September 17, 2010
Mr. Ts.Nyamdorj Minister of Justice and Home Affairs
Mr. M.Gankhuu Chairman of the GAICD

Re: Concerns Over Confiscation Of Newspaper Computer

Your Excellency,

I am writing to you today to express concern on the part of the International Federation of Journalists (IFJ), which represents more than 600,000 journalists in 125 countries. The IFJ joins concerned journalists in Mongolia in condemning the confiscation of a newspaper’s main computer, which contains data regarding the paper's activities and, crucially, confidential sources.

We understand that officers of Mongolia's General Authority for Implementing Court Decisions (GAFICD) entered the premises of the daily Niigmiin Toli (Public’s Mirror) in Ulaanbaatar on August 27 and confiscated the newspaper's host computer. Niigmiin Toli’s journalists and Globe International, a local organisation which seeks to protect the rights of independent media and monitors violations of freedom of expression in Mongolia, has condemned the intimidation of the paper as a violation of the media freedom rights.

The confiscation, ordered by Chingeltei District Court in Ulaanbaatar and carried out by GAFICD officers, has also drawn criticism from our affiliate the Confederation of Mongolian Journalists. The IFJ seeks reassurance from you that the computer will be returned to the newspaper’s premises as a matter of urgency.

The IFJ is concerned to learn from its colleagues in Mongolia that the confiscation reportedly relates to the newspaper's publication on September 1, 2009 of a letter from citizens of Bayan-Olgii, Mongolia's far western Kazakh province, in which they made allegations of corruption by local government officials.

Bayan-Olgii Governor S. Khaval and another seven public officials named in the letter brought a civil defamation case to the Chingeltei District Court and demanded MNT 13 million (about USD 10,000) in compensation. The court found the newspaper guilty of slander and defamation on December 24, 2009, and ordered a retraction and apology be published and MNT 1.7 million be paid to the complainants. The paper appealed, but the Capital City Court reaffirmed the district court decision in March 2010.

The IFJ supports the view held by Niigmiin Toli Head of Administration Department Ms B. Yondonduichir, who has said the year-long hunger strike of the citizens of Bayan-Olgii and the fact that more than 3000 people have signed a petition to demand that Khaval be removed from his position proves the letter’s publication was not groundless.

We hope the confiscation of Niigmiin Toli’s computers is an isolated incident that is not indicative of the Mongolian Government’s attitude toward freedom of the press. The IFJ respectfully asks that you refrain from approaching investigations in this way to ensure the confidentiality of journalists’ sources are not compromised and so that a dynamic and robust media may continue to flourish in your country.

Yours Sincerely,

 

Jacqueline Park Asia Pacific Regional Director International Federation of Journalists
jpark@alliance.org.au (+612) 9333 0941 http://www.ifj.org/