News Thread [Kylaris|Canon|IC]

by **Aucuria** » Sat Jan 30, 2021 2:07 pm

Atvira visiems, šališkas nė

Chancellery calls for "demilitarization" of Arucian Sea
Short statement released today by chancellor's office is likely directed at Chistovodia and Maracao

Chancellor Petras Uspelevičius speaking to the press in 2020. File photo.

KALNASPILIS, AUCURIA | January 30, 2021 - The office of Chancellor Petras Uspelevičius has released a short statement today calling for the "demilitarization" of the Arucian Sea, in a statement widely believed by observers to be directed at the governments of Chistovodia and Maracao.

Calling the sea "a vital throughway for commerce and trade", the statement said that "certain actors in the Asterias have exploited unfortunate circumstances to militarize the Arucian, abusing what should have been an opportunity for Asterian nations to come together in humanitarian cooperation in favor of short-sighted hardline moves... these irresponsible, provocative actions pose the risk of destabilizing Asteria Superior and Asteria Inferior alike."

"The preemptive militarization of the Arucian Sea by these actors was one disconnected from the actual diplomatic and political situation in the area, and yet it stands to potentially destabilize the entire Arucian region," the statement continued. "The government of the Aucurian Republic believes that this militarization should be reversed as soon as possible, in the interest of preserving and protecting peace and diplomacy between the countries of the Asterias."

While the statement is vague and does not reference any countries by name, it is widely believed that the statement refers to the governments of Chistovodia and Maracao; Chistovodia has massively expanded its military presence in Maracao, and by extension the Arucian, since 2020, expanding their naval presence from nine vessels to twenty-three. Chistovodia moved its military to the country with the pretense of delivering humanitarian aid following the 2020 Pico de Sangue eruption, which killed at least 40,000 people.

Chistovidian actions have been backed by the regime of Adão Costa, which has permitted the expansion of naval and aerial facilities, ostensibly for the delivery of aid, by the Chistovodian military.

It is presently unclear if the statement represents a potential shift towards a harder line on the Arucian situation by the Uspelevičius administration, which has previously remained mostly quiet on the issue; should a shift to a harder line manifest, it is hard to say what actions Aucuria might concretely take on its own or alongside its allies and blocs like ASTCOM. It is also unclear how exactly Social Democratic voters, and the leadership of other political parties, might respond to such a stance. At the moment it is clear that the Uspelevičius administration hopes to avoid too direct of a confrontation, but should its statements become more explicit in who they are criticizing, speculation of a more hawkish tone might be vindicated.

As of press time, neither Chistovodia nor Maracao has issued a response.

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by **Empire of Falconia** » Sat Jan 30, 2021 8:58 pm

Ravnian National News
2021 Ravnian Presidential Debate Highlights

Novigrad - Tonight, after much delay, the two candidates running for the office of President of the Ravnian Republic have met to debate each other on varying topics and issues facing Ravnia. The RNN team has compiled three major highlights from the debate, which may prove key to the remainder of both candidates campaigns.

Early on in the debate, both candidates were questioned on how they would handle the current political violence gripping Ravnia if they won the election. President Abramov was the first to respond stating:

“It was, and still is, unacceptable that the violence committed in the capital two weeks ago was allowed to happen. My administration is working on reducing political violence across the country, and we will continue to work on this if I am re-elected.”

This was followed by his opponent Andiry Avramenko who stated:

“I would make it my administration's top priority to end political violence. However, I also think it's important to talk about why this violence took place. Many people, myself included, have become frustrated with the seemingly endless control the NCF has had in the Ravnian government for the past 40 years, and this frustration manifested itself in the violence we saw in Novigrad.”

Later on in the debate, the issue of healthcare came up. This time, Avramenko went first stating:

“The healthcare system in Ravnia can and must be improved. Private healthcare companies hold too much power over peoples medical care, my administration would see this change, with the government taking a greater role in providing medical care to the people of Ravnia.”

The President was quick to respond, stating:

“The private healthcare system in Ravnian has been good for the people, the system we have in place has led to low costs for medicine and medical services, in fact, trying to shift Ravnia away from this system will cause more harm than good. Our Republic is not suited for such a large shift in healthcare policy.”

The last highlight we have compiled from the debate came at the end, with the last topic for the debate being the economy. The president went first stating:

“Ever since the 2005 economic crisis, my administration has been working hard to keep the Ravnian economy in good shape. My administration plans on continuing to keep the economy going on its current, positive path.”

Avramenko jumped in after the president stating:

“While my opponent has done well to help the economy recover from the recession, he has done little to grow the economy. We all know the sad truth of Ravnias economy, it hasn’t recovered to its pre 2005 levels, and it most certainly hasn’t gone beyond them. While I will not claim to bring us beyond our 2005, like my colleague Matviy Holub did, but I do intend to set us on the path to get there. In order to do that, I intend to increase government oversight in the economy, to better regulate and monitor its fluctuations.”

