By Oyungerel Ts, Liberty Center, an NGO
Date: July 24, 2003 3.30p.m.
Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia

MONGOLIA: M.P. Mr.Gundalai Arrested On His Way To Democracy Conference

Today around 2p.m. at the Ulaanbaatar airport, a group of special force of 3 from Police has used force against Mr.Gundalai, 40, MP in order to prevent him to fly to Seoul. Police force managed to forcefully pull Gundalai out of the airplane, then tried to forcefully bring him to the State General Investigation Office on the eyes of dozens journalists and human rights activists. After his was forcefully taken from airplane, Mr.Gundalai arrived at the Democratic Central Office building and attempted to enter the Office. Suddenly, around 10 young men including a group of police who followed Gundalai from airport and additional special group servants used brutal force against Gundalai and his bodyguard Tserennadmid at the Democratic party door. Mr.Tserennadmid, 35, remained senseless after he was beaten onto his head and Gundalai was taken to police car which disappeared to somewhere. it become known later that Police brought him to Gants Hudag detention center as a 'suspect'. The case opened against Gundalai is unclear by now and police group denied to tell their names and show any decision on using force against the MP.

There was no Parliamentary decision on lifting Mr.Gundalai's immunity. Mr.Gundalai was planning to chair a session on Democracy and Human rights at the Asian democracy conference to be held in Singapour in two days. He was heading to Seoul along with his wife Mrs.Azzaya to spend a day in Korea.

Mr.Gundalai is the most outspoken opposition MP in the current parliament and the vice chairman of the Democratic Party of Mongolia.

More detailed information on Gundalai's situation will be followed soon. Please follow our messages and alerts or call 976-99175324 for urgent information. Liberty center's alert on Mr.Gundalai's struggle for right to speak is available on our website's ALERT page.