Sagatagan Elections

[Sagatagan]

It's election time in Sagatagan again! Although the Confederal Council has less power than most parliaments- with its initiatives usually suggested 'from below', its delegates recallable, and its decisions bound by not-infrequent reviews and referendums- it is nonetheless the 'highest' federative body in Sagatagan and the Confederation's main 'interface' for foreign policy. As such, the elections are typically closely watched by the world stage.

Since the Revolution in the 1970s, Sagatagan has been a socialist democracy operating on a system of federated councils. At the same time, the economy has been put under worker control but not completely collectivized- although more and more cantons are voting to adopt socially planned economies, many remain 'market socialist' areas where privately held worker's cooperatives buy and sell. This mixed economy has operated in Sagatagan for roughly two decades while the country has industrialized and adopted extensive sustainability initiatives. Now, however, the many political divisions of Sagatagan are coalescing around the question: Shall we be a market socialist society, or a socially planned one?

The parties of Sagatagan have coalesced into two broad fronts in this electoral contest- the Social Front (Frente Social), which believes in moving towards a socially planned economy, collectivizing further cantons, and creating a single, unified economic plan based on the successful models of the collectivized cantons. The other is the Liberal Front (Frente Liberal), which aims to undo the process of collectivization, maintain market socialism, and move towards having more small proprietors and foreign investment. The exact platforms of each front as they take their place in the Confederal Council will depend largely on their party makeup. For example, a Social Front led by the Communist Party will promote a more centralized form of planning than one led by the Worker Solidarity Movement. A Liberal Front led by the Liberal Party will actively drive towards privatization while one led by the Worker's Market Alliance will seek to expand the market of cooperatives but oppose privatization of land and capital.

Each voter may choose 2 parties that they support. Representation on the council will be proportional.

Frente Social

Communist Party of Sagatagan (Partido Comunista Sagatagan)

The PCS is a Trotskyist party that considers Sagatagan to presently be a deformed worker's state that is 'stuck' in the revolutionary process and must complete the revolution by collectivizing completely and firmly protecting the rule of worker's councils (guided by the party) against any opposing forces. They support the use of economic and military aid to support leftist movements in other nations, seeing worldwide socialist revolution as vital to the success of socialism in any nation. They also support the stressing of Marxist theory in education, and the more heavily politicized use of the commissariat in the military to ensure its revolutionary character.

Sagatagan Greens (Verde Sagata)

Verda Sagata runs on a platform of social justice, ecological wisdom, nonmilitarism, and participatory democracy- but far from following the social democratic model of most Green parties, VS interprets these principles as a mandate for ecological socialism. Since the revolution, VS has increasingly adopted the principles of "libertarian municipalism" and "social ecology" put forward by Communalist thinkers like Murray Bookchin. Verde Sagata strongly supports the bottom-up democracy of Sagatagan, supports plans for further collectivization. Verde Sagata oppose interventionism abroad. They strongly oppose neoliberal trade policies and involvement with international monetary institutions such the World Bank, but do support alter-globalization through trade agreements that mandate minimum environmental and labor standards and through tariffs on goods from developed nations that do not adopt sustainable practices. They have been the driving force behind Sagatagan's ecological evolution at the local and national level.

Worker's Solidarity Movement (Movimento de la Trabajadores en Solidaridad)

Promotes social anarchist, council communist, and autonomist ideas. The group supports collectivization and social planning, but is deeply critical of the developing bureaucracy and propose more decentralization in planning. They are in favor of extensive civil liberties, of non-intervention abroad except in the case of clearly revolutionary struggles, and of non-participation in international treaties with bourgeois states.

Sagat People's Communist Party (Partido Popular Comunista Sagata)

The PPCS is made up of Maoists and Marxist-Leninists who seek to use state power to totally eliminate remaining reactionary elements in Sagatagan and complete the transformation of the nation as much as possible into a truly socialist country. Their platform includes complete collectivization under an army of labor, amending the constitution to allow only those parties which endorse socialism, the jailing or exile of pro-capitalist figures, the promotion of proletarian cultural works, a campaign to do away with traditionalist ideas, incorporating proletarian re-education for prisoners, the banning of loyalist expatriates from re-entry to the country, the politicized use of the Commissariat to ensure the Popular Militia remains revolutionary, the seizure of Church lands, and the mobilization of mass organizations of the proletariat and peasantry for popular struggle against reactionaries. In foreign policy, they are highly interventionist, endorsing the spread of the Revolution to all nearby countries.