That concludes the RNN’s highlights of the 2021 presidential debate. Due to delays to the debate, it is expected that this will be the only presidential debate of the election.

by **Lunas Legion** » Mon Feb 01, 2021 9:13 am

Home · Ajahadya · Coius · International · Politics · Business · Technology and Science · Arts · Education · Health · Sports · Weather
New Satria Party wins presidential elections and majority in legislature
1st February, 2021 | By Veer Nirwan

Salil Balchandra giving a speech during his inauguration.

Banabadura, Ajahadya- Following the counting of votes last night, late this morning the results of the 2021 Presidential and Legislative elections were announced with the result being unsurprising to many, with Salil Balchandra winning a second term in the presidency with a total of 54.5% in the presidential election, primarily coming from the states of Himavanta and Prasumidesa. His main opponent during the election, the leader of the Satrian National People’s Party, Ishtarth Kalsarah, secured 22.4% of the vote, primarily in Togotistan and Zubad, while Sahat Sarai of the Pan-Satrian League secured 13.1%. Manzar Asnani, candidate of the Satrian Section of the Worker's International took 5.3% of the vote, while Fawziya Hathiwala of the Peasants and Workers Democratic Satrian Congress secured 4.4%. 0.3% of votes cast were invalid.

Although Salil Balchandra has claimed this is a decisive victory for his policies and leadership, it marks a 6% drop in the votes he received since 2013, and this victory seems to be more a result of an ineffective and ideologically divided opposition unable to coalesce around a single party than any growth in popularity as the President claims.

With the Pan-Satrian League firmly on the rightward end of the political spectrum while the Satrian National People’s Party, Peasants and Workers Democratic Satrian Congress and Satrian Section of the Worker's International split the vote of the rural peasantry and students among them, the New Satria Party has firmly established itself in the center of politics in Ajahadya, able to take votes from both of its most likely competitors while simultaineously preventing those competitors from uniting on policy grounds in a combined electoral ticket.

61.3% of the vote in the legislative election went to the New Satria Party, giving them 276 seats in the Parliament of the Union of Federated Republics of Satria, a clear endorsement of the party and signalling that there is some dissatisfaction among the party's electoral base with its current leader. The next largest party, the Satrian National People’s Party, secured 17.1% of the vote and 77 seats, while the Pan-Satrian League secured 10% giving them 54 seats. The Satrian Section of the Worker's International secured 6% of the vote and took 27 seats and the Peasants and Workers Democratic Satrian Congress secured 3.1%, giving them 16 seats. 0.2% of ballots cast were invalid. 2.5% of ballots were cast for parties that failed to meet the 2.7% threshold for representation in the Parliament.

Although not the decisive landslide the New Satria Party had been hoping for, the elections give them a firm majority in the Parliament and retained control of the Presidency. Those who have been calling them the new Pan-Satrian League, in reference to that party's domination of politics from 1943 to 1997 for good or ill, will feel vindicated by this result and the provided stability, while the supporters of the Satrian National People’s Party will be in despair following their party's second presidential electoral defeat and inability to overpower the New Satria Party's majority in the Parliament without a substantial break in the ranks, which with Vimala Balchandra likely to retain her position as Premier seems increasingly unlikely.

Yet the drop in Salil Balchandra's vote share will likely have many within the party nervous about the prospects of his second term and who will carry the torch for the party beyond that. Equally, eight years is a long time, and although Salil Balchandra faces no immediate issues nor policies to implement, having campaigned as being a safe pair of hands to steer the ship of state, there is no telling what challenges he will be presented to overcome.

Veer Nirwan has been a political reporter at NavBashurat Times since 1997 and has covered the 2005 and 2013 presidential elections, in addition to every legislative election from 1997 to the present.

©NavBashurat Times 2021

by **Norcandy** » Mon Feb 01, 2021 9:23 am

by **Norcandy** » Tue Feb 02, 2021 3:44 am

by **The Kingdom of Eldmark** » Tue Feb 02, 2021 2:22 pm

THE GREAT COLLAPSE: Liberal Will Coming Apart At The Seams (Yet Again!)
^{JAN KJÄRRSSEN}
^{Wednesday, 2nd February 2021|Platenburg}

Drama and bedlam is all that has so far unfolded at the 2021 convention of the Liberal Will party, a dance that party leader Matteo Nyholm is all too accustomed to. Ever since the 2016 elections that landed them and the NP into the coalition majority, varying voices from within the party and a lack of clear vision has taken its toll the past 4 and a half years, while the relatively stable Nationals have taken that to their advantage in implementing policy only further dividing the political center. Of the party, its various factions - establishment types like Nyholm, AFP splitters like Nils Moller and Hans Janssen, and Elias Claesson's "Korsa" wing, have been at each others throats ever since. Dubbed "the devil's contract" by Nils Moller, regret has plagued the party into the convention, turning the dusty Platenburg desert into a battleground of talking points and platitudes.

