EN061102B Kazakhs Interview on the Kazakhs in Nailakh Mongolkhaan Byambajav The Oral History of Twentieth Century Mongolia 2006-11-10 en XML Male 1937 Kazakh uneducated Retired, miner Bayanolgy aimag, Tolbo sum Nalaikh, Tuulyn 4-12 None One of 11 children Father of Four 061102 Mongolhaan Тэр тэгэхдээ л манай нэг одоо л хамаатан, ойрхон хамаатан Өнгөнбай гээд нэг хүн байсан байгаам. Тэр Өнгөнбайн хүүхэд сумны нарийн бичгийн дарга байгаам даа хөөрхий. Нэг өдөр давхиал хүрээд ирсэн гэж байгаам. За аав минь одоо та баригдахаар боллоо. Хүү минь яасийн? Та эсэргүү гэж дансанд орсон байна. Та ерөөсөө л хувцаслаад бэлэн бай. Танаа мал хөрөнгийг хураах юм байна. Та одоо л ер нь биднээс одоо хол явах юм байна. Тэгэхдээ тэр Өнгөнбай гээл хөгшин зайлуул одоо яахав дээ сөхөрч сууж байгаад номыг уншаад л, уйлаад л байсан гэж байгаам. За одоо би баригдаад л, одоо би чинь одоо улс эх оронд ямар одоо харшилдах үйл хийсийн бол? Яасийн бол? Үгүй би чинь одоо хүн алаагүй, хүн хүрээThey say there was a relatives of ours by the name of Engenbai. The son of that Engenbai was a secretary of the soum, the poor guy. One day he came galloping and said well father you would be arrested. The old man asked what happened my son. He said you are included in the list of insurgents. You should be ready, put your clothes on, your livestock and belongings would also be confiscated. You would be sent far away. So that old man Engenbai kneeled down and recited scriptures and cried. Why did they arrest me, I haven’t done any harm to my motherland, what wrong had I done? I did not commit homicide, I did not rob any settlement (хүрээ талаагүй). How could l become an insurgent he asked his son. His son told that all the clergies of Kazakh nationality were insurgents against their motherland. That is why you are being arrested. After two days that relative of ours were arrested and taken away. In 1976 a document was delivered stating that Engenbai was not an insurgent. By the instigation of someone he was arrested just for reading a book of Kazakh nation. (0-01-36) Two years ago a million tugrug was given to everyone who had been repressed without any justification. What happened was that the son had his father arrested under the pressure of Revolutionary party or his superiors of those days. My father since he was 16 years old had never taken off his clothes fully expecting that he would be arrested and at any moment he would be taken away. But later they decided that my father was a son of a poor and they did not arrest him at all. Byambajav Ааn right, right. Mongolhaan Yes. It (the repression) was carried in such a manner. Byambajav You mentioned before that in1936 one man called Khundanbai brought Kazakhs to Nalaikh mine as workers? Mongolhaan Ааn hn. Byambajav Did those people arrive on their own will? Mongolhaan They did come on their own volition. There was no pressure or cohesion, nothing at all. There was a hide and skin processing factory in Ulaanbaatar, brick factory in Touv aimag. Brick factory. Woodworking factory, all came on assignment. Then came to Nalaikh. Khundanbai guai is a veteran, participated in 2 wars, he is my relative. He passed away 2 years ago. He was awarded with the Order of the Red Banner. There was no need of pressure. We had the desire to work where living condition was better. That was the situation at that time. Byambajav Was it permitted to go from Bayn Ölgii to other parts of Mongolia to work? Mongolhaan It was free, free. There is a bridge on the approach from this side of Bumbatsagaan?? ( Probably Buutsagaan) of Bayankhongor aimag.(??? 0-03-40) Zaaryn bridge.(could be Zagyn??? 0-03-42) It was built by people of minorities, Where there was some work to be done they went there(0-03-5) to make living, in spite of accidents and dangers, that how they went to Darkhan???. There was no need coerce or pressure where to go. Of course there were no vehicles in our land. Only camel caravan was used. Yes. We start loading camels at the dawn and start moving when there is little light (when it was still dark ). We so helped the rich family to move to a new location, only by camel caravan. But, my family loaded our 2 yaks and followed the camel caravan. The rich man would not give us camel. We put everything, bed, trunks, saddle on the back of the yaks and drove them following the rich family. We settled where they settled in. Camel was a luxury transport at that time in our land. As camels were not available to us, we used our 2 yaks for transport. That was our life. I always think that those who went through a hard life became more strong and patient and do not care of cold or hunger. I weighted 87 kg when I came from my native land. I was covered by mud inside the mine tunnel in 1965 and since then I became rather weak. However, the good people always came to help out of the problem. And it, in its turn, influences one’s own destiny.? In 2004 , Ganbat, a vanguard horse trainer from the city came to me. He said that two boys fell off the horses during horse racing in Sergelen soum and needed help. He came around 21.00 p. m, we went by car, a minority young man has joined us. We found out that one boy had a broken leg, the other had a dislocated shoulder. Fractured bones were put in order. By 23.00 p. m we drove back and took this (newly built) millennium road. (We did not know) that Chinese workers put tires as barrier on the road. There were no barriers when we went there. As I was driving at a high speed, it was difficult to make a sudden detour. At that moment I heard a loud crack. Did not know what has happened (0-01-36), It appeared to me that I saw the 2 front tires of the car.