Frente Liberal

Worker's Market Alliance (Alianza Trabajadores Mutualistas)

ATM seeks to maintain market socialism and worker control, but oppose economic planning. They believe that planned socialism is inefficient and oppressive, and that production for profit by worker-controlled firms is preferable. They support government action in the economy only insofar as is necessary to provide public goods and very basic social welfare, and generally support deregulation. They support civil liberties and political freedoms. Internationally, they are wary of treaties and generally opposed to interventionism, but are largely friendly towards free trade agreements and towards the establishment of special economic zones for investment.

Liberal Alliance (Alianza Liberal)

The liberals support the reform of Sagatagan's constitution to include private ownership of land and capital and erase the mandate for a socialist economy. They campaign on a platform of trade liberalization, privatization, austerity, lower taxes, greater courting of foreign investment, cooperation with the IMF and World Bank, civil liberties, non-intervention, and geopolitical alignment with western capitalism. Since the fall of the Falange from international favor, the AL is the main party that foreign capitalist nations seek to support, though economic development in Sagatagan has reduced the power that those nations hold over the country. Among Sagats, however, it is still usually less popular than the ATM.

Partido Democracia Social (Social Democratic Party)

The SPD supports the establishment of private property for small businesses and opening room for public-private partnerships with foreign companies, but the maintenance of significant social programs, strong unions, and public control over key industries. It is supportive of civil liberties and democratic rights, and though open to intervention abroad, generally proposes international cooperation and negotiations as a first resort.

Sociedad para la Restauración de la Sagatagan (Restorationists)

The Restorationists advocate constitutional monarchism, a distributist economy based in Catholic social teaching, and traditional moral values. Their platform includes the reinstatement of the monarchy, the enshrining of the Catholic Church as the national religion, privatization of state-held holdings and the formation of corporatist guilds, opening up to foreign investment, dismantling social welfare programs through austerity measures, amnesty and citizenship for expatriates, pursuing investigation of Red Terror abuses during the Revolution, political prisoner status for Falangist prisoners, outlawing gay marriage and gay adoption, outlawing abortion, taking a tough line on crime including the adoption of an American-style prison system, promoting cultural assimilation for immigrants, and instituting drug prohibition. They are generally seen as a remnant of the Falange by most Sagats, and as such are deeply unpopular.

[Sagatagan]

Early exit polls are showing Frente Social taking an overwhelming lead at 76%, evenly split between the four parties. Frente Liberal's 24% is evenly split, so far, among the Alianza Liberal and Restauracionistas. Voting will continue for another two days to ensure all rural workers and those with irregular hours have the chance to vote.

[Sagatagan]

Unusually high returns for the Restauracionistas in rural areas have sparked cries for an investigation of voter fraud, especially in southern cantons where reports of Falangist gangs near polling places have led to accusations of intimidation.

An alleged group of Falangists near a polling place in a southern town


Parties in the Frente Social have called for the Restauracionistas to be investigated under the Amandment On Paramilitaries, which banned political parties from maintaining armed wings. The Restuaracionistas, whose leadership is mostly drawn from the former Alianza Blanca (which split into the Restauracionistas and the Falange following the Amendment and a failed coup attempt), reject the claim that they have maintained ties to the Falange.

In response to a trio of Worker Solidarity delegates being beaten by Falangists in the south, a Black Bloc of anarchists in Nueva Barcelona have stormed the local Restauracionista party headquarters, severely beating the partisans inside and burning down the building. In response, the Frente Liberal parties have called for MTS (WSM) to be investigated for mobilizing the Bloc.

A Black Bloc participant in front of a stack of burning Restauracionista records and PR material.

[Sagatagan]

Following the voter intimidation in southern cantons and the fighting in Nueva Barcelona, the Frente Social and Frente Liberal are each accusing the other of using violence to subvert democracy and the vote. Constabularia have deployed to polling places as a measure to defend them from attack, which Frente Liberal is decrying as a politically motivated move to "coerce and strong-arm supporters of property rights with the communist government's police forces".

