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Moresnet - Factbook

PostPosted: Fri Dec 03, 2010 12:50 pm
by Moresnetujo
People's Republic of Moresnet - Moresneta Popola Respubliko
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Moresnet - Moresnetujo


Capital city: Kelmis
Population: 2,504,398 (2009 census)
Official language: Esperanto
Demonym: Moresnetian (Moresneta, in Esperanto)
Country code: MRS
ccTLD: .eo
Drives on the left

System of government: Council Communism
Head of state: Supreme Soviet of Moresnet (101-member collective)
Independence declared July 26, 1887, recognised August 9, 1905. As the People's Republic of Moresnet, July 9, 2006.

PostPosted: Fri Dec 03, 2010 12:51 pm
by Moresnetujo
HISTORY OF MORESNET
The Principality of Moresnet was founded in 1887, the principal aim of the foundation of this new nation being to grant a homeland to speakers of the new international language, Esperanto, explained in Ludwig Zamenhof's Unua Libro. The territory itself was created by Esperantists who, through astonishing amounts of pressure and lobbying of international governments, essentially forced the world to cave (please ignore the rumour currently circulating around the world, which states that said international organisations agreed to Moresnet's creation to "shut those bloody Esperantists up").
The organisation of the new country was a rather fuzzy issue at first. It was intended that Moresnet be a kingdom, in the style of most European nations of the time, which was the will of most other countries, who did not wish to have Moresnet viewed as a revolutionary haven for Europeans fed up with the old system.

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Sovereign Moresnet, 1887-1905
As it turned out, the issue of Moresnet's government could not be solved that easily without consulting the people of Moresnet, which European colonial leaders were reluctant to do. The actual ruler of the state at the time was one Henri-Louis Moreau, a troublesome character who was often said to have been "kicked upstairs" by European leaders, in order to prevent him interfering in their own affairs. He proved to be no more competent in running Moresnet, although action by the populace was discouraged by constant talk by the major powers of "an imminent solution to Moresnet's leadership issue". This solution never came, and when Moreau passed away in 1905, Moresnet's sovereignity was immediately under threat.

NB - The country's name at the time was simply Moresnet. "Sovereign Moresnet" is a term adopted by historians to distinguish this period in the country's history.

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Principality of Moresnet, 1905-1915
The diplomatic issue was resolved in 1905, when European ambassadors agreed that Moresnet would be a principality. They saw this as being able to keep the population of Moresnet under control, and in return, granted diplomatic recognition to Moresnet. Very little royal blood actually existed in Moresnet at the time, and there was certainly no ascribed royal household, so an elite of Moresnet's nobility was appointed Prince Carlo I of Moresnet. He was a benevolent ruler, and gained significant support from the Moresnetian population, however, on March 19, 1915, a bomb was dropped on Moresnet's Royal Palace, shocking the nation (which was neutral at the time). Prince Carlo was killed instantly.

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Ottoman Moresnet, 1915-1920
The Principality continued in name only for four years, under Carlo's son, Marko I of Moresnet. He could only run a government in exile, as the weakened nation was occupied by the Ottoman Empire and ran as a protectorate. At the Treaty of Sevres, the Ottoman Empire was forced to give up control of Moresnet.

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Moresnet Soviet Socialist Republic, 1920-1922
Moresnet Autonomous Soviet Socialist Republic, 1922-1941
In 1920, Moresnet was attacked by the Russian SFSR, and dragged unwillingly into the Russian Civil War. There was no heavy fighting - or, indeed, resistance - within Moresnet, as the people generally allowed themselves to be influenced by the sheer amount of pro-Bolshevik propaganda prevalent at the time. It became a SSR within Russia, and when the Soviet Union was formed in 1922, became an ASSR within the Union. Reaction to this was surprisingly warm in Moresnet itself, and the people remained generally pro-Soviet until 1931, when the USSR began to implement restrictions on the use of Esperanto, culminating in 1938 when Esperanto was banned in the whole nation. Anti-Soviet sentiment grew from then on, and it is rumoured that there was going to be open revolt. However, there never was a chance for this to happen.

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Reichskommissariat Moresnet, 1941-44
During Operation Barbarossa, Hitler invaded Moresnet. There was limited resistance (which was quickly crushed), although at the time, many believed that Nazi Germany was a better alternative to the Soviet Union. As it turned out, the period was a disasterous time for the nation, with many Moresnetian citizens being massacred in the concentration camps.

