BCM Mongolia NewsWire Highlights: Business As Usual
Friday, 04 July 2008
Business: Banks to exchange information on borrowers; Eznis makes flights cheaper for expats; MPRP victory boosts Ivanhoe Mines stock price; ArcelorMittal may bid for Rio Tinto; Significant coal seams found at Sumber site; Boroo Gold’s social plans for Selenge
Economy: Petrol becomes scarce, Government sees politics; Online stock trading to begin this month; World Bank credit and grant for mining sector; Government to pay 50% of interest on loans to agricultural companies; Tg 23 billion so far for agriculture; Council to attract investment meets; Some to pay more for power, heating
Politics: All but two results declared, giving MPRP 44 and DP 27; Mongolia cleans up as Capital under uneasy calm; City wakes up to the rumble of tanks; Justice Minister hopes first emergency will also be the last; We have a duty to save democracy: Elbegdorj; A ringside view; Mongolia’s anti-corruption efforts lauded
BANKS TO EXCHANGE INFORMATION ON BORROWERS
Several commercial banks operating in the country, including Xas Bank, Khaan Bank, and the Mongol Post Bank, have signed an agreement with Mongol Bank to exchange information on borrowers. With the banking network expanding in recent years and banks opening more and more branches throughout the country, the number of borrowers has gone up considerably. A review of the situation was recently made by Mongol Bank, the country’s central bank. This showed that banks’ risks went up when the same person or entity borrowed from more than one source. Now with the exchange of information in place, any bank will be able to check on a prospective borrower’s credit status with other banks.
JUSTICE MINISTER HOPES FIRST EMERGENCY WILL ALSO BE THE LAST
As the protests erupted, Prime Minister Sanjagiin Bayar, of the MPRP, accused the Democrats and Elbegdorj of inciting the violence. "The other party is accusing us of buying the election. It's not true, the election was free and fair," he said from the MPRP headquarters before it was ransacked.
Elbegdorj bluntly accused the MPRP in a press conference on Tuesday of "illegal activities" to rob the Democrats of victory. "People voted for democracy. Ask eight of 10 people and they will say they voted for the Democratic Party. We lost because... corrupt people changed the results," he told reporters. "This was a dark moment in the history of Mongolia."
Justice Minister Tsend Munkh-Orgil told reporters, "Border troops and armed forces are being used to improve security in the city because of an insufficient number of police. We have word that certain groups are organizing for large demonstrations after the end of the state of emergency. The government will suppress any such acts. This is the first ever state of emergency in Mongolia and I hope it will be the last."
An AFP reporter who walked through the city on Wednesday also saw burnt out cars and other damaged buildings, including the National Palace of Culture, a Soviet-era building that housed many national treasures. "The Palace of Culture was set on fire and the invaluable collection of art inside was looted," Munkh-Orgil said.
Mongolia has a history of political intrigue and turmoil after emerging from 70 years as a Soviet satellite to hold its first democratic elections in 1992. However the violence was among the worst the nation had seen since adopting a democratic model, and many people here were left disenchanted.
Comments (1)
Only registered users can write comments. Please login or register.
A web-log or blog that is focused on anything related to Mongolia, from the first snowflakes to the dissapearing mausoleum. Check it out! Mongolian Matters - News from Mongolia