(0-06-40) Yes. 6 nails were put upwards at the side of the road nailed on a board. When the 2 front tires were burst out simultaneously our car rolled 35 m on the ground and flew up to 1, 86 m high. The car was in such a condition. I do not know how I survived. The road policemen of Nalaikh said my body was made of iron. Of course I am not made of iron. I was saved by (good will of ) the people. It can not be forgotten. Many times I was buried under the mud in the mine. In 1999, on the occasion of the 60th anniversary of our soum, I was on my way crossing the Baidrag river, not by the bridge but by the river itself. When I was in the middle of the river my car was overturned by flash flood. Fortunately we also survived. It means there is a predestination to live ( lit. to be lucky to drink water). I went through a lot of hardship and sufferings. However, I think it is the love and good will of the people that saved me from misfortunes. I always think so. Byambajav What was your impression when you first leave your native land to work at Nalaikh? How was it? What was your impression? Mongolhaan No, I was so happy. Because I looked after the animal of the rich man, later of the cooperative, I tended about 400 sheep and young lambs. In fact I escaped leaving everything behind. Because it was my father’s teachings. He said; Sonny, since your childhood, you were oppressed by different people. Now it is better for you to work at a factory. It is profitable. The future is with Nalaikh. I would not ask you to stay and look after the animal my used to say. My father was a veterinarian aide. He had a salary of 30 tugrugs in a month. How did they manage to live with this salary. I also earned 30 tugrugs for looking after the animal of the rich man. My father brought that 30 tugrugs (0-09-21). It seemed a lot of money. That was my life. What you can do with 30 tugrugs now days, yes. Byambajav How many persons did come with you ? Mongolhaan Quite many. Now old Charavii lives in Nalaikh. There was Combinaas, a young man. He has passed away. A number of them of came here, over ten people. Most of them moved away. Some left for Kazakstan. But I will stay until.. To go and live in Kazakstan, no, this is the land where I was born and the water in which I was bathed. You can not become rich by going and living there. I stay here and would be buried in Mongolian land. That is how I think. It is the main issue. Byambajav Were those who came happy when they left their native land? Arriving here in a land of strangers how did you begin your new life here? Mongolhaan Well, we were actually very happy. We were delighted because we would be working in a factory, our life would improve. We would earn money and would enjoy a happy life. Ah at the beginning when you start working you do miss your native land. But what can you do even if you miss and keep that in your mind. We had not left a country where we lived happily. We were living very poorly and therefore came here to work in Nalaikh mine. We worked as apprentices generally for three months, actually for a month. Then gradually we had become miners??? (0-11-22) and worked as such. So my poor self had been through this life. For 45 years I have been constantly playing on my Dombor. I have a silver medal for running also and a silver medal from basketball competition. I never sat idle for an hour. I had been always on move until my advanced age. Even now I can’t sit idle for few hours. (0-12-05) I live with my youngest daughter she is working and helps me to make ends meet in my life. Byambajav When you first came to Nalaikh and joined and lived among completely different people the Mongols, how did you were received? Mongolhaan Well when you say Mongols it is until now embedded in minds. There was a young man from Govi Altai called Seher. I slept in bed together with that Seher, I did not speak the language. He’d say that I was his younger brother and slept together and would teach me how to speak in Mongolian, it is said so in Mongolian and taught me the language. He’d say you are a rather mischievous guy, you play balls (meaning volley ball or football) and disappear. You bring the money you earn to Seher and have no idea whether it is still there or not. You just run after the ball and chase after play. The Mongols are