Nils Moller especially has gone on the record to condemn the party heads for not demanding a more robust strategy in combating climate change, citing the inaction at the Baiqiao Summit as "a prime example of why collaborating with extreme corporatists and crony capital only dooms us all," with Hans Janssen seconding and demanding action by stating the following:

"In 2016 Mr. Nyholm promised us a way of seeing change, real, tangible change, in then-PM Rehn's stubborn conservatism, only to get platitudes and promises, little scraps of bills and nothing that would actually cost the government anything. Now, the NP has a hardliner relabeling us as an irrelevant backwater and a laughing stock. Westermarck would be ashamed of all of us, all of you. I promise you this, Mr. Chairman, if we don't see change now, and before this election in March, do not expect us on the bench when you need a headcount."

Additional flare-ups are among the government's mishandling of the funds going to disaster response teams and victims in Maracao and the surrounding area, with accusations of massive claimant fraud, missing payments to response crews and money outright vanishing along the way. One Assemblyman, Lars Tynnikken, from Vaxholmen-21 was reported to shout this before his mic was cut off.

"My home is in Vaxholmen, in Vanö. When I go home, all I am met with is sadness and anger. People are asking me constantly "Where is my check? My harvest is dead, my home is without power and I will not make this month's rent. Where is my check, Assemblyman?" I need an answer to that question. I need it now. They need it. And if you can't get your f-ing asses off the ground and do something about it, why would they vote for you, hell, why would I vote for you?"

Still, Matteo Nyholm remains calm, whether it is denial or fear, and has only offered a few statements ahead of the election. "We are united around a common goal. These rumors of division are created by pro-Chistovodian usurpers and agitators in our society, who only want to see Eldmark burn. That is all."

Political analysts agree that the shifting and cracking of Liberal Will represents a greater trend of geopolitical division and increased partisanship, with the Arucian crisis, rising income inequality, and the Pico de Sangue eruption causing many to radicalize one way or the other. "People look at this posturing and dance of political adversaries happening in their backyard, they hear daily about jets flying to re-enforce Knuten base. People take home less and less kronor in terms of bargaining power, there is a rise in homelessness in most of the country, and constant accusations of corruption regarding the Pico response is infuriating the Eldmarsk. This is all they hear about now, and the last thing they want to hear is someone from Hammarvik telling them that nothing can be done, and that they need to trust in the great plan." says Patrick Bergmann, a professor at Hammarvik International University and a contributor of VärldenIdag. "People want change."

©världenidag.el 2021

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by **Imperii Ecclesia** » Tue Feb 02, 2021 10:10 pm

ONE DEAD AS ANTI-GOVERNMENT PROTESTS WORSEN
Prosters clash with Police in the streets of Tranquille

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CATHERINE DECOUVE (@DECOUVECATHERINE )
^{2 FEBUARY 2021 17:23 | PORT DE LA SAINTE, SAINTE-CHLOE}

Police Clash with Protestors on the Streets of Tranquille
Photo courtesy of RAYMOND AROIS.

TRANQUILLE, PAYS DE SUCRE-

Even as Candlemas celebrations were being celebrated in Churches across Sainte-Chloé celebrating the end of the Nativity Season, in the Province of Pays-de-Sucre, protesters took to the streets to protest the government's inadequate dealing with the economic collapse which has faced the country since the eruption of the Pico de Sangue last September. The protests turned violent, resulting in several clashes with the police, resulting in several injured and one dead.

Many sectors of the economy were effected by the eruption, most prominently the tourism industry, which was totally shut down for almost a month. Even after travel was permitted, a great deal of clean-up was needed from all areas of the country. However, Pays-de-Sucre was the most heavily effected Province of Saint-Chloé from the eruption. Its economy is largely agricultural, and many crops and livestock were killed off by the ash clouds which covered the island during the volcanic eruption. Many farmers lost everything, or were forced out of work in the intervening months.

Despite certain efforts by the government to fix the straits caused by the eruption, most polls suggest that the majority populace is unhappy with the government's response to the eruption. La Croix's poll showed that over 64% were displeased with the government's response. Most of the government's efforts focused first on tourism, an unpopular move on the part of the people in Pays-de-Sucre as well as other blue-collar workers from across the country.

In December the first protests began small in Tranquille, but began to increase over the month of January. In January, the protests also began to spread across the country to the other Provinces, although they were always most heavily concentrated in the Province of Pays-de-Sucre, especially in the capital of Tranquille. Several have been injured in minor clashes with the police, but the protests have grown in intensity over time.

Today, the protests were at their fiercest, with many clashing with the police who tried to keep order. The large crowds filled the streets, proving hard for the police to control. The police attempted to attempt the spread of the crowds, leading to a heavy clash on Saint-Rene Avenue. The police eventually resorted to use tear gas to disperse the crowds, injuring several. However, once the tear gas was used, a group of protestors stormed at the police wall, resulting in the police using their batons to beat back the protestors, inflicting several injuries. One man, a young man named Francois Leran, was struck over the head as he charged the line. He passed out and was later rushed to Sainte-Catherine hospital nearby, where he was pronounced dead several hours later. By that point, the protests had been mostly dispersed.

