Esquarium Today [Regional News, CLOSED]

by **Namor** » Thu Jan 29, 2015 6:12 pm

An age of growing inequality
Report says 1% of Namor's citizens control 1/3 of country's wealth

January 29, NMR 2374

The poorest in Namor control one percent of the
wealth, says the Namo Institute of Social Science

NAMO, CAPITAL DISTRICT - A report done by the Namo Institute of Social Science reveals signs of growing inequality in Namor which might baffle founders of the People's Republic if they are still alive. This is yet another indication that there is a price to pay as Namor's citizens become wealthier.

According to the report, 1% of Namor's population - the richest of the rich - control around one-thirds of the country's wealth, whereas the poorest of Namorese owned only one percent of the wealth. The Gini coefficient has grown to 45.75, close to 46.0 which would have been officially considered "high" instead of "medium" as it is now. Namor's Gini coefficient is higher than many of its neighbors - Chorea (35.2, medium); Geadland (30.4, medium); Luziyca (39.6, medium), Katranjiev-Riro (29.7, low) and Vyvland (30.7, medium). Qianrong is perhaps the only country close to Namor that has a higher Gini coefficient with 47.7.

Growing inequality and gaps between the rich and poor has been a trend in Namor since the NMR 2320s when economic reforms started. Since then, there became a greater difference between urban and rural areas although an urbanization campaign helped narrow the gap a bit, but not at a rate that could prevent inequality from reaching the level it is reaching now.

The government seems to have stalled in its urbanization campaign, letting private companies take most of the burden. The Fu administration said from time to time that it would address the issue of growing inequality although the opposition accuses it of not viewing the problem seriously enough.

COMMENTS

Gang Ah
Heavens...we're this unequal? 102 62

Wen Yi
The fact that the Luzzies have lower Gini than us really says something. 72 46

Chiang Hong
Minjuha, fake Liberationism and Fu Wen for decades now, and this is what Namor gets. Seems unsurprising to anyone who has been following the leadership recently. 40 10

Dong Chiu
So the 1% is controlling more wealth, but so what? It's not like the 1% have any power, they're just 1% of the population after all! Two-thirds of the wealth is controlled by the 99%, think of it that way! We still have more than the rich do if we pile our money together, nothing's wrong with that. 36 27

Other News
Kidnapped Qianrongese Chancellor who was rescued says Namor is better than Luziyca - Song Li-Chao said that Namor is better than Luziyca but still made clear his distrust of Namo because of its hostile relationship with the former FDRQ regime.
Ocelot Isles coming under Pavonistadian invasion - The situation of the junta seems more dire as Pavonistade is preparing an invasion on the Ocelot Isles that many say the junta has no chance in resisting.
International left backs up Nevan anti-racism protests - Nevanmaa's anti-government protests are seeing support from various political groups across Esquarium.
OP-ED: Sørensen should watch her mouth - Why Greonterp's Prime Minister-elect shouldn't use strong words against a government even when they sound righteous in the popular sense.

by **New Sakatia** » Thu Jan 29, 2015 6:31 pm

Breaking - Simna leader Nikolai Yunkashenko assassinated by SLF

Plavagrad - Sakatia Today - - The pro-Sakatian leader of Simna, Nikolai Yunkashenko was assassinated by a powerful car bomb in Simna City today. The Sakatian government laid responsibility on the Simna Liberation Front (SLF), adding to a growing number of high profile attacks conducted by the group. Yunkashenko joins a long line of pro-Plavagrad figures from Simna assassinated by the SLF. He was appointed Chief Executive of Simna by then-President Mikhail Subetrov in 2005, following the assassination of his predecessor Oleg Croshechev by a sniper during a visit to Kalga in southern Simna.

Yunkashenko's early rule was marred by widespread corruption and the total collapse of security on the island by late 2006. In January 2007, Yunkashenko relocated his office from Simna City to the Sakatian capital Plavagrad, following escalating violence and a failed assassination in 2006. In 2009, a ceasefire was signed by the SLF and the Sakatian government, with Yunkashenko remaining in power.

The Sakatian military has begun to reopen the military bases closed during the ceasefire, increasing its presence on the island. President Salkov announced an additional 35,000 Sakatian military personnel will be deployed to Simna, the largest increase in personnel since 2005. Currently 9,000 Sakatian armed forces personnel are deployed on the island.

by **Pavonistade** » Thu Jan 29, 2015 6:47 pm

-BREAKING- "UNIDENTIFIED OBJECT[S]" IDENTIFIED AS FOREIGN JET AIRCRAFT
Objects are found to be the L-39 (model T/Y-75ZA), originating from Koyro

Date: January 29, 2015

Writer: Timothy Haas

Photo of the second and downed unidentified object, a Koy jet attack aircraft

The Pavonistadian Military continued to push into the Ocelot Isles. This noon Insula and Oxen City were seized by invading soldiers, who were assisted by protesters that provided a range of information such as the locations of armed police blockades. In Kongeuvia, jet bombers launched guided missles or deployed unguided bombs onto more armed police targets. However, they did not enter Kongeuvian airspace without encountering opposition from the ground; apparently, Ocelotian usage of anti-aircraft defenses improved and were capable of downing more Pavonistadian aircraft.

Perhaps one of the largest news of the Third Ocelotian-Pavonistadian War was made today, as the Pavonistadian Military successfully got into the bottom of the "unidentified object" dilemma. The objects were claimed to be capable of "caus[ing] more deaths to protesters and to landing infantry had [they] not been terminated," and they also made an apparance yesterday by "attack[ing] ground units."

Around 1:00 PM, soldiers of the Personnel Squadron and the Ground Division (Pavonistadian Military divisions respectively responsible for infantry and ground vehicles) captured an airfield that was sparsely defended by armed police officers. Next to one of the airfield's runway was a jet attack aircraft lying on the grass plains. It took time for the soldiers to inform superiors of the findings and to confirm the aircraft's connection to the "unidentified object[s]."

More time was used to finally determine what the object specifically was. The unidentified object/jet attack aircraft is known as the L-39, which originates from Koyro (known for being ruled by Paramount Leader Ohanka Jon Bak-su). The specific variant found in the airfield, likely the same model destroyed by earlier operations, is the T/Y-75ZA and this indicates that the two aircraft was modified for increased ability to conduct ground attacks. Besides the L-39, Pavonistadian soldiers infiltrated abandoned buildings and got hold of more supplies, such as uniforms, explosives, radio systems, rifles, and ammunition.

Minister of Defense Alain Colton claimed that this is "evidence" for direct foreign support of the junta. "With this discovery of the L-39 and various other items, Koyro [...] is doing serious disservice for the campaign to restore human rights." This finding also confirmed some people's suspicion that there were pro-junta foreign interference due to reports of unusually-increased casualties and "unidentified objects." "It appears that a force with much more power is on the side of Generalissimo Spalin," Vice President Oppenheim declared, "but no matter who is supporting the junta, we know that Koyro and any other secretly-involved countries [...] will not succeed in saving the tinpot dictator's regime."

Minister Colton expected that more Koy supplies are to be found if the country is involved.

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Conditions for Kramden entry determined following coup in Mizra
Third Ocelotian-Pavonistadian War: Who Else Other than Koyro?
Experts weight in on potential pro-junta players besides Ohanka
Namo Institute Claim 1% of Namorese Controls 1/3 of Country's Wealth
Report states poorest Namorese controlled 1% of entire wealth on other side

Comments
Page 1 of 483 - Next page - Last Page

Iana Lavujkin
▲ Like - 271 | ▼ Dislike - 45 | ! Flag
It's not surprising that Koyro is going to support Spalin, but what's surprising is that it has managed to do so without us finding out, right until today.

Globus-Esquaria
▲ Like - 26 | ▼ Dislike - 379 | ! Flag
@Iana Lavujkin
And that is why not only do we need to launch a crusade against Ocelotian dissidents, we need to launch a crusade to free the brainwashed slaves of the wasteland that is Koyro!!!

NoobsterBoss
▲ Like - 190 | ▼ Dislike - 16 | ! Flag
@Globus-Esquaria
Seriously? "Launch a crusade?"

About me · by **Luziyca** » Thu Jan 29, 2015 9:15 pm

Uklana

Janmatalo Arcology: a review

Janmatalo

JANMATALO, PUSTINIA - The Janmatalo Project had been in the works for quite a long time. Located about 45 km east of Lana, and only a few kilometers from the Namo-Luziycan barrier, Janmatalo had been proposed since the 1970s. Projects like this in states like Lazar and Pustinia were common, as a way to be accepted into society, by heading out east. However, despite this, we were still discriminated against and seen as subhumans. Thankfully, however, some of us Shudri have decided to head east to form a community of our own.

In 2008 due to the financial crisis, organizer Yatri Khata who first proposed Janmatalo in 1974 with a paper "Why Shudri need to make Janmatalo," which states that Janmatalo was meant to be the center of Shudri culture in a "free Luziyca," compared to Lalatara, which was at the time in West Luziyca, purchased the land now occupied by Janmatalo, and construction began the following year after gaining approval from the county. Despite the large area purchased, Yatri Khata built the main structure for Janmatalo, which is multipurpose: it is residential for 75 people, but it is meant to be a community center for the town.

The building, known as Janmatalo Mandira (Janmatalo Community Center) is envisioned to be the heart of the community: it contains a swimming pool, a cafe, a greenhouse, room for 75 people to reside in (with a total of room for fifteen families of five), a daycare/preschool, some patios, and a chapel. It also contains an information center and a small museum dedicated to Shudri culture. It was completed in 2011, and it is now at capacity.

Yatri Khata explains that "Yo sirpha suru cha: hamiaja bavana nirmana game-yojana cha." (This is just the start: we have plans to construct some more buildings.) He points to a site where people are constructing a building similar to the Janmatalo Mandira, and says that it will contain room for 150 people (30 families of five), a grocery store, a clinic, a souvenir shop and restaurant serving Shudri cuisine, a primary school (from Kindergarten to Grade 8), a workshop, and a church. He says that it will be connected to the mandira via the swimming pool, and "should be done this summer." He also stated that he plans that "every building within Janmatalo shall be connected with one another in some way, so you do not need to drive to go anywhere," but that "it will be small so to preserve the environment of the land," and the "pristine views of the land."

The views give a sense of isolation: save for a concrete wall snaking around the area, only the sand and cacti predominate, except for the construction of the expansion. However, I see life around me: the noises of children splashing in the pool, where a couple thousand kilometers north, it is freezing: I see adults discussing many things in our language.

When that expansion done, Janmatalo would have 225 people, but Yatri Khata's plan is to have around 5,000 people so it can become a city, and for it to be a major center of Shudri culture.

Khata says "Janmatalo nyam shuruvata lagi tayum cha. Ami pamisami chyina aparadihu hun bhanera pramanita hunecha jaham yocha." (Janmatalo is a place for new beginnings. This is where we prove that we are hard workers and not criminals.) His daughter, Kamala Khata says in English, "We are safe."

We exit the community after sharing our goodbyes, and it does give an interesting view: Janmatalo seems to be the best bet for a place where Shudri culture can be respected and be the heart of a nation, until we are able to return to Gnasri.

by **Namor** » Fri Jan 30, 2015 2:07 pm

English edition | Luziycan | Gaudste Språg | Namorayin

Snap elections held throughout Otekian expat community, Demoteki boycotts

Valeriy Anisim, leader of the Christian Party, is expected to become
the new president of the government-in-exile as his party runs in the
snap elections unopposed due to Demoteki's boycott

FRONTIERSBURG - Elections for President of the Otekian government-in-exile and the new Congress-in-exile began today and is expected to last until all polls close at 12:00 am Eastern Standard Time. Many expats in Frontiersburg showed up to vote; according to Otekian law, expats all over the globe may vote too as long as they possess the blue book, which gives them the right to vote in Otekian elections. A victory for the Christian Party - formerly the second-largest party before the Otekian People's Association under Mikhail Shumev withdrew from the government - is predicted. But things are growing more complicated and uncertain as several parties expressed their refusal to take part in the elections, notably the liberal party Democratic Oteki (Demoteki).

The Christian Party under Mr. Valeriy Anisim, who has been a church pastor for many years, has stepped up in its campaign to dominate Congress and control the presidency, left vacant since ex-President Yorskov Lhego turned in his resignation in the face of protests. Anisim showed up in the Frontiersburg poll center and submitted his vote, and promised Otekians that if elected, he will take a more assertive role on behalf of all Otekians and hold the occupying Namorese responsible for its actions in Oteki.

"My job if elected is simple - to serve the Otekian people the way they want to be served," said Anisim. "We have everyone in our minds - the young and the elderly, conservatives and liberals, God-lovers and progressive secularists, and we are interested in working with them. All of us want the same goal - to achieve our freedom soon and to return to our ancient homeland. This has always been the goal of the government-in-exile and I am more than happy to maintain this goal should the people elect me and my party."