In Nueva Barcelona, Falangists have attempted hit back at the Workers Solidarity Movement (Movimiento de Trabajadores en Solidaridad), which they perceive to be behind the Black Bloc that attacked Falangist offices. A group Falangist youth drove in vans to the city headquarters of the MTS (WSM, in English), coming out with bats and chains, and started attacking MTS supporters. Very quickly, a large Black Bloc formed to defend the headquarters, chasing the Falangists back into their vans. The next morning, the Bloc re-assembled to attack a local bar known to be a Falangist meeting place. In the ensuing confrontation, several dozen people were injured, and the bar was burned.

Falangists attacking MTS supporters:


MTS supporters throwing molotov cocktails at Falangists:


A march of Frente Liberal supporters in the capital of Avon is organized for tomorrow, and will be met with a counter-march by the Frente Social.

[Trevera]

Being that much of our Commonwealth is collectivized, opinion polling before the election showed large support for the parties of the Social Front. Most of the market socialists here are disgusted that the Workers' Market Alliance would, even superficially, ally themselves with the likes of the bourgeois Liberal Alliance and Restorationists, and have thus have expressed their support for the Social Front as well, despite the ideological differences.

As for the recent controversies at the polling stations, opinions here are largely of the mind that it is a quite obvious and brazen attempt by the Falangists to subvert the democratic process, and we condemn the parties of the Liberal Front for standing idly by while this happens. We would usually say that we hope this could be resolved without further violence, but, knowing the history of the Falange, this seems highly unlikely. If any aid is needed, our Commonwealth will gladly provide it.

— Thomas Oseland, Secretariat of Foreign Affairs spokesperson

[Roman Superiority]

The Emperor has authorized aid to our fellow Fascists, the Falangists.

[The Greater States of Racoonia]

Marshal Andrew Byres is highly pleased by the ideals of the Sagat People's Communist Party and wishes to aid them in any way possible. The Greater States of Racoonia and the Communist party of Racoonia stand behind our proletarian brothers and sisters!

[Sagatagan]

The news that foreign fascists are pledging support for the Falangists has spread like wildfire through the urban centers of Sagatagan, sparking fears of another foreign-backed coup attempt by the Falangists. As night falls on Avon, the Constabularia are digging in positions around polling places, public forums, and other centers of democratic expression in order to protect them disturbance. Offers of Constabularia protection have been made to each of the party headquarters, but only the Workers Market Alliance, Social Democrat Party, and Sagatagan Greens have accepted. Around the Worker Solidarity, Communist Party, and Popular Communist headquarters, ad hoc defense columns of supporters have been gathering throughout the day. The same is true of Liberal and Restorationist headquarters, which are both being protected by forces made largely of Falangists. At the national headquarters of ATM (under Constabularia protection), delegates of the party have begun a heated debate over whether or not to remain in Frente Liberal given the day's events and the increasingly capitalist and anti-revolutionary character of the Front.

The Milicia Popular have mobilized to support the Constabularia presence around the Casa de Consejo de Confederacion in Avon, while inside the Tribunal de Justicia, our highest court, has ordered a full investigation of alleged ties between the Restorationists, Liberals, and the Falange, as well as the MTS's Blocs and the possibility that the communist parties have retained connections to their former armed wings.

Meanwhile, reports have emerged of a drumhead court-marshal in the Milicia Popular forces being deployed in Avon. According to reports, a group of MP soldiers made hostile comments to Liberal Party protesters near the CCC, calling the Liberals "imperialist shills", "Yanquitos ["Little Americans"]", and "Falangist dogs". These remarks were overheard by another soldier and reported to the unit's Commissar, who ordered five soldiers detained for unconstitutional behavior.

Meanwhile, militant supporters of several parties seem to be very busy today, with street fighting between communists and anarchists on one side and Falangists and Frente Liberal supporters on the other occurring in Nueva Barcelona. The fighting erupted when a group of Communist Party activists attempted to accompany dockworkers from a mostly Communist-aligned council to the polls. The presence of the Communists sparked a mobilization by Liberals and Falangists, and a Bloc of anarchists intervened in the resulting conflict on the side of the communists and dockworkers. This time, the Constabularia intervened and separated the two sides, but it was the largest mass disturbance related to the election yet with several hundred combatants. Sources are reporting a dozen hospitalizations and one possible fatality (a dockworker).

