Swiss Guards Unhappy With

Colonel Elmar Mader has banned the guards from holding New Year's parties on the barracks roof and is refusing the extend the curfew for the holiday season. Cases of wine have also been confiscated under his orders.

Now, maybe it's just me, but I don't see the problem here. Of course, that may be because I have never liked partying, especially on New Year's Eve. That will explain why I am home and blogging tonight.

Anyway, here are the articles:
This one from the Independant:

There is mutiny afoot in the Vatican's Swiss Guard, the world's smallest but probably most pampered army.

The focus of discontent at the barracks is what many papal bodyguards see as the heavy-handed policies of the current commanding officer, Colonel Elmar Theodore Mader, who has banned men from holding the traditional year-end parties on the terrace atop their barracks. Even senior officers have been forbidden to give cocktail parties, say Vatican sources.

Ordinary guardsmen are angry that rules preventing them from staying out at night in Rome after midnight are being rigidly applied in the holiday season while Capt Mader himself is frequently out at parties until the early hours of the morning.

One of the halberdiers was angry after discovering that the commanding officer had ordered the confiscation of a crate of wine that admirers of the corps frequently send the soldiers from Switzerland. "We received 25 bottles of good Swiss wine but when we came back from guard duty there were only five left in my room," said the guard. "The other 20 had been seized on orders of the commander, evidently for his own use."

Capt Mader in private remarks has shrugged off suggestions that he might fall foul of mutinous tendencies, claiming that, far from being a martinet, he has a "meaningful dialogue" with his 130 Roman Catholic troops. Many guards would question that, however, complaining of double standards inconsistent with the traditions of sacrifice celebrated this year during ceremonies to mark the 500th anniversary of the corps.

and from the UPI:

New policies imposed on the Vatican's Swiss Guard by its commanding officer have the small unit's troops infuriated and threatening mutiny, a report says.

The Independent reported that due to Col. Elmar Theodore Mader's policies and actions as the military force's new leader, Swiss Guard soldiers have begun to complain of unfair double standards.

Mader allegedly has banned his troops from engaging in traditional holiday parties and instilled a nightly curfew, despite the fact he stays out later and enjoys a festive holiday season, the report said.

In addition, one of Mader's troops has alleged that his commander confiscated the majority of a case of wine a supporter gave the Swiss soldiers.

"We received 25 bottles of good Swiss wine but when we came back from guard duty there were only five left in my room," the unidentified soldier claimed. "The other 20 had been seized on orders of the commander, evidently for his own use."

The Independent said that while Mader has denied the reports, many under his command have questioned his actions during the ongoing 500th anniversary of the pope's Swiss Guard.