Asia-Pacific

Protesters demand Mongolian parties fulfill promises

(Xinhua)
Updated: 2010-04-05 20:43

ULAN BATOR - Some 5,000 protesters gathered in Ulan Bator's central square Monday to demand parliament be dissolved or the main political parties fulfill their pre-election promises.

They shouted slogans such as "Keep your promises," "Confiscate oligarchs' property and give it to the people," "Power in hand of people," and "Dissolve parliament."

In the 2008 parliamentary elections, the Mongolian People's Revolutionary Party promised to give 1.5 million MNT ($1,100) to every citizen while the Mongolian Democratic Party pledged 1 million MNT ($734).

Around 2:20 pm (0420 GMT), representatives of the demonstrators entered the Parliament House to present a petition that demands the parties keep pre-election promises.

Chief of the Parliament Office Ts. Sharavdorj officially received the petition and said he will submit it to parliament.

Leaders of the protesters said a sit-in has been launched and will continue for 72 hours until they receive a response to the petition.

"If parliament does not resign voluntarily, the protest will shift into other forms of political strike," they added.