8 January 2018
The Daily Buzz
National Palace, Townside
Weather - Max: 14; Min: 5
Interview with the Grand Princes
The Daily Buzz achieved a brief interview with Grand Prince Zackery Carlisle on News Years Day, just moments after he lead a 7-man Special Forces Team on a successful rescue mission of 18 teenagers held hostage by 9 members of the terrorist orgnanisation SHOCK.
He was in the Townside Medical Centre to visit the victims of the terror attack, as well as those injured during the City of Townside stampede. His cheek and fist were marred with blood, as was his camouflage clothes. Our experts, however, suggest it was not his own blood.
The brief interview in the Royal Engineers Hospital lobby was recorded as follows:
Interviewer: Your Highness. Would you say that your method of response tonight was the best and most effective way?
Z. Carlisle: The terrorists asked for a phone call with me... but I don’t negotiate with criminals or thugs. The safety and security of the people of Townside is the duty and responsibility of my men and I... so I went there and I shot dead those who threaten us. Simple.”
Interviewer: Your Highness talks about killing them, but we understand there were two terrorists who were captured alive?”
Z. Carlisle: Oh don’t worry. We’ll get to killing them. For now, we need those two alive. For information and intelligence, that will hopefully get us to the root of this SHOCK problem.
However, the interview and the peace in the hospital lobby was disrupted by an angered lady, an Athara Magarati immigrant, who began yelling profanities at the Grand Prince, accusing his incompetence for allowing the bullying of Athara Magariti students and immigrants.
She was detained, although she was released when it was confirmed that she had no connections to SHOCK, and was merely a disgruntled individual. She has, however, used her brief publicity to declare her intent on joining the Federation of Social Justice Warriors, the umbrella group for the far-left, and voicing her support for the Imperial Forces Remnants, the perpetuators of the horrific Great Christmas Island War, in a bid to spite the Grand Princes.
Those present in the hospital lobby at that time voiced their support for the Grand Prince, and praised him for his rescue effort, and they jeered as the lady was removed from the premises. Many criticised the Athara Magarati immigrant for caring more about peoples’ hurt feelings rather than those injured with life-threatening wounds. They also criticised her for supporting violent and divisive organisations during such a difficult and worrying time for the nation.
Grand Prince Zackery, who was already disappointed by the terrorist attack, declined to continue the interview.
We can now confirm that one teenager from the yacht and two more individuals from the City of Townside stampede has died. The Daily Buzz would like to extend our condolences to the families and all those affected by these deaths.
We can also confirm that all other injuries resulting from the events have been successfully treated. This includes the one SAS soldier who received minor injuries during the raid on the yacht.
Meanwhile, authorities are troubled by increased activity from the Imperial Forces Remnants in the South West Territory, and they believe that the Remnants are hoping to use the terrorist attack by SHOCK as a distraction to launch their own offensive against the Land of Townside. Authorities have promised that both SHOCK and the Imperial Forces Remnants will make no advances in their bid to bring Townside to its knees.
“If anything,” General Ryuu Takahashi declared in an interview “we will have our enemies kneel before us. Defeated.”
Grand Prince Zackery Carlisle has become increasingly involved militarily, even after his personal engagement in the rescue mission. Images have emerged of him in military uniform personally leading and engaging in military training and exercises, to personally prepare military personnel and formations in the South West Territory to keep the Imperial Forces Remnants at bay. He has also had several meetings with top military officers and Security Service personnel, presumably to discuss strategy and military mechanics regarding the defences against Imperial Remnants, and SHOCK.
His presence among the troops have heightened morale, but this means that the older Grand Prince has left most administrative duties over Townside to his younger brother, Grand Prince Noah Carlisle, who shall remain in the capital during his brother’s absence.
This will mean that Zackery Carlisle is likely to be absent when delegations from Torom and Ainslie arrive in Townside for talks. It has been confirmed that Grand Prince Noah Carlisle has been left in charge of these diplomatic events. Zackery Carlisle was, however, present when Samuderan officials visited Townside just a day ago.
The Daily Buzz is now honoured to be able to interview Grand Prince Noah Carlisle in the gardens of the National Palace. The interview is recorded as follows:
Noah Carlisle on the attack, Athara Magarat and SHOCK
In the first part of the interview, Noah Carlisle was asked about the recent New Years hostage crisis, Athara Magarat’s response to the said events, and about the terrorist organisation SHOCK, which perpetuated the attacks and that is also responsible for several terror movements in Townside and across the Isles.
Interviewer: Your Highness, before we begin, I would like to request if you could give us a general update about the recent New Years hostage crisis.
N. Carlisle: Certainly. The first thing I of course must say is that our thoughts are with those affected by the events, and I say that on behalf of my brother and our Family. I can only imagine how difficult it must be for those affected. However, I would like to calm peoples’ nerves about any further threats to their safety. I can say that this attack was an isolated event, but the Security Service will nevertheless be working behind the scenes to ensure nothing like this happens again. We have made major breakthroughs in our investigation, especially with the help of the two captured terrorists, and have successfully prosecuted some other individuals in our country who we can confirm are working closely with SHOCK. Military personnel will continue to be stationed at key areas across all major cities to keep everyone safe, but I would like to echo my brother’s advice in his Christmas Message: that regardless of the steps taken by the government, everyone should personally remain vigilant at all times.
Interviewer: As you know, many Townsiders are enraged by Athara Magarat because SHOCK originated from their country. Many also find it unacceptable that Athara Magarat, instead of voicing concern or condolences in the aftermath of the crisis, instead had officials who attacked Townsiders for the bullying of Athara Magarati students and burning their flags. They’ve also labelled us as ignorant. Would Your Highness care to comment on that.