Anisim said that he is "willing to compromise" with other parties to solve the division that is currently splitting the expat community, but some values "must be kept," such as Otekian independence and the influence of religion.

"Oteki is our home, Oteki is our land, Oteki is our country occupied by another country. There's no compromising that," said Anisim. "It's our duty as a people to turn that vision into reality with God's help. And we are a Christian people - good morals and values as well as teachings from the Bible ought to guide us. My goal is not to create a theocracy - it's too modern for that anymore - but this is our heritage and no matter what we must keep it. If we want to get into a discussion about this, we can. If I'm elected I'll be more than happy to work with others. Otekians everywhere, hope you'll come out, vote, and show your support." He didn't comment on whether the "others" include either the collaborationist regime currently ruling Oteki on behalf of the Namorese establishment.

The Christian Party has always had some degree of influence in the expat community, especially among the more religious and elderly sectors of the population. It doesn't see itself as theocratic, but rather a party that sees religion as something that ensures social morality and harmony. But liberals argue the party's stance on social issues and Oteki's political status is too hardline to keep up with the times. This includes Demoteki, the liberal party, which chose to boycott the elections.

Kolya Vitalik, chairman of Demoteki, said a Christian Party victory is "inevitable" and that the party is "very difficult to cooperate with."

"Of course, there are issues we can agree upon, but we can't make progress from these agreements," Vitalik complained. "A second generation of younger Otekians are growing up in exile, away from their homes. They are frustrated to see that the government-in-exile is sticking to old-fashioned methods in gaining the people's freedom, and they can't stand it. When the Christian Party wins this election they are not going to stand it any longer. Whether we participate or not, they're still going to win. What use is it to serve in a Congress with them as a majority? They don't represent the people's interests."

Vitalik said the pro-devomax party of Natasha Roman is "a bit far-fetched," but "their voices must be heard. And in this election they're not going to be heard. The Christian Party is not going to hear them. This is why we are boycotting this election. We're not going to get anything out of it." When asked if he is planning on countering the Christian Party's rise to power by solidly aligning Demoteki with the pro-devomax camp, Vitalik didn't give a definite answer; however, he said "it is a possibility."

The Christian Party is expected to win a landslide victory in this election, with Novi Luziyca (the party advocating Otekian unification with Luziyca) trailing far behind. But this victory may not mean much for liberal segments of Oteki's population, segments that are either aligned with Demoteki or the devomax party, and the division that exists in the expat community now is certainly not going to end by the time polls close at midnight Eastern Standard Time.

Follow The Otekian (@TheOtekian) on Twitter; we are your #1 source of news of an occupied people.

News

MEANWHILE IN OTEKI - The Otekian continues with its coverage of Otekian people living under Namorese rule.

KOYRO IN THE OCELOT ISLES? - Pavonistadian forces helping to liberate the Ocelot Isles say they have evidence of Koy involvement in backing up the dictatorial junta.

TURNS OUT THERE IS NO SUCH THING AS AN "EQUAL" NAMOR - State media says Namor's Gini coefficient is higher than Luziyca's.

BEWARE OF THE COLLABORATIONISTS - How some Otekians are becoming victims of Namor's propaganda.

by **Greonterp** » Fri Jan 30, 2015 3:08 pm

Feature Article: The Legacy of Lily Van Boelle

How Greonterp's favorite Prime Minister fell fast.

Boswald - A calm, seemingly content Van Boelle sits at a cafe in Flannbach, while being interviewed, reflecting on her legacy, which she views as positive.

While she believes her legacy will be positive, she seems to ignore the 31% approval rating she faced upon leaving office. How did she get here, how did she become Prime Minister in the first place? The Boswald Times brings you this featured article to discus this.

Lily Van Boelle was once a economics teacher in Flannbach, before finding herself thrust into parliament in 1998. Quickly rising up the ranks of the party, she became the Leader of Opposition in 2007, and campaigned against former Prime Minister Jan Pechtold during the 2010-2011 campaign season. However, the campaign was remarkably civil due to Van Boelle's calm demeanor.

This calm demeanor stands in stark contrast to the PM to be, Anna Sørensen, who will take office on February 6th. As Prime Minister, Van Boelle was largely credited with getting Greonterp through a recession. She lowered income taxes across the board, legalized marijuana, signed numerous free trade treaties, and made sure that fiscal policy was sensible.

For all those reasons, she maintained a 55-60% approval rating for over a year, and won the 2015 General Election. Three weeks later, she resigned as Prime Minister.
The "why" was rather obvious, as the threat of a motion of no confidence plagued the parliament. But, her downfall was remarkably quick. Van Boelle was credited with botching the Leeuwarden independence referendum, and may have shown her true colors in January. Her calm, easy going demeanor vanished this month, and she was seen calling Danique Rutten offensive names, insulting the President of Luziyca and much more.

Van Boelle has been interviewed on this topic, and to discuss her legacy.

"Ultimately, I think people will look back and remember the good things about my premiership. We legalized marijuana, we got Greonterp through the recession. And, I say we, because I couldn't have done it without my cabinet. I made some mean comments under stress, and I'll never forgive myself for that. But, I sure as hell won't apologize for the Leeuwarden independence referendum. Call me stubborn all you want, I'm merely principled, " said Prime Minister Van Boelle.

Anna Sørensen isn't even Prime Minister, but many already treat her as such. It seems that for better or worse, Greonterp has forgotten about Lily Van Boelle. Perhaps her legacy will be positive, perhaps it won't, or most likely, she will lack one.

by **The Ocelot Isles** » Fri Jan 30, 2015 6:28 pm

Pavonistadian Dogs Continue to Seize Koy-Supplied Equipment; Junta Enraged

One of the two L-39 jets, seen abandoned

! Notice ! The site to the Generalissimo Daily was temporarily shut down by mischievous INTERPROS teenagers who consistently fail in their schools (if they do attend any). We have restored the site back up, and we are proud to say that this denial-of-service attack is utterly and laughably useless. Nevertheless, we apologize that this has to happen and we hope to defend against blockheads like INTERPROS hackers.

Yesterday was a depressing day. Many well-mannered citizens who knew to stay at home, refrain from joining the idiots rioting on the streets and being child-cared by landing Pavonistadian forces, and try to uphold the revolution for as long as possible. These citizens, while doing their best, were unable to ease the problem that came from a discovery made by the imperialists. That situation erupted after these dogs seized one of our airfields, and there the dogs sniffed out a jet that was determined to be the Koy L-39 attack aircraft, specifically of the variant T/Y-75ZA.

This jet was capable of greater ground attack capabilities and could have blown up the invaders if the pilot had the chance. Unfortunately the armed police squadrons that were assigned ot defend that airfield chickened out and retreated to a safer location, leaving the site to be seized. We can't blame it all on the squadrons, however, as we understand that it can be easy to become fearful of a huge opponent. That has still allowed Pavonistadians to find out that Koyro was trying its best to keep our revolution running. Some explosives, firearms, ammunition, uniforms, and radio equipment were other items delivered by the Koy and seized by the Pavonistadians.

Today, advancing enemies have taken control of more equipment as they took control of more sites. In one of the armed police bases on the Western Ocelot Island, the Pavonistadians were able to massacre the personnel that gave up their lives for revolutionary causes. These dogs uncovered more Koy equipment intending to be used for defence, and these equipment include mortars, rocket launchers, and more explosives. In addition, one armored personnel carrier---an AIT-90---was taken after all men inside were viciously murdered.

"They can search all over our country, under our houses, and even into our clothes, but they will not be able to stop the pro-revolutionary people from aiding us," Generalissimo Spalin furiously declared, "and they will return to their homes knowing that the ending of our junta, no matter how far into the future it is, will only be the beginning of the realization of the true intents for the Ocelot Isles. Sooner or later [...] the 'democracy' that the suppressed Pavonistadians are under will be dissolved and they will eventually join us in a similarly-fashioned revolution and be guided by the principles set today!"

by **New Sakatia** » Fri Jan 30, 2015 6:54 pm

"The enemy will vanish"; Sakatia deploys "reinforcements" to Simna

9,875 Sakatian Armed Forces personnel deploy to Simna in "massive" waves, with additional ethnic Simnanese militias following behind

January 30th, 2015
Plavagrad, Sakatia - - President Salkov announced the deployment of 9,861 Sakatian Armed Forces personnel to the island of Simna, following the rapid rise of violence on the island, the hostage crisis in a Plavagrad mall and the assassination of the Simnanese leader. The military primary goals will be eliminating the leadership of the Simna Liberation Front (SLF) and degrading its capability to conduct further terrorist attacks. Salkov also announced that the Simna Police Service will be dissolved and replaced by the ethnic Simnanese Pro-Sakatian militias, which will be funded by the Sakatian government. The militias will provide support to the Sakatian Armed Forces and help combat the SLF.

Salkov also nominated Yuri Salenko, a very close ally of the President and the first ethnic Simanese nominated to the Presidential cabinet. Salenko was the Minister of Internal Affairs from 2012 to 2015, when he was appointed head of Simna. Salenko heads his own private militia which will be deploying to Simna, after training with the Sakatian military and the State Security Service.

The Ministry of Defense said that they killed Oleg Sirota, the head of the SLF in a firefight in the city of Kotorgrashk in central Simna. The Sakatian military already launched operations against the SLF, launching airstrikes on SLF positions and hideouts throughout the island. The Sakatian National Army also raided several SLF strongholds in central Simna.

Yesterday, the Predstavnik voted 450-0 to launch operations in Simna, with Salkov signing the legislation into law last night. However, several opposition members were skeptical of the ethnic Simnanese pro-government militias, saying "We trust them with a grain of salt".

The militias have been quickly deployed, taking over the now-closed police stations of the the Simna Police and conducting "operations" against suspected terrorists. Just in the last 24 hours, the militias have arrested over 2,000 Simnanese, and thanks to recent legislation passed by the Simnanese parliament, they can all be charged with terrorism without trial.

The Human Rights Committee of Simna, condemned the actions of the militias, however the group was declared to be "sympathizers" of the SLF and many of its members arrested by the militias. The largest militia, lead by Simanese governor Yuri Salenko, has control of Simna City and Tolmachik, while 3 other militias have been deployed to Kalga. Kalga is known for its large base of SLF supporters and a widespread crackdown was reported, with "tens of thousands" being arrested by the militias. However those reports are unverified. SBS tried to verify the reports, however when contacting the militias we were told to contact the Ministry of Defense, and when we contacted the MOD they told us to contact the militias, who promptly blocked our phone calls.

Public opinion on Simna War: "It needed to happen years ago"
Salkov calls for "imperialists" to leave The Ocelot Isles.
Sakatian military to conduct nuclear tests in February

Comments (2)

Mikhail, from Omsk said:
Yes! Death to the Simnanese! Long live our President!

Vladimir, from Moscow said:
I can't wait until we fire our nukes at Simna, obliterating the shithole

by **Vestmarck** » Fri Jan 30, 2015 7:22 pm

Your window to Vestmark
Kà2.50 | 30th January 2015 | Gründholt | International Edition

Opinion: Global Warming to Benefit Vestmark

Anders Rúriksson is a proud Liberal Democrat supporter and Climate Change enthusiast. Follow him on Twitter.

While most countries fear the rising seas and warming temperatures, Vestmarkers embrace it. Liberal Democratic opposition leader Ívar Ingvarsson released a widely acclaimed opinion the other day that global warming could open up brand new opportunities for Vestmark’s private sector. Ingvarsson had pointed to several “controversial” studies that global warming would have a generally positive impact for the environments of Nordanian countries like Vestmark. His statement is generally held as a just response to the Esquarian community’s criticisms towards Vestmark over it’s whaling and timber industries having a negative impact on Esquarium’s environment and that the Nordanian country was one of the bigger culprits in climate change. His statement also alludes to the fact that global warming was a “hot button issue” due to the recent Esquarian Summit’s talks over pressuring countries to cap emissions and clamp down on whaling.

Related: Puffin clubbing becoming a popular pastime

Vestmark, a Nordanian island country far to the north, over the last few hundred years has suffered from a decreasing timber industry, shortage of fresh water, and a high cost of food do to the difficulty of raising livestock. The melting ice caps bring in a breath of fresh air - quite literally - as rising temperatures are slowly bringing back the majestic birch forests which contribute to cleaner air. One industry - the Forestry Industry - has been doing particularly well as Vestmarkic corporations literally create forests out of nothing and then harvest it’s timber. Similarly, the rising temperatures are also slowly creating grass in places where there used to be none - a boon for the livestock farming industries which rely on grass as a part of the livestock’s diet. Another two year study showed that potential shipping lanes created through the rising waters would benefit smaller towns far from Vestmark’s coast.

Related: Top 5 Global Warming "Facts" Debunked

Global warming has never been an issue. What is more debatable is not if it is bad, but whether humans or the environment is the main driving factor of global warming. Indeed, most evidence points to the fact that we are actually coming into what is known as an interglacial period. However, no one can deny the positive effects that it brings. While the Esquarian Summit squabbles over non-issues, Vestmark’s billion dollar whaling industry continues to thrive and dominate the market, and Vestmark as a whole prospers.

