Crans-Montana: ensuring safety in public venues is enforced

On the night of January 1st, an incredibly violent fire ravaged a bar in the Crans-Montana
Forty people lost their lives, including many minors, and over a hundred were injured, some very seriously. Behind these numbers are broken families, young people marked for life, and survivors who will have to live with deep physical and psychological scars.

Since the tragedy, several testimonies have emerged in the media. People present that night, as well as former employees, have expressed their confusion, anger, and questions. Some mention difficulties in evacuation, exits that may not have been accessible, or security measures that now seem insufficient.

A judicial investigation is underway. It will need to determine any potential responsibilities, while respecting the presumption of innocence. But beyond the criminal consequences, we have the right to ask: have we done everything possible to ensure public safety in night establishments?

When venues host hundreds of people, often young, sometimes minors, risk prevention should never be an option. Compliance with standards, clarity of evacuation plans, staff training, monitoring of capacities, and the use of potentially dangerous elements must be absolute priorities.

Such a tragedy must never happen anywhere in the world again!

The signatories of this petition demand:

• that the ongoing investigation be conducted in a completely independent, transparent and thorough manner
  
• that the testimonies of survivors, relatives, and former employees be fully taken into account
  
• that the safety rules applicable to public establishments, especially at night, be reassessed and strengthened if necessary
  
• the strengthening of identity checks at the entrance of public venues, to limit access for minors when required and to better protect the youngest
  
• that REAL regular checks be implemented to prevent such a tragedy from happening elsewhere
  

Sign this petition to ensure that this tragedy never happens again.

Let us demand answers for the victims, the injured, and all the grieving families.

Let us mobilise so that a night of celebration never turns into a nightmare again.

My thoughts are with the grieving families, to whom I extend my sincerest condolences. I also send all my strength to the injured and their loved ones, engaged in this long and difficult fight to rebuild.