(Globe International/IFEX) – On 24 January 2007, the presidential press office issued a statement concerning articles in the newspaper “Udriin Sonin” that allegedly defamed the president. The press office warned the newspaper not to infringe upon the president’s immunity and reputation, demanded apologies and threatened to file a lawsuit in case of non-compliance with its […]
(Globe International/IFEX) – On 24 January 2007, the presidential press office issued a statement concerning articles in the newspaper “Udriin Sonin” that allegedly defamed the president. The press office warned the newspaper not to infringe upon the president’s immunity and reputation, demanded apologies and threatened to file a lawsuit in case of non-compliance with its demands. Meanwhile, on 11 January, Member of Parliament Ts. Bataa insulted journalists at a parliamentary session and proposed prohibiting journalists from entering the State House.
“Udriin Sonin”‘s article of 19 January stated that President N. Enkhbayr owns shares in the Trade and Development Bank (TDB), in which his close affiliates used to have a stake. The article claimed that the president was losing his grip on the bank after a company that used to own a significant number of shares of the bank sold its assets.
In its 24 January statement, the presidential press office stated that the relevant authorities found that the president does not own shares in TDB.
Earlier, on 11 January, Minister of Industry and Trade B. Jargalsaikhan admonished journalists at a press conference, accusing them of defaming him and other officials. He said: “Journalists defamed S. Batbold, the head of the Government’s Secretariat, claiming he received three Jeeps as a bribe for illegally issuing a license for the Asgat silver deposit [a strategic silver deposit]. Journalists also defamed the president of Mongolia, when they stated that he visited Russia to hand over the Oyu Tolgoi and Tavantolgoi deposits.” He also shouted at a television cameraman, saying: “Don’t stick the camera in my face like that.”
M.P. L. Gundalai, the former health minister, submitted to Parliamentary Speaker Ts. Nyamdorj a draft resolution to dismiss Jargalsaikhan on 31 January. Gundalai submitted three reasons to dismiss Jargalsaikhan, alleging, first of all, that he used special permission to grant a 253 acre area of the Tavan tolgoi coal deposit in Omnogobi Aimag to Daitsuki LLC on 1 September 2006. This was in his interest and conflicted with the newly approved mineral law. Second, the minister awarded a 3 billion Tughrik (approx. $US3 million) contract to his own company, Buyan, for organising cultural performances for the 800th anniversary of the Mongolian state without an open tender. Finally, Gundalai asserted that the expiration of a $US16 million loan from the Japanese company Marubeni with a government guarantee caused the Mongolian government to be sued in an international court.
