Police Vehicles

German riot police officers.

It was interesting to see for the first time for me heavy armored police carriers, machines with water canon are here in Hamburg, Germany, where Asia-Europe Meeting's 8th Foreign Ministers' Meeting started today under the German EU Presidency. Hamburg streets are full of police officers keeping security in the city because around 40 foreign ministers of ASEM member states came here to discuss global issues of climate change, education, unemployment, energy and Middle East.

Topix Editor of Mongolia News Page

Today, I became an Editor of Mongolia News page of Topix.com.
I will leave for Hamburg tomorrow to cover the 8th ASEM Foreign Minister's Meeting and attend ASEM Journalists' Seminar. Back on June 1.

No to Chinese instant noodles

The UB Post reported earlier that two students died after eating Chinese instant noodles in Ulaanbaatar. The author of the story, Madeleine Beresford, said Everyday Supermarket was a "major stockist" of the suspected brand of noodles, Da Hun Wan. Later, Everyday Supermarket administration has clarified that this was wrong as it has not stocked Chinese instant noodles since February 2007. It is believed that the instant noodles are imported from the nearest Chinese border city, Erlian, by individual merchant dealers in large stocks. UB Post apologized for the misunderstanding and published a correction on it.

I advise not only Mongolians but also foreigners not to eat this (pictured top) red-packeted instant noodles that are sold at Tg150 in all shops. Some volunteers we had at The UB Post have been eating this noodle like a biscuit without mixing it with hot water.

Photo by B.Byamba-Ochir, at the nearest shop outside (not Everyday).

MFA is busy "doing their job"

Today, Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Mongolia responded me to my long-awaited request to get an interview from the Minister N. Enkhbold on the upcoming 8th ASEM Foreign Ministers' Meeting that is taking place in Hamburg on May 28-29, Germany. After a whole month, MFA press official N. Chimguundari told that the ministry has only one staff in charge of ASEM affairs, and that person is "super busy", no able to send answers to my questions even by email. First, they said Enkhbold is busy, not able to give face-to-face interview in person, and asked would it be OK to send answers by email. Is it a total ignorance of what they can't translate into English?
The interview was scheduled to be published this week, May 24 prior to his attendance at the ASEM event.

N. Enkhbold is leaving the country on May 25 for a week-long trip to Europe: Sweden, Denmark, Norway, and Germany. The 8th ASEM Foreign Ministers' Meeting is the first summit that Mongolia is taking part since it was invited to join last year along with India, and Pakistan.

I'm leaving also for Hamburg on May 25 to cover the event, and attend ASEM Journalists' Seminar. I will be out of office until June 4.

Volunteer for the Mongolian press!

The UB Post, Mongolia's independent English weekly newspaper, is accepting applications for the summer volunteering opportunity. It's quite unusual that this year The UB Post has not received as many applications as usual for the summer.
The UB Post will provide one volunteer with press card (a mandate by Naadam organizing committee), valid during three days of the festival from July 11 to 13, and vehicle with interpreter to cover the festival. Volunteer will have opportunity to visit Central Stadium, see opening ceremony from media reporters' stage, go to horse racing field, trainers' campus, interview horse trainers, archers. etc.
Today, The UB Post desk accepted volunteer application of Ben John George Alcraft to start photojournalism from October 2007.
Currently volunteering at The UB Post: Medeleine Beresford, Julie Pitzen (English TV News Presenter), and Laura Puckett.

UB Post goes holiday

Last weekend, The UB Post newsteam went out the city together with their family members to enjoy days away from office work. We thank to the staff of UB-2 Hotel at the Terelj National Park for hosting us, and comfortable service.
Photo by O.Uuganbayar.

MobiCom apologizes from its users

Mobicom apologized formally from its over 600,000 subscribers. The apoligize letter published on major daily newspapers on May 17.

"However the information list of our subcribers' telephone numbers, surnames, first names, organization names published on some daily newspapers were different from what our current database is. But, during a detailed examination we took, it was found that MobiCom corporation's old information of user registration has been lost illegally."

The Mobicom reaffirmed in the apologize letter that it did not give officially to law enforcement agencies. Prior to this, Mongolian telecommunication service provider organizations and operators; MongoliaTelecom Joint Stock Company, MobiCom, Skytel, Unitel and Communication and Information Authority of Ulaanbaatar Railway, released a joint statement that the operator companies do not have legal grounds to wiretapp their users' communication together with law enforcement agencies. "This is technically impossible to wiretapp ongoing conversation of the users."