Our people have suffered and been humiliated by the southern imperialist powers for ages, why should we care if their nations drown anyway? Regardless, it’ll only benefit us in the long run. -Anders Rúriksson

by **Namor** » Fri Jan 30, 2015 7:52 pm

English edition | Luziycan | Gaudste Språg | Namorayin

Christian Party wins snap election as expected
Protests against OGIE continue, Anisim said factionalism "unnecessary," Demoteki yet to respond

Valeriy Anisim, newly-elected President of Oteki

FRONTIERSBURG - Polls of the snap election of the government-in-exile closed at midnight, and it was later announced that the Christian Party, led by leader Valeriy Anisim, has won 73.3% of the vote; followed by the Novi Luziyca Party with the remaining 26.7% of the vote. Democratic Oteki (Demoteki), the third party, did not get any seats or votes because of its boycott of the election. This leaves only the Christian Party and Novi Luziyca having seats in Congress-in-exile, and Anisim as the government-in-exile's new president.

Anisim and his colleagues celebrated this well-anticipated victory in the front of Congress-in-exile building. They were joined by supporters of the party who gathered in front of Anisim, waving Otekian flags and cheering him on. In his victory speech, Anisim said he's "excited" to take office as the 3rd President of the Otekian Government-in-exile and that he hopes he will have "the strength to lead Oteki forward."

"Admittedly, we slacked a bit in the past few years. We weren't there when the Otekians needed us," Anisim said. "But today, this is going to change. From now on, I promise that I'll make the government-in-exile the mouth and ears of all Otekians - those living under [Namorese] occupation and expats like the friends who are joining us today. Our goal is still intact, we will get our freedom back and we are going to do everything we can to get it back."

This was met with cheering from supporters, but that didn't happen everywhere. Just a few hundred meters away from Anisim's speech site, hundreds of expats held signs protesting the election, the Christian Party and other "oldies." They mostly included supporters of Demoteki, pro-devomax activists as well as conservatives who still don't trust the new Christian-led administration. Chanting "Down with Valeriy" and "Power to the People," the protesters say that if Lhego's administration couldn't represent them, Anisim couldn't do any better of a job.

"This is the 21st century, but these gaffers are still able to win an election so easily," a protester told The Otekian. "They had over four decades to screw things up and now it's our turn. They don't speak for us anymore and they never will."

There seems to be an agreement among anti-Anisim protesters that the government-in-exile's current policy towards the political status of Oteki is not bringing Otekians any benefits, although there are still divisions on what an ideal solution is. "Obviously, if we don't get in touch with Namor none of this is going to work out," a protester in favor of devomax said. "Violence is definitely not going to work; the Namorese military is too well-situated in Oteki for any insurgency to destabilize their rule, and most of the world recognize the place as Namorese territory. To be honest with you, I don't think independence is attainable anymore, we have to go with the alternatives. If we don't, we're eventually going to be stuck in the past." Another person who identified himself with Demoteki said that while the government-in-exile's policies are "outdated," "we can still get our independence if we do it in a way that everyone will admire and respect. Civil disobedience will do, that can give world attention to our people's plight. It can be said that the current government is acting like an old man who can't get with the times, and that man has to die soon."

And then there's the conservatives, some of them who say Anisim is just another Lhego. Jason Abram, 78, lived through the uprising and fled Oteki after Namor crushed it. "I'm here and not with Anisim because this is just another nutjob getting elected. I don't think he's going to free our homeland. He can't do it."

In his victory speech, Anisim acknowledged that there are still divisions, but urged the opposition to do "whatever they can possible to heal the wound of factionalism immediately." He mentioned "factionalism" several times, and called it "unnecessary."

"Our division is feeding the Namorese," he said. "Namor likes it when we're fighting each other like this. I'm appealing for everyone to come together and resolve their differences in a rational manner. Whether you think independence is acquirable - which many of us do - or whether you think something else offers a better solution, I'm willing to hear all sides out. So please, stick with us. There's no necessity in division because division only harms us." He noted that "younger Otekians are a great weapon in the cause for freedom," which seems to be him acknowledging that in order to maintain the legitimacy of the government-in-exile, he needs to keep in touch with Oteki's youth, something Lhego tried - and failed - to do.

The Novi Luziyca party recognized the results of the election and congratulated Anisim for his landslide victory. So far, no word has come out of Demoteki yet, but it's unlikely they will "stick with us" as Anisim hoped because of their belief that the Christian Party is impossible to cooperate with.

Follow The Otekian (@TheOtekian) on Twitter; we are your #1 source of news of an occupied people.

News

MEANWHILE IN OTEKI - The Otekian continues with its coverage of Otekian people living under Namorese rule.

KOYRO IN THE OCELOT ISLES? - Pavonistadian forces helping to liberate the Ocelot Isles say they have evidence of Koy involvement in backing up the dictatorial junta.

TURNS OUT THERE IS NO SUCH THING AS AN "EQUAL" NAMOR - State media says Namor's Gini coefficient is higher than Luziyca's.

BEWARE OF THE COLLABORATIONISTS - How some Otekians are becoming victims of Namor's propaganda.

by **Bleckonia** » Fri Jan 30, 2015 9:50 pm

Jets Bomb Targets in Ocelot Isles

Bombed arms manufacturing plant in Inkann

INKANN, OCELOT ISLES— Republican Air Force jets have bombed several targets in the Ocelot Isles in an effort to assist the Pavonistadian land invasion of the island nation. The operation as a whole is designed to topple the current military junta led by Alexis Spalin and to reestablish democratic rule in the nation. Most military analysts predict a Pavonistadian-Bleckonian victory in Ocelot within two months. Bleckonia has offered 1,000 troops to assist in the land invasion as well as air support.

Air Force jets have hit 3 targets, including an arms manufacturing plant in Inkann in western Ocelot, an Ocelot Army training base near the plant, and an Army training base in Eastardia on the eastern island of Ocelot, destroying the targets and killing a total of 51 soldiers and arms manufacturers. The leader of the operation, Maj. Gen. Peter Hardin, says that he intends to "weaken the Ocelotians' military power in order to ease the Pavonistadians' invasion of the nation." He also states that the bombing missions are designed to cause as few civilian deaths as possible while severely interrupting Ocelotian infrastructure and military capability.

by **Namor** » Sat Jan 31, 2015 7:32 am

THE PICKLE - Почаи Симмун

DEVELOPED STORY Gnasri to join anti-Spalin intervention force

In its first announcement of intervening in foreign conflicts, the king of Gnasri said the kingdom has an obligation to overthrow the military junta of the Ocelot Isles and said that Gnasri will send its armed forces to join the Pavonistadians in removing Spalin from power.

This Gnasrian soldier will become one of the 200-men battalion that will
be deployed to the Ocelot Isles to assist Pavonistadian forces

GNASRI - In a surprise announcement and declaration of war, the king of Gnasri said the kingdom will assist Pavonistadian forces in invading the Ocelot Isles and overthrowing its military leader, Alexei Spalin.

Tenzing Dzhongkho made this announcement in an assembly of lords and lamas in the capital of Mkhas'pa.

"The administration of Alexei Spalin is murdering innocent people. This is not compassionate, and this is not peaceful," said the king. "Spalin is so tyrannical that we Gnasrians have an obligation to join in the movement to remove him from power. I extend a hand of assistance to Pavonistade, and we will fight, side by side, against the junta that is oppressing Ocelotians. The junta will tremble before the strength of our Gnasrian military. From now on, the Kingdom of Gnasri and the Ocelot Isles are in a state of war."

Many Gnasrian citizens were shocked at the king's declaration of war, because Gnasri has never declared war before and the kingdom is landlocked, meaning that it has no interest in participating in foreign conflicts. But King Dzhongkho said that this intervention does not equate to an end in Gnasri's pacifist-passive foreign policy.

"The overthrowing of Generalissimo Spalin is a duty of all people," he said. "Now, a lot of countries are mobilizing their armies to fight that tiny island which the tinpot dictatorship rules. This includes Geadland, whose navy consists of only a few boats, not to mention Scotia - a country we weren't acquainted with until yesterday. Everybody is acting against the junta and there is no excuse for us not to.

"We are a powerful country. The Ocelotians may not have heard of us, but they will once our troops reach their shores. We will bring freedom, compassion, and wisdom to all Ocelotians, not to mention Buddhism," continued the king. "Any country - regardless of size, population or strength - will certainly benefit from a few monasteries and prayer flags."

Dzhongkho has ordered that the entire Gnasrian Royal Army be in full alert. He has ordered a battalion of 200 of the army's best fighters to set off for the Ocelot Isles and participate in the Pavonistadian-led military intervention. According to the Chief of Staff Kunchen Lhundup, this battalion is armed with some of the country's most high-tech weapons, including sticks that don't break at extreme temperatures and bows that were "purchased" from the last Esquarian Summer Games.

Other Stories
Scotia - A politician says that a certain foreign territory doesn't belong to his country
Greonterp - Lily Van Boelle is "disappointed" that citizens thought her PM-ship already ended when she still had a few more days to rule
Qianrong - Song Li-chao goes on a temper tantrum over "Luziycan betrayal"
Luziyca - Shudri person's native language mistaken for Nevan

by **Scotia-99** » Sat Jan 31, 2015 3:52 pm

31 January, 2015

Military action against Ocelotian targets commence

The HMS Kincardine fires a cruise
missile on Ocelotian targets yesterday

ABERLEFEN, SCOTIA - Operations against the Ocelotian separatist regime of "Generalissimo" Alexei Spalin have commenced in earnest, almost five days after a joint session of the Dàil approved a measure to intervene in the Pavonistadian territory.

Some 13 ships (led by the carrier HMS William Wallace) and 40 aircraft took part in the Scotian operation in the Pavonistadian territory, which has attacked and destroyed 50 Ocelotian targets including military installations and other buildings designated by the Ministry of Defense to be of "high importance." The Royal Scotian Armed Forces is present in the Isles to assist Pavonistadian forces as they launch amphibious attacks, with the aim of restoring Pavonistadian control.

A statement by the Ministry of Defense has stated that "Overall, the Scotian operation against the separatist-controlled Ocelot Isles appears to be successful. With over 50 targets destroyed with no casualties reported on our side, it is a good start to campaign to restore democracy and human rights to the peoples of the Pavonistadian territory, who as of present are under the despotic rule of Spalin and his cronies." The statement also mentioned of the recent revelations that Koyro had been supplying Spalin's regime with aircraft and other weapons, stating that "The Ministry is aware that the Ohankaist dictatorship is seeking to prop up the regime, even as four countries are pressing against them."

In other news
Growing inequality in Namor, report claims - A recent study claims that the majority of the country's wealth is being held by 1% of the Namorese population
Sakatia sends reinforcements to the Sinma region - The recent surge comes after a string of high-profile attacks against civilians in the country.
RTA to broadcast Sons of Liberty on Nevan National Day - Social media is abuzz after the public broadcaster's sudden decision to air a 24-hour marathon of its top drama series on 15 February.

by **Michillies** » Sun Feb 01, 2015 12:50 pm

-retconned-

by **Greonterp** » Sun Feb 01, 2015 4:13 pm

Anti-War Protests rattle Boswald, Flannbach

Up to 85,000 people were at the protests.

Boswald - Opposition to the war in the Ocelotian Isles has rattled Greonterp as massive anti-war protests have occurred throughout the country.

The largest protest, which took place in Boswald, may have seen up to 60,000 people attend. Public opinion on the war has been sharply divided, and many opinion polls have found that the number of people who support the war are around 46% of the population.

"I'm disgusted at what's going on the Ocelot Isles. I love democracy, and I don't want a military junta in the Ocelot Isles. But, I don't want war either. Greonterp should let Pavonistade handle this, it's none of our business, said Kasper Verstaan, a protestor in Flannbach.

The leader of the Green Party, Kshama Chaumnol has spoken at the protest in Boswald.

"Greonterp is a pacifist nation. We love peace, we mind our own business. And, yet the crooks in the Christian Democrat-Liberal government want us to abandon these values. Pavonistade must intervene, Greonterp must not," said Kshama Chaumnol.

The protests have been largely peaceful, and only one arrest has been made, after a drunken protestor threw a bottle of vodka at a police officer. The topic of the war in the Ocelot Isles has polarized the nation, largely because the parliament voted to intervene with a razor thin magin. Anna Sørensen, who will take office in six days, said she will not call off the intervention when she takes office.

"I will not give into the demands of the protestors. Greonterp cannot allow the Ocelot Isles to be damaged by a military junta. We're going to win this war, and we need the support of Greonlians," said Anna Sørensen.

