On August 21, the State special protection staff violated the professional rights of Mr. E. Renchinkhand, a reporter for Unuudur daily newspaper, who tried to report on the Dalai Lama�s visit to Mongolia. However, other reporters who also reported on the visit said they had no obstacles with the state protection staff and freely reported the visit.

According to Mr. Renchinhand, �Despite Mongolian National Radio and TV�s (MNRTV) reporter and cameramen, all journalists and photographers were denied access by the Special protection staff to enter into the airport, even though they all had press credentials.�

Luke Distelhorst of moninfo.org said, �The issue was not regarding accreditation, but rather safety issues. MNRTV was granted entrance because of their affiliation with the Mongolian government. At all other events reporters with proper accreditation were granted access to the events.�

While the Dalai Lama gave his teachings at the Gandantegchlen hiid, Unuudur newspaper reporter Mr. E. Renchinkhand, who agreed to take an interview from Mr. Choijamts, bishop of the monastry, was also denied entrance, even though he repeatedly explained that he had approval for the interview. E.Renchinhand was upset at the State protection staff who gave entrance to parliament members and political officials but prohibited journalists and he stated in his article under the topic �Don�t discriminate journalists� in the Unuudur daily newspaper�s September 1 issue, that State protection staff�s behavior is a serious violation of the public�s right to know.

Incidentally last July, during the national holiday �Naadam� the State protection staff also violated the professional rights of Mr. Altangerel, a reporter for MNRTV. They hit the reporter�s camera and pinched him while he tried to get an interview from the participants of a horse race competition.