Another GSM cell phone service provider, Unitel, a competitor of Mobicom, is taking advantage of this situation. Unitel decreased down its SIM Card price down to MNT5,000 which was more than 10,000. Posters and billboards saying Unitel is the most reliable network are everywhere on the streets. And television commercials of the Unitel show the users throwing away old SIM card and putting a new green (branding of Unitel) SIM Card into a phone.
On Wednesday, when I was passing through a Unitel branch office next to State Department Store, I saw a long queue outside it. Unitel said it had run out of its SIM card reserve last week. More than 25,000 new users have been registered in the last days since it reduced down the SIM Card price.
I'm thinking to switch to Unitel in the near future because there is almost-zero coverage of Mobicom in my apartment. I have to talk on the window of my kitchen in order to catch network.

Two hearts become one

My friend Michel Bega, a web editor of South African The Citizen, has just returned last week from his honeymoon in Mauritius. He married to his girlfriend Sheree on April 21. I wish them everlasting love and happiness.

Invest Mongolia

I finished a blog site "Guide to Investment and Trade-Mongolia" today. When I was attending Mongolia Investment Forum in March, I got the CD-ROM and found it very informative. So, I decided to share those information with others, potential investors around the globe who are interested in doing business in Mongolia. Some large image files (photocopy of application for mining license) were not put online. If you need a copy, feel free to tell me.

Kyokutenho banned from tourney for causing car accident

Mongolia-born sumo wrestler of Japan, Kyokutenho (Mongolian name is B.Tsevegnyam), 32, would not be taking part in the upcoming Summer Grand Sumo Tournament because of a traffic accident he caused, the Japan Sumo Association said on Monday. The executive committee of the JSA imposed a 30% salary reduction for three months each on Kyokutenho and his stable master Oshima as part of its punitive action.

Japan Today reported:

Kyokutenho ran into the back of a car waiting at a traffic signal at a junction in Nakano Ward on Saturday, causing the driver minor injuries. “You can’t go breaking the rules. This will not go unpunished,” said JSA director Musashigawa.

Mainichi reported:

Police are set to send an investigation report to prosecutors, accusing the 32-year-old wrestler from Mongolia of professional negligence resulting in injury. “I thought a car in the next lane moved forward, so I thought the traffic light ahead changed to green, and drove off,” he was quoted as telling investigators. Kyokutenho was not injured.

Kyokutenho obtained Japanese citizenship in June 2005, and is no longer a Mongolian citizen.

Gift to Kim Jong Il from Mongolian President

North Korean President Kom Jong Il was presented a gift by N. Enkhbayar, President of Mongolia. Pyongyang-based Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) reported on May 2 that a visiting Mongolian delegates led by D. Tsogtbaatar, advisor for Foreign Policy to the President of Mongolia N. Enkhbayar, conveyed the gift to Yang Hyong Sop, vice-president of the Presidium of the DPRK Supreme People's Assembly on Wednesday.

Yang Hyong Sop, vice-president of the Presidium of the DPRK Supreme People's Assembly, met and had a talk with D. Tsogtbaatar, advisor for Foreign Policy to the President of Mongolia, at the Mansudae Assembly Hall on Wednesday. Present there were an official concerned and the Mongolian ambassador to the DPRK. The advisor said that the friendly and cooperative relations between Mongolia and the DPRK would continue to develop, adding that the Mongolian government would make efforts to further strengthen the relations.

Mongolia is one of few countries in the world that maintain friendly relations with North Korea.

Happy Birthday the UB Post!

Our "eternal neighbor", a fellow publication of the Mongol News Media group, Tavan Tsagarig, gifted us Macmillan dictionary today on the event of the 11th year of anniversary. Dictionary is the most helpful friend for our staff. Bayarlalaa.

11th Anniversary

Our newsteam will celebrate tomorrow the 11th year of publication of the UB Post within our small colleague with some cakes or something. Today, also a new volunteer from England, Madeliene Beresford started her job at the newspaper.

Wild bird collides Boeing 737 engine

Boeing 737, which was en route from Ulaanbaatar to Tokyo, was returned back to Chinggis Khaan International Airport on May 5 after a while it just took off from the airport. MIAT Mongolian Airlines company canceled its OM501 flight, which had 161 passengers were on board, due to a wild bird found crashed the Boeing 's engine.

Zuunii Medee newspaper reported Monday that the company also canceled May 6 flight of Ulaanbaatar-Moscow-Berlin. But on the same day, the company fixed the problem and now all routes are running as scheduled, the newspaper said. MIAT company has only two airplanes that run for international flights, Boeing and Airbus310-300.