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Republic of Moresnet, 1944-61
After being liberated by the Allies in 1944, the Soviet Union tried to make claims on Moresnet, but Moresnet's strategic location meant that the Allies weren't quite prepared to give it away so easily. With the Soviets being forced to make concessions, Moresnet found itself on the side of the West in the Cold War, and more importantly for the people, the Esperantist green flag flew over the nation, and for the first time, there was democracy. President Rejmio DELUENZO steered the nation away from its pro-West line in 1954, opening the way for Moresnet to be truly neutral. After sixty-three years, Moresnet could finally be what Ludwig Zamenhof intended Esperantujo to be.

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Democratic Republic of Moresnet, 1961-2005
Unfortunately, this ideal lasted a mere seven years. Newly-elected president Felikso ĈURIANO, of the Moresnetian Progress Party, used emergency powers provided in the Constitution to seize dictatorial power, disband all other parties, and plunge Moresnet into chaos. By 1975, the economy was in absolute ruin. Ĉuriano ruled as an absolute leader, and all who opposed his rule were jailed or, more commonly, executed. He recieved somewhat strong backing from the USSR, despite not being a Communist, for his harsh anti-US stance, and this helped him to maintain his iron hold on power. However, when the Soviet Union collapsed, Ĉuriano encountered increasing resistance from his own people, and his grip on power started to wane. He never lost his power by the time he died in 2003, although had he stayed alive as little as an extra year, experts agree that he would have been forced out of office.

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Provisional Revolutionary Government of the Republic of Moresnet, 2004-6
The remnants of Ĉuriano's government tried desperately to cling to power, plunging the nation into a brutal civil war. Rebels hoisted the red flag of socialism over the capital of Kelmis, defaced with the green star of Esperantists. With absolutely no popular support, the remnants of the "Democratic Republic" crumbled in late 2005, whereas the Provisional Government remained in place, in order to ensure the nation was strong and stable before moving back to democracy.

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People's Republic of Moresnet, 2006-present
Finally, on July 8, 2006, the Central Committee of the Provisional Government voted to dissolve itself, paving the way for the establishment of workers' soviets across Moresnet. This went surprisingly smoothly, and the People's Republic was formed the following day, promising to give all power to the people of Moresnet.

PostPosted: Fri Dec 03, 2010 12:51 pm
by Moresnetujo
GOVERNMENT
The Supreme Soviet of Moresnet consists of 101 members, which are chosen through free and fair open elections. There is no fixed date for any election, instead, the people represented by one delegate can choose to hold a recall election at any time.

There are no political parties in Moresnet (political parties are in fact banned), candidates must stand and win according to their own policies. Nevertheless, it is possible to see vague voting blocs forming in the Supreme Soviet, and some media sources have made attempts to identify them:

Moresneta Vereco, far-left newspaper: Communists (31), socialists (28), social-democrats (15), trade-unionists (17), reactionaries (2), independent (8).
Libereco Nun!, reformist pressure group: Communists (40), socialists (31), liberals (15), social-democrats (9), reactionaries (5), independent (1).
Ŝtata Gazeto, official publication of the government: Communists (28), socialists (22), social-democrats (10), liberals (15), anarcho-liberals (8), anarchists (3), reactionaries (3), fascists (1), libertarians (4), free-market capitalists (1), independent (6).
Note that the Ŝtata Gazeto figures are strictly unofficial, and the government/newspaper denies all knowledge of them!

Chain of command of the government of Moresnet
Supreme Soviet of Moresnet (101 members)
Province-level soviets (15 of these, consisting of 50-250 members)
Village and town soviets (36 of these, usually around 30-100 members)
Factory soviets (106 of these, with about 50 members each.)

Ministers of the People's Republic
The ministers of Moresnet require a mandate from the Supreme Soviet. Either the soviet, or the people, can sack a minister at any time.

