Fifth election distributing ‘Erdenes Tavan Tolgoi’ dividends

        The Parliament accepted the decision on measures to be taken relating to the shares of Erdenes Tavan Tolgoi joint inventory firm submitted by the federal government final week. Thus, each citizen who was born and have become a citizen of Mongolia after April 11, 2012 will obtain 1,072 shares of the corporate. A million and 5,000 individuals will take part in it, and 27 p.c of the corporate’s shares will go to residents. In reality, there isn’t any provision within the decision on whether or not to present the dividends of 1,072 shares to the residents, however through the dialogue, members of the parliament targeted on it and it was determined that the dividends ought to be “distributed” earlier than the parliamentary election in June. Even when the autumn session is closed, a unprecedented session will quickly be referred to as and the authorized framework for this might be created by passing the Nationwide Wealth Fund Regulation. In different phrases, it isn’t but recognized how a lot cash might be given as dividends, but it surely implies that the present authorities will maintain a few items of paper on behalf of the state and purchase their votes within the elections.

This isn’t to say that it’s mistaken to give the dividends of 1,072 shares to the individuals and that the individuals mustn’t profit from the revenue of their pure assets. Quite the opposite, throughout the dialogue, Member of Parliament J.Bat-Erdene stated, “Simply give the dividends of the residents’ shares. It can not be stated that Erdenes Tavan Tolgoi will go bankrupt if the dividends are given to the residents when the federal government is spending extra money within the identify of railway initiatives. In reality, the federal government did the work for bankrupting this firm,” and I agree with it utterly. Nevertheless, it’s a pity that they’re persevering with their “drama” of distributing cash, which has gained momentum and remodeled right into a extra refined type with every of the previous few elections. In reality, the Parliament, which was established in consequence of the earlier election in 2016, made main amendments to the Structure in 2019. It may be stated that the primary activity of the present parliament was to revise the natural legal guidelines accordingly.

For instance, as amended in Article 6.2 of the Structure, “The state coverage for using pure assets relies on a long-term growth coverage, to ensure the suitable of each citizen of the current and future generations to stay in a wholesome and secure atmosphere, and to pay attention the advantages of underground assets within the Nationwide Wealth Fund equally, aimed at attaining justice. In accordance with the precept that pure assets are within the palms of the individuals, when utilizing strategic mineral deposits the legislation shall decide the authorized foundation for almost all of its advantages to be shared with the individuals.” To implement this part, the Regulation on Nationwide Wealth Fund ought to be accepted. This legislation has been dropped at the agenda of each session to be accepted, and it continues for the fourth yr. The ruling Mongolian Folks’s Occasion (MPP) goes to complete their time period earlier than even approving the Regulation to gather the income from using underground assets into the Nationwide Wealth Fund and use it to enrich by financing worthwhile initiatives and packages and issuing securities. However for now, for the sake of re-election and to distribute the dividend of 1,072 shares, the parliament goes to carry a unprecedented session to debate the legislation and repeat their “custom”.

4 years in the past, the federal government introduced that it had determined to distribute 96,480 MNT as a dividend to each citizen who owns 1,072 shares. Thus, in Might 2016, earlier than the election, a minimal of 47,130 MNT and a most of 96,480 MNT have been transferred to the account, equivalent to the quantity and dimension of shares held by residents. 1,072 shares have been distributed to each citizen of Mongolia in 2011, and it was the primary time that dividends have been distributed in 10 years.

Earlier, within the 2008 Election, the Mongolian Folks’s Revolutionary Occasion, now MPP, promised 1.5 million MNT below the identify “Motherland Endowment” and the Democratic Occasion (DP) gave 1 million MNT below the title “Erdene’s Share” and gave it to everybody. In doing so, the MPP received the bulk in Parliament within the 2008 election and S.Batbold’s authorities gave 500,000 MNT to every citizen. It might be stated that the work of distributing massive quantities of money to each citizen was completed in 2010-2012 or till the following election. So, as quickly as he was unable to present everybody his promise, he gave 1 million MNT to the aged and disabled individuals. Consequently, MPP boasted in regards to the 500,000 MNT distributed to all residents and 1.5 million MNT given to some and adopted the tactic of exhibiting off by sharing 1,072 shares within the 2012 election.

Dividends of 1,072 shares will most likely be the primary matter of the present authorities’ elections. Un-
thankfully, on the finish of all this, the Erdenes Tavan Tolgoi firm paid the cash that was borrowed and dis-
tributed on the expense of the authorities of that point. All of the authorities of Erdenes Tavan Tolgoi stated through the notorious Coal theft listening to that the fee for each coal exported was spent to shut the 300 million USD mortgage taken by politicians prematurely and used to purchase voters’ votes. When the previous authorities promised to present 1.5 million MNT to each citizen, it implies that the 1,072 shares have been “work” completed to attain it by “laughing in entrance and crying behind doorways”.

Within the 2012 election, DP received the majority and used Tavan Tolgoi. They “resurrected” 1,072 shares by reimbursing some residents’ medical insurance premiums and paying scholar tuition. Consequently, earlier than the 2016 election, the DP carried out the “Good Shares” program and purchased 30 p.c of the 1,072 shares of Erdenes Tavan Tolgoi or purchased 323 shares from some residents for 300,000 MNT. This was additionally a trick to “distribute” cash to voters and purchase their votes earlier than the elections.

So, there isn’t any distinction between these occasions which can be taking place 16 years aside. At the moment, the grasping politicians took benefit of the shortage of authorized restrictions and prohibitions to get their cash’s value, however now the authorities are utilizing loopholes to purchase residents’ votes. On the whole, there’s a regulation banning giving rights associated to cash and property, earnings from mining, oil, mineral assets and different sectors, in addition to any endowments, percentages or different equivalents from the state and native budgets to residents, invalidating loans and different liabilities, conversion, provision of companies to residents without spending a dime or at a decreased worth, job placement, hiring, and distribution or direct spending of state and native finances funds to residents within the Regulation on Elections for political events and candidates from together with of their election platform.

Moreover, there’s a legislation, of which the targets and measures included within the election platform of events, coalitions and unbiased candidates ought to be according to the event idea of Mongolia, and the State Audit ought to overview and conclude whether or not the quantity of bills required to implement the work and commitments that require sure monetary assets violate or agree with the particular finances necessities stipulated within the Regulation on Funds Stability. However, from the start of the common election yr till the top of voting, there is a provision within the legislation that prohibits any particular person from “giving presents, shares, cash, or items” to be able to entice voters’ votes.

Sadly, successive governments have cleverly used the “loophole” to draw voters exterior of the political agenda and earlier than the elections. Campaigning in your get together within the identify of the federal government and parliament and specializing in shopping for votes is a typical characteristic of any authorities. It’s nonetheless in trend earlier than any election to say good issues to get votes from the voters, and to pressure them to resolve by “beating” them with cash. Nevertheless, it’s a disgrace that they, who’re making an election present by disguising themselves because the actions of the federal government, say that the election competitors ought to begin from an equal start line.