Country/Topic: Mongolia/
Date: 27 October 2006
Source: Globe International
Person(s): G.Erdenebat, B.Khajidmaa, Ya.Aranjinbaatar, Sh. Gerelsaikhan
Target(s): journalist(s) , photographer(s)
Type(s) of violation(s): assaulted,
Urgency: Threat
On October 27, daily newspaper reporters G.Erdenebat, B.Khajidmaa, photographer Ya.Aranjinbaatar of “Udriin sonin” and photo reporter Sh. Gerelsaikhan of “Ardiin erkh”, who were covering the civil society demonstration were detained around 2 hours by policemen.
During the mass arrest policemen assaulted the journalists, destroyed a photo camera, and confiscated documents, and didn’t gave any chance for the journalists to explain their purpose.
One of the detainees, Mr. G.Erdenebat of “Udriin sonin”, said, “No policemen asked us to show the documents, instead they disregarded them and threw them away. Ms. B.Khajidmaa, a female journalist, was beaten by policemen with batons, and her face and body were severely injured. The photo camera was destroyed while the policemen were trying to confiscate it. Policemen packed us in the car and brought us to the police station.”
Mr Davaakhuu, head of the public relations office of the General Police Department, said, “We dispersed the demonstration according to the law and we didn’t use any force. Yes, we agree that the journalists were detained, but how can we differentiate journalists from the demonstrators?”
Because of this incident “Udriin sonin” organized a press conference demanding authorities to stop violating the rights of journalists and urged journalists to have solidarity against the violation of journalist’s rights.
Mongolian Journalists Confederation also issued a media release. It sharply condemned the incident and stated that this was a violation of the journalists rights to deliver the truth of an events. In other words, these violations are a method to oppress the right to know truth.
On October 26, civil society representatives, who demanded the release of Mrs.G.Baasan, head of the Free Elder’s Union, set up a tent in the central street of Ulaanbaatar and closed the road traffic at 13 a.m. Law-enforcement organizations repeatedly demanded demonstrators to disperse but they didn’t obey the demands and policemen dispersed them with force that night.
On October 24, Mrs Baasan was detained by Chingiltei district police department, for reason of assaulting the police.
Action:
Globe issued a media release and sent a notification letter to the Mr.M.Ganbold, Colonel B.Galdaa, chief of Investigation Office under Prosecutor Office, that police staff were violating laws concerning the journalists right to distribute only truth on the event. Globe is also requesting IFEX to issue a media release supporting the Globe’s position.