2011-05-31 18:37:43
Dolgor Chuluunbaatar, the editor-in-chief of and Vice-President of Asia Journalist Association, has been in custody for two months since 24 March 2011 charged with unclear reasons of illegal privatization of a newspaper by the Mongolian government.
Reporters Without Borders and Globe International already have expressed great concern over his custody and issued statements raising doubts about the connection between his custody and political interest.
After the investigations into the actual situation in Mongolia with the Mongolian Journalists and Government the Asia Journalist Association confirms that this is obviously an illegal act and therefore we announce the statement below.
The Asia Journalist Association will deliver this letter of protest to all those related to Dolgor Chuluunbaatar's illegal custody including Mongolian President (Tsakhiagiin Elbegdorj), Prime Minister (Sykhbaataryn Batbold) and Minister of Justice and Home Affairs (Nyamdorj Tsend), through the Embassy of Mongolia in Republic of Korea at 11:00 on Thursday 2 June 2011.
AJA Statement on Detention of AJA Vice President
(May 31 2011, Singapore) Asia Journalist Association (“AJA”) with its members across Asia is protesting against the detention of Mr. Dolgor Chuluunbaatar, the prominent Mongolian journalist, Vice-President of AJA and former General Secretary of Confederation of Mongolian Journalists by the Mongolian government.
1. Mr. Chuluunbaatar has been in custody over the privatization of a newspaper and related issues since March 24, 2011. He has been denied the right for an open court trial after his indictment on April 7, 2011. He has also been denied the bail sought by his lawyers.
2. AJA seeks his immediate release as his prolonged detention without trial violates his rights as a citizen.
3. AJA criticizes the state investigators who used psychological pressure to try to make him incriminate people who the authorities said were behind him in the privatization saga. According to lawyers, this action is illegal and violates the Constitution and the Criminal Procedure Act of Mongolia.
4. Mr. Chuluunbaatar has refused to do their bidding and insisted that he is innocent of the charges.
5. AJA expresses its grave concern over the series of situation that has put Mr. Chuluunbaatar’s life in danger as he is in poor health and in need of urgent medical treatment outside.
6. AJA decries the implicit attempt by the authorities to intimidate journalists in its continued detention of Mr. Chuluunbaatar, who has earned his spur as a fighter for freedom of expression and human rights.
7. AJA stands shoulder to shoulder with the Confederation of Mongolian Journalists in demanding that the authorities respect the freedom of the Press and the human rights of citizens.
8. AJA will stand by our Vice-President and provide him with both moral and legal support to contest the charges against him in court and eventually see the justice done