The International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) condemns efforts by Mongolian authorities to deny information to local media.

Globe International reports that on June 12 G. Dashtudev, Chief Secretary of the Crime Prevention Council twice turned off a journalist�s tape recorder during a council meeting and ordered the two attending journalists to leave.

�When authorities deny information to journalists without sound legal grounds they create an environment of political impunity, sheltered from public scrutiny,� said IFJ president Christopher Warren.

This latest incident follows reports from Globe that a journalist with community radio station Orkhon was denied access to information about the activities of a local lime processing company Tsavchirt on May 24 2006, because his station had previously aired a program on the negative impact Tsavchirt and other companies were having on the environment.

According to Globe International, under current Mongolian legislation, it is a crime to interfere with the lawful professional activities of a journalists with the aim of promoting one�s own interests.

The IFJ calls on Mongolian authorities to respect and protect the rights of journalists to report freely and without unjust interference.
For more information please contact IFJ Asia Pacific +61 2 9333 0919
The IFJ represents more than 500,000 journalists in over 110 countries