Protesters quarrel because of language spoken

01.07.2008 22:30
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2 minute(s)

They gathered to quarrel with the Government, but wrangled with one another. They are a group of pensioners from the NGO Salvgardare, who gathered on the Great National Assembly Square in Chisinau's downtown. The conflict erupted after a couple of pensioners asked speakers to talk in official language (Romanian). They said they did not speak Russian so well as to understand the messages conveyed, especially as the law obliges speakers to talk “in the language of the state," Info Prim Neo reports. Spirits arose even more as some retiree praised the former Soviet regime, calling to rebellion “to re-instate the Communist justice”. That was enough to infuriate more elderly who tried to deprive speakers of their mike, as the police had to intervene to calm them. Yet the conflict did not stop there. Chanting “We have the right to speak our mother tongue!” and “Learn the language!”, the elderly made impossible the continuation of the meeting some time. Some 100 elderly have repeatedly protested against small pensions, high prices of first-need products and high charges for utilities. They again asked premier Zinaida Greceanai to come to them. As the prime-minister is not in the country, the protesters asked for another official. After two hours, a group of four, headed by Salvgardare's president Maia Laguta, were allowed in the Government's building talk with the head of the Cabinet's apparatus, Mihai Pop. The protesters reiterated their claims: to double their pensions and an hour live on the National TV. Pop has told them the budget cannot bear such expenses, but is attending to the issue. Unhappy with the answer, the elderly chanted for some minutes more and then ceased the meeting,after deciding to gather on July 8 on the same place. They deem to send letters to the Parliament and the City Hall warning of serious protests,unless the latter meet their claims within two weeks. Salvgardare was set up in 2005 and declares it wants to defend consumers' rights.