President Elbegdorj Vague on the Question of Mongolia’s Policy Towards Southern Mongolian Asylum Seekers
In honor of Tsakhia Elbegdorj, President of Mongolia, and Roza Otunbayeva, President of Kyrgyztan, the Foreign Policy Association (APF) and the National Endowment for Democracy (NED) jointly hosted a dinner in New York as part of the 2011 World Leadership Forum on September 22, 2011. Three members of the Southern Mongolian Human Rights Information Center (SMHRIC) were invited to the dinner. Attendees also included executives of mining giants Peabody and Rio Tinto. National anthems of Mongolia and the United States were performed by the West Point Band’s Regimental Brass Quintet followed by a welcoming speech by Robert C. Miller, Chairman of the Hurford Foundation.Following Roza Otunbayeva’s speech, President Elbegdorj gave a passionate and inspirational address as a keynote speaker on democracy, human rights, bad government, and corruption, as well as the natural wealth of Mongolia. Reading a part of the statement he made at the United Nations General Assembly, he praised the Arab Spring, and condemned tyrannies for suppressing their citizens’ freedom and human rights, particularly pointing his finger at the former Libyan leader Gaddafi referring to him “like a rat hiding from hole to hole”.
After his speech, Carl Gershman, President of NED, made a remark on Mongolia’s peaceful democratic transition and her efforts to promote democracy and human rights. Recognizing his leadership and contribution to the promotion of democracy and the rule of law in the remote land-locked country, Carl Gershman presented the New York Democracy Forum Presidential Medal to President Elbegdorj.
Following his keynote address, President Elbegdorj was asked to answer questions from the distinguished guests. Only five questions were selected and presented to Elbegdorj by Carl Gershman. One of them was from the representatives of SMHRIC.
Standing next to President Elbegdorj, Carl Gershman said, “We have some Southern Mongolians here as well. They have a question to you, Mr. President. Their question is ‘what is the policy of the Government of Mongolia toward Mongolian asylum seekers from China?’ They are also asking you about the case of Mr. Batzangaa who was arrested and deported back to China from Mongolia.”
President Elbegdorj started out with a strong endorsement of the need to protect human rights. In quoting President Elbegdorj, the dots represent pauses where he trailed off: “We always try to have a good relationship with our neighbors. But we are not shy about…. But, human right is nonnegotiable. I always say that there are 10 million Mongolians living around the world. Inner Mongolia has almost six million Mongolians as many as twice of the population of Mongolia. Human right is nonnegotiable, but…but, China, you know…” Regrettably, President Elbegdorj avoided a clear statement on his government’s position toward Southern Mongolian political refugees who enter Mongolia.
Southern Mongolian refugees entering Mongolia have been frequent targets of harassment, detention, arrest and even deportation by Mongolian authorities in collaboration with Chinese authorities.
After his speech, Carl Gershman, President of NED, made a remark on Mongolia’s peaceful democratic transition and her efforts to promote democracy and human rights. Recognizing his leadership and contribution to the promotion of democracy and the rule of law in the remote land-locked country, Carl Gershman presented the New York Democracy Forum Presidential Medal to President Elbegdorj.
Following his keynote address, President Elbegdorj was asked to answer questions from the distinguished guests. Only five questions were selected and presented to Elbegdorj by Carl Gershman. One of them was from the representatives of SMHRIC.
Standing next to President Elbegdorj, Carl Gershman said, “We have some Southern Mongolians here as well. They have a question to you, Mr. President. Their question is ‘what is the policy of the Government of Mongolia toward Mongolian asylum seekers from China?’ They are also asking you about the case of Mr. Batzangaa who was arrested and deported back to China from Mongolia.”
President Elbegdorj started out with a strong endorsement of the need to protect human rights. In quoting President Elbegdorj, the dots represent pauses where he trailed off: “We always try to have a good relationship with our neighbors. But we are not shy about…. But, human right is nonnegotiable. I always say that there are 10 million Mongolians living around the world. Inner Mongolia has almost six million Mongolians as many as twice of the population of Mongolia. Human right is nonnegotiable, but…but, China, you know…” Regrettably, President Elbegdorj avoided a clear statement on his government’s position toward Southern Mongolian political refugees who enter Mongolia.
Southern Mongolian refugees entering Mongolia have been frequent targets of harassment, detention, arrest and even deportation by Mongolian authorities in collaboration with Chinese authorities.
Comments
Post a Comment