Some 20 demonstrators of the 49 workers recently fired by SouthGobi Sands LLC protested by keeping the company’s chief operating officer in his car.

The demonstrators surrounded a car with Curt Church, the chief operating officer, this week. The workers said the company could not legally fire so many workers, as it did on 20 December when it released 49 workers from their duties. Management from the company has agreed to officially answer the demonstrators' demands soon.