JOURNALISTS WERE DETAINED
On October 27, daily newspaper reporters G.Erdenebat, B.Khajidmaa, photographer Ya.Aranjinbaatar of “Udriin sonin” and photo reporter Sh. Gerelsaikhan of “Ardiin erkh”, who were covering the civil society demonstration were detained around 2 hours by policemen.
During the mass arrest policemen assaulted the journalists, destroyed a photo camera, and confiscated documents, and didn’t gave any chance for the journalists to explain their purpose.
One of the detainees, Mr. G.Erdenebat of “Udriin sonin”, said, “No policemen asked us to show the documents, instead they disregarded them and threw them away. Ms. B.Khajidmaa, a female journalist, was beaten by policemen with batons, and her face and body were severely injured. The photo camera was destroyed while the policemen were trying to confiscate it. Policemen packed us in the car and brought us to the police station.” Read more...
IFJ CALLS FOR AN END TO POLICE BRUTALITY IN MONGOLIA
The International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) demands a full investigation into police brutality against journalists in Mongolia, after police attacked journalists and photographers while they were covering a civil society demonstration on October 27, and then detained them for two hours.
According to Globe International, during the mass arrest, police officers assaulted journalists G. Erdenebat and B. Khajidmaa and photographer Ya. Aranjinbaatar of the daily Udriin sonin, as well as photojournalist Sh. Gerelsaikhan of Ardiin erkh, destroyed one of their cameras, confiscated their documents, and gave them no opportunity to explain their purpose. Read more...
JOURNALISTS BEATEN, CAMERA BROKEN
JOURNALISTS and a photographer of the Odriin Sonin, one of the country’s largest dailies, were arrested and questioned by the police when they were covering civil movements’ protest at Sukhbaatar Square on October 27. Saying that journalists were beaten up and cameras broken, the newspaper’s editorial board has charged the police with using force against media workers on professional assignment.Read more...
Globe International NGO conducted the following monitoring reports and case studies for the first time.
MEDIA FREEDOM
Mongolia Report
October 2005- October 2006
We are presenting our first media freedom report to you. We express many thanks to Open Society Forum and Mongolia and Network Media Programme of Open Society Institute for the opportunity to make this report available.
This report aims to give the present picture of media freedom and show the abilities of Mongolian journalists to exercise their professional rights and fulfill their duties to the public. Read more...
PUBLIC SERVICE BROADCASTING IN THE TRANSITION
Monitoring Report
The establishment of a public service broadcaster is a significant and important step taken by the Mongolian authorities towards the consolidation of freedom of expression, particularly media freedom over the last 2 years.
Mongolia has been introduced to the idea and concept of public broadcasting in earlier stages of its democratic transition. It has been a concern of the supporters of media freedom, media professionals as well as politicians for 15 years. Several draft laws were developed by a former President, the government and political parties.
The results of the 2004 Parliamentarian Elections created a condition for mutual understanding among political leaders for the creation of public service broadcasting and its legal environment. Read more...
COURT CASES ON CRIMINAL DEFAMATION
Court case: G.Dashrentsen
Political reporter G.Dashtseren, General chief of newspaper “Deedsiin khureelen”, was found guilty to crimes of slander (Article 110, Criminal law) and defamation by means of mass media (Article 111, Criminal law) of G.Purevbat, a Buddhist Lama, because of his published article “Movement of black spot by N.Enkhbayar in the state of Mongolia”, (#31 (449) newspaper “Deedsiin khureelen” on October, 2005). Thus, the court of Bayanzurkh district charged him to pay a fine of 2 million 167 thousand 500 tugrugs on June 14, 2006.
Court case: D.Ganhuyag
Journalist D.Gankhuyag was considered guilty to the crime on spreading libel to the public by means of mass media (Article 111.2, Criminal law) with the purpose of disgracing, because of publishing his article “Great debt …, 8 million $ … O.Tsolmon?!”, which related to the matter on the great debt paid by Mongolia to Russia, newspaper “Mongol times” #8 on March, 2005. Thus, he was charged a fine of 3 million tugrugs, equal to 75 the amount of minimum salary, on June 14, 2006. Read more...
THE CASES ON ASSAULT AGAINST JOURNALISTS
Case study: Journalist G.Batjav
“Eagle” television
Unknown people beat, acted without discipline and damaged two teeth of G.Batjav, a correspondent of “Eagle” television, while he was having lunch in “Aura” restaurant at 12 a.m. on Saturday, November 10, 2005. After that, his car, which was near his apartment was broken and damaged in the night of December 19-20, 2005. The individuals who damaged his car didn’t steal anything and didn’t require any money or property.
Case study: Journalist B.Tsevegmid
"Nomin" television
Attack against freedom of expression
B.Tsevegmid, correspondent of “Nomin” television in Orkhon aimag, was hit and his health was harmed by an unknown person while he was going home after his work in the night from 12 p.m. to 1 a.m. on July 5-6, 2006. Read more...
2.Public discussions
PUBLIC DISCUSSION ON DRAFT STATE SECRECY LAW
On November 24, the NGO “Globe International” held a public discussion on draft Law on State Secrecy. Round 30 people, including the representatives from Border Protection Authority, General Customs Authority, General Intelligence Authority, General Police Authority, several lawyers and civil society representatives, participated in the discussion on the draft law prepared by two Project Groups. Read more...
VIOLATIONS OF RIGHTS OF INDEPENDENT MEDIA AND JOURNALISTS
On October, 31, Globe International NGO introduced its report on press freedom in Mongolia, with the purpose of illustrating the current situationo Mongolian press freedom.
