Mongolian protestors clash with police over mining
Thursday 13 April 2006, 8:20am EST
ULAN BATOR, April 13 (Reuters) - Mongolian police clashed with demonstrators protesting against government corruption and foreign control of minerals and resources in the capital's main square on Thursday.
Police destroyed a traditional tent erected by protesters and removed three others in a bid to quash the demonstrations in Ulan Bator's Freedom Square.
But protesters, who have been carrying on the campaign for eight days now, were unbowed and vowed to remain on the square indefinitely.
"Today Mongolian democracy has been lost," said Arslan, a protester. "The police are protecting only those in power. They have become the hands and feet of a small number of cheating rulers."
"We are not the criminals. We are the ones fighting for the future of Mongolia," he said.
The protests have occurred as Canadian-listed miner Ivanhoe Mines Ltd. negotiates an agreement with the government that would set the investment terms for a planned copper-gold mine in the Gobi desert.
The company says its planned $1.2 billion investment for the mammoth project would eventually bring billions of dollars in taxes and thousands of construction and mining jobs to Mongolia.
But protesters say the government must win better terms from the Canadian-listed miner and meet broader demands for transparency and accountability.
Despite the police action, several hundred protesters remained on the square, waving banners marked "Invalidate Mining Licenses" and calling for the resignation of Mongolian Prime Minister Elbegdorj and other cabinet ministers.
"We have two things we want to achieve," said Boldbaapar, an unemployed electricity worker. "One, to to give back the (mineral) deposits to the Mongolian people. Two, to demand parliament make the government and the president resign."
"We demand a new election to bring in sound and ethical leaders to replace the current government," he said.
The current government is led by the Mongolian People's Revolutionary Party, which took power in January after a previous coalition cabinet was dismissed.
The party ruled Mongolia during the Soviet era and has led several governments since 1990.
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