Globe International NGO organized a Press conference on December 22 at 2.00 p.m. at the Mongol News company`s Conference hall and made a statement on the Zuunii Medee newspaper`s case. More than 20 reporters from media organizations attended the press conference, in which Head of Globe International Ms. Kh.Naranjargal, Responsible Secretary of Zuunii Medee newspaper Mr. B.Erdenesolongo and attorney Mr. Ts.Mongol made statements.
International Freedom of Expression exchange /IFEX/ distributed the Alert on Zuunii Medee newspaper through its international network. Click here to read it. The International Federation of Journalists /IFJ/ sent Media release to the Zuunii Medee case. Click hereto read it.
Media release
Globe International protests the use of criminal defamation law against journalist
A criminal case has been launched against "Zuunii Medee" female journalist D.Bolormaa and an investigation is being conducted in a civil defamation case, in which a compensation in the amount of 3 billion MNT (approx. US$2.4 million) is demanded from the "Zuunii Medee" (Century News) daily newspaper.
Globe International is protesting the use of criminal defamation legislation against the journalist for her publication.
Globe International is expressing its concern that the journalist may to be forced to expose her confidential sources due to lack of a law in the country that protects confidential sources.
Globe International is protesting the claiming such big amount of money that may led the media organization to bankruptcy.
We are considering that applying the criminal and civil defamation legislation for media censorship violates the Media Freedom Law which bans any kind of censorship.
The UN Declaration, which was reaffirmed on December 1, 2000, underlines the following: “Two threats to freedom of expression and the free flow of information and ideas have now reached crisis proportions in many parts of the world: attacks on journalists and others exercising their right to freedom of expression and the abuse of restrictive defamation and libel laws.” Further it mentions the following: “All Member States should review their defamation laws in order to ensure that they do not restrict the right to freedom of expression and to bring them into line with their international obligations.”
As the UN Member State, Mongolia should take decisive measures and repeal criminal defamation law, and meet its obligations to the UN and international society, as Globe International believes.
The increase in the criminal charge cases against journalists for their critical publications threatens a promotion of the healthy society, as well as the right of public to receive true information, thus causing serious damage to democracy and the public interests.
Globe International is a non governmental organization, which from the beginning of its establishment in 1999 has been conducting persistent activities on protecting the right of journalists, media freedom and information.
Globe International
211238, PO Box 102
Chingeltei duureg, Khoroo No 6
Diplomat 95 Complex, Entrance No6, #70
Ulaanbaatar 15141
Mongolia
Phone: +976 11 324764, 324627
Fax: +976 11 315326
http://www.globeinter.org.mn