central Sukhbaatar Square?”
The Eagle TV crew met a Globe International lawyer and monitor and handed over a video showing violent action by police.
The Globe International NGO was deeply concerned about the incident, and asked for a meeting with Colonel A. Davaakhuu of the Mongolian General Police Department, who said, “Police who were at Sukhbaatar Square on this night contacted me when the Eagle TV crew arrived and I allowed them to enter and report. I did not hear anything about any conflict between the TV crew and police.”
Globe International has issued a media release on the incident addressed to Mr. D. Sandag-Ochir, General Police Department General Director, demanding an investigation of the case and a calling to account of police who are found guilty of these actions.
Globe International strongly reminded him, ”Under current Mongolian law, it is a crime to interfere with the lawful professional activity of a journalist with the aim of promoting one’s own interests, and no action or irresponsibility by a goverment organization or its staff should deny the public its right to seek and receive information, as guaranteed by the Constitution.”