I just concluded a meeting with Eagle TV journalist, Batishig, about news packages she produced about human trafficking. Batishig conducted a number of secret-camera interviews with mediators who arrange marriages of Mongolians to foreigners (often a front for human trafficking—trade in sex slaves). During one of the interviews a mediator even attempted to recruit the involvement of two of our intern women who were with her. For those unaware, human trafficking is the second largest criminal enterprise in the world, and a growing problem in Mongolia.
The result of Batishig's stories? A number of threats against her safety, and her life. A mediator even came to our offices to talk with her about her stories and toss a few threats her way. Most recently she was told in no uncertain terms that if she persisted in airing stories that reveal what happens inside the world of trafficking, she would be killed at her apartment entrance. Needless to say, Batishig is concerned about her safety—as am I—but she's still committed to addressing this issue head on.
Because of this situation we are now revising our security procedures for journalists to ensure their safety as best as humanly possible. The police have already been informed about the situation and one of the mediators, as we understand it, is now under investigation.
What Batishig has done on the issue of human trafficking is exactly the kind of journalism the media in Mongolia should be engaged in. Making a difference (in a nation that is beset with scum who want to victimize its people) can't happen unless a few brave souls stand up to expose what is really going on. Batishig has done that with an issue that is not only important and significant, it's also dangerous—very dangerous.
She's given us reason to be proud.
All of this is just a foreshadowing of what I believe we will see in the coming months as our new Eagle Cares division begins its work. Last year the Board and I discussed the necessity of hitting some hard issues in Mongolia through a different kind of journalism than what we have been known for. Mongolians know Eagle TV as an "independent" news organization. But for some issues, especially issues like human trafficking, alcoholism, and broken families, we are going to throw independence out the window. These issues require advocacy—in a major way. Our approach will be to keep our independence on politics and the normal newscasts, but for human trafficking and the most important mercy and justice issues in this society we are putting a dedicated team in place whose job will be to advocate, and advocate daily. The Eagle Cares team will also present Christ-centric perspectives and solutions for these hard issues.
Our first, most important issue Eagle Cares will be dealing with during the next eighteen months will be human trafficking. If a single journalist airing only two stories on human trafficking in two weeks results in a significant level of threats and intimidation, then it doesn't take a genius to figure out what the Eagle Cares team could be facing in the coming months as they relentlessly pursue this issue.
I write about this to ask you to pray for our journalist, Batishig—for her safety and dedication to the cause. Pray also for the Eagle Cares team. They will begin their work within the next 45 days—as long as the funding becomes available to fully equip the team.
Here are the stories which have caused so much trouble for Batishig.
ThomasTerry.com
http://thomasterry.com/blog/article.php/20080328063143334