Eagle TV, a Christian broadcasting, reported last weekend that Mongolia has no wild bird management and control system. "Civil Aviation Authority is better to feed raptor-type of bird, that catches birds," Eagle reported, which sounded weird to me. But this is true, some airports such as JFK International Airport and Manchester Airport feed falcons to cut down the bird population nearby the airport.

Messages on World Press Freedom Day

The President of Mongolia N. Enkhbayar made a congratulatory message today on the event of May 3, the World Press Freedom Day, and called on the press workers of Mongolia to ensure the freedom of press, balanced and factual news, and good ethical journalism far away from prosecution, oppression, and political interest groups.

Free press, a value of democracy, has brought a new era of free expression in the last transition period of Mongolia. Free press have played important role to the development of Mongolia. Free press is facing many challenging issues as itself goes through a difficult road.

Charge d’ Affairs of the U.S. Embassy to Ulaanbaatar, Brian Goldbeck, stressed that press freedom is vitally important for Mongolia.

Mongolia’s citizens must have the ability to express themselves, to debate alternative ideas and to challenge assumptions. As such, a media that is independent from the state allows the peaceful expression and competition of ideas on which democracy depends.

He considered State Secrets Law of Mongolia as overly restrictive and punitive when compared against other post-communist countries.

Mongolia's State Secrets Law, for example, extends the definition of "state secret" to not only national security interests (such as sensitive national defense information which Mongolia, like other nations, has a right to protect) but also to a whole host of other non-sensitive but useful and informative items such as basic economic and census data, the identity of shareholders in private companies, audits of state-owned companies, and even draft laws, amendments, and regulations. Sadly, such restrictions tend to empower some corrupt bureaucrats to levy or solicit "fines" (extra-legal fees or bribes) on citizens and businesses. On another level, however, it has sometimes been used to harass and convict people whose views or activities were considered contrary to authority or vested interests. Narrowing the State Secrets Law would enable Mongolians to find and know truth. In addition, Mongolia's press can play an important role by shining a bright light on corruption.

Looking back over the past year, there has some progress. For example, the Cabinet of Ministers discussed the final draft of the Freedom of Information Law, but action was postponed to allow it to be discussed along with laws on information security and information technology. We hope this will be the year for that discussion and action.

Mongolia has much to be proud of in the area of press freedom, yet some troubling issues remain. For example, the current criminal libel law encourages self-censorship and makes journalists and editors susceptible from threats from powerful individuals and companies. We have examined these issues at greater length in our recently released human rights report on Mongolia. How can this be remedied? Mongolia should consider changing its libel law to a reasonable civil libel law based on those used in other democracies.

Similarly, making ownership of media companies clear and transparent would enable audiences to judge for themselves where their reporting may be biased. In the last year, several new daily newspapers and TV stations were established and we hope it will stimulate better quality reporting through increased competition.

For their part, journalists and editors also need to report responsibly and ethically. Journalists and editors must set high personal and professional standards and take their responsibilities seriously. Refusing bribes and being “clean” themselves would enable journalists to report credibly on corruption.

Much progress has been made since the end of Socialism and Mongolians can and should be proud of these achievements. Making these few additional reforms would enable Mongolians to enjoy the full benefits of press freedom. This is an important test of the Mongolian people’s commitment to freedom and democracy and their government’s ability to deliver it.

RSF: Predators of Press Freedom

• Armed Islamist groups of Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Iraq, Pakistan, and Palestinian Territories
• Charles Blé Goudé and his “Young Patriots” of Côte d'Ivoire.
• President Teodoro Obiang Nguema of Equatorial Guinea.
• President Issaias Afeworki of Eritrea.
• Prime Minister Meles Zenawi of Ethiopia.
• President Yahya Jammeh of Gambia.
• State Security Service (SSS) of Nigeria.
• President Paul Kagame of Rwanda.
• King Mswati III of Swaziland.
• President Robert Mugabe of Zimbabwe.
• Guerrilla chief Raúl Reyes of Colombia.
• Paramilitary chief Diego Fernando Murillo Bejarano of Colombia.
• President of Council of State and Prime Minister Fidel Castro of Cuba
  and Raúl Castro (acting for him in these posts).
• Drug cartels of Mexico.
• Head of military council Than Shwe of Burma.
• President Hu Jintao of China.
• President Choummaly Sayasone of Laos.
• Star Force police of Maldives.
• Secretary-general of ruling Workers’ Party Kim Jong Il of North Korea.
• President Pervez Musharraf of Pakistan.
• Tamil paramilitaries of Sri Lanka.
• Secretary-general of the ruling Communist Party Nong Duc Manh of Vietnam.
• President Ilham Aliev of Azerbaijan.
• President Alexander Lukashenko of Belarus.
• President Nursultan Nazarbayev of Kazakhstan.
• President Vladimir Putin of Russian Federation.
• Terrorist organisation ETA of Spain.
• President Islam Karimov of Uzbekistan.
• President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad of Iran.
  