The Constabulary of Tranquille released a statement, saying that the "death of Mr. Leran is indeed unfortunate", but added that "attacking police and inciting violence is a dangerous move. We will not tolerate riots in the streets. Protests are allowed but they must remain orderly." The Constabulary denies responsibility for his death, claiming that "we used non-lethal weapons in order to disperse the crowd. His mortal injury was an exception due to the severe circumstances of the moment, and the constable involved did not have any intent to kill. Besides which, attempting to break a police line is an act of sedition as well as a punishable offense."

Among the protestors, there was great outrage on Social Media. "Now the government is killing us", posted a user named Rene Kanal. "They refuse to listen, and now they silence our voices forever." Many are commenting that the force showed by the police today is unwarranted and unnecessarily brutal. The protests are projected to get fiercer and perhaps more violent due to the action today. Politicians have also joined in. "There would be no protest and no death if the government could actually fix the situation", wrote Catholic Democrat PM Pierre Thomas. "May the poor man's soul rest in peace."

The Prime Minister Henri Montas has consistently called for the protestors to refrain from violence, assuring them that "the government will do all we can when we have the resources to do so. The simple fact is, we have been so heavily hit by this disaster that we cannot deal with everything immediately." Today, he refrained from commenting on the death of Mr. Leran, except to say that the police had just been doing their job, and that Mr. Leran had charged them. "It is indeed sad to have lost someone in this way. But we cannot allow ourselves to lose order on account of one man's life, especially one that put himself in harm's way."

President Thiele expressed his sorrow over the death of Mr. Leran, saying that this death was perhaps the catalyst for upcoming change. "If Prime Minister Montas cannot get his government in order on the problem facing the country," he said, "then drastic measures may have to be taken." Some have construed this to mean that the President might call for snap elections if the emergency crisis is not resolved soon. Montas and Thiele have not gotten along during their time together, both due to their opposing parties and due to their opposition in government affairs. This is the highest tensions have reached between the two. Pays-de-Sucre is an important electoral Province, having some of the most hotly contested swing districts corresponding to the rural parts of the county.

The Requiem Mass for Francois Leran is scheduled to take place on February 6th, in Saint Denis Church, in Tranquille.

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©LACROIX 2021

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by **Norcandy** » Wed Feb 03, 2021 3:54 am

by **Nuvania** » Thu Feb 04, 2021 2:04 am

EXCLUSIVE: West Arucian Airways "Implicit In Widespread Trafficking"

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Sienna Thomas (@SiennaThomas)
3 February (12:00pm)|PIETERSBURG

A West Arucian Airways aircraft touches down in Cuanstad, Imagua and the Assimas.

Legacy airline West Arucian Airways is implicit in widespread trafficking of illicit narcotics and firearms, among other illegal contraband, according to several former employees of the airline that agreed to speak with Die Vrystaat following the airline's recent decision to enter into Section 32 insolvency restructuring under the Insolvency Act 1969 on January 30.

In a Die Vrystaat exclusive, nine former employees of the airline who were made redundant in the months following the month-long ban on air travel after the eruption of Pico de Sangue on September 12 last year agreed to speak to Die Vrystaat on the condition of anonymity, the reasons for doing so being that some of them were forced to sign non disclosure agreements regarding the cargo operations of the airline, as well as the use of third-party contractors based in the islands around the West Arucian Sea. Some were threatened with non-payment of severance packages for their redundancies, and four of them have not been paid at all.

West Arucian Airlines released a statement on the day it applied for Section 32 insolvency restructuring stating that it had done so in order to "meet the obligations to its creditors during an period of low growth and volatility in the airline industry". According to one former employee involved with the airline's finances, whom Die Vrystaat will refer to as M, the actual reason for the financial restructuring was to prevent the loss of the company to hedge funds, who had provided financial assistance for the airline that was paid for through the sale of airline stock, which is not publicly available. M said that the airline had been "haemorrhaging money for a couple of years" and the financial assistance it was given by the government October and November last year "did not nearly cover the amount of debt the airline had racked up."
"Officially, the airline said it would be restructuring G500 million ($33.44 million) of outstanding loans issued by various banks," M said. "In reality the airline had accrued G3.2 billion ($214.04 million) in debt over a period of at least two decades." M said that the airline had not gone bankrupt sooner was because of payments paid through it by third-party contractors and private entities who paid "significant amounts of money" for shipments of valuable goods through the airline.
"West Arucian was getting anywhere between two and sixteen million goude a shipment," M said. "The reason why it wasn't picked up by authorities and banks was that the money was simply included as part of operational income through the use of creative accounting." M said that the creative accounting was the spreading of these payments throughout monthly statements of operational income, usually through spreading the payments out through different revenue streams of the airline, such as ticket sales, maintenance contracts, buy-on-board services, among others. In doing so, the airline could receive lump some payments from entities and customers for single shipments without the authorities noticing. It was able to sustain such a high debt load from creditors, according to M, because the airline "appeared to be extremely lucrative even with its comparatively small size."

