Mongolia Brief July 9, 2014 Part II

Winners of 2014 Buryat Archery Tournament

July 9 (infomongolia.com) The second sport event on the eve of Mongolian National Naadam Festival 2014, the Buryat archery tournament was successfully held in Ulaanbaatar on July 08, 2014.

In Mongolia, three styles of Mongolian archery tournaments namely Uriankhai, Buryat and Khalkh are organized during the National Naadam and Children’s archery competition is also organized as an additional program of the event.

Moreover, expect for Uriankhai, Buryat and Khalkh tournaments are held in the Men’s and Women’s categories.

In the Buryat (Buriad) Style Archery Tournament 2014, over 140 shooters in both categories have participated and each contestant releases a total of 64 arrows.

Winners of the 2014 Buryat Archery Tournament

Men’s category:

I place: Z.Ariunbat, Mergen* (Wise Shooter) of Buryat style, resident of Sergelen Sum of Dornod Aimag, won the tournament hitting the target with 61 arrows, sponsored by “Tsatsrag Trade” and “Dornyn Gegee” companies

II place: B.Batbaatar, resident of Yeruu Sum, Selenge Aimag (60 targets hit), shooter of “Aldar” Sport Committee and sponsored by Gem International company

III place: Merit Athlete of Mongolia Sh.Davaakhuu, Dayar Duursakh Mergen (add. rank to champion, who won five-times), resident of Tosontsengel Sum, Zavkhan Aimag (59 pts)

IV place: O.Sukhbaatar, Khoshoi Mergen of Buryat style (add. rank to two-time champion), resident of Bayandun Sum, Dornod Aimag (59 pts), sponsored by “Aduun Chuluun” and “Dornyn Gerege” companies

V place: T.Bayarmend, resident of Dashbalbar Sum, Dornod Aimag (56 pts), sponsored by Burkhan Khaldun Group 

Women’s category:

I place: J.Nyamdavaa, resident of Burentogokh Sum, Khuvsgul Aimag (55 pts), achieves Mergen rank of Buryat style, sponsored by Burkhan Khaldun Group

II place: Ch.Gandavaa, Master of National Archery Sport, resident of Khulunbuir Sum, Dornod Aimag (54 pts), sponsored by “Dornyn Gerege” company

III place: S.Bayarmaa, Mergen of Mongolian National Archery, resident of Dalanzadgad Sum, Umnugovi Aimag (53 pts), sponsored by Tavan Tolgoi Trans LLC and Ajnai Corporation

IV place: S.Enkhtungalag, resident of Yeruu Sum, Selenge Aimag (53 pts), shooter of “Aldar” Sport Committee affiliated the Military Unit No.167, sponsored by Gem International company

V place: B.Butvaan, Mergen of Mongolian National Archery, resident of Dashbalbar Sum, Dornod Aimag (44 pts), sponsored by Petrovis company

* Mergen - (mon) means wise, sharpshooter or marksman; a title of Mongolian traditional archery and knucklebone shooting, who becomes the champion for the first time.

If the Mergen wins in any style of archery tournaments at the National Naadam Festival, becomes Khoshoi Mergen (Two-time Champion);

If the Khoshoi Mergen wins at the National Naadam Festival, becomes Gots Mergen (Excellent Shooter)

If the Gots Mergen wins at the National Naadam Festival, becomes Garamgai Mergen (Prominent Shooter)

If the Garamgai Mergen wins at the National Naadam Festival, becomes Dayar Duursakh Mergen (Outstanding Shooter)

If the Dayar Duursakh Mergen wins at the National Naadam Festival, becomes Darkhan Mergen (Great Shooter) or six-time champion of the National Archery Tournament in any styles

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Program of the Naadam Festival

July 9 (UB Post) The National Naadam Festival kicks off on Friday nationwide. The organizing committee on Naadam has released the full program of the national celebration on the 2,223rd anniversary of the Establishment of the Mongolian State and the 808th anniversary of the Great Mongol Empire. Events of the National Naadam Festival are to take place at the horse racing field of Khui Doloon Khudag, Central Stadium, and Chinggis Square in Ulaanbaatar. The UB Post is presenting our readers with the complete program of the National Naadam Festival in the capital.