Protests are expected to continue, but protestors may have to brave three inches of snow tomorrow when protesting. Read the evening report to learn more about the record cold winter that Greonterp has faced.

by **Namor** » Sun Feb 01, 2015 6:34 pm

THE PICKLE - Почаи Симмун

DEVELOPED STORY Person watches Nevan-Michillian Twitter War besides computer desk

Wo Zaikan, an average Namorese person, decided to kill time by watching Nevan and Michillian netizens dump each other on Twitter.

Wo Zaikan said it was "quite interesting" to see Nevanmaa
and Michillies fight a de facto war on the internet

MOJING - An undeclared war. Belligerents - ultra-monarchist Nevanmaa and ultra-republican Michillies. Supporters - Monarchists behind the Nevans and Republicans behind the Michillians. Battleground - Twitter. Status - Ongoing. Spectator - 28 year-old Wo Zaikan from Mojing.

Wo returned home from work, turned on the computer and went on Twitter. He told The Pickle he was "startled" by the string of tweets coming from Nevans and Michillians who were criticizing each other for being monarchists and republicans, respectively. The tweets kept coming in, and Wo got a better view of the "Twitter War" between the two countries by following every single Nevan and Michillian whose tweet he saw on screen.

"There was this Nevan who tweeted: 'Hey, do you know that Michillians are allergic to Burger King because the word 'King''s in it?', and I followed him. Then there was this Michillian who was like: 'Yo, all I need to know is that you Nevans are racists and have racist laws. Everything else doesn't matter!' I followed him, too," Wo said. "Then they went back and forth, throwing hashtags and '@' signs at each other. Man, it must've hurt."

Wo said he was originally going to follow this war of tweets for ten minutes, but it got "more interesting" and before he knew it, he was stuck to the computer screen wondering if this war is ever going to end. Then, a thought struck him.

"I thought to myself - what if I intervened, and I urged both countries to calm the f*ck down and resolve their issues peacefully, you know, respect each other at least?" he said. "Who knows? Maybe it works and I'm awarded for my ability to promote peace between Nevanmaa and Michillies. The international community would love me."

So Wo gave it a try, and it succeeded - temporarily.

Wo Zaikan
@WoZaikan

Hey all of you Nevans and Michillians can you shut up? We want peace. Kthnxbai!
RETWEETSFAVORITE
41

Tyhmä Rasistinen

@TRAS

@WoZaikan Ching chang chong whatevs u say. Long live the Realm and overthrow all countries that have elections!

RETWEETSFAVORITE
374

Traficane Drogas

@Drogas112

@WoZaikan @TRAS I won't rest until the word 'king' is wiped off the dictionary. Long live the Most Serene Republic!

RETWEETSFAVORITE
308

Wo said he made more attempts, but was less successful. He says he's disappointed, but it doesn't matter because he learned a lesson from what he saw.

"The internet is like Southwestern Esquarium. Not all conflicts can be resolved because sometimes people are just stupid beyond recognition," he said.

Annoyance, rolling eyes and laughter were among the casualties reported from the Nevan-Michillian Twitter War. We at The Pickle genuinely hope for a cease of hostilities between the two countries' people on Twitter before the internet is destroyed by their propaganda.

Other Stories
Namor - A farmer gives his opinion on the Ocelotian War.
Cortoguays - South Cortoguayans vying for recognition

by **The Ocelot Isles** » Sun Feb 01, 2015 7:19 pm

EXTREME ALERT Pavonistadians, Coalition Close in On Kongeuvia; Generalissimo Nowhere to Be Found

Our armed police is making a final stand in green territory.

! Notice ! This is it; the enemies are near the capital of the junta, and it is only a matter of days and hours before the beacon of hope collapses. As our forces make a final stand for the Ocelotian people, we here at Generalissimo's Daily would like to thank you, the respectful reader, for trusting us with the delivering of up-to-the-minute news and for relying on us for daily information. We all hope that survivors of this armageddon will be able to bear the full aftermath.

As you can read in the notice all over our articles, the Pavonistadian and coalition forces are approaching our capital, and when they capture it (which is inevitable), the Ocelotians will be cornered by imperialists from all directions. With nowhere to go and with humiliating INTERPROS teenagers on the enemy's side, we will not be able to avoid a final stand against the enemy. This is the very dilemma that we do not want to be involved in, yet it is the same dilemma that we will face eventually. As such, the armed police has been summoned many times to damage as much enemy forces as possible, with help from the pro-revolutionary Ohanka Jon Bak-su.

Police Commissioner Frederick Vive have also alerted the public that our Generalissimo is nowhere to be found. He was last reported to be in his underground bunker, which is secured from aircraft bombings. After the armed police was notified of "anomalies" inside Spalin's bunker, several officers were dispatched to investigate. Aside from communications equipment and other furnitures, there was blood found inside the bunker yet no body discovered. We have not yet understood what has happened, but this investigation revealed that Spalin is missing.

"This is [...] a serious blow to the leadership and command of what is left of the glorious junta," Commissioner Vive quickly announced. "With the unexplained disappearance of Generalissimo Spalin, we fear that the coordinated guidance of the armed police and the final stand will be hampered. Considering the progress that the imperialist hellhounds have made [...] we can divert only a small amount of resources to find the whereabouts of the Generalissimo, and due to this we fear that he will not be located in time [before his death]."

There is something suspicious about the Commissioner. When he broke the news that the Generalissimo is missing, his facial expression and voice seemed to indicate that he was delighted about it or, in a way, not horrified by the Generalissimo's disappearance. We suspect that Commissioner Vive has something to do with the disappearance, likely orchestrating a coup against the Generalissimo or seizing leadership so that he can be the sole leader. Whatever it is, we cannot trust Commissioner Vive to lead us any further if more suspicions appear.

The important matter, however, is that we need to prepare for the doom of a civilized Ocelot Isles. Perhaps this is the last article that we will ever publish. Before we do perish, we wish that the surviving Ocelotian population will not be extensively mistreated and we wish that you all would be able to live for many generations onward.

About me · by **Luziyca** » Mon Feb 02, 2015 6:21 pm

(assume he came back today from the summit)

The electoral season begins!

The Bethlehem National Arena

BETHLEHEM, F.C. - This is a traditional hallmark marking the start of the electoral campaign: the Whig National Convention to select a Presidential candidate. Today, 21,500 delegates from the Whig Party, including 36 governors or leaders of official opposition and 2,150 super-delegates headed to the National Arena in Bethlehem to select the candidate for the Presidency in the 2015 Presidential election.

There was only a single contender in the Whig primary: incumbent President and party leader Breuvi Shjoraski, and as a result, he has been chosen to be the party leader and candidate for this upcoming general election as Presidential candidate. In addition, they have confirmed the Congressmen who are to campaign.

"My fellow Luziycans," Shjoraski announced after he was elected. "For the past four years, I have served as one of the greatest leaders of the freest nation within Esquarium. During my presidency, I have helped make this economy stronger, and I have helped ensure that Luziyca continues to play a significant role on the global stage. I kept a close eye on this nation, and while I have achieved a lot, it is clear that work must be done; for us to be ever-vigilant so we can continue to be the freest nation in Esquarium. I shall do my very best to ensure that this great nation shall continue to prosper, and play a positive role on the global stage."

Following Shjoraski's address, the First Lady, Caroline Shjoraski spoke, "It has been an honor to serve as a First Lady in a time where Esquarium shifted from a world where the world-view of communism vs. liberty exists to one of such intricate complexity that it is difficult to tell who is whom. Our nation has improved ties with Namor, with our fellow members in the Esquarian Union, and with much of the rest of Esquarium. We may have had some failures, like when we failed to join NOSDO a few times, but I feel that one day, NOSDO will be ready for us to join and contribute. In regards to this great party, I have witnessed it serve the people very well, especially during my husband's tenure, and I feel confident that it can continue to do so. Thank you!"

After these addresses, Nikolai Serhoskav proclaimed that "To quote the late and beloved President Phoebe Wilhelm, this is going to be the Luziycan century. She has proven herself right, and I feel extremely confident that Luziyca will remain influential in Esquarium for a long time." He has been confirmed to be Shjoraski's running mate.

In other news
Ocelot Isles - Ocelot Isles to fall, Operation Isamo declared a "success"
Greonterp - Anti-war protests break out in Boswald
Michillies - Why the anti-monarchy act should be repealed
Oteki - Christian Party wins majority of seats in elections for government-in-exile, leftist groups consider separating

by **Namor** » Mon Feb 02, 2015 7:09 pm

English edition | Luziycan | Gaudste Språg | Namorayin

Demoteki founds Otekian National Coalition in opposition to OGIE
Vitalik invites Roman, Shumev to join: Is ONC counterbalancing OGIE and Namor?

Demoteki leader Kolya Vitalik founding the ONC

FRONTIERSBURG - Demoteki's move has been made - the party which has a considerably liberal stance on the political situation of Oteki stated that it has founded the Otekian National Coalition (ONC) along with independent expat leaders and is currently inviting other parties to join in. Such has provoked a harsh response from the Government-in-exile, as well as a surprisingly unique response from the Namorese government.

Kolya Vitalik, leader of Demoteki, met with independent Otekian politicians (all of whom are exiles and do not reside in Oteki as of now) and announced that as of lately, a deal has been struck and his party, along with the independents, agreed to form the ONC. Vitalik made it very clear that the ONC's purpose was to compete with the Christian Party-led government-in-exile which was recently elected, citing the latter's incompetence and inability to bring about change.

"The Otekian National Coalition strives to be the true representative of Otekians," Vitalik said. "For the restoration of our freedom, we will take a pragmatic approach rather than one that will keep the people waiting their entire lives."

Some point out the ONC is very ambiguous in its goals - it did not make any statement in its founding charter on its stance on the political status of Oteki, having not mentioned Oteki as an independent country or as territory of Namor. But it says it is everything the government-in-exile isn't - an association of Otekian groups that want to represent Otekians in a way that won't keep them frustrated waiting for change to happen. Vitalik was asked about what this exactly means.

"Look at the government-in-exile now," he said. "They're always led by pastors, religious leaders, people who preach the Bible and don't do what they preach, wasting people's time giving loud sermons about overthrowing Namorese rule with God's help, that somehow God will intervene and will the Namorese out of Oteki. It's hilarious and sad at the same time that we are letting these old men represent our interests. A new generation of Otekians is being born outside of Oteki and they say they know what's best for them, and I hear them. They know what they want and they're going to do whatever they can to get it."

Is the ONC headed for secularism? Vitalik's response was clear-cut: "Most Otekians are Lutheran Catholics; however, I'm not going to discriminate against someone who shares our goals but isn't a follower of the main denomination. We have to stop trying to build a Christian state in Oteki, we'll look like wackos if we keep doing that."

Breuvi Chikmurdof, leader of the Knights of St. Luther resistance, once called for all Kannei Namorese to be driven out of Otekian land. Is Vitalik's ONC going to spout similar sentiment? "Look, we'll work this out," the Demoteki leader who is now the ONC's provisional chairperson said. "I think we have to realize that as much as the Namorese in Oteki aren't native to Oteki, they're not going to go away. Like us, a new generation of Namorese is being born in Oteki consisting of people who have nothing to do with the occupation their forefathers imposed. There's no driving them away, either through force or anything along these lines."

Vitalik said that the ONC will keep in touch with the government-in-exile, but to him, one thing seems certain - "The GIE's on its way out unless a legitimate leadership change occurs. Otherwise they'll be clogged up. They haven't much time left."

The ONC has formally invited Natasha Roman and other figures supportive of high autonomy within Namor for Oteki to join the coalition; in addition, it invited the Otekian People's Association (OPA), banned from the government-in-exile for its renunciation of independence and withdrawal from the government, to enter as well. "There's some parts of both their ideas we have disagreements with, but there's a great place to start out with - we agree that in order for Otekian people to change what's going on in their homeland, they have to change themselves first. And that's what we're striving to do."

How the ONC may stand to challenge both OGIE, Namo

The ONC's headquarters is in the southern end of Frontiersburg; across the town, the government-in-exile says it's dissatisfied with Demoteki's challenge.

Valeriy Anisim, President of Oteki, did not personally comment on the ONC's founding, but a spokesperson for him did. The spokesperson for both OGIE and the ruling Christian Party called Demoteki's actions "disgraceful" and called on "an immediate return to a unified agenda."

"The Republic of Oteki government has represented Otekians since God knows when," the spokesperson said. "They have the experience to lead and they always will. We know and cherish the fact that only when Otekians are united can we bring about change and end the [Namorese] occupation. The founding of the so-called 'National Coalition' is a denial of this fact. The government-in-exile has a lot of work to do - it must keep in contact with Demoteki so we can work out an eventual reunification."

The Namorese government did not comment on the ONC's foundation, but it can be said that both the government-in-exile and the Namorese government may feel challenged by this new coalition. The government-in-exile is undoubtedly losing some support, although strict supporters of Otekian independence still back it. The "inaction" of former president Lhego and protests against the GIE from both liberals and conservatives showed just how much credibility the government-in-exile lost, a process that was only slowed by the election of Anisim, and even then some were dissatisfied, such as Vitalik who decided to form his own organization. Right now, there are few options for Anisim to stop the winds of change; he can only pray that time will work in his favor.