• Supreme Guide Ali Khamenei of Iran.
  
• Head of state Muammar Gaddafi of Libya.
• King Abdallah Ibn al-Saud of Saudi Arabia.
  
• President Bashar el-Assad of Syria.
• President Zine el-Abidine Ben Ali of Tunisia.
  

World Press Freedom Day

On the eve of World Press Freedom Day on May 2, Member of Parliament and Minister of Fuel and Energy, B. Erdenebat, stated that he would take the Notstoi Medee (Serious News), a tri-monthly periodical, to court.

Erdenebat, one of the founders of the daily the Mongoliin Medee, said that the Notstoi Medee had harmed not only his own reputation but also that of his family, colleagues, and friends, by publishing a series of reports saying he had paid a Tg5 billion bribe to the Speaker of Parliament, Ts. Nyamdorj.

Mongolian press is pluralist, but journalists remain at risk of prison sentences for “defamation” and “violation of state secrets”, according to Reporters Without Borders (RSF) 2007 World Press Freedom Index report. “Media which exposed corruption within society were censored.” The report has stressed that the Government of Mongolia continues to use public radio and television as a tool for promoting itself.

An international organization IFEX (International Freedom of Expression of Exchange) said on May 1 that S. Delger, Director of the Shine Suvag TV (New Channel), the only private television channel in Dornod province, had received death threats from an unidentified person or persons. A letter that read “I will kill you” was left at her apartment door on April 5, reported IFEX.

“The following day, insulting vulgar messages addressed to her were painted on the wall of her apartment building.”

She believes that the threats stem from a TV program shown on the channel about the political situation in Dornod province. The channel broadcast programs paid for by the Civil Will Party and the Mongolian People’s Revolutionary Party.

In another development, Ts. Tungalag, Chairperson of Citizens’ Representative Hural of Chingeltei District, last week stated that she would sue the Niigmiin Toli for stories published there about her. These have said that Tungalag pressured her fellow members of the local legislative body to sign a letter to a state law enforcement body asking it to defend Ts.Tumengerel, who was a member of the Hural. Tumengerel, director of a bankrupt private financial institution, was sentenced to death by a court last week for the murder last year of Ch.Badraa, chief of the Financial Regulatory Authority.

Today, RSF announced that it updated list of "predators of press freedom".

24 journalists and 5 media assistants have been killed so far this year.
124 journalists, 4 media assistants and 66 cyber-dissidents are in prison around the world.
13 journalists are being held hostage in various countries.

This list of 34 "predators" comprises men and women who directly attack journalists or order others to. Most are top political figures but militia chiefs, leaders of armed groups and drug-traffickers are also included.

In 2007, the presidents of Laos and Azerbaijan joined the list of these major enemies of press freedom, along with Mexican drug cartels who killed several journalists. The king of Nepal and the country's Maoist leaders were taken off the list after the national ceasefire between the two sides and a return to peace. You can see faces and biographies of those "predators" on www.rsf.org

There is an interesting thing, for the first time, RSF is offering, through Google Earth, a virtual view of the homes, palaces, and workplaces of most of them.

Mobicom: No possibility to tape conversation

At a press conference on Wednesday held at the MN Information center, Mobicom company stated that some media outlets attacked the company's reputation, especially Niigmiin Toli newspaper by publication of its users' telephone numbers.

“The company sent a petition to the Criminal Police Department to stop illegal actions of the newspaper, and bring guilty person under justice,” said D. Bolor, Director of Public Relation Department of Mobicom.
However, Bolor stated that it did not and will not give such list of users’ information to state law enforcement agencies, but he admitted that phone bills of a few number of serious recidivist criminals were given in accordance with related legal acts.

“Mobicom uses the latest digital telecommunication technology, GSM, which has no technical possibility to tape ongoing conversation for outsiders. Mobicom will never ever create technical condition that someone can tape conversation,” he said.

