Independence War Veterans and refugees protest against government’s discriminatory attitude

The Movement of Transnistrian Refugees (MRT), supported by the National Union of Independence War Veterans (UNVRI), and the Union of Afghan War Veterans, protested on Friday, February 23, in front of the Parliament and Presidency, demanding to solve social problems, Info-Prim Neo reports. The protesters mainly focused on issues related to the lack of dwellings for refugees from the left bank of the Nistru River and demanded to stop intimidating the residents of the block situated on Corobceanu Street, which houses families of combatants. Marcela and Sergiu Tabacaru came to the event with their 5-year-old daughter to protest against the attitude of authorities that didn’t keep their promises as concerns the settlement of problems they have been confronting with for 14 years. They told Info-Prim Neo they hoped that their and the other protesters’ act would make the authorities to realise the deplorable situation of the people that were forced to leave their homes and seek refuge in Chisinau, and who were promised that their dwelling-related problems would be solved in due time. At present, they stay together with three children in a rented apartment, and pay about 2,000 lei monthly. A group of war veterans told Info-Prim Neo that a disguised dictatorship and an imitated democracy, which misinforms the public opinion and the EU about the real state of affairs, have been set up in Moldova. As a combatant refugee from Dubasari Valeriu Chirita says, although it is not the veterans’ fault they were forced by circumstances to seek shelter in Chisinau, they are intimidated here, threatened, lied to by the state’s leadership and humiliated by an outrageous bureaucracy. For 14 years, their fate remains uncertain. A number of combatants claimed that yesterday evening they were pursued by a group of policemen who tried to get them by force inside their cars with Drochia- and Donduseni-registered plates. MRT head Anatol Bazgu told the agency that as long as the Government fails to enforce the decision to provide internally displaced persons from the eastern region of Moldova with dwelling, they will continue to protest. While speaking to protesters, head of Municipal Police Iacob Gumenita announced they would be held answerable because the protest action was not authorised. He asked them to leave the place, in order to avoid “tensions”. As protesters say, the City Hall refused to authorise the event, on grounds that a number of another manifestations were expected to be held during the day. They say they are ready to protest until they win a decent living for them and their children. According to the organisers, about one hundred of persons, who were carrying posters that requested the authorities not to be lied to and intimidated, attended the protest meeting. According to an action plan approved by a Government decision, the internally displaced persons were to be ensured with dwelling until this summer. At present, 10 mln lei are necessary to finalise the first building, while the second block of flats has only the foundation built and requires additional MDL 40 mln.