Mongolia Government Developments Overview

Alan Cordova made quite a complete overview of the recent developments in Mongolian politics

Cabinet Shuffle

There has been quite a few surprises in the proposed new cabinet members especially on the MPRP side. Hardly any minister remains on his post. Surprises include U. Barsbold no longer being minister of environment.

Mongolia's Genghis Khan Craze #1152: Airport renamed

Now that even the airport is being renamed Chinggis Khaan, I suppose it is only a matter of time before Ulaanbaatar will turn into Chinggis Khot.

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technorati: mongolia

Mongolian Crisis: the other side

The UB Post:

Last Friday, 39 of 76 parliament members voted to accept the resignations of MPRP party ministers, leading to the end of the current government. Most of the Democratic Party members abstained from voting. In addition to the 29 MPRP votes, the Democratic Party: M.Enkhsaikhan, J.Narantsatsralt, J.Batkhuyag, and M.Sonompil, the Republican Party: B.Jargalsaikhan, the People's Party's L.Gundalai, and the Motherland Party's S.Otgonbayar, B.Erdenebat, Ts.Jargal and B.Tserenbaljir voted yes. (emphasis mine, gv)

I have to confess I didn't notice before, but when I read this passage in the UB post yesterday it suddenly dawned on me that actually all presidential candidates of last years election - except the one who won, of course - vote in favor of the new cabinet (indicated in bold). Also the one that was going to "crush" corruption. All parties previously united in the Motherland Democratic Coalition - except of course the always straightforward Civil Will Party - have people voting for the new government. Even more surprisingly MP Gundalai (indicated in bold, italic) joined them as well. For those who have been around for sometimes, they might remember this rebellious member of parliament always provoking with mediagenic protests against the MPRP.

It seems Elbegdorj was not stabbed in the back by the MPRP, but by his own democrats. It reads there were only 29 MPRP votes (out of 38), which means they never were able to pull it through without the 10 votes from the democrats, and of course the MPRP would have never started the whole thing if they would not have been sure they would pull it through.

In the end it is what Yan pointed out in a comment to the previous post:

I personally think a major stimulus behind the recent developments was self-interest - another common feature of Mongolian history.

Yan also made me aware of the comment of Chris Kaplonski

While ... the move by MAHN (MPRP -gv) goes against the spirit of democracy... we shouldn't see this as a return to communism or anything, as I've seen one or two of the more hysterical commentators suggest. (link mine - gv)

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Does Mongolian government crisis help mining?

The site Mineweb belevies that Mongolia's Government Woes may Help Mining.
A scary thought, but it might at least partly be a mine company in Mongolia being desperate to spread some good news.

Through Mongolian Artist

openDemocracy article

The openDemocracy website is a platform for news and views on democracy from all over the world.

They asked me to write an article on the current political developments:

Mongolia’s democratic puzzle

Anniversary of Danzanravjaa

Today marks the 150th anniversary the death of Danzanravjaa – the “Fifth Wrathful Noble Saint of the Gobi”, one of the greatest literary figures and educators in Mongolian history. Born in 1803, Danzanravjaa produced a remarkable output of songs, poems and teachings, in addition to founding Mongolia’s first museum, theatre, and mixed school.
The anniversary is to be commemorated on an international scale, with a program of special events to be held throughout the year. Danzanravjaa is one of 42 historical figures whose anniversaries will be celebrated in 2006-2007 by UNESCO.

Among the actions to commemorate this anniversary:

• The Arts Council of Mongolia is implementing a one-year project to improve facilities for the conservation of the unique and historically important cultural artifacts of the Danzanravjaa Museum in Sainshand, and to ensure appropriate maintenance of the museum's collection of objects and books through museum staff training (http://www.artscouncil.mn/marketing_program4.html). This one year project was awarded by the US Ambassadors Cultural Heritage grants fund in competition with countries from all over Asia and started its implementation in July 2005.
• Restoration of Khamar Monastery in the East Gobi, former seat of Danzanravjaa, is to continue throughout 2006, with the completion of the “Shambhala Land” complex of 108 stupas and the improvement of the monastery’s circumambulation path.
• Ten young monks have been sent to India with the sponsorship of Miserior (www.tilopa.net) and the US-based Kunzang Palyul Chöling (www.tara.org). It is hoped that these young monks will return to help re-establish Khamar Monastery as a leading centre of Mongolian Buddhism.
• INMongolia Consulting Ltd. is to release a CD of songs by Danzanravjaa, performed by leading Mongolian artists. The release will coincide with events held to commemorate the anniversary of Danzanravjaa in summer 2006. Danzanravjaa’s songs continue to enjoy considerable popularity throughout Mongolia today, with “Ulemjiin Chanar” and other works taking an important place in the folk repertoire (www.inmongolia.com).
  
