Protesters in Mongolia tried to force their way into the State Palace over the weekend in response to allegations of corruption with officials involved in the country’s coal trade.
The US embassy in the Mongolian capital, Ulaanbaatar, issued an alert Monday saying several hundred protesters had gathered in the freezing cold in the city’s Sukhbaatar Square over the weekend and marched on the residence. presidential with some people trying to break into the building.
Protesters yelled and chanted as they kicked their feet to keep warm. They were demanding that the government hold officials accountable for the alleged theft of 385,000 tons of coal from reserves on Mongolia’s border with China.
The allegations center on coal from the Tavan Tolgoi region in the southern Gobi desert being mined by the state-owned company Erdenes Tavan Tolgoi (ETT) and two other companies. Local media reports said ETT, which is listed on the Mongolian stock exchange, has been placed under state supervision while the government’s Independent Anti-Corruption Authority investigates.
GERMAN CHANCELLOR HOPES TO SOURCE KEY RAW MATERIALS FROM MONGOLIA
A protester waves a Mongolian national flag as protesters gather on the steps of the State Palace in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia, Monday, December 5, 2022.
(AP Photo/Alexander Nikolskiy)
“Help us, our country is falling apart,” read a protester’s sign, according to Barron’s.
Police tried to disperse the crowd around 9pm local time when fights broke out between law enforcement and protesters.
WAR ON COAL: BIDEN’S POLICIES PUT AMERICANS AT RISK OF PROLONGED OUTAGES, SAYS WEST VIRGINIA COAL REPRESENTATIVE
Protesters gather at Sukhbaatar Square in Ulaanbaatar in Mongolia on Monday, December 5, 2022.
(AP Photo/Alexander Nikolskiy)
Public outrage has continued to grow in Mongolia after a whistleblower claimed lawmakers linked to the coal industry are responsible for stealing billions of dollars worth of coal.
China is the destination for most of landlocked Mongolia’s exports of coal, cashmere, cattle and other resources.
CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP
Security personnel react to protesters near the State Palace at Sukhbaatar Square in Ulaanbaatar in Mongolia on Monday, December 5, 2022.
(AP Photo/Alexander Nikolskiy)
In Beijing, a foreign ministry spokeswoman asked about reports of theft of coal for sale within China said she was unaware of that “specific situation.”
“China is Mongolia’s friendly neighbor, and we believe the Mongolian government will handle and investigate the matter properly. The relevant Chinese authority will provide necessary assistance as requested by the Mongolian side in accordance with laws and regulations,” the ministry spokesperson said. of Foreign Relations, Mao. None.
Economic conditions have deteriorated in the country of about 3.3 million people, as inflation has soared to 15.2%, exacerbated in part by the Russian invasion of Ukraine.
Associated Press contributed to this report
