Communist Mongolia

Since the fall of the great empire built by Chinggis
Khaan, for over 500 years, Mongolians found themselves under the rule of China,
and for another 70 years, under the rule of Russia. When the socialist regime,
which Gorbachev had no other choice but to restructure, collapsed in 1990-the
Year of White Horse, an opportunity came knocking for Mongolians. Many nations
have had similar openings, however it is said that most of the times, they fall
under the control of another, bigger country. Many countries, including the two
neighbors, predicted Mongolia would not be able to escape such fate. Located
between two of the biggest countries in the world, landlocked, and with a
population not reaching 3 million, Mongolia is still economically dependent on her neighbors.

During the Cold War, countries were essentially
divided between communist and capitalist camps. Weaker countries did not have
the right to even contemplate economic freedom; they shared meals with bigger
players, and sang in-tune with their propaganda. Their life was different from
household pets only in that they wore clothes.

Seventy-year history of Mongolians under the Russian
rule was no different. Even though communists insist that Mongolia was not a
colony of Russia, the fact still remains that out of 40 thousand Mongolians
slaughtered during the Great Repression, more than half were murdered by
Russians. As such that Mongolia was not in war with Russia at that time, this
would only have to be named as Slaughtering by the Hands of Russians. Moreover,
it is said that there is not a single incident in history where citizens of a
non-colony nation were murdered in that number.

By the words of communist ideologists, who are now reduced
to a few but are still tenacious, our ancestors, in particular, Bogd Jebtsundamba
Khutugtu, the leader of Mongolia’s
Buddhist religion, was a syphilis-ridden womanizer. They say that Russians came
to rescue, when Mongolia’s society was full of pox and syphilis. Up until
today, their propaganda reiterate the same sentiments, saying that only after the
Russians came, Mongolia, world’s second-communist nation, was able to advance
to the level of other world countries, until the 1990s.

However, results of the last elections display that
fewer and fewer people buy that notion. In 1990, the world was hit by the news
about how “Nomads of the Steppe” choose “Path of Democracy.”  Of course to them it sounded similar to a “devil”
who has become to “love noodles.” Because, there were no private cars in
Mongolia. Private property for them was nothing more than a few lambs. In
addition, Russians overlooked every single action of high-level officials to
ordinary citizens. In the western world, it all resulted in a perceived control
Russia held over Mongolia. Only in Mongolia, there is a man who cherishes his
communist party mandate more than his wife, and only in Russia, there is a
child who loves Bolsheviks more than his father.

 Mongolia in Transition

The news about visit of James Baker, Secretary of
State of the United States of America, to Mongolia, during her first democratic
election, has reminded the world that Chinggis Khaan’s Empire still survives. The
new government, created by a democratic election, led by then-Prime Minister D.
Byambasuren, launched a historic economic reform, first to be seen among former
socialist countries. Stores, long devoid of goods other than meat and salt, became
stocked with goods and products people never dared to dream about. Everyone
started to pursue their own businesses and ventures, and the interest to serve
as public official has dropped drastically. People started to demand freedom,
not a loaf of bread.

Our two great neighbors did have their share of
similar challenges. However, their attempt at social reform bore a price too
high. The Tiananmen Square in China was covered in blood of protesting
students, and only after two days after the coup, Russian Communists were
overthrown from state power. At that time in Asia, except the Democratic Union
of Mongolia, there were no others to criticize illegal seizure of State Power
by the Communist Party of the Soviet Union.

Mongolia went through countless hardships and
challenges during the transition period. There is no ready recipe on how to
prevail over chronic communist ideology, inexperienced democrats, social
laziness and inactivity. Society today has reached an age equal to a man’s
viral life. And the amount of sacrifice we have made would equal to the
achievements reached. Poverty, misery, crime, prostitution, depression, greed…
World has already come to an agreement on these negative and inevitable
side-effects of transition. There is not a single democratic nation in the
world, which did not face these challenges. However, developed countries were
able to encompass them in a short period of time by identifying the correct
path and principles. Unfortunately, it was overwhelmingly misinterpreted that
these challenges can be met by a political group devoid of accurate and modern
development orientation. As such, out of 22 years of transition, during 18
years former communists were entrusted with State Power.

Liberals say “The main problem with communists and
socialists which brought catastrophe to the half of the world’s population is
not that they are incapable of surviving on their own, but in that they force
others to be the same as them.” The economic freedom provided to the people by
the first democratic cabinet (led by D. Byambasuren) was hijacked by the Cabinet
of Mongolian People’s Revolutionary Party (MPRP) which was an overwhelming
majority from 1992-1996. As a result, by the election in 1996, the MPRP was
almost obliterated out of existence. The property, given to the people by the
Cabinet formed by the Democratic Party, was turned into a toilet paper by the
same comrades.

According to Baabar’s computer calculations, the
Democratic Party of Mongolia has won every single election since 2004. Even
though there are many who do not like him, or even hate him, everyone cannot
help but to read his articles and analysis. This is an indication that even
those who are against him, unconsciously agree with his assumptions and
calculations. Even more so, it means that transition period has come to an end,
and reform period is knocking on our door.

Guarantee of Democratic Mongolia

Independence, for Mongolians was always imagined as
inseparable from soldiers and their weapons. This notion is different from
others, in that it resides not in the conscious mind, but in the blood and
heart of Mongolians. Only Mongolians illegally hiding for their jobs would rush
out of their hideouts to help Koreans out of their burning home. A Mongolian
man with no self-defense instruments would stand up against a suicide bomber in
a Russian airplane. And only a hot blooded Mongolian man can overpower a masked
robber, armed with gun and knife at a convenience store somewhere in America.
This is the reflection of Mongolia’s youth, the future of Mongolia. They are
the symbol of Mongolians, who relentlessly aspire for freedom.  

President of Mongolia, leader of such people, has
just come back from a successful visit to Islamic Republic of Iran.
Powerful news outlets, who have done nothing but berate Iran, have for the
first time in a very long time published the news, with neither exaggerations,
nor overstatements. President Elbegdorj Tsakhia has displayed to the world that
he can find common grounds with both the Presidents of the USA and Iran;
hostile enemies. Mongolia’s ability to reconcile the divided North and South
Koreas, long-lasting legacy of the Cold War, has been proven to the world.

Journalist
G. Dashrentsen once wrote “Mongolians are capable of reconciling poles of
mutual hatred: North and South Korea, as well as cross-strait Chinese people.” Today,
with his visit to Iran, the political hotspot of the world, President Elbegdorj
Tsakhia has proven to the world that despite differences in race, religion,
language, and geographical location, we can cooperate and co-exist
successfully.

It is said
about Mongolians that after we talk for an hour, we discover that we are
related, and after several hours of discussion we discover our close familial
relations. President Elbegdorj’s visit has demonstrated that as more
discussions and exchanges are held between parties about their ancestry and
cultural heritage, their common interest and goal are unveiled.

Thus,
Mongolians are marked by the world. He has shown to the world that nomadic Mongolians
are also capable of building a state. 

Niislel Times
Newspapper   sep 2012