Nistru war veterans, disabled plan to picket officials' houses

Nistru war veterans and crippled are intent to picket houses of dignitaries asking for raising their pensions, for dwellings and prostheses, Info-Prim Neo reports. Valeriu Ciobanu, the secretary of the 1992 War Veterans Association, told a news conference Monday that the protesters will erect tents in front of the Parliament, and in front of the houses of President Vladimir Voronin, speaker Marian Lupu, premier Zinaida Greceanai, Chisinau's mayor Dorin Chirtoaca and Chisinau Municipal Council chairman Eduard Musuc. “We want everybody to see it and to compare how they live compared with the living of the war veterans and disabled,” Valeriu Ciobanu stated. The veterans lodged a statement with the City Hall on staging the protests from October 1 to 31, as 300 protesters are expected. Vlad Coica, a former combatant, has said the veterans cannot survive with their miserable pensions. They are dissatisfied with the differentiated treatment of law enforcement officers and of the volunteers in the war. “The police have pensions of 3,000 lei, while we get only 700 at most. Only they are awarded the Stefan cel Mare order, while we don't have whom to address,” Vlad Coica said. The war veterans are also indignant at “the indifference and lack of respect” of the authorities towards their two legless comrades of war, who have repeatedly asked for assistance to buy new prostheses in Romania. Both the Government and the Municipal Council recommended them to get prostheses in Chisinau. The crippled insist to be treated in Romania because of better quality. The war veterans ask for 40,000 euros for the two disabled veterans. Chisinau's mayor inked a decision asking the Council to consider allocating the money, as the CMC is still to adopt a decision.