Minister of Information: Luko KAJMIO
This Ministry deals with the state-owned news and information media. Its role is gradually waning as citizens tend to obtain their news from other sources.
Minister of Foreign Affairs: Johano ELUENZO
Diplomacy, and ensuring that our diplomats don't do something stupid to offend other countries.
Minister of Education: Paulo MILO
Ensuring that the education system in Moresnet is fair, open, well-balanced, free of bias and allows the next generation to succeed.
Minister of Defense: Mariano NELANO
The task of this Ministry is to defend Moresnet against foreign invasions. To call out the Army, requires the support of the Supreme Soviet (and therefore the people).
Minister of External Affairs: Davido KINĜO
Not to be confused with Foreign Affairs, this Ministry is the one arming left-wing rebels in other countries.
(NB. formerly known (2007-9) as the Minister for International Proletariat.)
Minister of Internal Affairs: Ludovikino MAJO
Simply enough, they deal with matters which arise that can be dealt with internally by the people of Moresnet.
Minister of Communications: Elizabeto BLOĤINO
Ensuring that communication throughout Moresnet is cheap, fast and accessible.
Minister of Labour: Ivano MOJADO
Making sure that, throughout the whole country, the workforce of Moresnet is not being oppressed.
Minister of Agriculture: Filipo TILUSTO
As its name would suggest, deals with agricultural matters.
Minister of the Economy: Petro ĴENO
Moresnet has a centrally-planned state economy. This Ministry exists for the purpose of regulating said economy.

PostPosted: Fri Dec 03, 2010 12:51 pm
by Moresnetujo
ARMED FORCES OF THE PEOPLE'S REPUBLIC OF MORESNET
The People's Defense Army currently maintains a standing army of 130,000 men. In the event that conscription was introduced, defense officials estimate a maximum force of 650,000 ground troops. There is no compulsary military service in Moresnet.
The army may only be called out with the consent of the Supreme Soviet. In the event of a declaration of war, full assent of the people is required to proceed with such actions.

The People's Defense Army operates with the DEFCON system:
1: State of war. All units mobilised.
2: Maximum readiness, possible localised military action.
3: Increase in force readiness above that required for normal readiness.
4: Increased intelligence watch and strengthened security measures.
5: Lowest state of readiness.

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The AK-47. Standard issue for Moresnetian troops.
Weight 4.3 kg (9.5 lb) with empty magazine
Length 875 mm (34.4 in) folding stock extended
Barrel length 415 mm (16.3 in)
Cartridge 7.62x39mm M43
Action Gas-operated, rotating bolt
Rate of fire 600 rounds/min
Muzzle velocity 715 m/s (2,346 ft/s)
Effective range 400 metres (440 yd) semi-automatic
Feed system 10, 20, or 30-round detachable box magazine, also compatible with 40-round box or 75-round drum magazines from the RPK
Sights Adjustable iron sights, 100–800 metre adjustments, 378 mm (14.9 in) sight radius

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Moresnet uses B-1B bombers and MiG-35 interceptor aircraft, pictured above.

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The T-80, a significant number of which were recently purchased from the Russian Federation, is the main battle tank of the People's Republic of Moresnet.

PostPosted: Fri Dec 03, 2010 12:51 pm
by Moresnetujo
GENERAL DEMOGRAPHIC INFORMATION

Population: 2,504,398 (2009 census)
0-14 years: 13.6% (male 172,892/female 168,768)
15-64 years: 69.2% (male 856,504/female 876,539)
65 years and over: 17.2% (male 182,821/female 247,937) (2009 est.)

Median age
Total: 39.9 years
Male: 38.3 years
Female: 41.3 years

Population growth rate: 0.0155%
Birth rate: 12.5 births/1000
Death rate: 12.2 deaths/1000
Net migration: 0.4 migrants/1000
Urban population: 94%

Gender ratio
At birth: 1.03 male/female
Under 15 years: 1.02 male/female
15-64 years: 0.97 male/female
65 years and over: 0.74 male/female
Total population: 0.94 male/female

Infant mortality rate: 7.93 deaths/1000 live births
Life expectancy at birth: 74.35 years (male - 71.93, female - 76.01)
Total fertility rate: 1.98 children/woman

HIV/AIDS prevalance rate: 0.4%
People living with HIV/AIDS: 7,500
HIV/AIDS - Deaths: Fewer than 200
Major infectious diseases: Low-risk

Religion:
Atheist/irreligious 54.2%
Catholicism 10.4%
Buddhist 8.8%
Orthodox Christian 6.5%
Sunni Islam 4.7%
Shia Islam 4.6%
Protestant 4.1%
Hindu 3.2%
Other Christian 2.3%
Other 1.2%
(NB. No religion is given official recognition by the government, but no religion is banned, either.)

Literacy rate: 99.8%
School life expectancy (primary to tertiary): 15 years
(NB. Education at all levels is free in Moresnet.)

Human Development Index: 0.857
Labour force: 1.437 million
Suffrage: 17 years, universal

GDP per capita: $16,194
GDP per capita, PPP: $28,135

Telephones - landlines: 870,129
Telephones - mobile: 2,094,591
Televisions: 1,194,500
Internet users: 2,004,596

Patients per doctor, average: 225
Population with access to healthcare: ~2.5 million
(NB. Healthcare is free and universal.)

