According to Political Parties of the World, the Mongolian National Democratic Party (MNDP) won one seat in the 2 July 2000 national assembly elections (2002, 330). In December 2000, the Mongolian National Democratic Party joined other opposition parties, including the Mongolian Social Democratic Party, the Mongolian Democratic Party, the Mongolian Democratic Renewal Party, and the Mongolian Believers' Democratic Party, to form the Democratic Party (DP) (Political Parties 2002, 330):

The DP National Advisory Council comprises two members representing each of the 76 Mongolian Great Hural [national assembly] constituencies, plus former party leaders and prime ministers, and has standing committees on policy issues similar to those of the Great Hural. The DP has two members in the Mongolian Great Hural elected in July 2000: ex-Prime Minister Janlavyn Narantsatsralt, who stood for the MNDP, and Lamjavyn Gundalay, who was an independent but joined the DP. Radnaasumbereliyn Gonchigdorj, the DP's presidential candidate in May 2001, came second with 36.6% of the vote (ibid.).

The Ulaanbaatar-based Mongol Messenger reports that the Democratic Party's mission is to promote democratic values and provide a strong opposition to the ruling Mongolian People's Revolutionary Party (MPRP) (7 Mar. 2001). Although the DP is said to respect the concepts of democratic socialism, the Mongolian E-Mail Daily News states that the DP is considered a right-wing party (21 Feb. 2002).

In March 2001, Dambyn Dorligjav, the DP's chairman, held a press conference to announce that listening devices, which he maintained were installed by trained experts on government orders, were found in the DP's headquarters (E-Mail Daily News 22 Mar. 2001). However, he was unable to produce the devices upon request saying that he had not yet seen them (ibid.). According to the E-Mail Daily News, government intelligence and police agencies are legally entitled to conduct such intelligence operations (ibid.).

No further information on the Mongolian National Democratic Party, the Democratic Party or the treatment of either party's members by the government could be found among the sources consulted by the Research Directorate.

This Response was prepared after researching publicly accessible information currently available to the Research Directorate within time constraints. This Response is not, and does not purport to be, conclusive as to the merit of any particular claim to refugee status or asylum. Please find below the list of additional sources consulted in researching this Information Request.

References

E-Mail Daily News [Ulaanbaatar]. 21 February 2002. "Mongolia: Report on Membership and Policies of Political Parties." (BBC Monitoring/Dialog)

_____. 22 March 2001. "Democratic Party Head Accuses Authorities of Bugging Headquarters." (BBC Monitoring/Dialog)

Mongol Messenger [Ulaanbaatar]. 7 March 2001. "Ex-Leader Gonchigdorj Is the Clear Leader in Democratic Party Presidential Marathon." (Dialog)

Political Parties of the World. 2002. 5th ed. Edited by Alan J. Day. London: John Harper Publishing.

Additional Sources Consulted

Dialog

IRB Databases

Internet sites, including:

Amnesty International

China.org

Country Reports 2001

Europa World Year Book 2003

Human Rights in China

Human Rights Watch

InsideAsia

The Mongol Messenger

Mongolian Government