The circular sent a month ago by the Cantonal Military Affairs Office arouses concerns. By a letter of July 16 addressed to all the Valais municipalities, the Cantonal Office for Military Affairs recalled that the port, excluding service, of the military uniform as well as the order of order is subject to a prior authorization from him.
However, according to the Office, more and more cases of non-compliance with this provision were highlighted, for example, of employers’ festivals or the Corpier-Dieu. Hence this letter to the municipalities.
What concerns the Office of Military Affairs is above all security. That is to say the wearing of a service weapon, especially if the use of white cartridges is planned, which then falls under the police.
But this authorization regime therefore also applies to simple military clothes. The municipalities will thus have to be more rigorous since it is they who validate the holding of these events or organize them.
This approach from the Cantonal Military Affairs Office provokes reactions. It arouses “legitimate concerns about the sustainability of the participation of our soldiers at this solemn moment”, wrote in the newsletter of his party Laurent Bagnoud, the vice-president of the Roman Valais Center, directly referring to the Corpillars.
