Politicians involved in alleged coal theft will be announced soon: Mongolian premier

By Burc Eruygur

ISTANBUL (AA) – Politicians involved in reports of coal theft in Mongolia will be announced soon, the nation’s prime minister said amid large-scale demonstrations that began in the capital Ulaanbaatar on Sunday.

“The names of the politicians will be announced soon. It will take time,” Luvsannamsrain Oyun-Erdene told demonstrators at the Sukhbaatar Square, who demanded the names involved in the embezzlement to be revealed, state news agency Montsame reported.

Along with other ministers in the Mongolian government, the premier said, it has been 21 days since the government raised the issue of coal, and that a special representative has been appointed at Erdenes-Tavantolgoi, a state-owned mining company in Mongolia.

“Up to 100 people may be represented in the working group on coal issues established by the government at today's meeting. They will work together with the Independent Authority Against Corruption, the General Intelligence Agency, and law enforcement agencies,” Oyun-Erdene said.

He urged that the agencies must be given the opportunity to work.

"There are some who deliberately instigate and incite coal-related demonstrations. I am confident that the people of Mongolia will differentiate and evaluate this."

Reports about stolen coal in Mongolia are a public issue and it will be resolved in “a more timely manner,” Oyun-Erdene said late on Monday.

Last month, Mongolia’s anti-corruption authority announced that over 30 officials were under investigation for corruption, including the CEO of Erdenes-Tavantolgoi.

On Sunday, demonstrations erupted in front of the state palace housing the parliament, as well as the premier's and president's office, as protesters demanded an answer to reports claiming that government officials embezzled revenue from coal sales to China.

Protesters also demanded action over unemployment and ailing economy in the country in two-day protests.

“Looking at yesterday's demonstration, people involved in the coal issue tried to politicize the rally and divert it. Therefore, people should be on the alert in this regard,” Oyun-Erdene said on Monday.