- Title: MONGOLIA: Protest in Mongolia as new prime minister is nominated.
- Date: 17th January 2006
- Summary: CITY
- Embargoed: 1st February 2006 12:00
- Keywords:
- Location: Mongolia
- Country: Mongolia
- Topics: Domestic Politics
- Reuters ID: LVACJNRFFFXBLEV7X3180V9HCSO2
- Story Text: Mongolians protested in the gold mining town of Baruun Kharaa on Tuesday (January 17) as the MPRP (Mongolian People's Revolutionary Party) named its candidate for the post of prime minister.
The MPRP quit the government of Tsakhiagiin Elbegdorj last week, forcing his resignation. The MPRP on Tuesday named Enkhbold, the mayor of Ulan Bator, as its possible prime minister - a vote in parliament is expected before Friday.
Tuesday's protesters said they were part of a movement demanding civil reform in Mongolia and also pushing for new general elections.
"The fact that these 10 ministers from the Mongolian People's Revolutionary Party stepped down, whether they realised they were not supported by the people or whether they forgot their own responsibility, they stepped down. They did not act in a responsible way and that has really caused a crisis in the state system," said protester Luvsan.
Like much of Mongolia, Baruun Kharaa, a three-hour drive north of Ulan Bator, is plagued by poverty and unemployment. Many there scrape a living as illegal miners, known as "ninjas" after the green, turtle-like bowls they carry on their backs.
Another protester, when asked if he had faith in the political process, said:
"Absolutely not, I have absolutely no faith and trust in that because the new government now being formed and its leaders are all practitioners of the MPRP's policies. They are not representing any choice made by the people. They are coming into their positions in an unfair way and we do not have any trust in them to be able to carry out any proper policies. We want the Great Hural (Mongolian parliament) to be dissolved," said Ganbaatar of the Drastic Reform Movement which is pushing for a new election to choose a new prime minister.
The MPRP, which ran the country as a Soviet satellite for much of the 20th century and remains its strongest political party, cited a decline in economic growth and rise in inflation as reasons for its withdrawal from the government.
Elbegdorj said the MPRP may have wanted to derail his administration's probes into "deep" official corruption.
Power shifts are not new in the country. Four governments were formed in four years the last time the Democrats were in power, between 1996 and 2000. - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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