Prior to the Section 32 application, West Arucian Airlines officially employed a staff of 3,821, which included maintenance workers, ticketing staff, cabin crew, pilots, and baggage handlers, among other staff. It operated a fleet of 19 passenger aircraft, these being five turboprops and 14 twin jet aircraft, all of which have been grounded. In addition to its passenger services, the airline also has a subsidiary, West Arucian Cargo Airlines, which has also ceased operations. Unlike the passenger service, West Arucian Cargo Airlines does not directly own any aircraft. Instead, the airline contracted out its cargo services to more than a dozen individual companies, all of them based on different island states around the West Arucian Sea. The airline itself is not incorporated in Nuvania, instead operating out of Cuanstad in Imagua and the Assimas, where it is subject to much lower corporate income taxes and less regulatory oversight.

This lack of regulatory oversight, including often understaffed and underpaid customs agents who could be easily bribed, were part of the reasons why these contractors with chosen, according to former pilot A, who flew with West Arucian's passenger division between 1998 and 2020, said that the company had a policy for its pilots to not associate with one another or come into contact outside of professional operations. Despite this, they said that they would often go drinking with contractor pilots after work.
"You never talked about it because if anyone higher up in the company found out, you'd be sacked," A said. "We all kept our mouths shut because speaking out meant you'd lose your job. The contractor pilots didn't have any restrictions, but they knew what they were doing was illegal. You could get a lot of them to talk after a few drinks."

According to A, most of the pilots he drank with were "good people in bad situations" who knew what was going on but either couldn't get out of it, or could otherwise not continue to fly for these companies. Many of them were given "bonuses" by companies that employed them to continue flying, and other incentives were provided. A said that the cargo carried included typical contraband such illicit narcotics and firearms, as well as what they sometimes referred to as "special cargo", which ranged from live animals and animal products from protected or criticially endangered animals, to gold buillon, even people themselves. While A wasn't confident in assuming how they managed to get cargo to various places, they said that the third party contractors would often fly into private airports to load up the contraband before then flying to the main airports, as domestic cargo flights were not required to have cargo scanned. From there they would fly out to the islands, where they would return with other contraband, principally firearms. This was according to pilots they'd spoken to who had performed these flights.

The use of third-party contractors through a subsidairy allowed the airline to have two degrees of separation between the illicit trafficking activities and the actual airline itself. However, according to H, a maintenance worker with West Arucian from 1987 until 2020, West Arucian Airways also occasionally smuggled narcotics using passenger aircraft under the veil of mechanical issues.
"We'd be given some bags to stuff inside the wheel wells of the passenger aircraft that would fly internationally," H said. "The person who put them in would be assigned to that aircraft as an engineer, fly to wherever the flight was going, and then under the guise of mechanical issues, have the engineer "fix" the aircraft before returning to Nuvania." H said that there would be specific ground crew that he and others would deal with, passing the narcotics onto them before clearing the aircraft for flight.
"In reality, most of the time there was nothing wrong with the aircraft," H said. "It was difficult to keep up the pretense with some of the ground crew. Both the pilots knew about it though, they'd inform the airport of delays." H said that the practice was common prior to 1998 when the cargo divison was spun off. H believes that the cargo division's restructuring allowed the airline to use that as the primary method for transporting contraband.

A Convair CV-580 freighter, similar to those operated by SLM Aviation Services in Saint Cyriaca.

One of the third party contractors providing services to West Arucian Cargo Airways is SLM Aviation Services, based in Bitagron, Saint Cyriaca. According to its website, SLM operates six aircraft, these being four Convair CV-580 turboprop cargo aircraft, and two Fairchild-Swearingen Metroliner III turboprop airliners, also converted to carry cargo, and fly routes between Saint Cyriaca and other islands in the West Arucian Sea, including Maracao. Further research yielded that SLM Aviation Services also had existed in two previous incarnations in Saint Cyriaca, as SLM Airways between 1987 and 1994, when the company was sequestered by the Cyriacan authorities for non-payment of debts and involvement in the smuggling of half a ton of cocaine through Saint Cyriaca in 1994. Another company, SLM Aviation, was registered in 2001, and continued to operate until 2014, it too being dissolved for non-payment of debts and involvement in drug trafficking. The current incarnation dates from 2013, and was formerly the ground and maintenance services wing, until it assumed the roles and contracts of its parent company in 2016. Two of SLM's current aircraft are leased from an Imaguan comopany, Aeromarittima San Pietro, which also has a significant number of general aviation aircraft, many of which are registered in Sainte-Chloé, likely for tax purposes. Aeromarittima San Pietro is one of two companies based in Imagua contracted to West Arucian Cargo Airways to perform domestic and international cargo and mail flights on the behalf of the Imaguan Postal Service. Aeromarittima San Pietro has been flagged by authorities in Eldmark and Nuxica as being implicated in the drug trade, although it continues to operate due to a lack of evidence against it, according to a statement from the Imaguan Constabluary.

