MONGOLIA'S OPPOSITION MPS WALK OUT OF FIRST PARLIAMENT

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 ULAANBAATAR 000361 SENSITIVE SIPDIS STATE FOR EAP/CM, DRL AND INR/EAP E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PGOV KDEM PHUM ENRG SOCI MG SUBJECT: MONGOLIA'S OPPOSITION MPS WALK OUT OF FIRST PARLIAMENT SESSION WITHOUT TAKING OATH SENSITIVE BUT UNCLASSIFIED - NOT FOR INTERNET DISTRIBUTION ¶1. (SBU) SUMMARY: Mongolians elected to Parliament in the contested June 29 elections gathered at Government House on July 23 for Parliament's opening session. But after energetically criticizing the head of the General Election Commission (GEC),members of the opposition Democratic Party left the chamber before taking the oath of office. The walkout came after the Democrats' Chairman, Elbegdorj, called on the GEC to resign, and he urged the Government to free all citizens detained in connection with post-election violence on July 1. Before their walkout, the newly elected Democratic MPs lambasted GEC Chairman Battulga for allegedly disregarding Democrats' concerns about free and fair elections; for allowing voting by allegedly unqualified individuals; and for allegedly acting in a manner that benefited the ruling Mongolian People's Revolutionary Party (MPRP). Battulga stood his ground and said the GEC had made every effort to hold free and fair elections, adding that although some people had tried to "interfere" with the election process, such efforts were ultimately unsuccessful. Battulga did not provide any insight into when the disputed 10 (of 76 total) seats will be resolved. Following the walkout, none of the other newly elected MPs took the oath of office. Until at least 57 MPs of the "new" Parliament take the oath of office, the "old" Parliament - which held its closing session on July 22 - is considered legitimate and the existing government led by Prime Minister Bayar continues in a caretaker role. END SUMMARY. DP SEEKS GEC RESIGNATIONS, RELEASE OF DETAINEES -------------- -- ¶2. (SBU) Mongolians elected to Parliament in the contested June 29 national elections gathered at Government House on July 23 (with the Ambassador and diplomatic corps in attendance) for Parliament's opening session, but after energetically criticizing the head of the GEC, members of the opposition Democratic Party (DP) left the chamber before taking the oath of office. The walkout came after DP Chairman Elbegdorj called for the resignation of the GEC for its alleged failure to ensure free and fair elections. Elbegdorj also called on the Government to free all citizens detained in connection with post-election violence on July 1. (Note: At least five people were killed, hundreds injured and the MPRP's headquarters destroyed in that violence. End Note.) The session got underway around 10:15 A.M., with President Enkhbayar addressing the new MPs and noting that the people of Mongolia had chosen their Parliament, and that it should be seated in accordance with law. He noted that the GEC had, on July 14, confirmed the winners of 66 of the 76 seats in Parliament, and that 66 was enough for a quorum. The GEC's embattled Chairman, Battulga, then addressed the elected MPs, stating that although some individuals tried to "interfere" with election procedures, these efforts did not affect the election results that had been confirmed. He added that the GEC had "made every effort to hold free and fair elections." GEC CHIEF GRILLED -------------- ¶3. (SBU) A lengthy question-and-answer session then ensued, and members of the DP peppered Battulga with a number of pointed questions. They criticized him for allegedly disregarding DP concerns about unqualified voters; for allowing votes by individuals who possessed a national ID card but not a voter ID card; and for allowing balloting by those who did not reside at the registration address. Battulga, cool under fire, said the GEC had taken all such concerns into account. He added that there is no legal provision that requires a voter to live at his registration address, adding that the use of national ID to establish a voter's bona fides was in accordance with the law. ... THEN GRILLED SOME MORE -------------- ¶4. (SBU) With reporters and members of the diplomatic corps, including the Ambassador, looking on, the grilling of the GEC Chairman continued, with each elected official using his allotted four minutes. One accused Battulga (formerly an MP in his own right, of the ruling MPRP) of selectively confirming winning candidates in a way that benefited the MPRP. (Battulga's reply: "That's your interpretation.") Another Democrat asked when the 10 disputed seats would be resolved; Battulga said it was up to ULAANBAATA 00000361 002 OF 002 electoral officials in those districts to resolve the disputes, and that once resolution was reported to the central GEC, the GEC would report the resolutions to the President, as required. Another DP member, Bat-Uul, who played a key role in the country's 1989 pro-democracy movement, asked Battulga whether he had any information that votes were purchased. Battulga, who noted earlier in his opening statement that the GEC had received 714 letters about alleged voting irregularities, responded that if there is any evidence that votes were bought, the matter should be investigated. In response to a separate question, Battulga stated he had no information about any electoral official being implicated in election fraud. MASSIVE GEC FAILURES ALLEGED -------------- ¶5. (SBU) Bat-Uul said the 25 confirmed DP MPs attended the opening session despite what they considered massive failures by the GEC, adding that with these failures in mind, it was difficult for the Democrats to take the oath of office without "corrective" action. Nearly three hours after the start of the session, the DP's Chairman, Elbegdorj, stated that unless the nine-commissioner staff of the GEC resigns for failing to ensure free and fair elections, and unless the Government releases individuals detained in connection with the July 1 violence, newly elected DP MPs would depart without taking the oath. At that point, all 25 DP MPs left the chamber (making good on a threat that Elbegdorj shared with the Ambassador in a July 22 meeting). (Note: Elbegdorj informed the Ambassador that he would be stepping down as DP Chairman and would focus more on DP bread and butter issues. He did not say who he expected to serve as his successor. End Note.) The 39 confirmed MPRP MPs then declined to take the oath, as did Civil Will Party Chairman Oyun (currently Foreign Minister) and the sole successful independent candidate, journalist Z. Altai. President Enkhbayar then announced that he was available for meetings and talks between the (three) political parties with Parliamentary representation. It was not immediately clear if any such discussions took place. (Note: The previous crop of Parliamentarians held their last session on July 22. The "old" Parliament is considered legitimate until at least 57 MPs of the "new" Parliament take the oath of office. End Note.) ELBEGDORJ REVIEWS DP BOYCOTT STRATEGY AND GOALS -------------- -- ¶6. (SBU) During his discussion with the Ambassador and DCM the evening of July 22, Elbegdorj said the DP had three preconditions to be met by PM Bayar and the MPRP before the DP's MPs would take the oath of office and the new parliament could begin work in earnest. First, the GEC's failures needed to be recognized and fixed. Second, the GOM needed to account for the deaths and violence of July 1. And third, the MPRP needed to give assurances that some of the DP's key platform issues would be addresses. Asked how long the DP might be willing to boycott, Elbegdorj replied it depended on progress with the MPRP on the three preconditions, but the boycott could last a day or a week or more. He stressed he hoped an accommodation could be reached soon. (COMMENT: A prolonged boycott would not benefit either party, in post's view; Elbegdorj noted the DP needed to think about October provincial and local elections. And we see Elbegdorj's approach as a face-saving effort so the DP can claim it held the GOM's and MPRP's feet the fire on the elections and violence while also gaining something on substantive issues. END COMMENT.) MINTON.