Bolor said editor in chief of Niigmiin Toli newspaper, S. Enkhtuul, met him in person several months ago.

“She pressed me to place Tg500,000 worth advertisement on her newspaper. She said, if not, the list would be published. Every one understands that any media, including newspaper survives on incomes generated by advertisements and commercials. We try to give our ads as many publications as possible. I told her that list of users with numbers was not ours and its format was not ours too,” said Bolor.

The Mobicom company admitted that a new pre-paid card user is registered based on his/her identification documents such as civil ID Card, or driver’s license, which tell holder’ name, social security number, date of birth, place of birth, and home address. And such information is used for marketing purpose.

“We are working to introduce a new service that a user can make outgoing calls and send SMS at the lowest rate on his/ her date of birth,” said Bolor.

This is whole system generated, not viewable for any person as the list newspaper published.

Niigmiin Toli continues publishing telephone numbers

The Niigmiin Toli today published another 300 names of individuals and organizations (99110330-99110495, 99250424-99250697) of Mobicom users that are heard by state law enforcement organizations.

Some of those organizations are as follows: Ivanhoe Mines, Police Department, Medica Mongolia, Altan Dornod Mongolia (Zolotoy Vostok), Mineral Resource and Petroleum Authority, MBB, Itochu Corporation, Zoos Bank, Atimos Trade, Constitutional Court, Khan Brau, Monrostsvetmet, Monnis group, Golomt Bank, Gatsuurt, Wagner Asia Equipment, Trade and Development Bank, Undur Dov tourist camp, Mercy Corp international, Konrad Adenaur foundation, Boroo Gold, Oriflame Mongolia, Newtel card, Embassy of USA, Mongol Gazar construction, and Mongol Daatgal insurance.

Member of Parliament B.Batbaatar (DP) said

If this is true, I'm seriously upset.There are three principles of democracy. First, freedom of expression. Second, right to private property. Third, right to have private secret. As a member of the Parliament's Standing Committee on Justice, I will put a question to the Prime Minister M. Enkhbold at the upcoming Friday parliament session. He is scheduled to answers to questions on civil registration. I think we should listen to what he would say.

Member of Parliament N. Batbayar (DP) said

Listening to someone's telephone conversation is illegal operation. State law enforcement organizations are supposed to protect, not to spy citizens. Who knows if they use these informations for their own individual purposes. This is enough reason to resign the chief of the General Intelligence Agency.

Member of Parliament R.Rash (MPRP) said

If this is proved to be true, this is totally unaccetable, and wrong actions.

Member of Parliament T.gandi (MPRP) said

Obviously, it is incorrect. If this is true, not only human rights but also serious questions related to national security of the country will be raised.

T.Sainjargal, Lieutenant Colonel, Press Officer of General Police Department, said

Long ago, information about Mobicom users were used to be taken based on official letters by State Prosecutors' Office and State Investigative Board if it is necessary. I don't know what has become now.

Today at 11 o'clock Mongolian-Japanese joint venture Mobicom corporation is making a press conference at the MN Information center.

Maria (Soundtrack of 200 Pounds Beauty)

Mobicom makes press conference tomorrow

Today, Niigmiin Toli continued publishing the list with additional Mobicom's telephone numbers of around 210 names of individuals and organizations whose telephone conversation is heard by state law enforcement agencies. The Mobicom corporation demanded the newspaper to apologize from its over 650,000 users, according to the newspaper. But the newspaper said that the demand was addressed to wrong destination, which should be state law enforcement agencies instead.

Mobicom commented that any information related to its users belongs to Mobicom company's secret information, which are protected by code of corporate secret, and code of individual privacy.

The newspaper said it has over 500,000 users' information of "high-level secret". If these information were such secret, then state law enforcement agencies would have entered system of Mobicom illegally to steal the information, the newspaper reported. The Niigmiin Toli also said Mobicom should search for "informer" among their staff.

I called Mobicom corporation's marketing department today if they are going to make some official notice publicly. Tomorrow the corporation is making press conference at the MN Information Center. Time is not confirmed yet.

Some of the organizations (99110125-99110302, 99250005-99250419) that are heard by state law enforcement agencies:
GTZ project, Embassy of Russia, Asiatel, TACIC project, Noble Properties, Wagner Asia Equipment, Embassy of USA, Anglo Gold Mongolia, Ministry of Environment, Orient Green, Church of Jesus Christ of Later-day Saints, Embassy of India, GEM International, Summit Computers, former Minister of Education A. Tsanjid.