Meanwhile, there's the Namorese government, which for decades was able to discredit the Otekian cause for freedom by categorizing it as a violent, extremist and chauvinist secessionist movement working at the behest of a regional rival. Never before has a Namorese media report never related a call for freedom and democracy with "terrorism" or "Christian fundamentalism." And while the Namorese narrative may be 25% true, the ONC clearly portrayed itself as an organization that does not want to restore freedom with the Bible on top - nor has it called for the extermination of all Namorese, a statement that was indeed made by Chikmurdof and that the Namorese were able to use for their propaganda. The new face of the new ONC is something Namor cannot brush aside with its rhetoric. We shouldn't keep our hopes high, but this can mean the beginning of the end for Red Namor's repression against Otekian people.

Follow The Otekian (@TheOtekian) on Twitter; we are your #1 source of news of an occupied people.

News

ELECTORAL SEASON IN LUZIYCA BEGINS - Breuvi Shjoraski was easily chosen to be the candidate in the upcoming general election. Will the people of Western Esquarium's largest democracy continue to support their president?

TYRANNY IS GONE IN THE OCELOT ISLES - Pavonistadian liberation forces are closing in on the Ocelotian generalissimo's regime.

AYE FOR SANCTIONS AGAINST NAMOR - The world has sanctions against Nevanmaa. It's about time sanctions are placed against Red Namor too.

BEWARE OF THE COLLABORATIONISTS - How some Otekians are becoming victims of Namor's propaganda.

by **Pavonistade** » Mon Feb 02, 2015 10:39 pm

-BREAKING- OCELOTIAN JUNTA SURRENDERS TO PAVONISTADIAN, COALITION FORCES
Junta, armed police surrender marks technical end of Third Ocelotian-Pavonistadain War

Date: February 2, 2015

Writer: Timothy Haas

Pavonistadian Military troops in the Kongeuvian outskirts

This came as a surprise for many experts and people that predicted a large [land] battle between coalition forces and thh armed police. To them, the battle was supposed to occur in the outskirts of Kongeuvia before moving downtown, and many more civilians are supposed to be caught in the middle of the battle. There was an issue: a conflict around Kongeuvia did not happen.

At around 7:00 PM, just as Pavonistadian Military forces were almost at the city outskirts, Police Commissioner Frederick Vive announced that the junta and the armed police will surrender to the incoming coalition forces. Just yesterday, Vive was given complete control of the Ocelotian forces because the Generalissimo "disappeared" and was nowhere to be located. Vive stated that he "was obviously depressed that he had to announce [surrender]."

The Commissioner, who was seen to be emotional in the junta's latest broadcast, claimed that "[d]ue to a consensus reached between [him] and high-ranking members of the junt and of the armed police [...] they pushed ahead the declaration of surrender to the Pavonistadian Military and to the coalition forces. It is not what the Generalissimo and I had planned for the Ocelotian armed police and the people, it is not right for us to do this at this time, but in the very end, surrender was inevitable and [...] more well-mannered Ocelotians who avoid hooliganism on the streets would be killed from further warring, from both us and the opponents."

"With the full powers that I have been granted following the unfortunate situation of the Generalissimo, I wish to declare that the junta shall declare its forces to cease its fire upon opponents, and when all is set the junta shall be dissolved at midnight. I can only hope that the Ocelot Isles will live on for generations, without the crushing force of imperialism." After his speech, a still-emotional Vive declined to comment further. However he said that whenever necessary, the coalition forces will be authorized to patrol and station anywhere in the Ocelot Isles until the next course of actions is revealed.

Another spokesperson of the junta had revealed more information about what happened to Alexei Spalin. "Upon the evidence gathered in the Generalissimo's bunker [...] we have enough to conclude that Commissioner Vive had ordered an armed police squadron to terminate Generalissimo Spalin so as to receive entire control of what remained of the Ocelotian country. We believe that Vive was intending to use the newfound power to announce surrender, leading us to assume that he preferred an end to this war sooner than later."

Across the Ocelot Isles and Pavonistade, people have celebrated the surrender of the junta. James Adelaide, the former Governor-President, claimed that "while the Pavonistadians have been hostile, the illegal government is even more hostile and much more closer to home [...] and thus I congratulate on the effort to restore the foundation of freedom in the Ocelot Isles." After several days of silence, President Mattheu Azurite announced that he "was proud of what both the Pavonistadian Military and the coalition forces have done for Ocelotian demonstrators and civilians." The leader of the exiled Frontier Party, Calvin Hopins, "hoped that peace will return to the land of the frolicking ocelots" and called for "Koyro to end its needless campaign to support the dying junta."

By the end of the war, the Ocelotian helicopter and air forces were obliterated. 230 soldiers, 12 armored personnel carriers, 4 tanks, and 2 helicopters were lost for the Pavonistadians, but 75% of the Ocelotian armed police has been decimated as consistent in the First Ocelotian-Pavonistadian War. Now the problem that many people have been aware about is, what will happen to the Ocelot Isles after the junta falls?

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Comments
Page 1 of 483 - Next page - Last Page

NewZeppelin
▲ Like - 368 | ▼ Dislike - 11 | ! Flag
YEAH!!!!!!!!!! You kicked the junta's butts! Democracy will be restored! No words can describe this awesomeness! WOOH!!!

Ceukiemania
▲ Like - 175 | ▼ Dislike - 24 | ! Flag
@NewZeppelin
Hurrah! The Pavonistadian Military has done it again, and that is to begin the process for the restoration of peace. Good work, everybody!

EvaTheElephant
▲ Like - 81 | ▼ Dislike - 96 | ! Flag
I seriously, seriously, seriously, seriously, SERIOUSLY hope that this will be the last of the wars with our neighbor. We could resort to peace instead of bloodshed, you know (I mean, I understand that we need to stop the junta, but in the future, let's use peace)?

ElephantBeStompin'
▲ Like - 100 | ▼ Dislike - 99 | ! Flag
@EvaTheElephant
Hey sis, maybe you should realize that war can be inevitable...

200lumpdoughs
▲ Like - 203 | ▼ Dislike - 117 | ! Flag
How about all of you calm down and grab a drink of premium-quality at TolouBar? Surely it's refreshing for the very first time.

HereKittyKitty
▲ Like - 190 | ▼ Dislike - 16 | ! Flag
You guys keep talking about the victory when you aren't wondering about the future of the Ocelot Isles. Would it be annexed into our territory? What would Luziyca and Scotia do with the Ocelotians? What about former Commissioner Anna Stradforte?

About me · by **Luziyca** » Tue Feb 03, 2015 5:47 am

Mission Accomplished!

President Kyu Tenshi of Hachishima

BETHLEHEM, F.C. - Following the announcement of the fall of the Ocelot Isles, Presidents Breuvi Shjoraski of Luziyca and Kyu Tenshi of the Associated Free State of Hachishima released a joint announcement, proclaiming that "Operation Isamo has succeeded far beyond our expectations, and that we have managed to end without delay a tyrannical and oppressive regime and bring back freedom and democracy." It also stated that Operation Isamo will be transformed to Operation Antei (Operation Stability in Hachishiman).

The joint press release stated that "our lads have helped the Pavons and Scotians end the oppressive junta within the Ocelot Isles without delay, and it is the actions of our four nations: Scotia, Pavonistade, Luziyca, and of course, Bleckonia, that helped restore the God-given human rights that the population of the Ocelot Isles had prior to this coup. The operation (Operation Isamo) was to assist the Pavons significantly, and it has succeeded far beyond our expectations in removing a tyrannical and oppressive regime without delay."

"Now that we have deposed this tyrannical and oppressive regime," the press release noted, "an issue is who will police the islanders, who will manage with waste collection, the fire department, the hospitals, et cetera. Thus, we shall transform Operation Isamo to Operation Antei, to help stabilize these islands and prevent a Fourth War between the Ocelot Islands and Pavonistade, and to ensure that it becomes a prosperous state, whether it becomes an Associated Free State, an integral part of Pavonistade, or even, although unlikely, a sovereign and independent state within the Esquarian Union."

"However," the release concluded, "we feel that it is best to leave it to the Pavons to decide whether we should help assist to rebuild these islands and restore them, or for them to do it themselves."

With the announcement of victory, Pavon expats in Luziyca have celebrated, with many demanding that Pavonistade reincorporate those islands back into Pavonistade. And indeed, with victory, the Esquarian Union has plans to "examine and determine whether it is the best time for the membership of the Ocelot Isles to be restored."

More as the story develops.

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by **Namor** » Tue Feb 03, 2015 6:36 pm

Namor hopes for stability, speedy recovery following overthrow of Ocelotian junta

February 3, NMR 2374

Pavonistadian troops in Kongeuvia, capital of the Ocelot Isles

NAMO, CAPITAL DISTRICT - Foreign Minister Shen Wuhong says Namor wishes for stability and a speedy recovery for the Ocelot Isles now that the military junta has been toppled by the Pavonistade-led coalition forces which entered the country.

"We are glad to see rule of law and democracy return to the Ocelot Isles. The days since the disturbance began have definitely been a nightmare for all Ocelotians," said Shen. "Namor hopes that this effects of this war, whatever they may be, lead to a speedy recovery and stability to the Ocelotian population. As one of the Ocelot Isles' allies, we remain committed to development in the Ocelot Isles and are willing to continue lending Ocelotians a hand as they recover from the military intervention."

Shen said that "as of now, the Ocelot Isles, despite the intervention, is still an independent and sovereign state. We believe that the country's widely-recognized political status should be maintained as the people recover from this war. Ultimately, the Ocelotian people have the say to who they want to be ruled by and what kind of government they want."

The Namorese embassy in the Ocelot Isles is set to open soon, and Namorese travel to the country will be allowed once again.

Crisis began in the Ocelot Isles when a democratically-elected government was overthrown in a coup d'etat and replaced with a military junta. The self-proclaimed generalissimo Alexei Spalin cracked down on dissent and introduced policies which alienated it from many countries, including Namor - a longtime ally of the Ocelot Isles which had been supportive of Ocelotian independence from Pavonistade. Spalin claimed to have risen to power to dismantle the Ocelotian "socialist" system, although Pavonistade - the country he came from and emulated - rejected him and threatened to depose him.

Pavonistade declared war on the Ocelot Isles on January 25, and was accompanied by Luziyca, Scotia, Bleckonia, Greonterp and other nations. Many of the countries that participated in the military intervention do not recognize the Ocelot Isles as an independent country despite the fact that Pavonistade does, with the government of Scotia openly affirming that the war should lead to a Pavonistadian re annexation of the island territory. Other supporters of the intervention, such as Geadland, voiced support for militarily overthrowing the junta but expressed caution at using the war to justify changes to the Ocelot Isles' political status.

The coalition forces managed to close in on the junta, and Spalin has been reportedly killed by his own subordinates.

COMMENTS

Yun Yu
Anyone counting down to the moment when a referendum will return the Ocelot Isles to Pavonistade? I got that feeling it's going to happen soon. 89 44

Jia Wen
@Yun Yu It might happen, it might not. Right now tho it seems like many Ocelotians are welcoming the Pavonistadian invasion, but that doesn't necessarily mean they want to become part of Pavonistade. 81 38

Guo Hong
@Yun Yu No, it's definitely going to happen. most countries in the war don't recognize ocelotians as independent! 22 15

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Parties secede from the "Otekian government-in-exile" - The "government-in-exile" long dreamed of Txotai separating from Namor, but ended up separating itself. PTH explores the irony behind this development.
Electoral season begins in Luziyca - Shjoraski was the only contender in the Whig primary.

by **Pavonistade** » Tue Feb 03, 2015 8:26 pm

PAVONISTADE AGENCY OF NEWS - NEWS IN BRIEF
Date: February 3, 2015

MINISTER OF DEFENSE REVEALS LIST OF SUPPLY FROM PRO-JUNTA NATIONS

Less than 24 hours after the Third Ocelotian-Pavonistadian War ended, the junta was dissolved and Police Commissioner Frederick Vive handed himself to Pavonistadian forces. Minister of Defense Alain Colton declared that the Pavonistadian forces gathered more data about the junta's supply.

"Following nationwide occupation of the Ocelot Isles and the cooperation from junta and armed police members," Minsiter Colton stated in 6:00 PM, "we have been able to procure the full list of foreign supplies and materiel that have been provided to the Ocelotian regime. [...] Aside from the early-discovered aircraft, firearms, ammunition, and explosives, we have seized uniforms, mortars, missiles, vehicles. Indeed, it appears that Koyro and other pro-junta nation had supplied a substantial amount of resources for the junta."

