Media Release: Mongolia
December 17, 2010
The International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) is concerned about the safety of a journalist in Mongolia who is facing criminal charges after publishing a news report on November 8 which implicates a well-known Mongolian businessman in criminal activity.
Zuunii Medee, the newspaper which published the report, has asked Globe International to assist in protecting journalist Bolormaa Damdinsuren and in providing legal assistance.
Bolormaa reports receiving several threatening phone calls in relation to the report, which was the latest in a series of 20 published since August which have exposed a human trafficking ring allegedly trading in sexually exploited girls. The report alleged B. Narankhuu, director of the Mon-Uranium company, was a customer of a criminal syndicate.
The IFJ joins Globe International, a local organisation which monitors violations of freedom of expression, in expressing concern about criminal investigations and a defamation case against Bolormaa and Zuunii Medee.
Bolormaa, who works in Zuunii Medee’s investigations department, based in Ulaanbaatar, defends her report which she says is based on information from two confidential sources.