Mongolian defamation laws used to curb media

That freedom of expression is still a precarious right in Mongolia is clear from the IFEX (International Freedom of Expression eXchange) report on Mongolia. To quote the report:

In Mongolia, politicians are increasingly taking advantage of punitive defamation laws to silence journalists who report on sensitive issues such as government corruption, reports Globe International.

According to a recent Globe International survey of the capital Ulaanbaatar's six district courts, 121 defamation charges have been initiated against journalists and media organisations between 2001 and 2004.

In 33 of these cases, the journalists were charged with libel as a result of complaints made by politicians. Another 13 lawsuits were initiated by public officials and organisations.

That we're not dealing with a few single incidents spread over decades is clear from IFEX's list of incidents, and one can only assume this is an incomplete list.

And IFEX is not alone in reporting such violations. Both the IPI (International Press Institute) and Reporters sans frontières also have recorded such incidents.

That reports on corruption aren't just figments of the minds of over-zealous journalists is clear from the 2005 report on corruption in Mongolia conducted under the authority of USAID. That report makes for some interesting but sad reading too. It pinpoints the sore spots accurately but also presents suggestions to how corruption could be prevented or diverted. The report is critical but diplomatic. It should be read and understood as serious but concerned advice to the Mongolian government in particular and the population in general.