Governance crisis in Mongolia negatively affecting development of Public Service Broadcaster.

The Globe International NGO has a number of staff in various aimags (provinces) working under a project to monitor free expression violations and support the rights of the independent media.Globe’s monitor for Ulaanbaatar and for Govisumber and Dornogovi aimags has reported on the current situation in Govisumber aimag and on his meetings with aimag journalists and law implementers of local organizations.

International team consisting from 7 members will work in Bayan-Olgii, the only Kazakh province in Mongolia 12- 19 April 2006. The trip is a part of preparation of Globe International project to support public service broadcasting under UNESCO auspices. The international team is represented by Globe International, UNESCO, Asian Broadcasting Union (ABU), Kazah National University in Almaty and BBC. During the visit the international team will assess the present media situation in Bayan-Olgii and conduct several training.

Globe International is applying for membership in IEFX, which will allow Globe International to join 64 other international and national NGOs working together to campaign for free expression around the globe. Mongolia is not presently represented in IFEX and, as a result, almost no information on free-expression violations in the country are disseminated to the international community.

The Globe International NGO has concerns about a violation of the public's right of access to information in Hovd aimag (province). In October last (2005), an instruction issued jointly by the Hovd Aimag Governor's office and the Hovd branch of the State Professional Inspection Agency blocked transmission of 5 TV channels to about 2,000 households of the ger suburbs.

Country / Topic: Mongolia
Date: 18 January 2006
Source: Globe International NGO
Person: G. Ganchime

Country / Topic: Mongolia
Date: 18 January 2006
Source: Globe International NGO
Person: B. Ider

Due to the disagreement of 15 members of National Council (NC), the first governing body of the Public Radio & Television (PRTV), which must have been established under The Law of Mongolia on Public Radio & Television to be implement since 1 July 2005, has been stagnated.

Country / Topic: Mongolia
Date: 10 January 2006
Source: Globe International NGO
Person: G.Batjav

9 January 2006
Dear Colleague
ABU COPYRIGHT SEMINAR, 20-21 JANUARY 2006
CHINGHIS KHAN HOTEL, ULAAN