Country / Topic: Mongolia
Date: 05 May 2006
Source: Globe International NGO
Person: journalist Sh.Aruintsetseg, cameraman G. Delger
Type of violation: Assault
The journalist Ms. Sh. Aruintsetseg and cameraman Mr.G.Delger of the “Mongolyn medee”/Mongolian news/ news service of the Mongolian National Public Radio and Television were harassed by the students on 19 April 2006 while covering the actions when leaders of civil movements such us “Healthy society”, “Mongolian Homeland” hiring students to the protest demonstration near the Students hostel in the western district of capital city Ulaanbaatar. According to Aruintsetseg “ Although students refused to gave any interview and we could interviewed one student who confirmed that by hiring 5000 tugriks / about 4 $/ civil movements he agreed to involve to the protest. When we tried to record students getting in a bus they attacked and tried to rob a camera. The camera which cost 15000 $ was damaged and no longer used. When we attacked by students UBS TV crew with three young men, /journalist, cameraman and driver / had arrived. They left own camera in the bus, snatched stones and approached to us. Feared students finally left us for while and we escaped. Together with MM news agency executives we appealed to the Bayanzurkh district police office requesting to investigate the incident”.
The Globe International NGO was deeply concerned about the incident, and asked for a meeting with deputy Colonel D. Bathyag above mentioned police office, who said, “We filed an accusation at the police and asked for meeting with the victims. We could not give more information during the investigation process”.
Globe International has issued a media release on the incident calling to account of police who are found guilty of these actions and published it on the 25 April 2006 issue of the daily newspapers “Zuuny medee” /Century news/, “Udriin sonin” /Daily news/ and aired on TV-5, TV-9, TV-8, MM news agency on same day.
In it Globe International strongly reminded ”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”.
RECOMMENDED ACTION:
Send appeals to the police:
- requesting they investigate the incident
APPEALS TO:
Police colonel Mr.M.Gankhuu
Bayanzurkh district police office
Ulaanbaatar -11, Mongolia
Tel: 976-11-451848