Renowned author and "Ulaanbaatar Times" editor Chuluunbaatar Dolgor has been denied bail nine times since his arrest in March 2011. There is serious concern for his health and well-being in prison. Add your voice in support of his release on bail via this online form or on Facebook and Twitter. Click here for more.
(Globe International/IFEX) – 16 June 2011 – Since his arrest on 24 March 2011, renowned author and “Ulaanbaatar Times” editor Chuluunbaatar Dolgor has been denied bail nine times. During his time, he has been hospitalised twice and there is serious concern for his health and well-being.
Globe International, an IFEX member based in Mongolia, is urging IFEX members, concerned groups and individuals to send a letter to the President of Mongolia, Elbegdorj Tsahia, calling for his release on bail.
Chuluunbaatar was arrested on charges of “illegal privatisation and serious damage to public property” for his alleged involvement in the privatisation of the newspaper and its offices in 2008. Since his arrest, he has not been given an open and fair court hearing in accordance with national and international law. Chuluunbaatar denies any wrongdoing in the case made against him and has been pressured by investigators to say “who is behind” his actions. Such police action is in violation of the Mongolian Constitution, the Law on Criminal Procedure and the Law on Arrest and Detention of Suspects and Defendants, which bans unlawful action and psychological pressure.
Below you will find a sample letter, which you can forward directly to the Presidential Secretariat via this online form or by fax at: +976-11-311121 and +976-11-329919.
You can also post a message on the President’s Facebook page and via Twitter: http://twitter.com/#!/elbegdorj using the hashtag #freeChuluunbaatar
For more information on Chuluunbaatar’s arrest, click here.
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Sample letter:
Your Excellency,
I am writing to express my grave concern for the continuous detention of “Ulaanbaatar Times” editor Chuluunbaatar Dolgor, who is currently imprisoned in Detention Center No 461 in Ulaanbaatar.
Chuluunbaatar was arrested on 24 March 2011 on charges of “illegal privatisation and serious damage to public property” for his alleged involvement in the privatisation of the “Ulaanbaatar Times” and its offices in 2008. If found guilty, he faces 15 years in prison. Chuluunbaatar denies the charges and any wrongdoing in the case made against him. He has been denied bail nine times since his arrest.
Chuluunbaatar is in very poor health. Since his arrest, he has been transferred to the hospital of the detention centre twice and his health is at risk if he does not receive timely treatment in a specialised hospital. On 2 April, staff at a leading private hospital concluded that he had serious health problems and needed urgent treatment to save his life. On 27 April, this prognosis was confirmed by a doctor at the detention center hospital.
Given the serious concern for his health, I urge you to immediately release Chuluunbaatar on bail and ensure a transparent process in the case brought against him.
Sincerely,
YOUR NAME/ORGANISATION