Street fighting in Nueva Barcelona


In the northern city of Valsor, rallies by each front remained peaceful as both called for peace. The Frente Social rally, spearheaded by the city's strong MTS, accused the Falange of serving as 'shock troops of foreign domination and a capitalist coup', while the Alianza Liberal-led Frente Liberal rally called for the Constabularia and to remain as far from polls as they were demanding the parties stay, and for the international community to respect the Restorationist-dominant poll results.

Meanwhile, in Avon, barricades are already forming in some neighborhoods near the march routes planned for tomorrow. In the neighborhood of Patano Mirlo ("Marsh of the Blackbirds"), historically a stronghold of revolutionary support, the flags of Frente Social parties dot barricades that butt up against the Via Espadañas, where the middle stretch of the Frente Liberal march is expected to take place. Slogans such as "No Pasaran", "Hasta la Victoria Siempre", and "Recordar '74; Viva Kastoj" have been painted on many of the walls there that do not already bear revolutionary murals. In contrast, the neighborhood of Colina Conejo ("Rabbit Hill") has a large population of rural southern emigrants and overlooks Via Telares in Campo los Viajeros ("Field of the Travelers"), where the Frente Social march is mustering. In Colina Conejo, a several-block area around the Catholic Church has been barricaded by local residents. A shrine has been erected near the Church, featuring crosses, portraits of Queen-in-Exile Isabella D'Castilla, and flags of the pre-revolutionary monarchy.

Barricade in Patano Mirlo


Barricade in Colina Conejo

[Roman Superiority]

The Emperor has sent the following ultimatum “You will accept the will of 40% of your people and allow the Falangists to take power or you will face a Roman Invasion"

[The Shivering Isles of Shegorath]

"Send me Golden Saints to Aid the Anarchists i like chaos and Madness ha cheese for everyone! now move it you making me teeth itch you mortals!" Shegorath

[Roman Superiority]

Following reports that foreign soldiers are supporting anarchists, the Emperor has decided to deploy 5,000 Legionnaires, and a Tank Division with full support from our Air Force under the command of General Scipio Hispanis to support the Falangists.

[Roman Superiority]

“We are launching an offensive on Nueva Barcelona"
Scipio Hispanis

[Roman Superiority]

https://www.google.com/url?sa=i&rct=j&q ... 0061836140
Artist's Impression of The Battle of Nueva Barcelona.

[Sagatagan]

OOC: This is not yet a war RP thread, only the prelude to one- posts describing positions and reactions to the events in Sagatagan will be accepted, but posts godmodding an invasion will be disregarded. Players wishing to launch an invasion of Sagatagan in support of any faction will be welcome to join in an upcoming civil war thread. We will be maintaining a standard in that thread that RPers must include an RP-worthy level of detail in their posts.

[Sagatagan]

Dawn breaks over Avon with new poll numbers coming in. According to the latest results, the Frente Social has recaptured a slim majority at 54%, dominated heavily by Partido Communista. Meanwhile, the Alianza Liberal and Alianza Trabajadores Mutualistas have both gained support, helping Frente Liberal retain a 46% minority, still dominated heavily by the Restauracionistas. Poll counters noted that since the Constabularia have taken places outside the polling places, support for the Restauracionistas has dropped sharply.

Rosa Guttierez, the chair of Partido Communista, addressed the press early in the morning, saying, "The evidence is clear: Once the polls were protected from Falangist gangs, the results fell back into line with what poll after poll of Sagatagan has made clear: The people support the Communist Party and the Social Front. We will not allow three decades of democracy and building socialism to be undone by the naked thuggery of the anti-democratic Falange and their Liberal and Restorationist political branches. We demand a full investigation of the ties between the Frente Liberal, the Falange paramilitary, and foreign imperialist backers. We will not go back to monarchy, capitalism, and landlord rule. The people say: Never again!"

The Frente Liberal, however, has a different interpretation. In their press conference, Oscar Botas, the chair of the Restauractionistas, railed against the new results, saying: "After thirty years of Communist rule, the Sagatagan people have had enough. No more will we be silenced by Red Terror! No more will we our heritage, nation, and faith be trampled under the iron boot of international Bolshevism! Take the Constabulary away from the polls and let the people speak! They cry for the Crown! For the Church! Restore honor to our nation!". Mr. Botas's role in leading the conference is a departure from the Frente Liberal's usual spokesperson, Alianza Liberal chair Maria Herrero. Ms. Herrerro was reportedly in meetings with observers from the state departments of several capitalist nations that retain embassies in Sagatagan.

