Members of the “Force of Veterans Movement” complain that today, 31 years after Moldova gained Independence and 30 years after the Nistru war, the government “treats the veterans with neglect”, and ask President Maia Sandu as commander-in-chief for an audience.
“We are a young organization. We were formed on the barricades of the 2020 the protests. We are a public, non-profit, apolitical organization. We do not support any party, but we are against some radical parties, against the traitors of the country who brought us through corruption and theft to the poverty we are in. But I also want to say that during 30 years, the state did not have a program, a coherent policy to defend the interests of war veterans”, Constantin Covrig, the administrator of the organization, told a press conference.
The Movement’s representatives say that even though an Office for Relations with Veterans was established two years ago, the lives of veterans have not changed. Vladimir Buga, the head of the organization’s Nisporeni unit, said that there are a lot of questions about the job done by Office, as it’s expected to get more involved.
Nicolae Leca, head of the Ialoveni unit, said that they gathered ahead of Independence Day because of their pressing needs. Even though legal provisions and safeguards for veterans have apparently been put in place, they are either insufficient or not working. “For 30 years we have been enduring mistreatment from all governments. But from now on we shall not stand it anymore and I hope that this conference will mark the beginning of new waves of protests”, said the veteran.
Valeriu Sava, head of the Anenii Noi unit, said that lately more and more veterans have been dying and they didn’t get to see the promises of the governments come true. “The veterans don’t need medals, they need support”.
Dorel Roșca, general secretary, says the veterans contributed to the government change in 2021. And there were promises related to the social package for veterans, but there is still no road map containing concrete objectives and deadlines. The veteran requested the government to hold a meeting by September 10 at the latest to discuss the veterans’ issues.