PostPosted: Fri Dec 03, 2010 12:52 pm
by Moresnetujo
MARRIAGE
Only civil marriage is valid within Moresnet, and there are no restrictions on same-gender marriage. Divorce is significantly easier to obtain than in most other nations.

EQUALITY
Women have full sexual equality in law. It is forbidden to discriminate based on gender, sexuality, religious or political views, race, ethnicity or social class (affirmative action is also banned).

SPORT
Association football (or "soccer") is the most popular sport in Moresnet, with the current champions of the Top League being SG Kelmiso. An increasing amount of young Moresnetians are becoming involved in sport themselves, with about 55% of the youth population believed to take part in organised sport of some sort.

CRIME AND PUNISHMENT
The state places high emphasis on rehabilitating criminals, however, someone who is found guilty of a Category 2 offense (rape, enslavement, torture, manslaughter) will be jailed. Someone who is found guilty of a Category 1 offense (murder, paedophilia, attempted murder) could face capital punishment. However, the rate of such crimes is extremely low. Almost all crimes reported are Category 4 (theft, fraud, etc.)

CENSORSHIP
It is completely illegal in Moresnet for the state to censor any information. The exception is when release of such information could put the Moresnetian state or people at risk.

NATIONAL SYMBOLS
The motto of Moresnet is:
PROLETOJ DE ĈIUJ LANDOJ, UNUIĜU!

In English, this means "proletarians of all nations, unite!" It was adopted by the Provisional Government in 2005.

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This is the flag of the People's Republic. The red field stands for socialism, while the green star on white represents the Esperantist movement.

PostPosted: Sat Dec 04, 2010 6:58 am
by Moresnetujo
NATIONAL ANTHEM
La Internacia (The Internationale) and La Espero (The Hope) have equal status in Moresnet.

La Internacia

Leviĝu, proletar’ de l’ tero,
leviĝu, sklavoj de malsat’!
La Vero tondras en kratero,
sekvos finofara bat’.
La paseon plene ni forviŝos,
amasoj, marŝu, kresku ni!
La mond’ en fundament’ ŝanĝiĝos,
ne nul’, sed ĉio estu ni!

Refreno
Por batal’, por la lasta
unuiĝu nia front’,
internacia estos
la tuta homa mond’!


Ne estas super ni defenso,
nek reĝ’, nek Dio, nek patron’.
Kreantoj, ni nin savu mem do,
luktu por komuna bon’!
La rabaĵon preni de l’ rabisto,
spiriton savi de l’ karcer’,
ni blovu fajron kun persisto,
kaj batu ni, dum ardas fer’!

Refreno

Ni, laboristoj, ni, kampuloj,
partio granda de l’ labor’!
Al ni la ter’ laŭ justreguloj,
parazit’ sin portu for!
Ja grasigos multajn nia karno,
sed malaperos ĉe l’ aŭror’
la korva kaj vultura svarmo,
eterne brilos suna glor’!

Refreno

# # # # # # # # # #

La Espero

En la mondon venis nova sento,
tra la mondo iras forta voko;
per flugiloj de facila vento
nun de loko flugu ĝi al loko.

Ne al glavo sangon soifanta
ĝi la homan tiras familion:
al la mond' eterne militanta
ĝi promesas sanktan harmonion.

Sub la sankta signo de l' espero
kolektiĝas pacaj batalantoj,
kaj rapide kreskas la afero
per laboro de la esperantoj.

Forte staras muroj de miljaroj
inter la popoloj dividitaj;
sed dissaltos la obstinaj baroj,
per la sankta amo disbatitaj.

Sur neŭtrala lingva fundamento,
komprenante unu la alian,
la popoloj faros en konsento
unu grandan rondon familian.

Nia diligenta kolegaro
en laboro paca ne laciĝos,
ĝis la bela sonĝo de l' homaro
por eterna ben' efektiviĝos.

INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS

FOREIGN EMBASSIES AND CONSULATES
None, yet! An embassy program is under construction.

INTERNATIONAL ALLIANCES
Confederation of Socialist States
Communist Confederation of States (COMCON)

QUESTIONS FROM OTHER NATIONS
None, yet! If you have a query, please send a telegram to the MINISTRY OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS, Karlmarksostrato 14, Kelmis, Moresnet.