MONGOLIA: Radio reporter censored
Country / Topic: Mongolia
Date: 04 June 2006
Source: Globe International NGO
Person: T. Bayartsogt
Type of violation: Restriction on access to information

T. Bayartsogt, reporter for community radio Orkhon, was restricted in access to information about the activities of the Tsavchirt local lime processing company in the north Mongolian aimag of Darkhan-Uul as from May 24 2006 when he entered a company production site.

Company manager Sh. Munkhtsetseg invited a group of journalists from central and local media outlets, including TV and radio, to get a look at company operations, but she would not allow Bayartsogt to cover the event for his radio station.

The Globe’s northern region monitor tried to clarify the reasons for the restriction and why the company manager refused to give information to the Orkhon radio reporter and refused to allow him access to the company building. Munkhtsetseg said, ”When I checked the list of names of journalists who had arrived by invitation, I saw the name of the journalist who represents the Orkhon community radio station. Last year this radio aired a radio programme which defamed this company’s reputation."

According to the Globe monitor, on August 19-20, 2005, Orkhon twice broadcast a programme entitled White Smoke Harms the Environment, which included an interview with an environmental expert and local residents who criticized Tsavchirt and other local companies as harming the environment, claiming that they never rehabilitated the areas from which they extracted lime.
Following this programme, the Darkhan-Uul Aimag Department for Environmental Protection fined each of the named companies Tg100,000-150,000 (US$80-120).

Globe International issued a media release on the incident, and called on the owners of the Tsavchirt company to respect the rights of journalists and the public, including their right to seek and receive information, as guaranteed by the Constitution.

In a media release, Globe International stressed, “Under current Mongolian legislation, it is a crime to interfere with the lawful professional activities of a journalist with the aim of promoting one’s own interests.”