JULY 7, MONDAY

9:00 a.m. – 9:00 p.m.: Uriankhai archery at the Archery Field

JULY 8, TUESDAY

9:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m.: Buryatia archery at the Archery Field

JULY 9, WEDNESDAY

9:00 a.m. – 7:00 p.m.: Children’s archery at the Archery Field

JULY 10, THURSDAY

8:00 a.m. – 11:00 a.m.: Khyazaalan (four-year-old horse) racing at Khui Doloon Khudag

8:00 a.m.: Sectional anklebone shooting tournament at Shagian Asar

10:30 a.m.: First urug (stage) of the national Khana archery tournament at the Archery Field

10:00 a.m. – 11:00 a.m.: Presidential inauguration ceremony during State Flag Day event at Chinggis Square

12:00 p.m. – 12:30 p.m.:  Ceremonies paying tribute to the Great Chinggis Khaan statue and laying of flowers on the monument and statue of the hero of the Mongolian People’s Revolution, D.Sukhbaatar

2:00 p.m. – 4:20 p.m.: Shudlen (three-year-old horse) racing at Khui Doloon Khudag

2:30 p.m. – 6:30 p.m.: Middle urug (stage) of national Khana archery tournament at the Archery Field

3:00 p.m. , 6:00 p.m.: Ceremonial concert dedicated to the inauguration of the President of Mongolia and the celebration of the anniversaries of the establishment of the State of Mongolian and of the Great Mongol Empire, as well as the National Naadam Festival at the Central Cultural Palace

4:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m.:  Fast horse racing at Tsagaan Khutul, Khui Doloon Khudag

8:00 p.m.: Ceremony paying respect to Yesun Khult Tsagaan Tug, or the Nine Spiritual State Flags, at the Government Palace

JULY 11, FRIDAY

8:00 a.m. – 10:20 a.m.: Stallion racing at Khui Doloon Khudag

10:00 a.m.: Semi-final tournament of knucklebone shooting at Shagain Asar

10:00 a.m.: Ceremony transporting Yesun Khult Tsagaan Tug from the State Palace to the Central Stadium with a special program

11:00 a.m.: Ceremony welcoming Yesun Khult Tsagaan Tug to Central Stadium

11:10 a.m.: President TsElbegdorj’s opening speech on the celebration of the anniversaries of the establishment of the Mongolian State and of the Great Mongol Empire, as well as the National Naadam Festival

11:20 a.m.: Grand opening ceremony of Naadam Festival with a special program

11:30 a.m.: Opening ceremony of knucklebone shooting competition at Shagain Asar

12:00 p.m. – 3:00 p.m.: First round of the National Wrestling Tournament at Central stadium

12:30 p.m.: Semi-final tournament of knucklebone shooting at Shagain Asar

1:30 p.m. – 2:00 p.m.: National Archery Show ceremony at the Archery Field

1:30 p.m. – 4:00 p.m.: First round of children’s wrestling at Central Stadium

2:00 p.m.: Opening ceremony of Naadam Festival at Khui Doloon Khudag with a special program

2:00 p.m. – 4:20 p.m.: Ikh Nas (horses over five years of age) racing at Khui Doloon Khudag

2:30 p.m. – 4:30 p.m.:   Final urug (stage) of national Khana archery tournament at the Archery field

3:20 p.m. – 6:00 p.m.: Second round of the National Wrestling Tournament at Central Stadium

4:20 p.m. – 6:00 p.m.: Second round of children’s wrestling at Central Stadium

4:30 p.m. – 8:00 p.m.:  First urug (stage) of national Khasaa archery tournament at the Archery Field

8:00 p.m. – 11:00 p.m.: “Ulaanbaatar Evening” 3D show at Sukhbaatar Square

JULY 12, SATURDAY

7:00 a.m. – 9:20 a.m.: Soyolon (five-year-old horse) racing at Khui Doloon Khudag

8:00 a.m.: Semi final of knucklebone shooting tournament at Shagain Asar

9:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.: Middle urug (stage) of national Khasaa archery tournament at the Archery Field

9:30 a.m. – 11: 00 a.m.: Third round of the National Wrestling Tournament at Central Stadium

10:00 a.m. – 11:00 a.m.: Third round of children’s wrestling at Central Stadium

11:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.: Daaga (two-year-old horse) racing at Khui Doloon Khudag

11:20 a.m. – 12:40 p.m.: Fourth round of the National Wrestling Tournament at Central Stadium

11:20 a.m. – 12:40 p.m.: Fourth round of children’s wrestling at Central Stadium

12:00 p.m. – 1:40 p.m.: Final urug (stage) of national Khasaa archery tournament

12:30 p.m.: Award ceremony of the knucklebone shooting competition at Shagain Asar

2:30 p.m. – 3:10 p.m.: Fifth round of the National Wrestling Tournament at Central Stadium

3:20 p.m. –3:35 p.m.: President Ts.Elbegdorj’s presentation of the titles, medals, and certificates for the winners and runners-up of the National Archery Tournament

3:20 p.m. – 4:00 p.m.: Sixth round of the National Wrestling Tournament at Central Stadium

3:20 p.m. – 4:00 p.m.: Fifth round of children’s wrestling at Central Stadium

4:10 p.m. – 4:40 p.m.: Award ceremony of horse racing competitions. President Ts.Elbegdorj presents gifts to jockeys