N. Carlisle: Firstly, I would like to say that I condemn, utterly so, the bullying of Athara Magarati students and the disrespect shown to their country by the flag burnings at the Ipachi Village. I have spoken to the Ipachi Chief and the Vice Chancellor of the University of Townside and they both share my views. I believe that Townside has always been made better by the fact that we are diverse and multicultural. Let us not forget that all of us on this island: white, black, brown and yellow, put aside our differences to defeat the Imperial Forces and unify our island. Let’s not break our unity over a petty terrorist organisation... That being said, I also have something very serious to say to Athara Magarati officials: Townside is far from ignorant - we merely have a very strong survival instinct. We have survived a devastating war no more than seven years ago, and we do not take kindly to terrorists targeting us simply for being and existing. The reason why Athara Magarat is looking so suspicious right now is because they are too passive on SHOCK. They seem to lather themselves in sugar to avoid the responsibility, but that violent organisation is on Athara Magarati soil, and yet their government act as if they can do nothing, when in fact they are in the prime position to solve the SHOCK problem. They are inconsiderate to the rest of the isles, and frankly, I would say Athara Magarat is the ignorant ones for believing their passive attitude is actually giving them the moral high ground. My advice to Athara Magarat is this: clear up your stance on the violent murderers that is SHOCK, and maybe, just maybe, Townside might take that country seriously. For now, they are nothing more than a joke.
Interviewer: You have just asked the Athara Magarati government for a tougher stance on SHOCK. There are others in their country that share your views, and they have organised themselves in a nationwide protest in Athara Magarat. However, the “anti-pacifist” protest does not completely agree with you. In fact many in that loose movement have demanded an apology from Townside for the flag burning. Are you, your brother or any of your ministers planning to issue an apology?
N. Carlisle: Absolutely not. As far as we are concerned, a government only apologises for wrong actions it has committed... the flag burnings were not government actions - they were actions committed by private citizens who were exercising their right to free speech and freedom of expression. While I do condemn the disrespect to Athara Magarat, I will never ever stiffle the right of my own citizens to free speech, simply to satisfy the easily hurt feelings of a bunch of softy Athara Magaratis. The violent ‘anti-pacifist’ protestors will not find their demands met by the government of Townside. We do not succumb to the emotions of rabbles.
Interviewer: Before we move off the topic of the terrorist attack, I would like to ask one last question, and that is why was it so easy for a terrorist organisation such as SHOCK to infiltrate our nation's defences and commit this act?
N. Carlisle: I would have to admit that we underestimated them quite a bit, but not in a conventional way. As far as I know, the relevant authorities were instructed to prepare assuming that SHOCK came well-equipped, as to be expected of a region-wide terrorist organisation. What we did not expect, however, is that SHOCK was extra-well-equipped, with capabilities that surprised us as abilities that should not be possessed by such an organisation.
Interviewer: What do you mean?
N. Carlisle: What I am trying to get at is that we have reason to suspect, after extensive investigation, that SHOCK may actually be sponsored, supported and even bankrolled by a third party, possibly an individual large enough to afford it.
Interviewer: Could you be referencing the Athara Magarati government?
N. Carlise: No, it seems unlikely that the Athara Magarati state would be sponsoring SHOCK, but our intelligence suggest that there could be state sponsors, but more worryingly, there could also be other large, non-state, private individuals or organisations that could be supporting SHOCK. We are not clear on this, but for now, the relevant authorities will be investigating this further to uncover any foul-play and prevent future possible attacks, and also to reduce the effectiveness and capabilities of SHOCK.
Noah Carlisle on the Keverai leaks: “The Unravelling”
In the second part of the interview, the younger Grand Prince was asked about the recent expose surrounding Keverai, which has been popularly termed by international media outlets as "The Unravelling". The Grand Prince was also asked about the potential impact this could have on burgeoning Keverai-Townside relations. Noah Carlisle was set to visit Keverai after the New Years for diplomatic talks, a visit that has been planned for months since last year.
When asked about his views about the leaks in general, the younger Grand Prince said that the revelations were regrettable, but that he would decline to comment further as those leaks involved foreign countries. He insisted that issues and eventual decisions surrounding the leaks should be left to each sovereign country to individually decide. He did, however, mention how the leaks does not involve any individuals or organisations from Townside, which he described as a relief.
This comes after many individuals and organisations from nations such as Xrevaro, Ostehaar, Vancouvia, Dormill and Stiura, Covonant and Ainslie, among others, were implicated in tax evasion, corruption and other unethical practices. While the majority of the leaks were revealed on New Years Eve by the Covonant news agency CBC, the leaks are still ongoing as names continue to pour out.
When asked about Chief Consul Renaut of Keverai's speech on 4 January, and the damning revelations just a day later, Noah Carlisle said that it was extremely 'shocking' and 'unfortunate'. Renaut's speech spoke of equality, democracy and community, and emphasised fairness and international accountability, just hours before it was revealed that there were sweatshops and forms of modern slavery existing in the State of Keverai.
Noah Carlisle has stated that the leaks in general have caused him some reservations regarding his impending diplomatic meeting, but he stressed that the unfolding events should be no reason to call off the meeting altogether. In fact, Noah Carlisle described such an act as a diplomatic slight, and instead reframed the diplomatic meeting as a prime opportunity to discuss the worrying leaks with Keverai.
When questioned about the hypocrisy of Burnell Renaut, and asked whether he would still meet his counterpart after Renaut's blunder, Noah Carlisle said that he did not blame Renaut in a personal capacity for the circumstances in which Keverai currently finds itself in, and that the timing of the speech and the revelations were simply disadvantageous. However, Noah Carlisle said that he would still proceed with the talks, but in a more careful manner.
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