THE BLINDS FIGHT FOR THEIR RIGHTS VERY FIRST TIME

October 16, 2003

By 10 a.m, nobody from the Government and State organizations and any doctor from hospitals and the Red Cross Association had come to the hunger strike participators, except some policemen guarding them in the night. They sent a fax to the Red Cross Association for a medical examination. They were still sitting on the felt on the pavement in front of their tent.

By 3.30 p.m, from the Chingeltei District Red Cross Association one person came to them and asked about their situation and said that he would not help them in any other way. Therefore, some fighters went to the Health Ministry, but they received an answer that "We suggested for you an examination, but the Authority didn't allow. Therefore, we had no way to help you. You wished yourself, so what we to do" from the Ministry, they were complaining. The blind citizens of Mongolia were agitated for the victims and were going round the Government House 3 times demanding to assist and help for the participators.

By 9 p.m, some representatives from the Social Welfare and Labor Ministry reached the hunger strike and negotiated with the provisional committee organizing the struggle for the blinds rights to fulfill and meet the petition requirement at least 60-70 percent. The blinds are satisfied, but "We don't surrender, we are only suspending the struggle until they fulfill their promises for us 100 percent, March 15, 2004. Our Committee has not been disbanded, it will continue to work. If they don't fulfill their words, we will continue the struggle" they said and stopped their hunger strike officially at 9.20 p.m, after they received minutes with the representatives signatures of the both sides.