On 8 July 2007, six members of Mongolian National Public Radio and TV /MNPRTV/’s Collective Board, who have been on hunger strike for 3 days since 6 July 2007, ceased their hunger strike. The purpose of the hunger strike was to demand the dismissal of MNPRTV National Board, which has repeatedly violated the Law on Public Radio and TV, undermined the independence of MNPRTV editor’s office and violated journalists’ professional rights.

According to Collective Board, it is the designation of six MNPRTV National Board members without prior nomination from the NGOs’ united forum that has led to this crisis. Some of National Board's members are somehow related to other media outlets. For instance, National Board members N. Zoljargal is a C1 TV’s investor and participates in its programme policy formulation, M. Buyanbadrakh has stakes in NTB TV and is a counselor at its Marketing Division, R. Khadbaatar is the owner of 3 newspapers and the President of the Mongolian Free Newspapers Association. This violates the law provision that a person who has either invested in media outlets other than MNRTV or participates in their programme policies formulation, or might have a negative impact on MNPRTV’s independence is debarred from membership of National Board.

Since its very inception, National Board has violated several provisions of the Law on Public Radio and TV. For instance, some of National Board’s members blackmailed MNPRTV’s former Director-General S. Myagmar against his designation and forced him to illegally appoint the persons selected by them without prior examination. The illegality of these actions has been confirmed by courts of three instances, but National Board has so far failed to implement the courts’ ruling.

MNPRTV’s present management has been appointed by some of National Board’s members out of political considerations, says Collective Board’s notification letter. For instance, MNPRTV TV Section’s Director D. Munkhbaatar is a member of the Democratic Party, MNPRTV’s Director-General M. Naranbaatar — Mongolian People’s Revolutionary Party, MNRTV “MM” agency’s Director Enkhtuya — Mongolian People’s Revolutionary Party.

Furthermore, MNPRTV’s present Director-General M. Naranbaatar is interfering in programmes preparation and is thereby undermining the independence of the editor’s office. In response to Collective Board members’ press conference on 12 June 2007 where they talked about inadequate implementation of the Law on Public Radio and TV, MNPRTV’s management convened a press conference against Collective Board. While covering these two press conferences, MNPRTV’s “MM” agency deleted and distorted parts of Collective Board’s press conference, and only broadcast MNPRTV management’s views in detail.

On the day after “MM” Agency’s programme, MNPRTV Editor’s Office for Social and Economic Programmes failed to broadcast the interview it took from Collective Board and instead ran a biased news story as prescribed by Director-General M. Naranbaatar.

Globe International NGO and the Trade Union helped National Board and Collective Board reach a deal that led to the cessation of the hunger strike.