Young soldiers who paid allegiance to Bamoun Sultan shall face sanctions- MINDEF
The Minister of Defence, Joseph Beti Assomo has fumed at a group of military men who paid their allegiance to the King of Bamoun during a public event recently in the Noun Division – West region. In a video that went viral on social media, one of them acting as commander, coordinated them in military demonstrations and later granted a speech facing the traditional authority.
“In accordance with the provisions of article
63 of the Decree of second reference, military honors are external manifestations by which the Forces of Defense render, under specific conditions, a special tribute to people and symbols legally empowered. Article 66 of the said Decree clearly stipulates that in addition to the
Head of State, Head of the Armed Forces, only the Minister of Defense, the Secretary of State to the Minister of Defense Charge of the National Gendarmerie, the Secretary of State to the Minister of Defense in charge of Ex-combatants and Victims of War, the Chief of Staff of Armed Forces, the Secretary General of the Ministry of Defense, the
General officers of the different Armies, are entitled to these special military honours.” Minister Joseph Beti Assomo clarified.
Committing to military status, Mr Assomo underlined “constitutes oath to serve with honour and fidelity, and to fulfil without reserves the duties and constraints imposed by the regulations arising from this status.”
To Minister Joseph Beti Assomo, “their actions go against principles of general discipline within the national defence and security forces, incompatible with military status likely to tarnish the image of the defence forces, crucible of national unity.”
A statement also disclosed that the obligation of reserve, to which are subject to public, civil and military agents, it is formally prohibited from using one’s status or function as an instrument of action or propaganda or to pose acts, make statements likely to cast doubt on the loyalty to the institutions of the Republic, and the neutrality in the fulfilment of duties in the service the State.
In a communique signed by MINDEF boss addressing the act of the officers, authors of such anti-military acts are exposed to sanctions.
“The appropriate procedures for this
to do are already underway.To avoid the occurrence of new similar cases, I prescribed to the Military Authorities, at all levels of
command, to closely instruct their personnel on the ceremonial and military component, and to immediately and vigorously take the necessary measures when deviance or distrust is observed”. Stated MINDEF boss.
His two-page communique notes that the rules of the military salute, a mark of respect, are defined by articles 71 to 76 of the same Decree.
