14 citizens who claim to have lost money from some of the several of the unions said even with deteriorating health they will continue the strike, not allowing doctors to examine the participants as Mongolian law calls for.

“We all have illnesses and are in bad health. If we let the doctors check us, they will not allow us to participate,” M. Tserendulam, one hunger striker told MonInfo on Sukhbaatar square Wednesday.

“We are here because of faults of the Mongolian government and will stay until this is finished.”

However officials at the Mongol Bank, who victims say failed to effectively regulate the unions resulting in their bankruptcy, said that using state budget money to reimburse the individuals would be inappropriate.

“We just can’t use money from the state budget,” Mongol Bank Governor O. Chuluunbat told MonInfo Wednesday

“However the working group has not yet finished their investigation into these issues. They are considering selling the assets acquired from the some of the bankrupt unions, approximately MNT 40 billion. However there is no timeline for a final decision.”

Victims claim that approximately 9,000 people lost US $50 million when 22 of the unions were liquidated earlier this year.

“Some of the savings and loan credit union leaders were using our money for their own personal uses, such as playing in casinos. Those people used us like toys” J. Khuvaa, another hunger striker said.

A preliminary working group over the summer found multiple credit union officials lost large amounts of money at gaming centers before some of the unions announced the losses in funds.

Following the report a law passed in August and supported by Mongolian President N. Enkhbayar shut down 143 gambling centers which the President said supported, “illegal deals, trade in smuggling, corruption and prostitution.”

On Wednesday victims said the government now needs to turn back to the people and take care of their citizens.

“All this happened from bad policies of the government and law, which are supposed to protect the citizens,” Tserendulam said.

“There is no going back now.”

Images Copyright Luke Distelhorst