4:40 p.m. – 5:10 p.m.: Sixth round of children’s wrestling at Central Stadium

4:40 p.m. – 5:20 p.m.: Seventh round of the National Wrestling Tournament at Central Stadium

5:25 p.m. – 5:45 p.m.:  President Ts.Elbegdorj’s presentation of the titles, medals, and certificates to wrestlers who earn the titles of Falcon of Nation and Hawk of Nation

5:50 p.m. – 6:40 p.m.: Eighth round of the National Wrestling Tournament at Central Stadium

6:35 p.m. – 7:05 p.m.: Seventh round of children’s wrestling at Central Stadium

6:45 p.m. – 7:00 p.m.: President Ts.Elbegdorj’s presentation of the titles, medals, and certificates to wrestlers who earn the titles of Elephant of Nation

7:05 p.m. – 7:35 p.m.: Ninth round of the National Wrestling Tournament at Central Stadium

7:45 p.m. – 7:55 p.m.: President Ts.Elbegdorj’s presentation of the titles, medals, and certificates to the winner and runners-up of the National Wrestling Tournament

7:55 p.m.: President TsElbegdorj’s closing speech on the celebration of the anniversaries of the establishment of the Mongolian State and of the Great Mongol Empire, as well as the National Naadam Festival

8:00 p.m.:  Grand Closing Ceremony of Naadam festival and ceremony of transporting Yesun Khult Tsagaan Tug to the Government Palace

9:00 p.m.:  “Let’s Sing Together About Motherland” concert at Chinggis Square

HORSE RACING AND WRESTLING PROGRAM

JULY 13, SUNDAY, AT KHUI DOLOON KHUDAG

7:00 a.m. – 9:20 a.m.: Mixed breed stallion, Ikh Nas, Soyolon horse racing

11:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.: Mixed breed Shudlen, Khyzaalan horse racing

1:00 p.m. – 1:05 p.m.:  Organizing Committee President of Naadam Festival and Deputy Minister D.Terbishdagva’s opening speech of Naadam Festival, dedicated to horse trainers

1:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m.: Return race of ambling horses

1:05 p.m. – 1:20 p.m.: Cultural performance dedicated to horse trainers

1:20 p.m. – 2:20 p.m.: First round of wrestling

1:20 p.m. – 2:20 p.m.: Presentation of the titles, medals, and certificates for the winner and runners-up of National Wrestling Tournament

2:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m.: Mixed breed colt racing

2:30 p.m. – 3:20 p.m.: Second round of wrestling

3:20 p.m. – 3:30 p.m.: Cultural performances

3:30 p.m. – 4:30 p.m.: Third and fourth rounds of wrestling

4:30 p.m. – 4:40 p.m.: Cultural performances

4:40 p.m. – 5:00 p.m.: Fifth round of wrestling

5:00 p.m. – 5:30 p.m.: Presentation of the titles and medals for the winner and runners-up of horse racing

5:00 p.m. – 5:50 p.m.: Sixth round of wrestling

5:50 p.m. – 6:20 p.m.: Seventh round of wrestling

6:20 p.m. – 6:40 p.m.: Presentation of the titles, medals, and certificates to the winner and runners-up of the National Wrestling Tournament

6:40 p.m.: Head of the Union for Horse Racing Sports and Trainers Z.Boldbaatar closes the Naadam Festival, dedicated to horse trainers

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Revised draft bill on press freedom submitted for parliamentary approval

July 9 (UB Post) Members of Parliament M.Batchimeg and S.Demberel, members of a working group responsible for the revised draft of the Law on Press Freedom of Mongolia, submitted the draft bill to Speaker of the Parliament Z.Enkhbold on Tuesday.

The Mongolian Parliament first approved the Law on Press Freedom in 1998, to ensure citizens’ rights to ask, acquire and spread information, as well as express their opinions. The law formed a fundamental legal framework where the state supports independent newsrooms without the influence or ownership of the state, minimized state monitoring of media and regulated free press issues.

However, a more elaborate law has been needed in the recent years, as the number of media outlets has radically risen, currently reaching 555. Also, the independence of newsrooms and a free environment for journalists has been shrinking, so legislators have revised the law to meet modern demands.

Weakened press freedom means that the rights of citizens to receive truthful information have been violated, resulting in diminished social ethics and increased public confusion. In the current legal environment, the problems, complaints and disputes of journalists are rarely addressed, which contributes even more to decline.

The content of today’s Law on Press Freedom is quite limited and regulates communication and relations between the state and media, while the revised edition will hopefully cover all issues facing the sector.

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Naadam traffic regulations and conveniences:

July 9 (UB Post) - From July 11 to 15 there will be no traffic restrictions.