very kindhearted, the reason why I am saying this is the following, it was in 1959. Sheher said: “well Mongolkhaan my mother is ill, I have to leave to my native land. You will remain here. You are naughty and not very sensible. You should now stop being so careless. All your money is with the Darga of your Uliastai, he is now in Baganuur, his name is Byamba, he was known as Byambasuren darga. (Your money) is deposited in savings account on your name. There is seven, eight thousand tugrugs on your account. You brought your salary and gave it to me and always ran away with or without food or proper clothing.” That is how I understood deeply the warm heart of a Mongol person. He was kind to me more than my own natural brothers and younger siblings…. I think. Now I also understood more profoundly the kind heart of a Mongol person on one other occasion. Because of that people around me later even taunted me that I got a young wife. The reason for that was in 2004 I had an accident, in the morning doctors cleaned my wounds and took out cracked glasses from everywhere. I woke up in the morning and found out that a dress worse than a coverlet for a cow was put on me after the operation. I said to the Doctor that it does not matter what you say I am a rather squeamish person. (0-14-49) And I left the hospital right away though the doctor told me to remain hospitalized. I said I’d not remain why they asked I said I can not cover myself with this blanket, I can’t lie down on these dirty linens. So I came home but soon my stomach began to swell (fill up). I had no idea why it happened. So after an hour I came back to the hospital. I told them my stomach had become like this, she said I should be hospitalized. And gave me a medicine and said to take it and let me go back. I knew her father very well. He is now the chairman of our village. He is a Buriat man called Serlam. He came in I told him Serlam I had an accident and my stomach became like this, (my car) rolled 35 m and I am now such a condition. And what happened to you, how are you he asked. I told him that my stomach had become bloated. That woman is a very compassionate person. (Хоёр ???) (0-15-59) brother Mongolkhaan you should not take any medicine for your condition (what he means is apparently “no pills will help you in your condition”) I’d go to the city and bring you pure sea thorn berry oil. Otherwise you are a person suffering from blockage of intestine. You should go back home and lie down, called for me a taxi and sent me home. I’d now find a pure oil of sea thorn berry and bring you. After three hours she called me from the village I went out and resting three times on my way barely reached the village. She gave me the sea thorn berry oil and told to take one spoonful in every two hours. She mixed some medicine in it. I took a taxi and came back. Then from 10 o’clock in the evening I had more stomach cramps there was a burning sensation and had become very stiff. So I thought that I was going to die. It was in summer, in July about 4 a.m I went out and lied down then I fell sleep for a while. When woke up I felt like fire would burst out from my mouth, it was 6 o’clock the line radio was beginning its broadcast. About 6.30 my stomach began to cramp and twist. I put a paper just before the latrine and sat there then 5, 6 pieces of clotted blood came out after that blood poured out. I was terrified and called on cell phone the girl(doctor). Well this what happened what shall now I do? I can’t take any medicine. (0-17-49) We went to policlinic No.2, the Director of the company also arrived. As soon as I reached they made an ultrasonographic imaging and the doctors were quite astonished. They said that the doctor saved my life if I remained in that condition further I’d be have been dead. Because one side of my colon had already began to darken. So that Buriat woman saved my life, I understood that later. That was how I have now young child a minority, a Mongol. I venerate that woman just like a god. Because when my intestine was about to rot it was she who saved my life and how can I forget such a person. She had done for me a great merit which is far more substantial than my own children and until now I keep her in my mind. One should not differentiate that this one is a Mongol, this is a Kazakh and that one is a Russian. We all live in one country. Well I am a person who had been through such a life. Byambajav You and other Kazakhs why did you come here to work? Why was not possible for the other Mongols to work here? Why you were chosen? Mongolhaan Well it was conveyed from person to person. That Nazyr was awarded the Order of Sühbaatar in 57 and came back to his native land. Oh that Nazyr son was born from my sister and told us there is the life in Nalaikh. Nazyr shoveled one hundred and twenty tons of coal in eight months…and we thought that one can make living in this way. And we thought this would be the path we should follow for living and thus came to Nalaikh to live and …. earn our living here. Byambajav Well you have been for many years among the Mongols and now when do you look back do you think that the culture and national customs of Kazakhs have changed considerably or haven’t changed at all? Mongolhaan No, Customs and tradition of Kazak nationality have changed a lot. Because today’s young people do not follow the Kazakh national traditions. Young Kazakh girls should not leave home until 18 years old. That was a very good upbringing.