Colton's disclosed list also revealed that 24 to 100 military advisors from Koyro were sent to the Ocelot Isles, and none of the advisors were alive by the end of the war. There were uncovered plans to develop a defense force of 20,000 men, along with provision of land/air/naval compliment, personnel training, technical support, and financial and economic support. Through the plans did the Pavonistadian forces identify another country supplying the junta: Ziegenhain. "It is not surprising for us to find another player involved on the junta's side," Colton said, "and it is clear to us that Ziegenhain [...] is doing just as much disservice as Koyro."

REABSORPTION REFERENDA ANNOUNCED BY PRESIDENT AZURITE

President Mattheu Azurite announced
Ocelotians, Pavonistadians may vote
on respective referenda.

President Azurite had disclosed what Vice President Oppenheim had supposedly planned after the fall of the junta, ad it comes as a surprise for some but not for others.

"Vice President Yksteldehs Oppenheim [...] had been proposing for two referenda to be held at the same period of time, one for the Ocelot Isles and one for Pavonistade," President Azurite claimed. "The two referenda will allow both the Ocelotians and the Pavonistadians to determine how the stability of the Ocelot Isles is to be handled, and the way to do this through the referenda's perspective is to re-incorporate the two islands into full Pavonistadian control."

The Ocelotian referendum would be voted by the Ocelotians and would allow them to decide if they want to become annexed into Pavonistade. Therefore this (and the Pavonistadian referendum) has the chance of nulling OIIR 2014. However, President Azurite said he was "aware that the Ocelotians, excluding the government-in-exile, were not notified of this decision," and so the Ocelotians may decide not to vote in the referendum (this is previously unseen in the islands' history).

For the Pavonistadians, their referendum will decide on whether or not they want to annex the Ocelot Isles and become responsible for the maintenance of Ocelotian security. As the Pavonistadian public was not previously made aware of the referenda, they will also be able to vote voluntarily. Similar to the above, this is the first time in Pavonistade's history that people would be able to not vote without incurring penalties.

If both referenda pass, then the Ocelot Isles would be re-annexed into Pavonistade. If both referenda fail, or if one referendum passes and the other fail, then the Ocelot Isles would stay independent and OIIR 2014 is upheld. The two referenda are to be held from February 18 to 20 and the results are to be announced on the 22nd (giving a one-day break for tallying and for tradition).

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by **Qianrong** » Tue Feb 03, 2015 10:39 pm

The National Report
國民報告 - Guómín Bàogào
報誥國家 - Báo cáo Quốc gia
પમ્બંસંગ ઉલટ - Pambansang Ulat

THE CREATORS AND SHAPERS OF A NEW QIANRONG:
AN ANALYSIS OF THE PEOPLE WHO WILL LIKELY DETERMINE QIANRONG'S FUTURE AFTER THE SISQ REPLACES THE NTCQ

The Blue House in Yucheng, which served as the residence for the leaders of the First Independent State and for the Speakers of the FDRQ's legislature.
The National Transitional Council has made a show of meeting in the Blue House instead of the National Palace, which was the home to Qianrong's Kings and Chancellors.

FEBRUARY 3, 2015- Yucheng, Qianrong- As Qianrong waits for the National Transitional Council to agree upon the policy specifics of the upcoming Second Independent State government, it's important to know who's going to be making the decisions that shape Qianrong's future- not just politicians and preachers, but also the media moguls and exiled expats. It is the agreements made by these individuals, and the policy points that are decided under the first SISQ administrations, that will determine Qianrong's future for the next several decades, and thus it is important that we know what we're in for.

Li Jian-Zheng

Li Jian-Zheng is the most important member of the council, without a doubt. He's its founder and its chairman, and many of the policy prerogatives the council announced this week were echoes of ideas Li had stated when first forming the council- more bodies of review, more legislative power, weaker political parties, and a more independent judiciary- among others, of course. He is viewed as the father of the new Qianrong, and many Qianrongese trust him to lead Qianrong into a new era. Chances are he will have a very prominent place in Qianrongese history books, and may even go down as a national hero in the long run.

Li was the final Acting Chancellor of Qianrong, and thus the final man to actually have power over the Free Democratic Republic of Qianrong. He was also the final Speaker of the National Assembly, a position he took on October 28, 2014. Before that, Li was a member of the National Assembly, representing Saorao Province in the FDRQ's rubberstamp legislature. He raised eyebrows for his surprising independence as Speaker, which some took as a possible prelude to a possible rise to executive power for Li- a rise which has since occurred. He is also the highest-ranking Yinglidao politician in Qianrong, and was the first Yinglidao Speaker and Yinglidao Chancellor- acting or otherwise- of Qianrong. As a result, he is a symbol of the possibility of a more egalitarian Qianrong, an image bolstered by his attempts to diversify the council politically, religiously, and ethnically.

Li has made himself known as a center-leftist, firm republican, and as an internationalist- his most famous policy proposal as Speaker was the creation of an international terrorism-fighting task force that would fight INTERPROS, the ASQ, Tac Olum, and numerous other terror groups across the Esquarian region. He's also incredibly committed to guaranteeing that Qianrong enters the future united, having actively brought his political rivals into the council. Many have compared him favorable to Yang Hao-Ming, founder of the First Independent State; some have also compared him to Zheng Hye-Jeou, founder of the Free Democratic Republic, though there is an obvious irony in this comparison that makes it less prevalent.

And, of course, the chance of Li simply going away after all this is next to nonexistent, meaning that he'll likely be the leader of Qianrong, in title if not actuality, for quite some time. He's certainly got the popularity; the people who supported him during the Winter Rebellion absolutely adore him, and the people who opposed him can at least tolerate his broad outreach. He's already done a lot to reunite Qianrong following the Winter Rebellion, and that makes him incredibly popular all across the board. It also means that he will continue to have a country to run, which is generally a basic requirement for politicians.

Song Li-Chao

While Song Li-Chao is only an honorary member of the council, his presence on the council says a great deal about the relationship between the old and new Qianrongs, the situation in the Second Domestic Terror War, and what we can expect from Li Jian-Zheng in terms of political reconciliation. It also says about how being the brutalized prisoner of a terrorist group is the perfect way to buy political forgiveness, if you're willing to undergo severe physical and psychological trauma.

Song was the official Chancellor of Qianrong from March 7, 2009, to the dissolution of the title on January 8, 2015, succeeding Hsiao Xin-Huei to the position after several years as a prestigious government official. However, between June 3, 2014, and January 10, 2015, he was the personal hostage of Ngo Huu Tra, Supreme Leader of the Alliance for Sovereignty in Qianrong terror group, and videos were released showing him being tortured by ASQ thugs following ASQ terror attacks on civilian targets. His absence led to the need for an Acting Chancellor that ultimately brought about the Winter Rebellion. While he hasn't been seen in public since his rescue, we've been told that he has been briefed about the present situation in Qianrong and will likely be speaking to the press before the week's end.

Though his need to recover and the honorary nature of his seat mean that Song Li-Chao will probably not be making many of the policy decisions in the National Transitional Council, his presence says a lot about how the Second Independent State will be tied to the Free Democratic Republic, and how much the new and old Qianrong will need to cooperate if the country is to survive. His rescue also represents a great victory for the campaign against the Alliance for Sovereignty in Qianrong, which is an immediate boon to the SISQ's reputation as an effective defender of the security and liberty of Qianrongese citizens. The fact that many Qianrongese have seemingly forgiven him for his actions as Chancellor due to the scale of his torture(rumors circulate that Ngo Huu Tra castrated Song at some point during the latter's 221 days as a hostage) also says quite a bit about the way that people, particularly the Qianrongese people, think with regards to politics.

He will also undoubtedly be playing a role in the Second Independent State. He's made it extremely clear that he's interested in continuing his political career. However, his legacy is now likely to be in Qianrong's external affairs. The FDRQ's collapse has discredited his domestic policy nearly-wholly, but his distrust of Namor and Luziyca speaks to the general Qianrongese mood when it comes to the Qianrongese nation's two former masters. While he may not assume executive leadership in the SISQ, he may very well become a high-level diplomat or official.

Chiang Shui-Kai

Chiang Shui-Kai, as any Qianrongese parent knows, is the leader of the Association of Patriotic Youth- the youth wing of the Nationalist People's Party that ruled the FDRQ. Like the other NPP leaders who defected to support Li, he's said he'd be willing to dissolve the NPP and begin anew once the Second Independent State is reality. He's a part of the NTC, part of Li's broad representation plan- and is a good choice for such a position.

Chiang's politics generally mirror the politics of his party; not surprising that an ideologue was entrusted to raise future generations of ideologues. He's very conservative and he leans authoritarian, though he seems able to moderate this enough to work with the National Transitional Council. And if he keeps the focus on conservative, not authoritarian, then he might do decently in the Qianrongese political atmosphere.

As the head of the APY, Chiang does have a certain notability and authority over some of the younger Qianrongese demographics. While it isn't a chokehold- as evidenced by Jie Qing-Chun and other student protest leaders during the Winter Rebellion- it isn't to be underestimated. If Chiang remains involved in politics beyond the council, he has a definite support base and serious name recognition, which are always valuable in democratic elections. However, he'll face stiff competition from the people who wanted the FDRQ gone and don't want such a prominent NPP leader to be given any more power than needed.

Zhong Fang-Ye

Zhong Fang-Ye rose to prominence in the Winter Rebellion as the leader of the pro-FDRQ Alliance for Qianrongese National Strength. Before that, Zhong was a bureaucrat in the Ministry of the Interior and a proud member of the Nationalist People's Party. During the rebellion, however, she singlehandedly created the AQNS and brought it to national prominence, creating a real rival to the anti-FDRQ United Democratic Coalition of Qianrong. And while the FDRQ may no longer exist, Zhong remains one of the most powerful women in Qianrong and one of its most powerful political leaders.

Zhong is known for her passion and her vocality, which she says brought her to found the movement that started her sudden rise to prominence. She's a fine political and social conservative, like many of the other formerly pro-FDRQ groups and individuals, but there's one thing that sets her apart from them: she's populist.

See, most of the other once-FDRQ people were high-level FDRQ or NPP politicians. Chancellor, Minister, Chairman, whatever- they had high-level titles and were undoubtedly in a ruling class of sorts. Zhong was a government employee too, but she was a low-level bureaucrat. As much hate as bureaucrats get, a bureaucrat is far closer to the people than the absolute autocrat or his close circle of advisers and allies. To further burnish her populist credentials, she led a massive counter-protest movement, relying on the support of people who agreed with her. This gives her a political edge against similar rightist politicians.

Zhong is a member of the Council, and as far as we can tell she's one of the more vocal members. This means that she'll undoubtedly be trying to play a serious role in the shaping of the SISQ. However, the AQNS and Zhong seem sure to be large players in the SISQ, meaning her populist conservatism will likely remain powerful in Qianrong- aided, no doubt, by her charisma and her rhetoric.

Iligtas Katarungan

Iligtas Katarungan first allied himself with Li Jian-Zheng by ruling, as Chief Justice of the Qianrongese Supreme Court, that Guo Tse-Zu was not legally Acting Chancellor. This gave Li an air of confirmed legitimacy that helped him win the Winter Rebellion. He and the rest of the court fled to Lumangdaungan, where the Li government was located, and in return for his assistance he was given a place on the National Transitional Council. An expert on jurisprudence, Katarungan has no doubt been invaluable with regards to writing the first laws for the new Second Independent State. He's also likely to be the leader of the new judiciary of the Second Independent State.

Politically, Katarungan has shown himself to be leftist on some areas and rightist on others. He is also known for a tendency to flip-flop. This suggests that he might be a little too used to the strict "one ideology only" operating policy of the Free Democratic Republic, meaning that he might have to come up with personal opinions at some point. However, he does appeal to both sides of the spectrum as a result of this fact. He's also one of the only prominent Mahusaynese leaders at the national level after NPP leader Mataas Pangahatang was arrested, meaning he might be able to consistently appeal to the Mahusaynese demographic.

But Katarungan almost assuredly won't be an elected leader in the SISQ. He's a judicial man, and in Qianrong judges have generally been appointed. Katarungan has probably suggested that Li keep it that way; the argument he probably made was that this would keep judges making rulings based on legality not electability, but chances are Katarangan is looking out for his job. Regardless, Katarungan is almost assuredly going to be in the upper levels of the new Qianrongese judiciary- quite possibly for the rest of his life.

Nguoc Bieu Tinh

Though overshadowed by the moral leader Reverend Seng Bu-Zhang and the fiery student protester Jie Qing-Chun, Nguoc Bieu Tinh is undoubtedly the brains of the United Democratic Coalition of Qianrong. A professor of history and the law at Chien Truong University, he's the least famous member of the UDCQ's founding troika. He's an expert on the successes and shortcomings of the First Independent State and Free Democratic Republic both, making his place in the National Transitional Council an invaluable one. He can point out all the places that the Second Independent State has to carefully avoid, making sure that Qianrong learns from its past and thus does not repeat it.

