Kh.Naranjargal: Mongolia’s Media freedom is as still fragile
The following is an interview with Ms. Kh.Naranjargal , Head of Globe International Non-governmental organization, which runs legal operations to protect journalists’ rights and provides press freedom.
-Foreign countries run a special policy on providing press freedom. But I received information that Mongolia showed recessive indication in 2011?
-There are two organizations, who assess the World Press Freedom index. Our country had full press freedom until 2002. But since then, Mongolia has a half press freedom status. This was influenced by factors such as legal environment, corruption index of that country and the number of the arrested journalists.
-What caused the press freedom indication to decline?
-Mongolia’s press freedom suffered a setback following the riots in the wake of the June 2008 parliamentary election; several journalists were injured, and all television and radio stations except a national public one were forced to stop broadcasting for the four-day state of emergency, during which five people died when the government arrested and detained hundreds of people and severely curtailed press freedom.
However, the government generally respects freedom of speech and of the press, it closely monitors all media, some even belong to certain political and business interest groups.
Editorial censorship is becoming more serious than before. It comes through media ownership. The Mongolian journalists are highly self-censored and they are becoming dolls at the hands of their owners. Defamation and censorship against media is high in Mongolia. More than 60 percent of defamation cases are initiated by politicians, authorities and public officials. Detailed statistics on censorship show that close to 50 percent of journalists self-censor. Journalists face the risk of losing their jobs, having their salaries reduced, assault, having family members threatened with death, and imprisonment for exposing corruption or abuses of power. For this study, at least 60 percent of journalists said they have faced attacks and been affected by defamation cases.
Moreover, press freedom in Mongolia has suffered last year, when Editor in chief of Ulaanbaatar Times newspaper D.Chuluunbaatar was detained and charged for four months with a criminal defamation after airing a documentary alleging corruption among high-ranking public officials.
The event showed thatmedia freedom is still very fragile in Mongolia and we should take actions on safeguarding and promoting media freedom.
I think those factors led to a press freedom indication decrease in Mongolia.
-How was the press freedom before 2002?
-I think that during the period until 1999 there was golden period for Free democratic journalists. Because in the beginning of 1989 and 1990 politicians started to want newspapers with independent voice. At that time journalists used to write what they want. Articles with evidence and proof started to be published in the papers as the method of traditional journalism still existed. Thus, the journalists had a major role in social changes. In the end of 1999 authorities started to control the media and press agencies.
-Many television stations were born during that time right?
-The amount of television stations and newspapers increased, because the politicians preferred to have their own press organization. The increase of the stations and newspapers caused a negative influence on independent information quality. The independence is the heirloom of the journalism. The journalism will be wiped out if the heirloom can’t be preserved. Press organizations and televisions are financially dependent in Mongolia.
All the television stations in Russia are dependent. No one believes the information that was reported through the televisions. Mongolia is following suit with Russia. Because now the public tend to not believe in television news.
-What do you think about the skills of Mongolian journalists?
-I think Mongolia lacks the journalists with the knowledge and skills in reporting on the conflicts, so they should be trained. The media leaders and journalists’ organizations lack knowledge on protection and safety of journalists working in the conflict situation, so necessary training, clothes and guides for journalists are needed.
-I was told that around ten new television stations submitted a request to get the license?
-Everyone has rights to publish. Thus, everyone can found a newspaper or television station. But they have to play professional journalism, not a political game.
-When do you think Mongolia will obtain total Press Freedom?
-I don’t know. First off all, Mongolia has to enhance the legal environment, secondly, people should learn to use the law properly, and thirdly, journalists should learn to protect their rights. It requires many years to establish press freedom.
When corruption reaches its highest level, the country loses its independency. When it reaches the lowest level panic is created and Civil War starts. And authorities start to hand out cash to the citizens. Concerning that, Mongolia is in a crucial situation. Thus, press freedom will stay restricted as long as corruption exists.
-Today rich people have a strong influence on court decisions. What do you think about that?
-If Journalists sue billionaires, It is obvious who will win. The Rich person hires 5 lawyers against one journalist. But there is an international organization which helps journalists.
I think Mongolia lacks newsroom protection. When a journalist is called to the court for his or her article, newsrooms should represent its journalist. Newsrooms should take the responsibility, not the journalist alone.
-Foreign countries run a special policy on providing press freedom. But I received information that Mongolia showed recessive indication in 2011?