(0-20-49) Mongols or Kazakhs alike. They (youth) should not pass elders (not greeting). When a horse rider arrives Mongol or Kazakh alike help him to dismount from the horse, invite him into the ger by spreading the cover(carpet). This is the tradition. What is happening now? They (youth) drink alcohol and float in streets. Where is the tradition? We have Nauryz, aa, Khorvanait??? holidays. Khorvanait holiday is approaching, it is at the end of December. A Nauryz will be celebrated on 22 of March. Many years have passed since it was announced Nauriz would be observed, as a holiday of all Muslims all over the world. There was a tradition to celebrate Nauryz with a high labor achievement, celebrate it without alcohol and tobacco. As that tradition was lost, these things are happening. Young people do not listen to (elders) us. That is the situation as regards to the Kazakh traditions. One can not blame the society for it. Personally I think it is not because of the society but because of individuals themselves. It depends on one’s conviction. Look at the situation of Kazakh nationality. We have to respect and help others. What is happening now, one goes normal in the morning, comes drunk in the evening. As a citizen I think it really kills the tradition of Kazakh nationality. We have a cable TV. The traditions of minorities in Shinjan (China) is much better than those in Kazakhstan. Much better. Do not lie, do not steal. Every day, from 12.00 to 13.00 pm. teach a health education lessons. But their dresses… Only Revolutionary Party. No other Party. But, how many parties do we have in Mongolia? When I think about it, propaganda comes to my mind. Since I came here I did the job of a Section Chief (of the Party) for 34 years at the sub-district (Khoroo). For 25 years I was actively involved in activities of public organizations. For 19 years I was the Chairman of Veteran’s Committee. It is observed that the tradition is not observed by youth, it is being lost from year to year.(0-23-32) They do not know the customs and traditions. Do not respect (anyone). Very few young people, Mongol or Kazakh alike, would now offer one’s seat to elders in a bus. Not only Kazakhs. No difference, Mongol or Kazakh alike. I think we are loosing considerably the principles of respect of each others. Yes. Ah then the sense of respect to others, to be compassionate towards others is present except in our national minorities also among the Mongols I arrived at this conclusion. Because from far away Javkhan a 86 year old grandma came to me. She had become deaf two years ago. After she had been treated by pressure massage 12 times she embraced and kissed me, and said I have 9 children now I can hear, I’ll never forget your affection and care and she had left. Ah From Bulgan a young girl of tenth grade came. After treatment by pressure massage 9 times she had recovered and become quite healthy and left. After that 7,8 people came from Khashaat soum (Хошуутаас?? Probably Khashaat) of Ovorkhangai aimag saying that there is a such a man applying pressure massage. When one is sick, important thing is to respect and understand him(her). Anyone feels better if one thinks that my health will be improved by coming to this man. I’d come to this man. Now I will be cured. If anyone thinks in such a way, it will help to improve your health. Most important thing is one’s conviction. I always admire that 86 year old grandma. She is agile and light at foot. She was so happy. She always sends me candies or something by people coming from her land. I think that Mongols are much better than our clan in relation to respect others. Byambajav As for massage therapy, I assume that you have an intuition, feeling which we do not have, to know when you touch, for example a broken bone. How and what do you feel, how do you set bones? Could you briefly mention about it? (0-25-59) Mongolhaan Yes I can. For example if a shin bone was broken. If he could come the same day when a bone was broken, there is no problem. You have an intuition and feeling of the hand. I can feel an increase of somebody’s blood pressure, a wrong position of a child in mother’s womb or wrong position of uterus of a woman, I know it by the feeling my hand and by my own intuition. Because in 2000 I attended a two months course of massage therapy which was conducted by Mr. Tseveen who had been a deputy Minister for Light and Food industries I went there and had my bioelectric power checked. (0-26-44) Those