Riverpeople in UB Jail- Chronicles
Jul 26th, 2011 | By awood | Category: NewsWe closely followed crusade, arrest and days in jail of our Mongolian colleagues. Below collection of news clippings day by day
June 21, 2011
Gal Undesten delivers demand note to seven mining companies
Gal Undesten Union yesterday told journalists that it has delivered demand notes to seven mining companies in Selenge and Darkhan-Uul aimags in the last two weeks. Of them, Puraam LLC in Mandal soum of Selenge aimag has stopped its activity and Buurgent LLC in Bayangol soum has said it will not mine gold. The movement is waiting for a reply from Centerra Gold Mongolia LLC in the Gatsuurt area of Selenge aimag and Peninsula Mining LLC in Bayangol soum.
The companies in Darkhan-Uul aimag to receive the note are Altan Khundii LLC, Zunma LLC and Alfa Orgil LLC in Shariin Gol soum. Gal Undesten also said they yesterday went to Ultiin Gold LLC in Uyanga soum of Uvurkhangai aimag.
June 29, 2011
Seven members of Gal Undesten Union arrested
On 24th June the Mongolian General Police Department reported that members of the Gal Vndesten movement were arrested. The United Movement for Mongolian Rivers and Lakes, led by Munkhbayar, merged with other environmentalist movements to build the Gal Undesten movement.
Due to information from a press conference “On 19th June over 40 activists of Gal Vndesten movement threatened the workers of Ermuun Bosgo gold mining company which operates in Uvurkhangai province and demanded a large sum of money.
They also met with the company’s director and demanded to stop the operation of the gold mine.
However, the company did not respond to any demands Munkhbayar and other environmentalists have sent written demands to stop its mining activity because the territory of this goldmine belongs to places where any mining is prohibited.
They demanded MNT 500,000 making threats by firearms and horsewhip. Then they menaced the director into writing down that the money was given as a donation and made him sign.
It is proved that two days later the Gal Vndesten movement members came again and shot at the gold mining equipment twice” informed the police department.
The police inspected the scene of the incident. Currently, legal proceedings are being instigated against Ts. Munkhbayar, B.Tumurbaatar and O.Sambuu-Yondon. They are being investigated following the criminal code of Mongolia, under the article of offences against property.
Previously, Gal Vndesten movement shot 22 times at the facility of mining company, which operates in Selenge providence. They were scrutinised instigating a legal proceeding by the case of opening fire 3 times to the “Centra Gold” company’s fuel container.
To make it clear, the police explained that Gal Vndesten movement members had been arrested because of repeated offences committed whilst on bail. Chief of the Media Office of General Police Department, T.Sainjargal said “The police are investigating those people because they intentionally defaced and caused damage to another person’s property.
The Prosecutor examined the case and the court made a decision to take them into custody” he said.
Moreover, on 3rd June activists of Gal Vndesten demonstrated at Central Square and shot at Government House with bows and arrows. The legal proceeding was instigated against this case as well. Seven members of the Managing Council of Gal Undesten movement have been arrested for 30 days.
Ts.Munkhbayar, M.Baatarkhuyag, Naimanjin and D.Tumurbaatar are being detained in Prison 461 while G.Dashdemberel, G.Boldbaatar and Ts.Enkhbayar are in Prison 111.
http://ubpost.mongolnews.mn
July 6, 2011
2 civil movement hunger strikers stop drinking fluid
Two of the seven members of the Managing Council of Gal Undesten Union began a hunger strike in detention on July 1 and from July 6 they have stopped drinking any fluid also. The condition of the movement’s Law Advisor, G.Dashdemberel, is as yet stable but that of Ts.Enkhbayar is causing concern. They are protesting against the decision of the court to detain the seven.
Members of Gal Undesten and some other civil movements on July 5 sent a joint note to the Sukhbaatar District Court demanding the release of the seven before July 10. All of them were arrested 10 days ago and have been held without charge since then. The Secretary of the court accepted the note and said a reply would be sent according to law.
July 14, 2011
4 members of Gal Undesten freed on bail
Four of the seven detained members of the Managing Council of Gal Undesten Union were released on bail before Naadam. They are Ts. Munkhbayar, O.Sambuu-Yondon, G. Tumurbaatar and M. Baatarkhuyag. MPs G.Bayarsaikhan and G. Odkhuu, who initiated the law banning mining exploration and exploitation activity in river and forest basins, signed the bail documents to get the four released.
July 22 2011
Gal Undesten Union members likely to be released tomorrow
Ts.Enkhbayar, D.Boldbaatar and G.Dashdemberel, all members of the Managing Council of Gal Undesten Union, are likely to be released from detention tomorrow. The Sukhbaatar District Court had ordered their detention for 30 days.
Boldbaatar is in hospital for an illness and Enkhbayar and Dashdemberel were also in hospital for between 10 and 13 days when their condition deteriorated following a hunger strike. Following talk that the days they were in hospital will not be counted as part of the detention, they have sent a request to the Ulaanbaatar Prosecutors’ Office and the Chief of the Detention Center to ensure that their detention is not extended.
July 25.
All 7 activists freed up and 5 of them participate in Council Meeting of UMMRL.
RwB
[…] and the mining lobby behind it. Besides he is constantly threatened by police and prosecutors (in summer he already have spent 30 days in jail). Part of the problem is that the Movement currently lacks funds to hire additional lawyers to […]