British paper writes on Mongolian ultra-nationalists

In the past few weeks, at least
two long reports have appeared outside Mongolia on how “ultra-nationalists have
emerged from an impoverished economy and turned upon outsiders in the country”,
their “main targets” being those from China, the rising power to the south. The
first report to be published was in The Guardian of Britain, under the headline Anti-Chinese Sentiment Fuels Rise of Mongolian
Ultra-Nationalism. We give below an abridged version of the report.

A
new strain of Nazism has found an unlikely home: Mongolia. Groups such as
Tsagaan Khass, or White Swastika, portray themselves as patriots standing up
for ordinary citizens in the face of foreign crime, rampant inequality,
political indifference and corruption. But critics say they scapegoat and
attack the innocent. The U.S. State Department has warned travelers of
increased assaults on inter-racial couples in recent years – including
organized violence by ultra-nationalist groups.

Dayar
Mongol threatened to shave the heads of women who sleep with Chinese men. Three
years ago, the leader of Blue Mongol was convicted of murdering his daughter”s
boyfriend, reportedly because the young man had studied in China.

Though
Tsagaan Khass leaders say they do not support violence, they are
self-proclaimed Nazis. “Adolf Hitler was someone we respect. He taught us
how to preserve national identity,” said the 41-year-old co-founder, who
calls himself Big Brother. “We don”t agree with his extremism and starting
World War II. We are against all those killings, but we support his ideology.
We support nationalism rather than fascism.” It is, by any standards, an
extraordinary choice. Under Hitler, Soviet prisoners of war who appeared
Mongolian were singled out for execution. More recently, far-right groups in
Europe have attacked Mongolian migrants.

Yet
Tsagaan Khass claims it welcomes law-abiding visitors of all races, and Big
Brother can certainly be hospitable. He says the younger members have taught
him to be less extreme and the group appears to be reshaping itself – expelling
“criminal elements” and insisting on a good education as a
prerequisite for membership. One of the leaders is an interior designer.

But
critics fear ultra-nationalists are simply becoming more sophisticated and,
quietly, more powerful. Tsagaan Khass say it “works closely” with
other organizations and is now discussing a merger. “Some people are in
complete denial … [but] we can no longer deny this is a problem,” said
Anaraa Nyamdorj, of Mongolia”s Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender Centre.

Others
in Ulaanbaatar suggest the movement is waning and suspect the groups” menacing
stance and claims of 3,000 members are bluster.