who engaged in massage therapy treat many people in a day. According to the science in order to treat a patient by hand manipulation therapy or a massager one should have bioelectricity. When I was checked by that Tseveen he said that I had enough bioelectric to influence at distance of 7.5 ms. He said I can treat anyone by hand manipulation therapy he himself is a hand therapist, He is now such a person. Setting a broken bone, in particular, the femur bone fracture… is very difficult. Before the fracture and after the fracture the bone is pulled by muscles, that is the most dangerous thing. There two old men to the south my of home, their legs are pulled by weights and they are lying in bed. One of them is now getting up. The weights are used to set the bones in its place. Well there are dislocations of kneecaps, knuckles, broken ribs, the dislocation of rib heads (tops) this kind of injury generally do not present any problem to me. I simply set them and cure. Actually there is something called the sense or the feel of a man. People come saying that there is something wrong with my child, the child is crying in hospital though intravenous transfusions were made they did not help the child has diarrhea, I come and after three rounds of hand manipulation therapy the child recovers gradually. There is a firmly formed misunderstanding as the concussion of brain. This is not a concussion of brain but it is the tightening of nerve blood vessels between the bones and skin at the head. Because of that child would vomit, has diarrhea, it is what happens. (0-28-40) Yes. Ah, when dislocation of kneecap happens your knee will swell up. Let me tell you one example, there is a lama from Dundgovi in the city(UB). His name is Gaadan, he had to lie down for 8 months. Doctors said that there was a bone growth on the side of his knee and advised him to go to Kokh hot(Inner Mongolia) for treatment. Ganbaa, Director of a company took me to him. His kneecap was dislocated and placed on one side of his knee but they (the doctors) thought it was bone growth. I came to him and manipulated the by hand for three days and cured him. Since the he(the lama) is now inseparable from me as soon as some little problem arises he asks to call on Mongolkhaan, he built a small temple in Tolgoit, he has a child called Dagiimaa. Once person is cured, he generally becomes such a devotee. Byambajav You just told me that you observe the Nauryz celebrations. Have you ever encountered any difficulties in observing the Nauryz or any other Kazakh national holidays because of misunderstanding on the part of Mongols, or because Mongols have their own festivity such as the Tsagaan sar and therefore had some slight problem? Mongolhaan No, no such a problem. Because we are all living in Mongolia. I lived almost 50 years in Nalaikh, over 50 years. Ah, in fact Mongolian Tsagaan sar and the Nauryz are the same, there is no difference between these celebrations. Ah the only difference on our part is that we never drink alcohol during Nauryz holiday. In the past we had what was called the work of high performance to meet the celebration. But now this tradition has been lost. Oh during the Nauryz in the countryside people now began to drink alcohol. It is not right. Byambajav Does it mean that you observe both the Tsgaan sar and Nauryz? Mongolhaan Yes, yes. Because we live in Mongolian land together. When Tsagaan sar comes I am invited, please to my home, please and let’s greet each other, Mongolkhaan guai please to visit us. (0-31-07) You are a meritorious person so how I can take a different attitudes to those celebrations, your poor brother is living a life of that kind. Byambajav Do you have anything to tell me about the ancient history Kazakh nation, anything on its history? Mongolhaan Well if you speak of the history of Kazakh nation in general our Kazakh nation has a very rich history. Lamas (Moldas) tell us 4 books of the Kazakh nation descended from the sky, I can’t understand that very well, from where did those books appeared and by whom the books were received. Now people say as a Kazakh one should go to the Hajj (pilgrimage to Mecca), people are visiting the Arab country. Those who had been there did not tell us well Hajj is such and such event, the traditions and customs of Kazakhs are like this, they pay such a respect to their deceased, and they did not spread (lit. no propaganda on etc.) knowledge about the customs and traditions of the Kazakh people. Customs are inherited from person to person, from one child to the other child thus it is understood. That why as I said earlier Kazakh nation is loosing their customs this is a problem. We were told that there are strict customs and regulations but I can not say that these customs and regulations are being observed that well. Now there is the Bayan Ulgii, the Nalakh, Chandagan even in khentei and Dornod. (He means there are Kazakh communities in these places) In general our people respect the others