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ZNR UUUUU ZZH
P 240017Z JUL 08
FM AMEMBASSY ULAANBAATAR
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RUEHMO/AMEMBASSY MOSCOW 2387
RUEHUL/AMEMBASSY SEOUL 3509
RUEHKO/AMEMBASSY TOKYO 3180
RUEHML/AMEMBASSY MANILA 1866
RUEHBY/AMEMBASSY CANBERRA 0314
RHEHAAA/NSC WASHINGTON DC
RUEHLMC/MILLENNIUM CHALLENGE CORP WASHINGTON DC
RUCPDOC/DEPT OF COMMERCE WASHINGTON DC
RUCNDT/USMISSION USUN NEW YORK 0687

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.