- Taxi stops have been built in front of Shine Ugluu’s Khurd Apartments, located south of Peace Bridge.

- To reduce congestion, every five to ten minutes, 18 buses will travel from Dunjingarav and Misheel Expo to Khui Doloon Khudag. Also, three railbuses will operate from Central Stadium from Dund Gol railbus station.

- Parking for 500 cars is available at the new eco-panel parking lot at Khui Doloon Khudag.

- A paved pedestrian road was built from the parking lot of Khui Doloon Khudag to ger services and the racing finish line.

- Video surveillance has been installed at Nadaam Festival sites.

- People without parking licenses may use the parking lots of the City Traffic Police Authority, Soyolj Center and National Garden Park.

- On July 10, 11, 12, and 13 the railbus from Amgalan Railway Station will transport passengers to Dunjingarav Trade Center, Dund Gol Station and Khui Doloon Khudag.

- On July 13 vehicles with “A”, “Ж”, “DK”, “Г”, “Y” and “M” licenses may enter Uyachi’s (horse trainer) Naadam at Khui Doloon Khudag.

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Mongolia to become a part of Australia’s ‘New Colombo Plan’

July 9 (UB Post) Foreign Affairs Minister of Australia Julie Bishop delivered an invitation to Minister of Foreign Affairs of Mongolia L.Bold to officially include Mongolia in the Australian Government’s “New Colombo Plan” in 2015, upon the request of L.Bold during his official visit to Australia in March 2014.

In December 2013, the new Government of Australia launched a program to train educated, young Australians in Asian-Pacific counties on a governmental scholarship, within its foreign policy to involve Australia in regional development. Students who take part in the program undergo short-and-long term training, and the program is successfully being carried out in Japan, Indonesia and Singapore.

The Foreign Affairs Ministry of Mongolia is aiming to include Mongolia in the work and holiday visa which is part of the New Colombo Plan. With the visa, young people from 18 to 30 years-old will be allowed to visit Australia for up to 12 months and be allowed to participate in training and work legally for four months.

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Local website shut down for posting news revealing illegal activity at PM’s tourist camp

July 9 (UB Post) Globe International NGO, an organization monitoring the preservation of democracy in Mongolia, published a statement opposing the Communications Regulatory Commission’s (CRC) shutting down of amjilt.com, a local news website, without any justification.

An Amjilt journalist posted an article and photo with the headline “Prime Minister’s Khaan Jims tourist camp is dumping its sewage in the Tuul River” on July 3, and CRC contacted administrators on July 4, following a complaint from Khaan Jims. CRC warned Amjilt that it would shut down the website in one hour unless they retracted the article and posted a correction, stating it was “complete libel.”

The website’s administrators asked on what basis the CRC was imposing such demands, but received neither an explanation or an official statement about shutting down the website, reported Amjilt administrators. After three hours, the website was shut down by the CRC.

The CRC put amjilt.com on the “Violated Domain List”, a list of websites shut down for violating the Law on Copyright and Related Rights (LMCRR), as well as international treaties and conventions Mongolia has joined.

The CRC has the authority to temporarily shut down websites which haven’t met demands based on official decisions or assessments made by law enforcement organizations within a given time. However, no decision to shut down amjilt.com was been made by any organization, and there are no legal grounds to claim that any article based on solid investigation and photographic evidence is in violation of LMCCR’s Clause No.25.

Globe International has strongly opposed the CRC’s decision, as it believes that the shut down clearly shows the interference of state organizations and high-ranking officials in media, violates the basic rights of freedom of expression in a democracy, prevents the public from receiving truthful information and breaches freedom of the press.

In an article published on May 9, 2013, wikimon.mn, reported that the Prime Minister owns 33 percent of Khaan Jims and originally privatized the land to plant sea buckthorn.

Opposing the shut down, Mongolian Website Association (MWA) and amjilt.com held a press conference on Tuesday, and MWA Director J.Jargalsaikhan reported they will shortly organize a demonstration to restore the website and oppose the unlawful decision. The MWA said it is planning to post articles about the illegal actions of Prime Minister N.Altankhuyag every day on all of its member websites.

To clarify if the camp was dumping its raw sewage, sonin.mn interviewed Khaan Jims manager L.Saintugs. He assured their reporter that the camp’s treatment plant transfers 99.1 percent clean water to the Tuul River, unlike what was reported on websites.

News.mn posted an interview with T.Tuvshinjargal, director of Mon-Tungil LLC, which built the water treatment plant at Khaan Jims tourist camp, to hear their story. In their interview he stated that the treatment plant was installed five years ago and employs the latest technology used in South Korea, so that the plant purifies over 90 percent of its wastewater before it is released in the Tuul River.

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