Globe International has registered 35 violations during Free Expression Violation Monitoring conducted between October 2005 and October 2006.
Even though censorship is banned and the interruption of the professional activities of journalists is a crime in accordance with law, it does not work in Mongolia. The various violations of the journalists’ rights are evidence that Mongolian journalists work in difficult conditions and complicated situations.Read more...
PUBLIC DISCUSSION ON MONGOLIAN NATIONAL BROADCASTING (MNB)
On October 20, Globe Intrernational NGO held a Public discussion on the ‘Monitoring report for Mongolian National Broadcasting (MNB) at the Press Institute. 20 representatives from MNB, Open Society Forum, and the Confederation of Mongolian journalists participated in the discussion.
Globe International, which is actively involved in developing the draft law on MNB, paid more attention on the law implementation. Failures occurred in the process of the law’s implementation and the public discussion was organized to give concrete advice and a conclusion for the concerned organizations. Read more...
2.Events
TRAINING FOR JOURNALISTS ON BIRD FLU REPORTING
Globe International in collaboration with Internews, the UNICEF Mongolia and the Ministry of Health organized a 3-day training for journalists on Avian Influenza reporting from 8-10 November 2006 in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia.
The training that combined both theory and practice helped to broaden bird flu-related knowledge of 20 journalists /in charge of healthcare issues and with previous experience in working in infected areas/ from high risk provinces and the capital. Read more...
JOURNALIST'S TRAINING ON “OPEN INFORMATION BEHIND THE DOOR”
On October 26, the fund “Woman leader” organized a two-day training for journalists on “Open information behind the door”.20 local journalists participated in the training where they studied sexual harassment in the work place, the relevant international laws which resolve the issue and how to write on sexual harassment.
The head of the “Woman leader” Fund, Ms Bolormaa, said “During the training journalists got systematic knowledge on work place sexual harassment and we will work as one group for the protection of women and girls’ rights. The training was organized in partnership with the Human Right Commission and Mongolian Women Fund.” Read more...
3. Journalists on censorship
MR. TS MUNKHTUR, MONGOLIAN NATIONAL BROADCASTING (MNB)
Censorship is the influence of editorial independence through attacks against media freedom and closure of media outlets, when high officials are sensitive to information affecting their interests and exposing their wrong-doings. There are also attempts to control the media through its leaders and editors as well as with economic pressure. Read more...
MR. G. BADAMSAMBUU, MONGOLIAN NATIONAL BROADCASTING (MNB)
Censorship is the distortion of truth and objective information to make it consistent with somebody’s opinions and interests. The Government and employers censor the activities of journalists. The journalists also have self-censorship and distort the objectivity and information. It happens when the journalists are abused by somebody, lack the professional skills, include their personal opinions, or lack information on the issues they report.Read more...
MR. Z. ALTAI, CHANNEL 25
I think there are freedom of expression and freedom to publish, but restrictions are needed for anything. The media and journalists’ activities should be supervised, if it relates to matters of personal reputations or harms national security. We should not act like journalists have absolute power. Here we do not censor our journalists who work within the law. In order to be more responsible, we take internal control. Read more...
MS. L. MUNKHBAYSGALAN, UDRIIN SONIN (Daily News), daily
Censorship is not only the arrest or imprisonment of journalists. I understand it as poor working conditions, not publishing the journalists’ materials and restricting freedom of expression. A few years ago we used to understand that censorship existed, if journalists were arrested or imprisoned. Now we are aware of that there are many types of censorship such as psychological abuse, restriction of our freedom and intervening in our professional activities. Read more...
Ms. R. OYUNTSETSEG , PRESS INSTITUTE
Censorship exists because the job descriptions of the media owners and editors are not clearly developed. The media owner indicates and instructs what should be published; in other words, he or she directly influences her or his editor. Read more...
4.Other news
GLOBE SENDS ITS CONDOLENCE ON THE MURDER OF JAPANESE JOURNALIST
Globe International NGO expresses great sympathy on the murder of the Japanese citizen Shin Kawasaki, who had been working at JICA in Mongolia as a volunteer for the National Public Radio and Television (NPRT). The condolences were published in "Mongoru Tsushin" /Mongolian news/ a bi-monthly japanese newspaper of the MONTSAME news agency. Read more...
MEDIA ADVICE BOOKLET PUBLISHED
The Open Society Forum (OSF) was set up in 2003 by the Mongolia Open Society Institute to encourage active participation in civil society. In June 2004, it became an NGO, also involved in policy research and analysis.
On October 5, OSF announced that it had translated into Mongolian various international standards for broadcasting, internet and media organisations, and had sent copies of its booklet entitled Quality Management Structure to a number of media organisations. Read more...
MONGOLIA 86th IN PRESS FREEDOM INDEX
Following an increase in the instances of physical attacks on and threats against journalists in the country, the young democracy of Mongolia has tumbled down the rankings in the fifth annual Reporters Without Borders Worldwide Press Freedom Index 2006 which was released on October 23.Reporters Without Borders (Reporters Sans Frontieres or RSF) has put Mongolia in the 86th place together with East Timor, Liberia, Haiti and Tanzania, down 33 places from last year’s rank of 53rd. This had been a jump of 20 places over the 2004 ranking, achieved mainly because of very few examples of actual interference with journalists despite continuing government control of the public media. In 2004, Mongolia was in the 73rd place together with Madagascar and Burundi.
Read more...