  Further biographical information can be found at www.danzanravjaa.org.
  
  
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  technorati: mongolia

The Merchant Marine of Mongolia

I was amazed to see in the CIA - The World Factbook
that the merchant marine of Mongolia consists of 65 ships with (another?) 38 ships foreign owned. The Khuvsgul lake must be cramped!

For those who are not aware a few other quotes from the same factbook:

• Coastline: 0 km (landlocked)
• Maritime claims: none (landlocked)
• Waterways:580 km
  note: only waterway in operation is Lake Hovsgol (135 km); Selenge River (270 km) and Orhon River (175 km) are navigable but carry little traffic; lakes and rivers freeze in winter, are open from May to September (2004)

As a reference the tiny country of Netherlands (40 times smaller than Mongolia) has 5,046 km waterways.

Mongolia Govertment Crisis update

What happened today?

1. Enkhbold was put forward by the MPRP as new prime minister
   
2. groups of protesters for democracy, against the former communist party, protested by singing a song from the communist revolution in 1921, while one of the major groups announced it will now hold protests until Tsagaan Sar (January 29th)
   
3. MPRP announced Mongolia will keep its forces in Iraq and Afghanistan
   
4. I saw the vodka drinking olifants, their eyes looked a little red, but they did their tricks alright
   
5. There is an angry proffesor in New York

UPDATE:
Interesting posts in blogworld

• Yan has the translation of an olloo survey on the current political situation among 600 people.
• Chris thinks "The foreign accounts of the situation tend to be much more dramatic and negative "
  
• again from Yan the following thought:

the whole mess still looks more like a power struggle than a struggle between democracy vs. authoritarianism (as implied by the democrats) or competent managers vs. incompetent dreamers (as implied by the MPRP), or corruption vs. honesty (as implied by both).

UPDATE 2:

The Vodka Drinking Elephants performing
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technorati: mongolia

Mongolian party calls for 'national unity' coalition

The Financial Times reports: "The Mongolian People's Revolutionary party has called for a 'government of national unity' following parliament's dismissal of the Democratic party-led coalition of Tsakhia Elbegdorj, the prime minister."

A strange move, first forcefully end a government that consists of almost all parties, and then reunite them all. Why?

Protests have been announced by civil movements and the police has gathered in big numbers around the government palace. The protesters will demand new elections for both parliament and president.

Update:
More on the MPRP internal struggles and the demands of of the protesters

Prime Minister's reaction to the dismissal of his Government

Prime Minister Ts. Elbegdorj’s Government was dismissed by the Parliament of Mongolia just after midnight on January 14, 2006. With members of the Democratic Coalition abstaining from the vote, all 39 members present voted in favour of the resolution to dismiss the government.
Mr. Elbegdorj’s angry reaction to his dismissal:

This was the first time in Mongolia’s history that we established a coalition government. This Government showed that the Mongolians are capable of working together. Just as there were problems in working with such a Government, there were also advantages. I do not accept the foundations for the dismissal of this Government. Doing so would mean refuting everything that we have accomplished during this period [in power]. I have seen the secrets of this State and I have seen it all. I will return to power. But I will not return alone. . . .

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technorati: mongolia

The Political Crisis in Mongolia Continues...

The political crisis in Mongolia continues, with the Parliament of Mongolia holding an all-day plenary session on Friday, January 13 to discuss the recent mass resignation of ministers from the Mongolian People’s Revolutionary Party (MPRP).
Ten MPRP Ministers resigned on Wednesday, alleging that the existing government had demonstrated incompetence in reducing poverty and accelerating economic growth.
The MPRP had formed a grand coalition government with their Democratic-Motherland Coalition rivals following protracted negotiations in 2004.

The Prime Minister of Mongolia, Ts. Elbegdorj (Democratic Party), expressed harsh criticism of the mass resignation, yet asserted that Mongolia had fully embraced democracy in the past 16 years, stating that he was confident the political crisis could be resolved by peaceful means. In a meeting with reporters he declared that there was no risk of the situation escalating into unrest similar to that experienced during last year’s "Orange Revolution" in Ukraine.

According to article 43.2 of the Constitution of Mongolia, the Government must step down in its entirety upon the resignation of the Prime Minister or if half of the members of the Government resign at the same time. The decision to dissolve the Government must be made by the Parliament within 15 days of receiving notice of such a resignation.

