Alert - Mongolia
16 December 2010
SOURCE: Globe International
(Globe International/IFEX) - An investigation is being conducted in a civil defamation case against the "Zuunii Medee" (Century News) daily newspaper. In addition, a criminal case has been launched against "Zuunii Medee" journalist Bolormaa Damdinsuren over the publication of the same article for which the newspaper is being sued.
Since August 2010, "Zuunii Medee" has published a series of more than 20 articles on human trafficking and sexual violation of teenaged Mongolian girls. The paper's investigative office, via Bolormaa, has claimed that an organized criminal group has been engaged in trafficking virgin teenagers for US$500 per girl.
In addition, the newspaper and Bolormaa claim to have verified from confidential sources, including a witness and a victim, that privileged and affluent persons have been involved in the crime group. Using these sources, Bolormaa published an article in the newspaper on 8 November, in Issue #267, claiming that well-known businessman Mr. B. Narankhuu, a director of the Mon-Uranium company, had been involved in buying teenaged girls.