MONGOLIAN PROTESTORS CALL FOR A REFERENDUM BEFORE LAND IS PRIVATIZED
Nomin Lhagvasuren: 6/30/02
A EurasiaNet Partner Post from Transistions Online

The thorny issue of land privatization has in the past week returned to center-stage in Mongolia, with protestors calling for more public input and even a referendum before land is sold.

Demonstrators, which came out onto the streets nearly a week ago, moved to Ulaanbaatar’s central square --directly in front of parliament--on 24 June, vowing to continue their protests despite police warnings that the demonstrations have not been officially sanctioned and could therefore be broken up.

Demonstrators fear that the draft law will be passed without adequate public input. Opponents claim that land privatization will ultimately only benefit a small handful of oligarchs, whom protestors say have already profited unduly from the initial phases of privatization in Mongolia.

One demonstrator interviewed by the Daily News newspaper said, "I am protesting against this law because I’m worried that a law that protects the interest of one party and a group of people will be passed by taking advantage of people’s ignorance and lack of information on this issue."

Proponents of the draft law from the ruling Revolutionary People’s Party of Mongolia (MAKN), an ex-communist grouping, say that land privatization will benefit large segments of the population. Every Mongolian citizen will be given a piece of land--about 0.007 hectares in the city and more in the countryside to discourage people from migrating to the capital city.

However, opponents say that the issue needs more debate. "I cannot understand how a law as important as the law on land privatization can be discussed and passed in a mere two weeks," opposition parliamentarian Sanjaasurengyin Oyun said.

On 14 June, Oyun--the head of the opposition Civil Will-Republican party and one of four parliamentarians representing minority parties in the 76-seat Mongolian parliament--issued a strongly worded statement and then went on strike. Oyun is refusing to participate in any parliamentary activities or discussions until her conditions are accepted.

Land privatization should be decided by a public referendum, Oyun said, adding that public involvement is crucial, especially "given the results of a survey that show that considerable segments of the Mongolian population are against land ownership."

The study in question--conducted recently by the Institute of Sociology and Philosophy and involving approximately 1,000 residents of Ulaanbaatar and six provinces--indicates that more than 30 percent of Mongolians polled are against land privatization. Just under one-quarter--24 percent--are in favor, while the rest are undecided.

Oyun’s party has also argued that the infrastructure necessary to carry out land privatization is not in place. Party officials said last week that the government lacks a general plan of land and real estate development, a survey map of land use and real estate, detailed registration of land use, a monitoring system of land quality alterations, and a resource database. A large number of disputes over the use and possession of land are already in process.

Civil Will-Republican party members have argued that privatization should be put on hold in favor of the implementation of a revised land law--adopted recently--that enables Mongolian citizens to use and possess land for 60 years with another 40 years extension in usage. The law also gives citizens the right to use the land as collateral.

"That law already opens many possibilities. Why not use it first instead of rushing into land privatization? There is no guarantee that land privatization will improve people’ lives. It’s not a panacea," Oyun said in a statement released to the media.

"Mongolia’s economy is rather weak and the majority of people are poor," Oyun charged. "The red tape when it comes to land permits is extensive, and corruption is becoming rampant. The rule of law is not that rigorous." If the government chooses to rush into privatization, the result is likely to be negative, the Civil Will head concluded.

Oyun complained that her requests to appear on Mongolian National TV and Radio--both of which are state-owned--have been refused. "The only media that reaches almost two-thirds of the Mongolian population living in the countryside runs programs supportive of land privatization, and does not let us appear and express another point of view. We haven’t had problems in voicing our concerns through other media outlets including other TV stations, private FM radios, and independent newspapers, but those outlets have an audience only in Ulaanbaatar."

The issue of land privatization has been discussed before. During the previous parliament, the ruling Democratic Coalition sought to pass a measure but was fiercely opposed by the then-minority MAKN.

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Posted June 30, 2002 © Eurasianet
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