Glenn Williams, Professor of Criminology at the University of Windstrand and an expert in organised crime, agrees that West Arucian Airways is involved in the illegal trafficking of contraband.
"From what I've been told and from what I have heard from other sources, it's very likely that there is significant involvement in at least the trafficking of firearms and narcotics around the West Arucian Sea region," he said. "I don't have enough evidence to confirm that this is true, and this is something for the authorities to investigate further, but there's definitely something to the allegations made." Williams said that smaller airlines with smaller operating budgets and revenues were targeted by drug cartels and other criminal syndicates because they offered "significant amounts of cash to transport their goods".
"It is not that much different to bribery," he said. "But it can take various forms, such as one-time lump sum payments, or spread out in the form of official contracts for shell companies and businesses operated by organised criminal syndicates and cartels." He believes that West Arucian Airways would be the biggest airline targeted by any organised criminal syndicate so far, but believes it's status prior to January 30 as a legacy airline with a well established reputation as "key to it's involvement". He also said that smaller airlines in financial strife after the disruption caused by the eruption of Pico de Sangue would be targeted by these syndicates and cartels, and that further examples could be discovered by the authorities.
"Don't be surprised if something similar occurs again," he said. "Numerous airlines will be looking for quick cash injections and these syndicates provide the cash that these airlines need."

Die Vrystaat approached West Arucian Airways for comment but was rebuked. The airline eventually issued a statement, rejecting the allegations and stating that the former staff were attempting to put pressure on the airline for various reasons. It has passed on the testimonies of former staff at the airline to the National Police Service for further investigation.

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by **West Miersa** » Fri Feb 05, 2021 1:04 pm

TERRORIST GROUP TO RESUME "ARMED STRUGGLE"
Cites the "slander and libel against the Lemovician nation" in light of the Yndyk attacks, continued "oppression" of Lemovicians

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JUSTYNA SKARZYNSKA (@JustYnTime)
26 June, 2020 16:30 CET | ŻOBRODŹ, CITY OF

Aftermath of an Aranoak bombing in Sechia, 2008

Today, Delo published a letter from the terrorist organisation Aranoak, declaring their intention to break the current ceasefire due to the continued "oppression" of the Lemovician population and the "slander and libel against the Lemovician nation" by the national government after the Yndyk bombing.

The letter states that "when we declared a ceasefire in 2013 [following Gerard Wojdyla becoming President], we had the expectation that minority rights in general, and Lemovician rights in particular, would improve. While Mr. Wojdyla's administration has made some improvements in this field, Mr. Wrzesiński's administration has not only stripped away many of these gains, he has also initiated slander and libel against the Lemovician nation in the wake of the Yndyk bombing, and has maintained continued oppression against the Lemovician nation."

It continues "After a long protracted discussion with our cells, we have decided that given the western departments of Miersa have no intention in respecting Lemovician rights, the only solution that we have is to terminate the ceasefire and to resume our liberation struggle. We will fight to ensure the liberation of all Lemovicia!"

The letter concludes with the signature "The people's struggle has no borders," the slogan of the eastern Miersan-occupied regions of the Malomiersan voivodeship.

Government response
Justice Minister Szymon Krynicki has declared that "the letter published by Delo only confirms to us the efficacy of the policies we are undertaking to combat górale separatism. They are so threatened by our policies that they have felt that their only recourse is to resume their campaign of terror, to intimidate our government and to murder our civilians so that we have no option but to either repress them harder or to give up."

"To all members of Aranoak, it does not matter if you are in Ynydyk or in Lenovo, you will face justice for your crimes, and you shall not prevail," Krynicki said. "We will maintain our current policies to combat górale separatism, and sooner or later you will have no option but to disarm, surrender, and face justice for your crimes against the Miersan nation. You will never be rewarded for your activities, and we Miersans will make sure of that."

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by **Brilinako** » Fri Feb 05, 2021 2:07 pm

As anti-government protests grow, so does their intensity
5 February 2021 9:35 PM - CC Staff

Protestors gather near the outskirts of Bitagron City, 15 January 2021.

For the third time this week, protests targeted against the highly unpopular Grand Coaltion government have been held across the country. Supporters of the left-wing W'o Set' En party, which won 13 seats in a major upset in 2019, took to the streets for the third time in a week to demand increased economic stimulus to repair the economy after the Pico de Sangue eruption in 2020.

In Bigi Poika, Cyriaca's second largest city, three protestors were airlifted to Bitagron in critical condition after being struck by tear gas canisters, moments after police officers and the army entered the Rambros Avenue in the city centre with sponge bullets and tear gas. MP Anne Skyler (WSE) was among the 38 wounded. Up to 90% of crops and livestock in Bigi Poika were lost due to volcanic ash. While the government prioritized businesses and tourism in its economic recovery scheme, agriculture was mostly neglected.