Juan Desconocido of the Election Commission addressed the press as well, saying: "We urge all parties to remain peaceful while we sort out the fraud that occurred. We are certain that voter intimidation by pro-Restorationist Falangists occurred in several southern cantons, but we do not yet have concrete evidence that this was coordinated by the Restorationist party or the Liberal Front. We have further evidence of fraudulent ballots being entered in Nueva Barcelona and several towns in the western cantons. We are investigating these incidents further to identify the source of the fraudulent ballots. We cannot stress enough that further violence at this point is only making our jobs more difficult, and can serve to intimidate members of the public against civic engagement and political involvement. Many parties are claiming to uphold democracy and our Confederal Constitution. Please respect both and let us do our job."

Before sunrise this morning, a group of clergy from an array of faiths, join by party leaders from Alianza Trabajadores Mutualistas and Partido Democracia Social and some three hundred supporters, converged in the Plaza del Republica in front of the Casa de Consejo de Confederacion. The group lit candles and sang hymns of peace, urging all parties to forsake violence and allow the election commission to correct any fraud. Roman Catholic Archbishop Adalberto Panadero delivered a sermon and prayer, asking God to "Guide us, Oh Lord, and the the conscience of our nation in these trying times, that we might grow closer in Christ's brotherhood. Guide us to see the dignity and worth of each person we face in these coming days, sculpted by Your hand and Your will, that we will not shame You by disrespect of Your flock. Guide us that we not shed the blood of our countryman, but through peace know the wisdom and love of your Son whose blood was shed for us. Amen."

The vigil in Plaza del Republica:


The prayer, however, was not to go wholly answered as the marches of the day began.

In the neighborhood of Maderas Sinsonte, the Frente Liberal march formed up before dawn, with a rally led by the Restorationist party. In the rally, Oscar Botas called for the party's supporters to "stand firm against Communist police intimidation. We will not be driven off of the streets by the anarchist terrorists and Bolsheviks! We are here to take our country back!". Added Maria Herrero of Alianza Liberal, "The world is watching us, Sagatagan! They want to know: Are we going to choose democracy, or dictatorship? Freedom, or capitalism? A place on the world stage, or the status of a rogue state?". After roughly an hour of speeches, the march began, moving towards the CCC by way of Via Espadañas.

Restorationists giving a Falangist salute at the Frente Liberal march


Falangist militants at the Frente Liberal march


Meanwhile, In Campo los Viajeros, the Frente Social counter-march formed up. Here, Rosa Guttierez addressed the crowd, calling on them to remember the sacrifices made during the Revolution and the long march of development the country has made since then. "What the Falangists and the Yanquitos want today-", said Guttierez, "- Is another coup attempt! They failed when the Amendment on Paramilitaries passed, and now they are trying again. Do not be fooled by their claims to be democratic- the monarchists and the Falange have fought against popular and worker democracy for a century and are fighting against it still. The voter fraud they are clumsily engaged in is nothing but a smoke-screen for the international capitalists to invade under, claiming to 'protect democracy' by destroying the most democratic political system in the world. The Frente Liberal has had the marks of colonial meddling on it from the beginning- their funding and their support is the funding and support of the global capitalist class and the western powers. We have not bowed to them for thirty years and we will not bow to them today, tomorrow, or any day!"

Supporters of Movimiento de Trabajadores en Solidaridad


Supporters of Partido Communista Sagatagan


[to be continued with news from the marches]

[The Greater States of Racoonia]

The Greater States of Racoonia would like to provide financial assistance to the Partido Popular Comunista Sagata. The government and Communist Party of the Greater States of Racoonia applauds the actions of this glorious party!

[Zambara]

The Allied States of Zambara fully support the ideals of the Liberal Alliance, as we feel that capitalism will help the government.

