Disabled war veterans hold protest

Several hundred members of the Association of the Disabled War Veterans held protest in front of the Palace of Serbia, where the Ministry of Labour is located. Their delegation met with Minister Rasim Ljajic. Disabled war veterans hold protest According to the Secretary of the Association of the War Disabled Zeljko Vasiljevic, an agreement was reached on almost all requests. Reasons for the protest are manifold, Vasiljevic told B92 TV, and one of them is the belated Law on Protection of Disabled Veterans. Nearly two hundred disabled war veterans rallied in front of the Palace, who came both from Belgrade and other Serbian cities. They can hardly make ends meet and there are those among them who do not have a roof over their heads, but need to pay rent. "We live hand to mouth. This poor people provide the money on which I somehow manage, so I keep quiet, do not make waves. I say, I could have a lot, but I do not, so I keep my mouth shut - I am hungry, and I look around and see other hungry and poor people," Slavisa Kozic said. The main reason for the protest of the war veterans is the belated new Law on Protection of Disabled Veterans, which should provide for slightly better financial position. "The first and basic requirement is the veteran's fee, which is late 6 to10 months, or to put it into perspective for better understanding - the Serbian government owes the veterans somewhere between RSD 100,000 and 200,000. This applies to some 1,500 war veterans in Serbia. The second requirement is accelerated VAT reimbursement. War veterans who are most severely disabled are VAT exempt when importing foreign cars. At the moment, they are paying the taxes and the state later reimburses them. The reimbursement has been in default for 18 months now, "says Vasiljevic. Disabled veterans are legally entitled to the free stay in spas. However, according to Vasiljevic, since 1998 when the Law that regulates the right was passed, not one war veteran had been on the recovery in a spa. The veterans insist that the budget for the next year should include a realistic amount needed to fulfill all legal obligations to the disabled veterans, some RSD 14.5bn according to their calculations. "Another reason for the protest is that monthly payment is late for about 1,500 beneficiaries, sometimes more than eight months," Vasiljevic said. "On average, the state owes to each of these war veterans somewhere between RSD 100,000 and 150,000, and up to 200,000 in some cases" he concluded. Disabled war veterans protest in Belgrade (Beta)

Disabled war veterans hold protest

According to the Secretary of the Association of the War Disabled Željko Vasiljević, an agreement was reached on almost all requests.

Reasons for the protest are manifold, Vasiljević told B92 TV, and one of them is the belated Law on Protection of Disabled Veterans.

Nearly two hundred disabled war veterans rallied in front of the Palace, who came both from Belgrade and other Serbian cities. They can hardly make ends meet and there are those among them who do not have a roof over their heads, but need to pay rent.

"We live hand to mouth. This poor people provide the money on which I somehow manage, so I keep quiet, do not make waves. I say, I could have a lot, but I do not, so I keep my mouth shut - I am hungry, and I look around and see other hungry and poor people," Slaviša Kozić said.

The main reason for the protest of the war veterans is the belated new Law on Protection of Disabled Veterans, which should provide for slightly better financial position.

"The first and basic requirement is the veteran's fee, which is late 6 to10 months, or to put it into perspective for better understanding - the Serbian government owes the veterans somewhere between RSD 100,000 and 200,000. This applies to some 1,500 war veterans in Serbia. The second requirement is accelerated VAT reimbursement. War veterans who are most severely disabled are VAT exempt when importing foreign cars. At the moment, they are paying the taxes and the state later reimburses them. The reimbursement has been in default for 18 months now, "says Vasiljević.

Disabled veterans are legally entitled to the free stay in spas. However, according to Vasiljević, since 1998 when the Law that regulates the right was passed, not one war veteran had been on the recovery in a spa. The veterans insist that the budget for the next year should include a realistic amount needed to fulfill all legal obligations to the disabled veterans, some RSD 14.5bn according to their calculations.

"Another reason for the protest is that monthly payment is late for about 1,500 beneficiaries, sometimes more than eight months," Vasiljević said.

"On average, the state owes to each of these war veterans somewhere between RSD 100,000 and 150,000, and up to 200,000 in some cases" he concluded.