Country/Topic: Mongolia
Date: 07 March 2006
Source: Globe International (GI)
Person(s): B. Ider, G. Ganchimeg, Sh. Otgonjargal
Target(s): editor, journalists
Type(s) of violation(s): Censorship and harassment

(Globe International/ IFEX)–Mongolian government officials have been censoring a media and demanding journalists to reveal a source of information says Globe International and urges them to take necessary steps to press for free expression in the country. The journalists' right to protect their confidential information sources are not legally guaranteed in Mongolia so the courts and force institutions and government officials often demand the journalists to reveal their sources of information. A lot of Mongolian journalists, particularly who are working in local media are experiencing a censorship and various kind of demand to reveal a course. There were more than 10 press cases since January 2006 regarding on censorship and demand to reveal a source.
Female journalist G. Ganchimeg of the Hovdyn Medee (Hovd News) weekly newspaper with more than 700 subsribers, have been threatened by Mrs. B. Bujinlkham, Hovd agent of the privately-owned Air Mongolia aviation company after her published article in the newspaper titled Airticketing Our Permanent Toothache in the issue dated January 1, 2006. It was claimed that the Ulaanbaatar-Hovd aimag ticket set price should be Tg76,500 / about 63 US$/ but that the agent and her cashier charged between Tg10,000/ about 8 US$/ more per ticket. Hovd province locates in the Western part of Mongolia and 1500 km far from capital city Ulaanbaatar. Mrs. B. Bujinlkham demanded “…reveal the source of information or I will take you to court.” and also any future such articles be submitted to Air Mongolia before publication. The journalist wrote her article after investigation revealed material about an airticket problem which had been a topic of discussion among local people for many years. The journalist refused to reveal her information source or show her material and applied to Globe International for legal contultancy. Globe International issued a press release on 18 January 2006 to make the public aware of the violation of the rights of journalists.

Mr. L. Gansukh, Governor of North western Zavkhan province of Mongolia called to his office all staff of the weekly “Zavkhan” newspaper, including editor-in-chief Mr. B. Ider and the Governor’s Office Media Information Department head and spokeswoman D. Natsagmaa, on December 31, 2005, yelled at them for some time. His anger was at a notice published in the newspaper’s 35th issue (December 20, 2005) regarding a request from the Court General Executive Department (Zavkhan branch) on the compulsory sale by auction of the “Uliastai” hotel. The governor accused D. Ider of publishing the announcement without asking a permission from him and demanded to publish an immediate correction. He also accused his spokeswoman of not censoring newspaper’s content.

He further threatened, “If you do not rectify your mistake immediately, I will dismiss you and I can close down your newspaper.” He said that he was deeply concerned that confidential information had received national distribution because the Zavkhan newspaper has a national subscriber network.

According to Globe International’s monitor, the Governor even censored Globe international’s press release issued on 25 January 2006 on this matter and after checking the content of press release he allowed to publish it in the Zavkhan newspaper.

Female journalist Sh. Otgonjargal of the daily and nationwide distributed newspaper “ Unen” /True/ with more than 50000 subscribers was called by a special agent, who named himself as Batsaihan / not by his real name/ of the General Intelligence Agency of Mongolia regarding on her published article about the inspection conducted by National Audit Department on a construction work of State residence of ceremony and monument of the Chingis khan. A journalist informed to the public about the embezzlement of the monument construction budget . A special agent strongly demanded her to reveal a source of information and while a journalist refused to come to the Agency for an interview, he threatened her to arrest. Feared journalist had call to Globe lawyer for legal advice and defense. According to Globe lawyer, a special agent of the GIA hoped to easily get an information about this case while threatening a journalist.

To make the public aware of the violation of the rights of journalists and of an incidence of censorship, Globe International is releasing the information to the media and public, asks anyone concerned about these rights to send a letter of complaint to the Province Governors, legal implementation organizations the Mongolian Human Rights Commission.

Regarding these serious breaches of democratic principles and journalists rights Globe International urges Mongolian authorities to enact a Law on Journalist’s right to protect their information source as the only professional right of journalists.

For further information visit Globe International site: http://www.globeinter.org.mn

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