Page 6 - AsiaElec Week 49 2022

AsiaElec COMMENTARY AsiaElec

some money, but I do not want the young people in April, was marked by disorganisation, with
to have the same future as me, that’s why I am no overarching goal. It was simply made up of
here.” people fed up with the state of the country and
with having no life prospects. “I’m here again,
Demand for open hearings demanding not to have to become a slave in a
The initial coal theft protest was sparked after foreign country in order to have a better future,”
opposition lawmakers in parliament demanded remarked Aruinchimeg, a 21-year-old university
open hearings on the scandal, claiming that the student. “I just want to hang out with my friends
thieving actually dated back to 2013. At the sec- whenever I want, without having to worry about
ond, far larger protest, the much-heard refrain money.”
was that the government has proved itself inca- Despite the fact that the demonstration was
pable of raising the living standards of the hard- dominated by young people, some older peo-
pressed people and is full of officials with little ple did come out to support the demands of the
accountability who simply use their state posi- young generation. “I understand these young
tions to enrich themselves. people’s anguish. How can young people not be
Some protesters outlined their demands as: angry when their parents are living just to pay
“We demand that members of parliament and off debts?” said Tsegmid Galbaatar, a 48-year-old
officials involved in the coal theft case be sus- construction worker.
pended, be held ethically accountable, be fined In April, the protesters came with hope, hop-
for the monetary damages caused, and be held ing to jolt officials into more effective governance
legally accountable. If this requirement is not and the securing of improved lives for citizens.
fulfilled, measures must be taken up to the dis- They chanted “Do your job!”, but did not call for
solution of the Parliament.” resignations as they were prepared to give the
December 5 also saw economic development administration a chance. This time, there were
minister Khurelbaatar provide the press with the plenty of such calls, with many directed at mem-
names of people allegedly involved in the affair, bers of the Parliament. Protesters even attempted
specifically the former CEO of state coal miner to rally the police against the legislators, chant-
Erdenes Tavan Tolgoi, three other directors of ing, “Police, unite with us!”, and criticising the
the company, the head of Erdenes Tavan Tolgoi police service for protecting criminals rather
Railways and three customs officials. than the people of Mongolia.
This provision of a few names in no way sat- Following the dispersal of the protest, the
isfied the protesters. “We know there are more lawmakers who met digitally in an extraordinary
people who stole from the public, naming session decided there was no need to declare a
[these] people will not change things, we want state of emergency, according to local news out-
actual accountability, and the dismissal and lets. However, if the situation with the unrest
jailing of the [guilty] people,” a 22-year-old pro- deteriorates, it is clear that the Parliament will
tester, who asked to remain anonymous, told bne back the implementation of relevant measures
IntelliNews. based on national security recommendations. ™
Truth be told, the protest, just like the one

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