Police sets veterans against local administration before 2009 elections: Afghanistan war veterans

The Afghanistan war veterans accuse the Interior Ministry of exceeding its powers when it demolished the buildings Negru Voda street in Chisinau. “The police undertook well-thought actions on November 4: it sets the veterans against the local public administration on the eve of the 2009 elections,” the president of the of the Transnistrian Refugees Movement Anatol Bazgu said at a news conference on Monday. He is representing the veterans in the court, Info-Prim Neo reports. Deputy president of the Afghanistan War Veterans Association Iacob Lupanciuc says the veterans had to illegally occupy 30 plots of lands in Botanica sector, after repeatedly asking the local authorities for dwelling space. Because the applications were late in being considered, the veterans decided to start building houses half a year ago. The building stopped after the Botanica district office sued the veterans. Later the local authority ordered to destroy the buildings. On November 4, the foundations of four buildings were demolished, which led to conflicts between the police and the combatants. Two veterans were arrested and freed the other days. The former fighters say the police acted illegally, without a decision of the Chisinau City Hall of of a court. According to Anatol Bazgu, vice mayor Nistor Grozavu signed an ordinance to demolish the buildings on November 5. The combatants sued the City Hall's decision and say they will solve this issue only in the judiciary. When asked by Info-Prim Neo to comment on the accusations, the Interior Ministry spokeswoman, Ala Meleca, says the police does not get involved in politics and every policeman is obliged to defend the public order.