Leskovac veterans still in town hall

Several hundred war veterans continue to occupy Leskovac town hall, demanding the government take a decision on paying wages they say they are owed. The veterans are threatening to obstruct the largest parties’ election rallies, and say that they will not leave the premises until members of the government working group come to Leskovac for negotiations. About one hundred war veterans spent the night in the town hall, but that number increased this morning. Leskovac veterans still in town hall The veterans are disgusted that members of the government working group failed to come to Leskovac, as promised, to speak with representatives of the strike committee about the amount of compensation due and payment methods. Strike representative Dusan Nikolic says that they will no longer allow the government to trick them. “We have decided that the reservists will stay till the end, until their demands are met, and we’re not moving. We will not suspend the strike until the problems with the reservists from the Jablanica region, are solved,” Nikolic was adamant. Leskovac Municipal President Vladan Marinkovic supports the veterans’ demands, but says that his municipality is not authorized to solve the problem. He reiterated that this was the second blockage of local institutions in the last ten days, and that meetings where important decisions had to be taken about the development of the town had had to be postponed. “I don’t know why they are simply playing games with us here. Is this a standard return to the old story – the further from Belgrade the less interesting, especially now during the election campaign? These people really don’t deserve to be lied to any longer,” said Marinkovic. Although the veteran’s demands over payment of compensation for service in the Kosovo war in 1999 were adopted at a government meeting last Thursday, the work group that was to take care of payment has still not been formed. According to unofficial sources, Prime Minister Vojislav Kostunica has postponed his visit to Leskovac until Friday because of the problems with the reservists.

Leskovac veterans still in town hall

The veterans are disgusted that members of the government working group failed to come to Leskovac, as promised, to speak with representatives of the strike committee about the amount of compensation due and payment methods.

Strike representative Dušan Nikolić says that they will no longer allow the government to trick them.

“We have decided that the reservists will stay till the end, until their demands are met, and we’re not moving. We will not suspend the strike until the problems with the reservists from the Jablanica region, are solved,” Nikolić was adamant.

Leskovac Municipal President Vladan Marinković supports the veterans’ demands, but says that his municipality is not authorized to solve the problem.

He reiterated that this was the second blockage of local institutions in the last ten days, and that meetings where important decisions had to be taken about the development of the town had had to be postponed.

“I don’t know why they are simply playing games with us here. Is this a standard return to the old story – the further from Belgrade the less interesting, especially now during the election campaign? These people really don’t deserve to be lied to any longer,” said Marinković.

Although the veteran’s demands over payment of compensation for service in the Kosovo war in 1999 were adopted at a government meeting last Thursday, the work group that was to take care of payment has still not been formed.

According to unofficial sources, Prime Minister Vojislav Koštunica has postponed his visit to Leskovac until Friday because of the problems with the reservists.