this a particular treat of ours. And Kazakh nationals are extremely hardworking. Yes. Byambajav Nowadays, there are acts of terrorism, an awful thing. I don’t know what is behind it whether is motivated by policy or by religious policy. It is said these acts are being perpetuated by religious Muslims. I don’t understand it very well. What do you think about it (0-33-39) Mongolhaan Well I am also very astonished on this point. They say that the religion of Muslims are committing these acts of terrorism. We, who are among those (Muslims)… follow everything that is happening, specially we see what is happening in Iraq everyday. There are daily massacres there. Why those national minorities have such an aggressive religion, some of our national minority people are angry with me. The Kazakhs, as a national minority in Mongolia are very tranquil and good citizens. Those, whether it is in Iraq or other Muslims, why are they so cruel. Since Saddam Hussein was executed the situation in Iraq has worsened from day to day. Yesterday, for example, over 50 people were killed. Why is it so. I do not really understand. Why those minority men are so cruel. Byambajav So you mean that it is not the religion itself, but there is something else, some kind campaign or scheme. Mongolhaan Yes. There is some campaign. Here I would like to bring an example. The President of America visited our country, in Mongolia. Some of our minorities are resentful for his speaking about Islam being a very reactionary religion. After he returned to his country the American President sent to our country congratulatory message(cable) on the occasion of Nauryz. Stating that he was sending on the occasion of Nauryz celebrations warm greetings to the national minorities of Mongolia. That man saw by his own eyes how national minority lives (in Mongolia). Ah American President saw how national minority lives in Mongolia and in that Iraq the taliban and on that basis he had made his own conclusions this is what I think. Now here we have a young called Terukhan when our president who was the chairman of the party arrived here and met with the people Terukhan said that he hates the Mongolian people’s revolutionary party but our national minority people, later he was beaten up by the minority. But now eventually he has rejoined the revolutionary party. (0-36-20) So I think it is an issue of man’s conscience. Yes. Byambajav With the beginning of the democracy it is said that Kazakh nationals began to migrate to Kazakhstan, why they were migrating what would you say on that? Mongolhaan Oh, why that migration started has something to do and one of the reasons was Byambasuren’s decision, according which a coupon system was introduced. We had to buy the goods by coupons. Byambajav Ааn hn. Mongolhaan Kazakh nationals received the decision very painfully and they said in Kazakhstan everything is readily available, lets move over there and live there, it started in this way. However, I wonder whether their livelihood improved so drastically or not from what I hear. Since 92 people began to migrate, it started in 92. Now over 10 families returned back to Mongolia, to Nalaikh. Why did they come back? I asked them why did you not leave for good, they only say there is no better place than the native land (lit. the place you were born). No matter how good you live it is not as good as one’s native country. One of my son-in-laws left and after more than a year came back. I asked what happened. He said (huuhduud deeree aria guitsehgui yum-unclear). One of my brothers went in July, taking his three children with him. After 3 months he came back. What has happened? Brother, how good is the native land, whatever it is?(0-38-18)it is better to live in Mongolian land. (Үгүй ер нь хүүхдүүд дээрээ л арай гүйцэхгүй юм даа-unclear) It happened to me. His brother came and took him away. He is a son of my elder brother. He hit table and chairs with his fist and said he needed the travel expenses. I will go back to my homeland. I can not live in this country. He said so and came back. He lives now in a rented house, he had sold his animals, and house, and left saying I will be a citizen of Kazakhstan, but came back after not even spending 3 months there.