The President of Mongolia, N. Enkhbayar, told Parliament that "it is clear that Mongolia must not allow a single day to pass without a legally-constituted Government", and urged the Parliament to seek an urgent resolution to this crisis.
It remains unclear whether the recent withdrawal of the MPRP from the Government will lead to fresh elections.

Meanwhile demonstrations by MPRP supporters continued on Friday in Sukhbaatar Square outside the parliament building, following upon a protest rally the day before in which the MPRP building had been briefly occupied by demonstrators.
Mongolia’s television media have offered biased coverage of the crisis, with approximately 80% of those polled by Eagle-TV expressing criticism of the resignation, and 100% of those polled by TV5 and TV9 demonstrating their support of the MPRP ministers’ decision.

The cabinet ministers who have tendered their resignations are:

• Deputy Prime Minister Ch.Ulaan,
• Minister of Justice and Home Affairs, S.Batbold
• Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ts.Monkh-Orgil
• Minister of Nature and Environment, U.Barsbold
• Minister of Defense, Ts.Sharavdorj
• Minister of Fuel and Energy, T.Ochirkhuu
• Minister of Industry and Trade, Su.Batbold
• Minister of Food and Agriculture, D.Terbishdagva
• Minister of Health, T.Gandi, and
• Minister of Emergencies, U.Khurelsukh

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technorati: mongolia, politics

Government Crisis

Mongolia Web reports on one protest organization running from one protest to the other.

And it seemed for sometime they might actually be successful: the MPRP seems to reconsider continuing the government with the democratic parties, it is questionable whether there is still enough trust within the grand coalition to continue.

But by now it is clear the government will dissolve.



Meanwhile the news has even reached Ghana, while Tom Terry reports from Eagle TV, a good news channel but with a hidden Christian mission.

Nathan at Registan is as always ready with a good overview


UPDATE 1: Yahoo News has interesting quotes:

"It's highly likely the government will be ousted," Sanjaasuren Oyun, the leader of the minority Civil Will Party and a member of parliament, told AFP. "The MPRP has enough votes."

But with most MPs wanting to express their opinions during Friday's debate, a vote may not occur until late Friday night or next week, Oyun said.

The move by the MPRP is a bid to regain total control of the government, Oyun and political observers said.

UPDATE 2:
The situation was exept on CNN, just now covered on BBC world as well.

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technorati: mongolia

Mongolian party building occupied

The MPRP (Mongolian People's Revolutionairy Party) building has been occupied by protesters. While some international press speak of opposition and ruling party, but it is actually two parties of the same coaltion that are in conflict. As mentioned below the MPRP tried to leave the coalition yesterday, which led to the current protests.

People in the street seem to be upset with the current situation. "Politicians seem to live in the heavens and don't care about the people down on earth" according to a young teacher Mongolian, possibly refering to the Ikh Tenger (Big Heaven) complex with the state residencies.

AP reports on the MPRP pull out:

In comments also broadcast on television, Elbegdorj responded, "I don't think these reasons are enough to dismiss the government."

The MPRP said it would try to form its own government but didn't say who might join. The party has 38 of 76 seats in Mongolia's parliament, the Great Hural, short of the 39 required to take power.

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technorati: mongolia

Mongolian coalition cabinet falls

The MPRP ministers in the cabinet have offered their resignation.

UPDATE 1
From the communist Indian State of Kerela the first report comes in:

''This is not coming out of the blue,'' Tjalling Halbertsma, adviser to the office of Mongolia's president, told Reuters.

China follows:

"The government has no legal foundation or capacity to exist. A political vacuum has been created in Mongolia," the MPRP said in the statement.

For even more entertainment a new lottery will be launched.

UPDATE 2
Demonstrations are announced for today on Sukhbaatar square.

UPDATE 3
Mongolia Web reports on the Minister resignation and the MPRP press conference.

UPDATE 4
People have gathered around the MPRP building to demonstrate against the current political developments. The army has been called in to control the crowd.


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technorati: mongolia

What does Genghis Khan have to do with a hamburger?

Mongolianartist.com and Mongolia Web quote Ask Yahoo! on the hamburger:

The fast food favorite took a long, slow trip from Genghis Khan through Russia and Germany before arriving at McDonald's.
...
In the 1200s, Genghis Khan's Mongol armies ate patties of raw lamb scraps, which were tenderized under the soldiers' saddles.

Doubtful if this is historically correct, but a good story nevertheless.
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technorati: mongolia hamburger genghis khan