Protests started in early December, sparked by dissatisfaction regarding the Grand Coalition's response to the economic destruction caused by the Pico de Sangue eruption and the Central Election Committee's disqualification of major WSE member Maisha Jubitana on charges of computer fraud. Mostly concentrated in the agricultural stronghold of Bigi Poika and the capital of Bitagron, crowds of up to 5000 citizens took to the streets with most of the protests being concentrated in Bigi Poika. The movement No Seri (Not for Sale/No Betrayal), which started the first protests, merged with W'o Set' En in early January. The protests show similarities with similar movements in Sainte-Chloé and Imagua & the Assimas.

More headlines:
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Opinion polling: DLP 20%, PPP 13%, others 67%

by **Norcandy** » Fri Feb 05, 2021 2:20 pm

by **Liecthenbourg** » Fri Feb 05, 2021 3:20 pm

"DEMILITARISE AND WE DEMILITARISE" SAYS DIDYK
In a rebuke of the allegations thrown by some Asterian states, Didyk takes aim at "'liberal hypocrisy'".

Ihor Loboda (@LobodaIhor)
05 February 2021 | Misto Myru, Chistovodia

Didyk argued that "Halland's presence in the area has never been questioned"
Photo courtesy of Taylor Swift.

MISTO MYRU, CHISTOVODIA -

Tensions run high across the Arucian as members of Asterian countries, notably the office of Chancellor Petras Uspelevičius, denounce Chistovodian "aggression" in the region despite remaining silent in the wake of the establishment of NVO bases in the same body of water.

Whilst no confrontation has occurred, international media outlets have consistently decried Chistovodia's presence in the region -- even going so far as to criticise mobilisation to its own bases.

Didyk, at a press conference in Porto Leste, described the comments as "the highest order of hypocrisy imaginable." Didyk, who travelled to Maracao in specific to defend Chistovodian interests in the region, expressed that he felt "immense disappointment" from the comments of "some offices of governments". This, obviously in reference to the comments of the chancellery and its 'intentionally vague remarks'.

"When Mordred Naval Base, the symbol of Euclean Imperialism in the Arucian, was acquired by Halland on the 12th of February, 1957, it was Maracao and Chistovodia who protested the aggression of obvious expansion of Halland's neoimperialism. Their motivations have always been in spite of the demands of the popular forces across the Arucian. And yet when Chistovodia mobilises to counter this aggression, it is decried as aggressive expansion."

"And to that," Didyk added. "I say enough. Chistovodians came to aid a people afflicted by an environmental disaster that likes of which the Arucian had never seen. It was the Chistovodian military that operated as first responders. The expansion of the facilities on these islands is to accommodate the nature of these forces; the ease of accessibility that is often hampered by those who control the Straits of Parane."

The Foreign Minister likely surprised many in the Asterias, by offering forth the following ultimatum: "Chistovodia agrees that the Arucian should be demilitarised and thus we say it loud and clear; first to come is first to leave: if the NVO demilitarise; the Workers' State demilitarises."

It is unlikely that the offer will ever be accepted, or a détente to be reached, but it is known that the Workers' State's commitment to peace in the Asterias is unquestioned.

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by **Imagua and the Assimas** » Fri Feb 05, 2021 5:57 pm

IMAGUA DECLARES THAT DUNHELM'S STATUS MUST BE NEGOTIATED BEFORE DEMILITARIZING THE ARUCIAN
Imagua offers to negotiate a "final settlement" to the status of Dunhelm Island

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DEXTER TURNER (@DexTurn)
5 February, 2021 18:58 IST | CUANSTAD, IMAGUA AND THE ASSIMAS

Prime Minister Douglas Egnell at today's press conference

Following Chistovodian Foreign Minister Kazymyr Didyk's statement in the Maracan capital of Porto-Leste, where he proposed that Chistovodia was willing to leave the Arucian Sea if the North Vehemens Organisation does so first, Prime Minister Douglas Egnell stated Imagua's position concerning demilitarisation.

"While the Imaguan government would like to see an end to any military presence in the Arucian Sea," Egnell told reporters, "as it stands right now, if the NVO were to accept Chistovodia's offer, it will allow Chistovodia and its allies to dominate the Arucian Sea, and to move the goalposts so to permanently weaken the ability of liberal democratic states like us, like Sainte-Chloe and Saint Cyriaca, to exist peacefully and with no interference in our affairs."

"If Chistovodia and Maracao were willing to negotiate a final settlement to the Dunhelm Island question, to negotiate a solution that can benefit both Imagua and Maracao, and to close down all military bases on Dunhelm Island, then the Imaguan government shall consider negotiations with Halland and the North Vehemens Organisation to downsize its presence in its territory," Egnell announced. "If they are unwilling to negotiate a final settlement to the Dunhelm Island question, then we will know that Chistovodia and its allies have no intention on demilitarizing the Arucian Sea, and will maintain our agreements with Halland the NVO as they stand right now."