(0-38-51) Byambajav Probably a lot of documents are required to migrate from here ? Mongolhaan Well, a lot of problem arises. Ah, It was decided not to take back those who became citizens of Kazakhstan. We will not take them back once they had became citizens of that country and left. Stay there. Yes. Our Mongolian people are wise. The reason I am thinking that they are very wise, I have been working without interruption as a member of the election commission since 1957 until today. I was a person who was always campaigning (lit. making propagandas) In doing so we had always been able to keep our promise whom to elect. The reason I am saying so is during 2004 general election (lit. election for deputy) our candidate was a member of Republican party. He was a native of Nalaikh and we decided to secure his win as a native of Nalaikh. As the members of the Revolutionary party how could we support the candidacy Mr. Otgonbaya from the Republican party. But people said that they would support Otgonbayar saying he would do a lot for us, it has nothing to do with the Revolutionary party, she will be there anyway. So I was really surprised, now what these people are going to do. I argued why can’t we support that Balsandorj (Revolutionary party candidate). Then I was told… sonny you do not ponder over anything. If we support Otgonbayar who was born in Nalaikh, Otgonbayar would do for us a lot more. We once did elect Balsandorj from Baga Nuur he had not done anything for us. In that way we were arguing among ourselves and when the voting came they supported Otgonbayar. And Otgonbayar made a lot of good things in Nalaikh. He had built a two story school building. Children of first to fourth grade from this third and fourth sub-districts now have a school very close to their residences. A cultural centre was built for our sub-district, another one was built in third sub-district, one more in the first sub-district. The people are so wise in fact. I think it was in 1998 during the election of the small Khural(0-41-19) some one wrote on my door that I was a counterrevolutionary from the Revolutionary party. I spoke about it at the meeting of the sub-district. I asked them how could I be a counterrevolutionary from the Revolutionary party. (0-41-29) You people would never understand how a person living among you and who had been fighting with your dogs and beating yours doors (to deliver the message of the party) could be a counterrevolutionary from that very party. If you truly do not share my views why don’t you have me arrested as the counterrevolutionary from the revolutionary country I thus argued even at the meeting of the sub-district. However, Mongolian people are wise. Mongolian people think further. Well, Ochirbat came here to become the president for the second time. Oh our miners rallied against him. You can’t be the president for the second term. You did not allow us to receive the benefit for working deep underground toxic environment until today. You compared us to other ordinary workers. We don’t need you. And some of those who came attend to the concert held during that visit were beaten and went back with slashed heads. Enkbayar came to be elected as the President, that time they did not allow me to enter the meeting hall, I was driving my cows. I said I would attend the meeting, I am a citizen of Mongolia, I want to express my views and fought my way to the meeting and standing almost in front of the (would be) President and said I am a citizen of Mongolia and I am a (representative) of national minority. Our Mongols paint a person who is pursuing one thing tirelessly portraying him as a cat. In different journals and newspaper they write a lot of bad things about you. You should strive hard to become the President. The people of Nalaikh, in particular, national minority people-the residents of 4h sub-district will support you. Although Mongols are wise one of those lacking that capacity portrayed you as a cat I am astonished to see that. When I said that the (would be) President warmly thanked me and said you are a very good speaker. Even though some portrayed him as a cat people are wise and know the issue. It is what happens. Byambajav Well are there any more remembrances about Kazakh people, about those people who migrated from here? (0-44-12) Mongolhaan Yes, I have. Because Mongolia is a very rich land. Here you can engage both in land farming and in livestock breeding. Once you have left why should they come back. They left saying that they will live among the Kazakhs over there and they sold their belongings but after that to come back to Mongolia is out of question. Because one should live in a place constantly. It does not matter if you toil you can find the job to make living. If you don’t work after receiving a lot of loans and loiter around what will happen to you, If you work, in any place, you will, always, find something to do. You should not look down at any job. Now people are living in Korea. If one wants one can find a place to live anywhere. A woman who left to live in America returned for a visit and she gave me a binocular and left again. When she was living here that poor woman could not conceive a child because her womb was wrongly placed I treated her by hand therapy. And she was pregnant when left this country but now she has a child who is six years old. She wrote me letter saying that she was always grateful to me and that they were doing fine in America and lived happily. That is the situation. One should not look down at something. I don’t have the intention to build a pressure massage room (saloon) and take money from others so that I can get rich. I have a heart devoted to the good of people , that is it.