A group of Nistru war and Afghan war veterans request the Government and Parliament to have the concessions set for them by the first Parliament restored. They call on their fellows to claim the rights that have been ignored by all the governments during almost 28 years.
In a news conference at IPN, veteran Victor Ciobanu said that he and the fellows accompanying him do not represent an association and are ordinary, front line soldiers who want only to be respected by the state. In time, the politicians showed they are cowards, including by their statements that insulted those who fought for the country. Ordinary soldiers expected that the government and their fellow veteran generals who gave news conferences will take action to improve the life of those who risked their own life, but all in vain.
Veteran Nicolae Vrabie stated that the rulers, when they need, immediately find financial resources (500,000 lei in allowances for public servants), not yet when it is about veterans.
Veteran Gheorghe Motricală said most of his fellows have health problems and some of them suffer from severe disabilities. Many simply do not reach retirement.
Veteran Andrei Burlac complained that they have to confirm again the authenticity of their permits even if they had done this earlier. “The veterans simply do not have force to go again and submit the required documents. Moreover, there are veterans who cannot collect their permits because their files cannot be found,” he stated.
Alexei Bâtcă asked for free medical assistance. “If you do not purchase the preparations needed to have a perfusion, no one will administer these to you at the hospital,” he said, noting he would like to get the President’s salary instead of his pension for at least a month so that the Head of State sees how it is to live on such a small amount.
The veterans want to benefit from free treatment at rehabilitation centers and from sanatorium tickets once a year and to be offered medicines free for them and their families. They also want to have 50% of the costs of public utilities compensated, monthly allowances of 1,700 lei, lump sum payments on March 2 and August 27, free trips by public transport and assistance in organizing funerals.
The veterans offer the authorities seven workdays to have their demands fulfilled and will then mount protests.
