Friday
marks the first anniversary of Ts.Elbegdorj assuming office as the fourth
President of Mongolia. His very first action was a departure from tradition.
All his predecessors kept the inauguration ceremony limited to Parliament
members and dignitaries, but Elbegdorj received the greetings of the people at
Sukhbaatar Square and spoke to them.  

The
days since then have seen several such departures as the President has actively
worked to ensure justice for all, to reform the entire judiciary, and to curb
corruption. He had told citizens he had five priorities: To be seen as having
one soul with the people; to ensure justice; to protect the environment; to
support regional development; and to bring Mongolia closer to the outside world.
Progress on all five has marked his first year in office.

Changing
one man may not be a big thing but appointing D.Dorligjav, director of the President’s
Office, as Prosecutor General has raised people’s hopes that work on judicial reforms
will gain urgency. The Anti-Corruption Authority has been told, clearly and
bluntly, to work more meaningfully and to show results. The establishment of a Civil
Chamber by this democratic president has given citizens the right to express
their views on public matters.

The
amnesty law he successfully drafted led to the release of almost 2,000 people
from prison. Giving the lie to fears that this would make for an increase in
crime, only a few have been seen to have failed to reform. The other humane
decision of the President was to impose a moratorium on the death penalty, the
first step to its eventual abolition. The move has received wide international
acclaim. The President has clarified that criminals will not be let loose, but will
be separated from society for the rest of their lives.

The
provinces suffer from shortage of money as all powers to raise and spend it
rest with the Government in Ulaanbaatar. The regional administrations have to
plead with MPs to see funds are released for such local needs as repair of
schools and kindergartens. The President is developing a draft Budget Reform
Law to give more financial power and authority to the regions.

He
was unable to convince Parliament that allocating MNT1 billion to every MP was
wrong, as the money is used to fool voters. The MPs behave as if they are
bringing money to the people, whereas the truth is that the money was in the
first place given by the people themselves.

As
for the environment, the President has earmarked two days a year to plant trees
all over the nation. He has also sought scientists’ suggestions to minimize the
possible dangers from earthquakes. He has put environmental and ecological
studies into the essential curriculum of secondary schools and has also initiated
a 420-hour course of lessons on Mongolian customs and traditions to help
Mongolians remain so in a globalizing world. He has also ordered a halt to
grant of mining licenses until the sector is freed of chaos and corruption.

In
a bid to connect the country with the world, he has visited India, the USA,
Russia, China, Turkey and Uzbekistan and attended international conferences.

Nobody
can be universally popular and nobody can do everything right. But in his first
year, President Ts. Elbegdorj has shown that he means to keep his pledges to
the country and all its people.