Chinese officials seek to stifle protests in Inner Mongolia

May 31st, 2011

Protesters took to the streets on Monday (30 May) in Inner Mongolia after Han Chinese coal truck drivers killed a Mongolian herder who attempted to stop them from trespassing on grasslands. Chinese officials have sought to stifle the protests in the region by tightening security, censoring coverage of the event, and promising to punish the perpetrators. There has been growing tensions between herders and coal miners over the use of the grasslands, which cover reserves of coal, natural gas, and rare minerals. Local sources link the protests to a deeper resentment among Mongolians over their marginalisation by the Chinese.

Defamation silences Mongolian journalists

March 15th, 2010

A new report has claimed that the Mongolian government routinely uses defamation legislation against journalists exposing corruption or abuses of power. Globe International conducted a study into 215 journalists working in the world’s most sparsely populated country, discovering that more than 60 per cent of defamation cases are initiated by politicians and public officials. The organisation also found that 50 per cent of the journalists questioned admitted to self-censoring.

Mongolia: reporters attacked

July 7th, 2008

Photographer B Byamba Ochir, national radio and TV broadcaster H Erdenebulgan, a Japanese journalist for Fuji TV and a European photographer were hurt by demonstrators in violent protests following the 29 June legislative elections. Only state TV was allowed to broadcast footage of the protests. Read more here