War veterans hunger strike enters day 8

The former reservists’ hunger strike over unpaid wages enters its eighth day The strikers are continuing their protest in Kursumlija municipal assembly, and say they will not give up until their demands are met. War veterans hunger strike enters day 8 Member of the striker’s board, Dejan Milosevic told B92’s Poligraf program that the strikers were not asking for daily wages of RSD 67, which some of them had accepted, but more than RSD 90, as published, they claim, in the Official Gazette of 1999. "From February 1 until March 1, 1999, the daily wage was RSD 96. We were paid RSD 67. People are asking for that difference to be paid," said Milosevic. He explained that the compensation amounting to over RSD 500,000, which some had already received, included interest at a significantly lower rate. "Lawyers know about that best. Experts have worked out how much has yet to be paid," he said. Milosevic said that Parliamentary Speaker Oliver Dulic had promised to send a delegation today to talk to the strikers. Midday demonstration Yesterday, representatives of the Kursumlija ex-servicemen submitted a request to parliament to be paid wages dating back to time spent in Kosovo in 1999. At the same time, they informed Parliamentary Speaker Dulic that they would stand by their decision to protest until their demands had been met. Several hundred ex-servicemen are on hunger strike inside the premises of Kursumlija municipal assembly, and are blocking the work of the local authorities. Former reservist Slavko Ilic says that the strikers are angry that no officials have yet addressed them, and at midday a big demonstration will be held in Kursumlija town center. One thousand former reservists from towns in Toplica county are expected to attend. Ilic says that the ex-servicemen want President Boris Tadic, Prime Minister Vojislav Kostunica, Justice Minister Dusan Petrovic, and Defense Minister Dragan Sutanovac to come and speak to them. Otherwise, the reservists will block all the town’s state institutions today, and continue their hunger strike until the situation has been resolved.

War veterans hunger strike enters day 8

Member of the striker’s board, Dejan Milošević told B92’s Poligraf program that the strikers were not asking for daily wages of RSD 67, which some of them had accepted, but more than RSD 90, as published, they claim, in the Official Gazette of 1999.

"From February 1 until March 1, 1999, the daily wage was RSD 96. We were paid RSD 67. People are asking for that difference to be paid," said Milošević.

He explained that the compensation amounting to over RSD 500,000, which some had already received, included interest at a significantly lower rate. "Lawyers know about that best. Experts have worked out how much has yet to be paid," he said.

Milošević said that Parliamentary Speaker Oliver Dulić had promised to send a delegation today to talk to the strikers.

Midday demonstration

Yesterday, representatives of the Kuršumlija ex-servicemen submitted a request to parliament to be paid wages dating back to time spent in Kosovo in 1999. At the same time, they informed Parliamentary Speaker Dulić that they would stand by their decision to protest until their demands had been met.

Several hundred ex-servicemen are on hunger strike inside the premises of Kuršumlija municipal assembly, and are blocking the work of the local authorities.

Former reservist Slavko Ilić says that the strikers are angry that no officials have yet addressed them, and at midday a big demonstration will be held in Kuršumlija town center. One thousand former reservists from towns in Toplica county are expected to attend.

Ilić says that the ex-servicemen want President Boris Tadić, Prime Minister Vojislav Koštunica, Justice Minister Dušan Petrović, and Defense Minister Dragan Šutanovac to come and speak to them.

Otherwise, the reservists will block all the town’s state institutions today, and continue their hunger strike until the situation has been resolved.