[Sagatagan]

The news went over the international reactions while the camera crews set up for the marches. The Racoonian support for the Partido Popular made the rounds, with PPCS spokespeople calling it "an excellent and welcome display of proletarian internationalism from the People's Republic", and Frente Liberal calling it "further evidence that communism in Sagatagan must be propped up by iron-fisted foreign regimes; it is unwelcome by the people here, and we are now learning to speak up". The Treveran criticism of the ATM was also noted, with ATM spokesperson Jorge Cano saying: "We agree with Mr. Oseland's call for peace. We are right now engaged in the rally for peace and democracy in the Plaza de Republica and in other plazas across the country. While out position of collectivization and our commitment to market-based worker's socialism remains unchanged, we are taking seriously the actions of other Frente Liberal parties and seriously evaluating our relationship to the Front.". The news of Zambara offering support to the Alianza Liberal was remarked on by Partido Popular spokesperson Lucille Bustamante, who said: "This endorsement by a member of the Anti-Democracy League confirms what we have been saying all along: Alianza Liberal and Frente Liberal as a whole are deeply in bed with anti-democratic, anti-proletarian forces. But, I repeat myself. There is no "Frente Liberal" in this country. There is only a Frente Falange, a Frente Yanquito, a Frente Capitalista. But, they are a toothless dog and will not overturn our revolutionary democracy."

The most pressing piece of news, however, concerned the mobilization of forces by the self-described Roman fascist state, a move met with condemnation by virtually all parties and by the sitting Confederal Council. "We will tolerate absolutely no foreign military encroachment on Sagat soil", said sitting Council Chair Guy Zapata of the Communist Party. "All delegates of the Council, including those aligned with Frente Liberal, have voted unanimously to mobilize the Milicia Popular in defense of Sagatagan from any and all foreign troops who would seek to use this domestic crisis as a pretense for invasion. Rest assured that any force approaching Sagat borders will face the full force of our self-defense. Sagatagan will handle her own affairs!". Reached briefly for commentary, Alianza Liberal leader Maria Herrero said, "The Frente Liberal appreciates the concern of the Roman state, but we are not asking for a military intervention. At this time, we ask the world to help us hold our Communist government accountable to the people's vote through sanctions and diplomatic pressure. Frente Liberal is committed to democracy and Sagatagan's independence, and if the Communist Party is willing to hand over power peacefully to the elected government then there is no need for any outside peacekeeping force to mediate the dispute. We ask that the Roman state at this time demobilize their forces". Restauracionista leader Oscar Botas declined to comment.

Meanwhile, the two large marches began. In Campo los Viajeros, the Frente Social march was led by a delegation of worker's councils and industrial unions, carrying flags colored red, red and black, or green alongside the banners of the represented industries and trades. Next came the official delegations of the parties- the Communist Party leading the way, followed by the Verde Sagata, the MTS, and finally Partido Popular. The bulk of the march that followed was a broad mix of local party groups, caucuses, and supporting organizations. The swaying giant paper-mache puppets of the Verde Sagat and the black-and-violet-clad Mujeres Libertarias intermixed with large groupings of young communists carrying red flags on stout poles, many equipped with helmets, goggles, and other protective equipment. At the edges of the march several groupings of Black Blocs began to form near these Red Blocs- some participants with red flags, most with red and black, and some even with green/black or green. As the march went down Via Telares, shouts and taunts from the Frente Liberal-supportive barricades on Colina Conejo echoed down onto the march. Despite admonishments by Constabularia and moderates to ignore the taunters, several Blocs quickly began to converge in the direction of the barricades, returning the taunts with chants and songs of their own.

These chants continued for several minutes while the march below continued to move down the road, until the Frente Social supporters began singing "A Las Barricadas", which was met with a flurry of stones from the barricade near the Church. The Frente Social supporters returned fire with bottles and sticks, and those who had shields quickly came to the front, moving forward towards the barricades. The Frente Social supporters charged three barricades. They were driven back from one under sustained rock-throwing, but seized the remaining two in a pitched brawl, forcing the Restauracionistas to retreat from all three barricades and towards the church. Restauracionistas moved from other areas of the neighborhood to reinforce the Church, and Constabularia moved between the two groups, but the Frente Social supporters did not press the attack. Instead, having captured the barricades, they seized a number of flags and wooden crucifixes. Throwing these items and various components of the barricades into a dumpster while exchanging rocks and bottles with the defenders of the Church, they set fire to the dumpster and rolled it into the shrine that the Restauracionistas had built the previous day, setting fire to the portrait of Queen Isabella D'Castilla. By this point, about 9 AM, the tail end of the Frente Social march was beginning to pass the Colina Conejo, and the Blocs retreated from the hill to rejoin the march. Some of the Blocs were seen heading towards Pantano Mirlo.