As the resident academic and expert on where Qianrongese governments have fallen in the past, it's almost certain that Li Jian-Zheng is looking to him to guarantee that the SISQ works. Nguoc is the best candidate to guarantee that the Second Independent State isn't corrupt or ineffective like the FISQ while avoiding the autocracy and oppressiveness of the FDRQ. That's undoubtedly a very high priority for Li, who would like to see the government he's creating succeed and not collapse. He'll also be very useful as a fact-checker when the other members of the council are resorting to rhetoric instead of logic to try and get their plans across. A clear mind would be useful in this situaiton; governments built on emotion tend not to be stable ones.

Though he isn't as charismatic or outspoken, Nguoc is a good speaker who relies firmly on logic to carry audiences and further his agenda- great traits for any politician. And as a leader of the United Democratic Coalition, he will definitely be taking a role in the SISQ. He's made it perfectly clear that he would be willing to give up his university job in order to take a bigger role in the leadership of the UDCQ, and it's been leaked that Chien Truong University has a list of possible replacements ready should he decide to go. He's also been urged on by the other members of the troika and by UDCQ supporters, who admire his rational take and his own unique leadership style.

Seng Bu-Zhang

A Yinglidao minister and one of the leaders of the United Democratic Coalition of Qianrong, the Reverend Seng Bu-Zhang is- alongside Li Jian-Zheng- one of Qianrong's most prominent Yinglidao figures. He is also quite popular because of his founding role in the UDCQ, in which he is also something of a spiritual leader and moral compass. He's more conservative than Nguoc and Jie, but still definitely to the left-of-center. The more centrist nature of Seng is mostly based around the religious aspect of his personality; while liberal in many areas, he is conservative on areas pertaining to the church and things the church doesn't like.

In spite of those conservative areas, however, Seng remains popular among many younger and generally more liberal demographics. In addition, his more conservative aspects make him palatable to older and more conservative demographics, giving him a universal people. He also has good name recongition and a very positive image as a populist leader with a strong moral foundation, which is always useful when your name is on the ballot. All Seng would have to do in an election is not screw up, to be blunt.

The only thing casting doubts on Seng's electability is Seng himself. The Reverend has told the press that, as much as he enjoys leadership, he feels a duty to the congregation he leads on Sundays. However, many UDCQ members want him to run- including many in his congregation, including his assistant minister. There's also the soul-corroding aspect of politics, which might put off a man whose whole live has been dedicated to saving souls. However, Seng has also said that he wants to represent the people who agree him, which might push him into the arena.

While we're on UDCQ leaders, you might have noticed Jie Qing-Chun is not on the list. Why, you ask? Simply put, Jie Qing-Chun is a 17-year-old student at Xiangmen State University. While there are some younger individuals who have made themselves candidates and party leaders, Jie is rather too young. He's admitted to this fact, and while he has vowed to remain active in the United Democratic Coalition, he has said that his main focus for now will be his studies, not his politics.

Huan Gang-Hui

Minister of Information and leader of the Qianrong Central News Agency, Huan Gang-Hui controls a media agency that remains powerful even though it is no longer receiving government favoritism. The leader of the newly-independent news source is an ally of Li Jian-Zheng in the NTC, even though he worked for the FDRQ. Of course, the National Security Forces did burn down the Yucheng Bureau of his Ministry and slaughter everyone inside, so that is maybe not too surprising. He remains, however, to the right side of the spectrum, and allied with Li more based on his views on the legitimacy of Guo Tse-Zu than on any other political similarities.

Huan is not likely to go into politics- well, at least, not into government. He has said that he will remain in control of the Qianrong Central News Agency, adding that he views it as his duty to make sure that the transition from Ministry of Information to independent news source goes smoothly. He's also got his own plans for the reconstruction of the Yucheng Bureau of the Qianrong Central News Agency, including the construction of a memorial to the journalists murdered by the National Security Forces when the NSF razed the building for covertly urging support for the Li government and not the Guo government. He's no doubt committed to guaranteeing that the QCNA can shake off its legacy and become a reasonably reputable news source- one that's more fact than propaganda. The razing of the Yucheng Bureau began that process, and Huan undoubtedly wants to make sure that the process continues with less bloodshed.

However, media moguls have a certain control over how people think. The ability in the modern era to select news sources that agree with personal opinions, creating a feedback loop of truthiness, means that people read the news less to be informed and more to see their opinions reaffirmed. Huan, as head of the Qianrong Central News Agency, has serious control over the feedback loop that QCNA generates, and thus has control over the people who participate in QCNA's feedback loop instead of, say, RFQ's. Even if he doesn't go into politics himself, Huan could very well make himself into a kingmaker on the right of the spectrum- an entirely different and all the more insidious kind of power.

Lin Chuan-Yeng

Lin Chuan-Yeng is a National Assembly representative from Nandong Province. Actually born in Qiuling Province, he was a legislative ally of Li Jian-Zheng for years and would be the one to officially nominate Li to the position of Acting Chancellor of the Free Democratic Republic. As a member of a rubberstamp legislature, Lin wasn't particularly notable until the Winter Rebellion, when he became a de facto spokesperson for the National Assembly. He worked to have provincial governments recognize Li over Guo, and is now a member of the NTC.

Like Li, Lin is left of center on most issues, and is a firm supporter of a more democratic and open Qianrong. Lin, however, seems more interested in staying in the legislature whereas Li has happily moved to a position in the executive. He's a member of the UDCQ and has already said that he will run in the legislative elections under the Second Independent State. He's earned admiration for his steadfast support of Li, with whom he has a cordial and friendly relationship, and he has a very well defined ideology that he has stuck to.

However, Lin will have to learn charisma if he is to go as far as he wants to go. He's a steadfast man, a dutiful worker, and he has several good traits, but he simply isn't particularly appealing. He can argue for a bill, but he certainly can't write or deliver a speech to a crowd. As a legislator, however, Lin might be able to get away with it. It'll be a run for the national executive that would make those serious problems. He could also probably get away with that at a provincial level if he gets tired of national power. Despite his faults, Lin's good aspects seem set to take him as high as he presently wants to go.

Wu Guo-Sun

The Speaker of the National Assembly before Li and a prominent NPP party official, Wu Guo-Sun's presence on the council is no surprise. He's a longtime legislative leader, another legislative ally of Li Jian-Zheng, and a close friend of Song Li-Chao. Even though he supported the Guo government- and briefly the Pangahatang government as well- he's actually turned out to be a center-leftist with a moralist streak, somewhat akin to Seng Bu-Zhang. He's certainly got credentials and name recognition.

Like Lin Chuan-Yeng, he is known as a man of principle who will keep to his word. Unlike Lin, however, Wu has charisma. He made very pretty, if rather uninspired, speeches while he was Speaker and before the Nationalist People's Party. With political restrictions gone, he's turned out to be a man of humorous and passionate speeches that use anecdotes and emotions mixed with logic and source citation to press his opinions and policy prerogatives. This gives him an appeal that Lin sorely lacks. Thankfully for Lin, Wu is from Huatou Province, not Nandong.

Wu's presence is perhaps the first sign of cronyism in the SISQ, however. Some speculate that Li was lenient to his longtime colleague based on their history together, and that Li is rewarding Wu not only for defecting to him but also for being such a steadfast ally when they worked together in the National Assembly. Those suspicions seem to be unfounded, though, and don't exactly have any real basis in evidence at the present time. Wu and Li have both dismissed the accusation, and both of them seem to be doing too well to be risking their careers like that. It's quite likely that Wu would have done perfectly fine for himself even if he hadn't defected to Li when he did- Wu certainly has the charisma and the talent to win a vote.

Csedomir Pantejmonov

Csedomir Pantejmonov, head of Radio Free Qianrong, was known only by the pseudonym "CJP" for several years, retaining a heavy veil of anonymity as he ran the dissident media outlet from Namo. During the day, he worked as an accountant in a Namorese white-collar corporate office, keeping his RFQ role and his opinions on Oteki under heavy cover. His parents, Josijah and Sobiemira Pantejmonov, had fled to Qianrong after Namor invaded Oteki on Christmas Day; after criticizing the Chancellor, Csedomir found himself forced to flee to Namor. Ultimately, though, he returned to Qianrong after he revealed his identity and became a political criminal under Namorese law.

As the head of Radio Free Qianrong and one of the most prominent members of Qianrong's Otekian community, Pantejmonov is a powerful individual. Like Huan Gang-Hui, he isn't going into the government. But as we mentioned earlier when talking about Huan Gang-Hui, there exists a feedback loop of truthiness in the modern media; Huan is the feedback loop on the right, and Pantejmonov is the feedback loop on the left. Radio Free Qianrong has a respected status as a dissident media source that will risk just about everything- including its financial solubility and continued existence- to report the news as it sees it, and that has earned many admirers at home and abroad. In addition, Pantejmonov's story of a man who had to lie in order to tell the truth is pretty persuasive in itself and has made him quite popular.

His domestic popularity will be bolstered by his foreign policy, too; not only was he a political criminal under the Free Democratic Republic of Qianrong, he was and is a political criminal in the People's Republic of Namor. He's made his opposition to Namor quite clear, even mentioning it in an interview with Namor's PTH state media company. However, he's also set himself up in opposition to Luziyca, saying that Luziycan support for Otekian independence was in fact detrimental to their goal of seeing Otekian sovereignty and freedom restored. At present, the foreign policy most Qianrongese citizens would like to see is opposition to Namor and opposition to Luziyca, and Pantejmonov not only agrees with most of Qianrong, he can argue for them pretty well. This foreign policy will help Pantejmonov, even among those who disagree with his left-wing domestic politics, opening up Radio Free Qianrong to a broader range of Qianrongese readers, listeners, and viewers.

Siemyscza Vlasinov

Siemyscza Vlasinov is the leader of the Otekian Qianrongese Alliance, the premier association for members of the Otekian diaspora in Qianrong. She's also arguably one of the toughest people in Qianrong; remember the death of Feliks Oleg? She had the Otekian Qianrongese Alliance come out to protest the Free Democratic Republic's pitiful- "pitiful" being defined as "nonexistent"- response to the murder and the failure of the Namorese to deliver justice, and managed to get away with it months before the Winter Rebellion. It could thus be argued that Vlasinov created an atmosphere where Qianrongese people felt like they could voice their grievances against the government and not be harshly punished, which led to the Winter Rebellion. Pretty impressive if you ask us.

Like Csedomir Pantejmonov, Siemyscza Vlasinov is one of the leaders of the Qianrongese Otekian community. Vlasinov, however, is more conservative than Pantejmonov; Pantejmonov supports the Demoteki Party while Vlasinov voted for Valeriy Anisim. Unlike the Otekian leaders in Luziyca, Pantejmonov and Vlasinov remain wholly devoted to making the quest for Otekian liberty one with a united front. When it comes to domestic politics, though, Vlasinov is a wholly different animal: she's quite uncompromising and very outspoken and doesn't seem interested in anything less than what she wants. She's made herself a firebrand populist conservative, filled her speeches with right-wing rhetoric, and is known for driving very hard bargains. Her history also says that she's determined; she put herself through college and did quite a bit for the Shudenov district of Shanliang before becoming leader of the OQA. There's no doubt, she's made for politics.

Like Pantejmonov, Vlasinov will be aided by her status as a potential Nanniwan detainee under the Namorese Anti-Secession Act. The daughter of Otekian expatriots, she takes an even harder anti-Namor tack than Pantejmonov and is more willing to use the belligerent rhetoric that gets people excited about standing up to a nation that's significantly larger and more powerful than Qianrong- and also is really good at getting you elected to positions of power. While she and Pantejmonov will continue to stand together when it comes to opposing continued Namorese occupation of Oteki, there's no doubt that the domestic confrontation between them will be no-holds-barred.

Yu Sheng-Jiang

Yu Sheng-Jian is the founder of the People's Progressive Party and was previously a Qianrongese diplomatic official who represented Qianrong in Kofeiya from 2001 to 2009 and in Luziyca from 2009 to 2014, before the collapse of the Luziycan-Qianrongese alliance due to Luziyca's failure to carry out its obligations to the Qianrongese nation as its ally. He's made himself known as a firm leftist leader- a lot of FDRQ politicians were apparently very good liars about their personal politics- and has founded a political party that aligns with his opinions.

Yu has made his leftism very clear- he's definitely to the left of much of the UDCQ- but he's made it perfectly clear that he is not Namophilic or Aininophilic. He's also made it clear he isn't Luziycophilic either, in spite of his time in Kofeiya and Luziyca. He's one of the few Qianrongese who would give Luziyca a second chance, but even then he's made it clear that further betrayal would not be tolerated by his government.

His brand of leftism, which is closer to the extreme than the center, isn't likely to gain support for the time being. Yu, however, has said that he wants to play the long game- he's more interested in making sure that his party might be able to win elections eventually, if not necessarily right now. He'll have to overcome Qianrongese conservatism and the apparent national tendency to support centrism over extremism, but he's confident that he can do it. He's decently charismatic and he's certainly got a set list of policies and priorities, many of which themselves are reasonably appealing to Qianrongese voters. However, it is yet to be seen if he can get himself and his PPP into a position to enact them.

