Investigations into the derogatory remarks made by a senior lieutenant at the Karelia Brigade concerning President Tarja Halonen have been launched by the Finnish Defence Forces. The President of Finland is the Commander-in-Chief of the Defence Forces.
The Finnish Social Democrat weekly Uutispäivä Demari reported on Tuesday that the senior lieutenant made an unacceptable political speech at the Vekaranjärvi garrison in the southeastern city of Kouvola.
According to the paper, the officer addressed an audience of 80 conscripts in connection with practice at the shooting range a couple of weeks ago.
”The present Commander-in-Chief is a communist woman who has been involved in SETA. Such a person does not pass for the C-in-C of the Defence Forces”, the officer lectured.
SETA is the main lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transsexual rights organisation in Finland. Tarja Halonen was briefly the chairwoman of SETA from 1980 to 1981.
ColonelReima Helminen, the Karelia Brigade Chief of Staff, confirms that the information given by Uutispäivä Demari is correct.
According to Helminen, the senior lieutenant in question will continue in his position as normal for the time being.
Helminen also said that he has never encountered a similar case in his career before now.