Restauracionistas throwing stones from the barricades at Colina Conejo


Frente Social supporters with shields and clubs


At approximately 10:30 AM, the Frente Liberal march reached Pantano Mirlo along the Via Espadañas, where a heightened Constabularia presence had already formed ahead of the march in anticipation of conflict with the Frente Social barricades in the neighborhood. The Frente Liberal march consisted almost entirely of Restauracionistas and Alianza Liberal supporters, with only a token PDS and ATM presence. Among these, the large presence of the Falange was notable. As the march approached Pantano Mirlo, the fife and drum bands of the Falange began to a rendition of Cara El Sol, which was met with The Internationale sung from the Frente Social barricades.

The protest marshals employed by the Alianza Liberal moved to get between the march and the barricades, linking arms and urging Falange supporters to remain peaceful in the face of the Frente Social. This effort, however, was unsuccessful as Falange militants, using flagpoles, clubs, chains, and bricks, charged the barricades. Like the Frente Social supporters at Colina Conejo, the Falangists brought shields, many inscribed with crosses, symbols of white nationalism, and other far-right insignias.

The Falangists advances in formation on the barricades, under heavy thrown and slung rocks, bottles, and petrol bombs. However, the Constabularia intervened before the formation reached the barricades, holding the Falange back on the one side and attempting to detain Frente Social supporters who ventured beyond the barricade.

Falangists fighting Constabularia near the Pantano Mirlo barricades


A group of MTS-ers charged Constabularia who approached the barricades.


The Constabularia quickly found themselves overwhelmed by fighting on both sides. Repeatedly firing tear gas and chemical irritants into the Falangists and Frente Social lines did not succeed in dispersing either crowd, faced with the possibility of a charge from each side at once, the heavily outnumbered Constabularia retreated from the scene. A second advance by the Falange followed, which reached the barricades. In the pitched fighting that followed, however, the Falange was unable to take the barricade, due in part to Partido Popular and MTS militants on nearby rooftops armed with petrol bombs. Some of these militants flew the flag of the officially-disbanded Milicia de la Liberación Comunista, the former armed wing of the Partido Popular prior to the Amendment on Paramilitaries.

Following a second retreat from the barricades, the Falange regrouped for an attack at around 11:15 AM. By this time, the main body of the Frente Liberal march was leaving the area. When word reached the Falange that Frente Social supporters were bringing caches of rifles and ammunition to the barricades, the Falange retreated from Pantano Mirlo to join the rest of the march headed to the CCC. Reports indicate that at the time of the Falange retreat, Frente Social supporters were seen on the barricades and nearby rooftops with rifles. Further reports indicate that groups of armed Frente Social militants were seen marching from Pantano Mirlo towards the Plaza de Republica using side-streets parallel to Via Espadañas around 11:40 AM

Falangists shield a wounded 'comrade in arms' during a retreat from the barricades.


Alleged Milica de la Liberacion Comunista members moving towards the Plaza de Republica


[to be continued with events at the plaza]

[The Shivering Isles of Shegorath]

Shegorath nods at the Anarchists with full support

[The Greater States of Racoonia]

The Greater States of Racoonia praises the Partido Popular for taking part in the fight against the Falangist dogs. In the capital city of Byresgrad, the Partido Popular flag has been risen in front of the People's Commune of Racoonia building. It is to fly side by side with the Racoonian flag in honor of the courageous comrades in Sagatagan.

[Hyphania]

The people of Hyphania intend on organizing an "International Brigade" to aid the Sagat revolution. All friends of the revolution are asked to report to Hyphanian embassies in their home country in order to receive training, transport, and arms.

[Sagatagan Royal Government in Exile]

His majesty's government in exile demands the cessation of the Communist terror against the subjects of Sagatagan, and calls for the international community to condemn the violence against traditionalist protesters.

[Sagatagan]

His majesty's government in exile demands the cessation of the Communist terror against the subjects of Sagatagan, and calls for the international community to condemn the violence against traditionalist protesters.

OOC: Our exiled monarch is Her Royal Majesty, Queen Isabella D'Castille. I am flattered by your desire to RP our exiled monarchy, though, which I had previously intended to do myself. If you want to read up on the history of our monarchy and revolution in our fact-book, you're more than welcome to join the upcoming Civil War RP that will be developing out of this thread. Sorry about the slow rate of updates on the riots surrounding the marches in Avon, everyone- there's a lot of events and details to write about and I should have the bloody culmination of the day's events (and the start of the state of Sagat Civil War) posted before tomorrow night.