-There are two organizations, who assess the World Press Freedom index. Our country had full press freedom until 2002. But since then, Mongolia has a half press freedom status. This was influenced by factors such as legal environment, corruption index of that country and the number of the arrested journalists.
Mongolia’s rating fell down since two Mongolian female journalists were arrested in 2002. According to the indication of the foreign organizations, Mongolia’s political corruption is at a high rate. The creation of press agencies by political figures affected Mongolia’s rating drop. Mongolia was ranked at 76 out of 160 countries in the latest findings of Freedom House’s Freedom in the World 2010 survey in terms of press freedom, while in 2011 it was ranked at 100th place.
-What caused the press freedom indication to decline?
-Mongolia’s press freedom suffered a setback following the riots in the wake of the June 2008 parliamentary election; several journalists were injured, and all television and radio stations except a national public one were forced to stop broadcasting for the four-day state of emergency, during which five people died when the government arrested and detained hundreds of people and severely curtailed press freedom.
However, the government generally respects freedom of speech and of the press, it closely monitors all media, some even belong to certain political and business interest groups.
Editorial censorship is becoming more serious than before. It comes through media ownership. The Mongolian journalists are highly self-censored and they are becoming dolls at the hands of their owners. Defamation and censorship against media is high in Mongolia. More than 60 percent of defamation cases are initiated by politicians, authorities and public officials. Detailed statistics on censorship show that close to 50 percent of journalists self-censor. Journalists face the risk of losing their jobs, having their salaries reduced, assault, having family members threatened with death, and imprisonment for exposing corruption or abuses of power. For this study, at least 60 percent of journalists said they have faced attacks and been affected by defamation cases.
Moreover, press freedom in Mongolia has suffered last year, when Editor in chief of Ulaanbaatar Times newspaper D.Chuluunbaatar was detained and charged for four months with a criminal defamation after airing a documentary alleging corruption among high-ranking public officials.
The event showed thatmedia freedom is still very fragile in Mongolia and we should take actions on safeguarding and promoting media freedom.
I think those factors led to a press freedom indication decrease in Mongolia.
-How was the press freedom before 2002?
-I think that during the period until 1999 there was golden period for Free democratic journalists. Because in the beginning of 1989 and 1990 politicians started to want newspapers with independent voice. At that time journalists used to write what they want. Articles with evidence and proof started to be published in the papers as the method of traditional journalism still existed. Thus, the journalists had a major role in social changes. In the end of 1999 authorities started to control the media and press agencies.
-Many television stations were born during that time right?
-The amount of television stations and newspapers increased, because the politicians preferred to have their own press organization. The increase of the stations and newspapers caused a negative influence on independent information quality. The independence is the heirloom of the journalism. The journalism will be wiped out if the heirloom can’t be preserved. Press organizations and televisions are financially dependent in Mongolia.
All the television stations in Russia are dependent. No one believes the information that was reported through the televisions. Mongolia is following suit with Russia. Because now the public tend to not believe in television news.
-What do you think about the skills of Mongolian journalists?
-I think Mongolia lacks the journalists with the knowledge and skills in reporting on the conflicts, so they should be trained. The media leaders and journalists’ organizations lack knowledge on protection and safety of journalists working in the conflict situation, so necessary training, clothes and guides for journalists are needed.
-I was told that around ten new television stations submitted a request to get the license?
-Everyone has rights to publish. Thus, everyone can found a newspaper or television station. But they have to play professional journalism, not a political game.
-When do you think Mongolia will obtain total Press Freedom?
-I don’t know. First off all, Mongolia has to enhance the legal environment, secondly, people should learn to use the law properly, and thirdly, journalists should learn to protect their rights. It requires many years to establish press freedom.
When corruption reaches its highest level, the country loses its independency. When it reaches the lowest level panic is created and Civil War starts. And authorities start to hand out cash to the citizens. Concerning that, Mongolia is in a crucial situation. Thus, press freedom will stay restricted as long as corruption exists.
-Today rich people have a strong influence on court decisions. What do you think about that?
-If Journalists sue billionaires, It is obvious who will win. The Rich person hires 5 lawyers against one journalist. But there is an international organization which helps journalists.
I think Mongolia lacks newsroom protection. When a journalist is called to the court for his or her article, newsrooms should represent its journalist. Newsrooms should take the responsibility, not the journalist alone.
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