Tanker destroyed and sunk returning from Pravengria, Saxonople initiates oil embargo on Romulâ
Kader Tarek (@KaderTarek) and Donald Voortman (@DDVoortman) (UP)
November 9, 2013 10:21 PM | Saxonople, Federated Commonwealth of Pravengria
Rodarian oil tanker Cervescu was sunk by Pravene naval military forces using a torpedo, according to a press release by the Pravene government. Photo courtesy of Federated Commonwealth Armed Forces.
S T O R Y H E A D L I N E S:· NEW: Pravene Navy destroys Rodarian oil tanker
:· Federated Commonwealth cuts all diplomatic ties
with Rodarion, imposes oil embargo
:· Reports: tanker may have been in international
territory when destroyed
:· Pravene King Alesti: attack in response to Rodarian
execution of Vladimir Bratescu, who violated
controversial theocratic "Faith Protection Acts"
:· Romulâ seizes $56.3 billion Pravene financial assets
in country, demands apology
:· President Hayes: "inexcusable" attack a violation of
Rodarian sovereignty, a diplomatic solution
"imperative"
In an article that focused mainly on crimes committed by the Rodarian government rather than the attack on the oil tanker, controversial news station PNN reported that the tanker was sunk in response to the execution of Rodarian prisoner Vladimir Bratescu. Bratescu, a 24-year-old IT consultant, was controversially arrested on the grounds of violating the nation's sexual modesty laws, and was sentenced to execution for engaging in sexual intercourse with males and distributing anti-Papal and pornographic materials.
The hanging was criticized by international human rights activists, and it led the United Republic House Foreign Relations Committee to draw up a list of major Rodarian political figures who they considered enemies to human rights.
In a statement published on the Rodarian state-owned media outlet PRRB, a Papal Foreign Ministry spokesman criticized the Pravene action.
"The Papal Republic, unlike [Pravengria], does not comment on the laws or judicial actions of other nations, due to the virtue of respecting a nation's sovereignty. This act by the FCP is zealous, illegal and overtly aggressive," the statement said. "I can announce that the Papal Republic will hereby seize all Pravene assets [inside the country], the indefinite closure of the [Pravene] Embassy, and the deportation of their ambassador. All Pravene nationals current residing in the Papal Republic will have 78 hours to leave the Papal Republic, or will be deported by the Rodarian Border Force."
Public outrage dominated Rodarian news sources Saturday as Romulâ prepared a response to the Pravene attack. The Papal government forcefully seized $56.3 billion in Pravene assets in Rodarion throughout Saturday as Saxonople imposed a full-spectrum embargo on all trade with Rodarion. The move came at a critical period in the recently strengthened trade relations between the two countries. Rodarion had become increasingly dependent on oil exports from Pravengria, which relied on money from these exports to finance its energy aspirations.
Rodarion will deport an estimated 132,000 Pravene nationals living inside the country, and it has already forced the closure of the Pravene embassy in Romulâ in response to Pravengria's closure of the Rodarian embassy in Saxonople.
Reports conflict with each other regarding the location of the attack. PNN, often criticized for being a mouthpiece for the Pravene government, claimed the attack occurred in Pravene territorial waters. Later reports released by state-owned Rodarian media alleged that the oil tanker, reportedly crewed by civilians, was sunk in international waters.
U.R. President Washington Hayes, who was finishing the final elements of his presidential campaign, said during a speech in Alexandra, Jiowa that both sides should draw down.
"While the Rodarian execution of political prisoners based on trivial premises is deplorable, the Pravene attack on a civilian oil tanker is combative and inexcusable," he said towards the end of a speech that primarily covered economic policy. "It is plainly a violation of international law and of the sovereignty of Rodarion. A diplomatic solution to diffuse tensions between Saxonople and Romulâ is imperative to ensure a secure and stable Pardes."
Hayes called for OPA involvement in a peace process between the two countries, saying that a conflict between Rodarion and Pravengria would be "devastating for both sides and for the region as a whole".
"There are appropriate avenues to address human rights violations, but sinking a civilian ship and killing innocent civilians is not the correct path," he finished.
The international reaction was largely mixed. While many human rights activist organizations condoned a response to the hanging of Bratescu, numerous NGOs withdrew their support for the Pravene government following the attack. This included one of the world's most prominent organizations, the U.R.-based Human Liberties Union (HLU). Others, like the Pravengria-based Prisoner Innocence Association (PIA), favored Pravene action.
In a statement published on PRRB, the Rodarian government demanded an apology. "We expect an immediate apology from the FCP, if they fail to do so and commit any further aggressive acts, the Papal Republic will approach other states and attempt to form a sanction regime against this extra-regional threat," the statement said.
In response, according to PNN, the Pravene Ministry of Defence said: "They don't deserve an apology, we apologize for the loss of life to the families aboard the ship when the torpedo struck the Cervescu, but to the defunct government of the country, they won't hear one from us." The statement alleged the democratically elected Romulâ administration was illegitimate, and declared that Pravengria would refuse to negotiate. It is of note that the foreign relations statement was released by the Ministry of Defence, not typically a foreign affairs organization.
UP's Kader Tarek and Donald Voortman contributed to this report.
- Roadmap of Pravene-Rodarian tensions [ 5243 ]
- Alabasta civil war intensifies as rebels gain ground [ 9429 ]
- Opinion: Ongoing Pardes crises headline U.R. elections, will make or break Hayes campaign [ 1375 ]
- Comments [ 5871 ] | E-mail
© United Press Group 2013
5871 comments
Aimhere · 3 hours ago
They killed innocent civilians because an innocent man was killed by their opponent. What makes the Pravenes any better? Please. They act like they have the moral high ground, but they are just as bad as the theocracy they're claiming to fight.255 up · 14 downREPLY · UPVOTE · DOWNVOTE
Goggles · 3 hours ago
At least someone with a spine opened their mouth regarding Rodarion's violation of human rights. Oured is so two-faced - sometimes our money-hungry politicians are criticizing an obviously theocratic regime, and at other times we're defending them against a free country.
Emmeria truly is the root of all evil.150 up · 137 downREPLY · UPVOTE · DOWNVOTE
Tina · 4 hours ago
Pravengria drills for oil and destroys the environment there. They sink tankers and let millions of gallons of oil spill into the ocean and severely damage the marine environment in their own country. They aren't just an enemy to Rodarion, they are an enemy to Mother Earth.21 up · 24 downREPLY · UPVOTE · DOWNVOTE