Qi Chien-Xuan

Qi Chien-Xuan has risen to the headlines for her formation of the Democratic Labor Party, a center-leftist political party and a potential competitor to the United Democratic Coalition and People's Progressive Party. She's also apparently a third cousin of the deceased Acting Chancellor Hsieh Jiang-De, though Qi has said they were not particularly close to each other.

At present, Qi is the biggest possible rival to Yu Sheng-Jian. She controls the center-leftist vote, which is larger than the far-left vote that Yu controls. This means that Yu needs to take voters away from Qi, putting them into direct and inevitable conflict. And unfortunately for Yu, Qi is generally agreed to be the more charismatic of the two. Like Siemyscza Vlasinov, she has a reputation for staying true to her ideals and of not compromising what she stands for. She's also a better speaker than Yu; though Yu has been described as the better debater, we haven't gotten a chance to see that yet.

Qi, however, will decide if she wants to be an insider or an outsider. She's made it clear that she's strong-willed, but we're unsure if she wants to appeal to those who want someone who knows how to work in spite of the system, or those who want someone who hasn't been contaminated by the system at all. Many of her speeches are populist, but her third cousin was Hsieh Jiang-De, which makes things complicated. Ultimately, Qi's biggest challenge in an election might be making sure that she defines herself to the Qianrongese people.

Le Gia Dinh

Le Gia Dinh is the founder of the Republican Unity Party and was previously an employee of the Ministry of Defense and Intelligence. He served in the National Security Forces and was given several awards while serving, and was reportedly even considered so loyal that he was a candidate to be a chancellery bodyguard. Nowadays, however, he is a member of the AQNS and the founder of what wants to be the premier center-right party in Qianrong.

Le is a definite conservative, and has made his stances on issues very clearly defined. He's painted himself as firmly rightist but willing to compromise when need be, and has done much to emphasize his service in the NSF and his military decorations, which paint him as a man of duty and virtue. He can easily tap into the large centrist right demographic in Qianrong, which has responded warmly to his traditionalism and his record. He's also already made moves to grab undecided groups away from Qi, which will give him a definite edge when it comes to winning the first elections held by the SISQ. Like Yu, he's playing a longer game, though ale is more interested in keeping the size of his demographic large than in necessarily growing it further. He's started out in a solid situation, and all he really has to do is not mess up.

It is entirely possible, however, that Le might mess up politically. While many Qianrongese politicians have openly denounced Luziyca as even worse than Namor, Le is probably about as Luziycophilic as a Qianrongese politician could safely be. He's spoken in favor of a second chance for the Luziycan government in the past, though political pragmatism might- and probably will- force him to mellow his stance until the political atmosphere changes. If he doesn't, then the RUP will either face into irrelevancy or find a less Luziycophilic leader.

Jing Hui-Zong

Jing Hui-Zong is the owner of the Jufeng Aviation Corporation, which designs and constructs aircraft for the National Security Forces- generally based off of Luziycan or Zepuhan models, though some uniquely Qianrongese models have been created by Jufeng employees. He has formed the Qianrongese Patriotic Front, the farthest to the right of the four new parties who may have to contend with the established UDCQ and AQNS.

Jing's role in Qianrongese national defense makes him popular; with many Qianrongese viewing Luziyca, Namor, Ainin, Nevanmaa, and the ASQ as imminent threats to the Qianrongese nation, the National Security Forces and their benefactors have been partially forgiven for their role in the repression of civil liberties under the Free Democratic Republic. Jing, as the owner of a company that has helped the NSF, will get all the benefits of the perception that he keeps the country safe without the negative associations of throwing people into political prisons. Jing has started off with a decent image for those reasons alone. He also can call himself a "job creator", arguing that Jufeng has provided steady employment for large numbers of Qianrongese civilians, which will further bolster him as Qianrong's economy remains shaky following INTERPROS hackings of the Yucheng Stock Market and the Bank of Qianrong. He also has enough money to run his own campaign.

However, Jing's wealth may also be his downfall. In this new era of Qianrongese populism, many will be swayed by the argument that Jing is wealthy and out-of-touch with the common man, and thus a poor choice for the country. It's often been hard for potential leaders to fight that perception; in spite of all his "Fulanthropy" work, Fu Wen has still drawn criticism due to growing inequality in the People's Republic of Namor. Jing is also an inheritor of wealth and has never been poor; Jufeng was founded by his grandfather and Jing inherited much of his fortune from his grandfather and father. If Jing is unable to fight off the concept that he's an out-of-touch one-percenter, he and the QPF might be off to a rough start.

Ren Tao-Zhe

Ren Tao-Zhe is the present head of the Ren dynasty, which was the final dynasty to rule the Celestial Kingdom of Qianrong, from the ascension of Ren Kang-Zheng in 1802 to the deposition of Ren Wu-Neng in 1912. Under previous governments, the Rens had not been allowed to hold political power nor claim the throne, as part of the agreement that let them remain in Qianrong- and even then they were confined to Shengsu Province. Now, however, those restrictions are part of the political past.

Ren has already taken advantage of this, formally claiming the throne of the Celestial Kingdom, founding the Alliance for the Restoration, and making trips to visit monarchists across the country. He's emphasized his family's repression under the FDRQ, describing the Ren family's situation under the FISQ and FDRQ as a form of house arrest. He's already taken action to improve his family name through charity work and through expressing a respect for the will of the common man that the Celestial Kings of Qianrong never had.

While it seems that Ren will be running on the policy of reinstating the monarchy, it's entirely feasible that he might only be an elected official if he comes to power. While his rise to that kind of power is unlikely, and while his actions in claiming the crown hint at hope for a return to the throne, there isn't any guarantee that he will try to force monarchism on Qianrong if he gets the chance. In fact, a respect for populism and constitutionalism might help rebuild Qianrongese faith in the monarchy, and many analysts expect that Ren's goal is the creation of a constitutional monarchy in Qianrong.

The other obstacle for Ren is Nevanmaa. The Nevan Realm autocracy that rules Nevanmaa has not been recognized by a Qianrongese government in decades, if not a full century; Qianrong recognizes the Nevan Republic, presently in exile in Michillies. The Nevan Realm is racist, sexist, theocratic, autocratic, and generally backwards to an extent unparalleled by any group outside of Kraqi and Irvadi jihadists. Ren will have to very consciously steer clear of the Nevan Realm if he wants to be palatable to the Qianrongese people; Ren, as a non-white non-Christian individual, will probably be more than happy to stay away from the Nevan Realm's Juhani.

Pham Kac Vo

Pham Kac Vo has an unusual and unpleasant distinction from the other individuals on the list: he is, for all intents and purposes, the leader of the political wing of the Alliance for Sovereignty in Qianrong terror group. He has, of course, denied all association with Ngo Huu Tra and the ASQ, but his newly-founded Front for Change and Liberty espouses the division of Qianrong into Minjian, Tuhao, and Mahusayna along ethnic lines- and also has reportedly received some large donations from unnamed sources in order to try and ensure it has a smooth start.

Pham spent three years in an FDRQ political prison for supporting the ASQ, which means he can use the same repression story being used by almost every candidate and being bought by every voter. His ancestors also fought on both sides of the First Domestic Terror War, which gives him a more moderate aspect than ASQ Supreme Leader Ngo Huu Tra, who was a child soldier in the First Domestic Terror War and leader of the ASQ in the Second. Pham has done much to disassociate himself and the FCL from the violence of the ASQ too, which has increased his image as a legitimate candidate- though he will still have to do much more if he is to do well.

The one other thing Pham has going for him is that the Front for Change and Liberty is a single-issue party, meaning those who agree with the ASQ's politics but reject its violence can feel at home in the FCL whether they are leftist or rightist. This big-tent nature is critical when your supporter base is so small, and Pham seems to have realized it and made sure all the others in his group do too.

Pham, however, will be continually dragged down by his association with the nearly-universally-reviled Alliance for Sovereignty in Qianrong. He'll continually be fighting to convince voters to disassociate his party from the images of terror and bloodshed caused by the ASQ. His climb is undoubtedly the most uphill of any individual on this list- but if he can pull it off, the effects on Qianrong might be the biggest event of the century in the East Namor Sea.

Yang Hye-Kai

Yang Hye-Kai was the leader of the Tuanjie solidarity protests in the Little Qianrongs of Namorese cities during the Winter Rebellion. The youngest son of a political dissident who fled to Namor, Yang was a prominent resident in the Little Qianrong district of Namo before becoming leader of the Association of Qianrongese in Namor. His name appeared in the headlines after he organized the Tuanjie anti-FDRQ protests among the Qianrongese expat community in Namor; he has since returned to Qianrong.

Yang is a definite leftist, and has expressed support for the UDCQ and for Li Jian-Zheng in Namor and Qianrong both. He's also demonstrated his ability to motivate a crowd to come out and protest during the Tuanjie demonstrations. He's able to get the ears of high-ranking foreign officials, making him a possible diplomat, and he's a charismatic and articulate public speaker, making him a feasible candidate for numerous positions.

Yang, however, has one blemish that makes him unelectable for most Qianrongese: he is very pro-Namor. For Yang, Namor was a place of democracy and refuge, a place where he was able to debate Fu Wen on the issues at election rallies. Most Qianrongese, however, share Csedomir Pantejmonov's view on Namor; in Namor, Pantejmonov had to be just as secretive about his politics as he had in Qianrong. This perceived Namophilia might very well make Yang Hye-Kai unelectable in the eyes of most Qianrongese.

Chang Wan-Hsiu

A longtime leader in the Esquarian Human Rights Monitor group, Chang Wan-Hsiu was a Qianrongese university professor before he was exiled for writing a report condemning the human rights violations of the National Security Forces. He was part of the "Great Migration" following the end of the Winter Rebellion, and presently resides in Lumangdaungan.

Chang has said he will remain with Esquarian Human Rights Monitor, and will oversee the Second Independent State's human rights record. He's already somewhat at odds with the National Transitional Council, though; Li Jian-Zheng's broad representivity means that people Chang considers to be criminals are likely to resume positions of power. This means that Chang may very well spend most of his time at odds with the government. In short, Chang will have an interesting role in the new Qianrong.

Li Jian-Zheng has admitted, however, that oversight is necessary, and Chang Wan-Hsiu provides independent if obnoxious oversight. As such, Chang won't have to fear being forced to flee back to Namor any time soon. However, his firm commitment to justice and human rights is not likely to make him many friends or allies in the Second Independent State.

Ng Bao Truong

Ng Bao Truong is the owner of Hoang De Shipping Company, one of the largest import-export companies in Qianrong(the Trang Vai, seized by the Namorese navy in what many consider to be outright piracy, was being operated by Hoang De). He is very wealthy and very opinionated, and has told the press that he would be willing to trade Hoang De for a position in the Qianrongese government.

Ng has taken a libertarian stance on the political spectrum, urging severe restrictions on governmental power and open markets in the interests of creating the maximum possible freedom. This libertarianism may very well draw voters in the wake of the fall of the autocratic Free Democratic Republic. He can also make many of the same arguments as Jing Hui-Zong, saying that Hoang De Shipping created jobs and improved the Qianrongese economy. He also has a populist appeal in that he was raised in a poor family as a child but was able to become a wealthy individual through ingenuity and hard work.

Where Ng might come most in handy, however, is to other rightist politicians. If Ng runs himself, then parties will look to have him on their lists, in the hope that he might be a useful asset in campaigns and elections. And if he doesn't, the parties will still look for his endorsement and for any campaign donations he might send their way.

Nguyen Cong Chua

Nguyen Cong Chua is perhaps Qianrong's first celebrity politician. A prominent television actress and social media star, her questionable political credentials have neither damaged her goal of rising to political prominence nor dampened her followers and supporters. Her following isn't always politically literate, but they're incredibly passionate about her, and are determined to get out the vote before Qianrong has even had election season start.

Nguyen is a populist whose greatest appeal is with the young adults of Qianrong, particularly left-leaning ones, and she is seen as a good representative for the leftist youth vote. She's old enough to run- unlike Jie Qing-Chun- but still younger than any other person on the list, giving her a relatability that other people may not have. She also has the ability to harness her fan bases on Zhenwen, Lianjie, and other Qianrongese social media sites; these social media networks could be critical in an election cycle. Put simply, Nguyen already has a network of volunteers and supporters at her fingertips. These supporters are also very vocal and are so supportive they sometimes tend towards fawning. When people are fawning over you, that's generally a sign you're doing something right.

Nguyen hasn't yet expressed support for a party, and as a result it's likely that party leaders will be looking for her name and image to bolster their populist credentials. She's young, attractive, famous, and has a network of supporters ready to get out the vote once SISQ election season comes. That alone makes her desirable. She also has a very good public image and decently defined politics, which makes her electable. Even if her political experience is slim, Qianrong's new celebrity politician may do surprisingly well in this era of electronics.

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by **West Cedarbrook** » Wed Feb 04, 2015 7:26 am

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