Media Personnel Attacked for Election Reporting in Mongolia

Media Release: Mongolia
July 3, 2012
Media Personnel Attacked for Election Reporting in Mongolia

The International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) and its affiliate the Confederation of Mongolian Journalists (CMJ) are deeply concerned by reports of an attack on eight journalists and camera operators from local television broadcaster Sky TV on June 28, 2012 in Khuvsgul aimag, in Mongolia’s north.

According to CMJ reports, the attacks on the television crew were in response to their coverage of the elections for the State Greal Hural of Mongolia - the country’s highest legislative and governing body.

At the start of the reporting of preliminary voting results on June 28, B.Ganzorig, Executive Director of Khuvsgul News LLC - the investing company of Sky television - entered the Sky TV premises with a number of other people and directed to beat four journalists and four camera operators, accusing them of airing one-sided news that did not serve the interests of their primary investor, Mr.Lhagva Munhbaatar, who was running for a seat in the election. It is alleged that Munhbaatar, a candidate representing the Mongolian Democratic Party, ordered the attack on the Sky TV personnel.

Local Police and Prosecutors have launched an investigation into the attacks.

“The IFJ join the CMJ in condemning the attacks on the personnel of the Sky TV newsroom, and the attempt to influence the political reporting of the media”, IFJ Asia-Pacific said.

“Injury to journalists as retribution for perceived negative reporting is a clear violation of human and media rights. The press should be able to report freely on events in the public interest without fear for their personal safety”.

The IFJ urge local police to thoroughly investigate the attacks, and ensure those responsible are held accountable for their actions.

The IFJ represents more than 600,000 journalists in 131 countries

Find the IFJ on Twitter: @ifjasiapacific

Find the IFJ on Facebook: www.facebook.com/IFJAsiaPacific

ENDS

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