Once a major agricultural region, Khongor soum of Darkhan-Uul province is now like a deserted village. People have left the area and even animals shun the grass there. Dr. S.Yunden, who has followed the man-made decline of a vibrant region, describes what happened.

When did you first go to Khongor?

I received a call from there on April 30, 2007 when I was a consultant at the toxemia center. I went there to find that 200 people had been suddenly taken ill. I told the then Minister for Health, D.Tuya, that it looked like chemical poisoning and urged her to take urgent measures. She sent a team of doctors there but I was not in it. The team had only dermatologists and they reported that the Khongor residents had syphilis. I was shocked.

Why did you not protest and say you suspected chemical poisoning?

Who would dare oppose a Minister and lose his job? Yes, a doctor is pledged to work for people’s health but we have chosen to follow the words of a Minister and not those of our oath. Maybe there were other inducements, too.

People there blame Michid Company for all the death and suffering. Who are they?

Michid is owned by MP D.Khayankhyarvaa, but many others are involved. The situation in Khongor came to notice before the Parliament election of 2008 and it was used in the campaign. Minister for Nature, Environment and Tourism L.Gansukh used to assert that the guilty would  be punished but now he is silent. He is from Darkhan, the province ehere Khongor is, so affected people have visited him to remind him of his promise before the election, but he acts as if he doesn’t know them at all. It is a pity that DP used Khongor during the election, but now the show is over.

But WHO analysts have also said there is nothing serious.

They came and conducted tests two years after the cyanide and mercury poisoning was seen and also worked in the winter. Why were they not brought when the problem was at its peak? And ho do they explain the cases still seen?

Are you in touch with the people in Khongor?

I was there recently. Only a few households are left. But many still come to me. I find it sad as a doctor that others forgot their moral duty. I don’t have any political or other ambition, and will keep on speaking the truth.