So here we are, I get home after work and check the news and this here happens. Violence and riots. Around 20,000 protesters have gathered outside the MPRP headquarters and have started setting fire and throwing stones. Around 6.20pm today, violence erupted between the rioters and armoured police who have started shooting at some of the protesters with rubber bullets. Before the riots started, S.Bayar was holding a press conference at the headquarters and according to the last report on news.mn, the reporters are stuck inside. The Democratic Party is alleging election fraud and demand a recount.
International observers and media say that the election was fair from their observation, but unfamiliarity with the new voting system (multi-member constituencies) may have led to confusion and mistakes in the vote counts.
The official results of the election are not yet out, though preliminary results show a clear victory for the ruling MPRP.
Ts. Elbegdorj, chairman of the Democratic Party, is meeting with the members of National Security Council, who include President Enkhbayar and PM S.Bayar. Earlier today, around 6pm, the Democratic Party had requested for police protection of their headquarters, expecting counter-attacks from MPRP supporters who may blame the DP for inciting the riots. The riots are believed to be organized by Citizens' Movement group and Mongolian Republican Party.
As of 9pm, the situation outside the MPRP headquarters is not stabilizing as rioters continue to throw Molotov cocktails at the burning building. The police are said to be receiving further enforcements to deal with the situation and have started arresting protesters. A number of journalists and police have been injured during the clashes, though no numbers have emerged from the chaos.
10pm, President Enkhbayar has issued a press statement urging for peaceful and lawful resolution to the disputes. He has also hinted that as the President, he may be forced to declare a state of emergency should the riots continue.
10pm, the rioters have broken into the MPRP headquarters and have started burning the building from the inside. Around 70 people have been injured and taken to the hospitals.
10.40pm, Unuudur reports that those interviewed at the hospital claim to have been paid in cash and alcohol by the DP to join / incite the riots. Many of the injured rioters at the hospital are reported to be inebriated. The rioters earlier broke into the duty free store near the MPRP headquarters.
International news coverage:
- BBC - Clashes in Mongolia poll protest
- AFP - Violent protests erupt in Mongolia amid poll dispute: witnesses
- Associated Press - Violence follows Mongolia election
- Reuters UK - Opposition alleges fraud in Mongolia vote
Your coverage is better than all the news outlets. It's almost 11 and still pretty crazy out there. It'll be interesting to see what the fallout from this is...so sad that it had to go this way.
Thanks :)
It is sad, but was probably inevitable. I hope the violence does not escalate any further though. At the very least, this should keep the MPRP on their toes for the next 4 years. Ts.Elbegderj is demanding a recount of all votes and failing that:a re-election. I donot see that happening, but a recount will probably be conducted. I think we might also see further lobbying by prez Enkhbayar for a move to a Presidential democracy.
0.30 a state of emergency light has been declared. all tv channels except the mongolian national tv are shut down for four days and the police will arrest everybody who enters the city center after 12 p.m. without id.
I do not agree with the decision to cut off the channels except National TV. Media must play important role to portray the true events as it is. I guess the authority is seeking to take control of what is being aired in which case having one channel would mean biased news. Given major power dominating our contry's leadership by MPRP by unfair means such as corrpution, fraud and so on at least freedom in media (I was hoping) to somewhat balances off this almost absolute corrupt power.
I cannot agree with that all the problems are with MPRP. Two parties had equally the same seats from the last election in 2004. DP is also to blame. They are playing dirty games just for their sake. And i do not believe that, if DP won the election we would have had a better future. All this rioting is crazy. Most of them were drunkards. Why do they have set fire on galleries and other important buildings in the city?
From the BBC ...
Mr Elbegdorj earlier said the Democrats had been robbed of victory.
"People voted for democracy, ask eight of 10 people and they will say they voted for the Democratic Party," he told reporters.
"If most people voted for us why did we lose? We lost because... corrupt people changed the results," Mr Elbegdorj added.
...And this guy wanted to lead a country? That's right, start a riot to express your disappointment, that's leadership. From what I hear from this site and others, there were neutral election observers, which called it fair, so where is the dispute, other than in the minds of the DP?
Pretty sad. It sounds like, as in most countries, the urban centers always believe the country revolves around them, and UB appears to be no exception. I haven't read anything about protests outside of UB, is this true?
No, there are no riots in the country, it is only in UB city, where there is a strong anti-MAXH sentiment. Not so in the countryside. I do think Elbegdorj should be held responsible for inciting the riots ahead of official results. I do not think he expected this level of violence and destruction, but as a leader he should've been more careful about his words.
Thanks for the info Bilguun;
I hope everything calms down in UB. The future for Mongolia is bright, much depends on a peaceful democractic process.