Opposition response
The leader of the Official Opposition, Giocondo Stasio, criticised Douglas Egnell's proposal to negotiate the status of Dunhelm Island, with Stasio saying that "in a time when Chistovodia and its puppets are consistently acting in bad faith, and using the Pico de Sangue as an excuse to strangle freedom on Dunhelm Island, it is a very unwise idea for the government to offer to negotiate away Imaguan sovereignty over Dunhelm Island in the lofty goals of peace."

"We cannot, nor should we, give up Imaguan sovereignty over Dunhelm Island, and if any such agreement ever comes into the Chamber of Commons, I, along many of my fellow MPs, will declare a vote of no confidence in Egnell's government for surrendering Imaguan sovereignty to the Chistovodians," Stasio declared. "And I know that most patriotic Imaguans will agree with me on this, because Dunhelm Island has always been Imaguan since the Gilded Wars, and always had been until the Maracans invaded Dunhelm in 1955. We shall never give up our rights to the island, even in one thousand years!"

More as the story develops.

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by **Nuvania** » Sat Feb 06, 2021 2:27 am

Nuvania Supports Imaguan Settlement Offer, Questions Chistovodian Intentions

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Skye Goodwin (@SkyeGoodwin)
5 February (1:00pm)|PIETERSBURG

Foreign Minister Ian Palmer speaks to media at a press conference in Pietersburg.

Foreign Minister Ian Palmer has said that Nuvania would support a final proposal on the status of Dunhelm Island as part of measures to demilitarise the West Arucian Sea.

The Foreign Minister, who has only been in the job for less than three days, made the announcement at a weekly press conference in which he also questioned the Chistovodian's intentions surrounding their militarisation of the West Arucian Sea, as well as their commitment to peace. Palmer also issued a statement on the growing protests in Saint Cyriaca, in which he expressed concern for the safety of protesters and wished a speedy and peaceful solution to the protests.

With regards to the issue of the status of Dunhelm Island, Palmer said that the Nuvanian government would support the Imaguan government initiative announced by Prime Minister Dennis Egnell on a final settlement over the island. He said that Nuvania would offer the Imaguan government political support for the settlement, and said that it was a "positive step in resolving this long-standing issue."
"It is an important step fowards in the relationship between the two island states, but also between the capitalist and communist countries of the Asterias," he said. "We are entering into a new world of mutual cooperation and benefit, in which we hope political differences will be put aside for the better progress of humanity."

The announcement comes after the Aucurian Chancellor Petras Uspelevičius indirectly called out the governments of Chistovodia and Maracao over what it called the "militarisation" of the West Arucian Sea. It also came over a month after an online article from the Satucine newspaper Le Temps revealed the extent to which the Chistovodian government had expanded its military presence in Maracao and Dunhelm Island under the guise of rendering humanitarian aid to Maracao after the devastating eruption of Pico de Sangue on September 12.

In the article, Professor of International Relations at Gatôn University, Sylvain Chevalier, revealed that naval vessels had anchored off Dunhelm Island for the first time in three decades, and that among those vessels was a Kyrlav-class guided missile cruiser, capable of firing long-range cruise missiles that could hit targets almost anywhere in the wider West Arucian. In addition, the military build up increased from nine ships to 23, and the number of aircraft doubled. Facilities on Dunhelm and Maracao itself were also expanded under the guise of humanitarian aid, and the increased Chistovodian presence has yet to leave the islands long after the rest of the humanitarian forces returned to their respective countries.

The article raised the question of whether or not the liberal governments of the Asterias had been caught offguard with Chistovodia taking advantage of the extension of good faith, but Palmer said that he didn't believe that the Nuvanian government had been "caught with its pants down." However, he said that he wasn't party to the previous government's decisions over what actions to take over the increased Chistovodian military presence.
"I have been briefed on the situation and in my short time in this role, have raised concerns through the appropriate channels," he said. "We do have more options in front of us if the Chistovodians or the Maracan decide they do not want to come to the table." Palmer did not say what the government would do, but said that the actions taken would be proportionate to future actions if a settlement was not agreed upon, or the offer of a settlement not taken up.

Palmer did not want to give conjecture on the intentions of the Chistovodians himself, but said that he had raised the issue with Cabinet and that the government was "suspicious" of Chistovodia's intentions in its continued escalated military presence.
"If the Chistovodian government was intent on maintaining peace in the West Arucian Sea, it would not continue to have a military presence in Maracao, or on Dunhelm, let alone increase the amount of naval vessels in the area," he said. "It is clear to everyone that this 'commitment to peace' is nothing more than empty words." Palmer said that there would not be any escalation as of yet, and that Nuvania would react in accordance with what Chistovodia does.
"We're not going to start a war," he said. "But we will act to ensure that regional stability is maintained."

Dunhelm Island, called "Revolution Island" in Maracao, is an island located just over 22 kilometres from the island of Imagua in the West Arucian Sea. The island was first inhabited by the Nati, a native Asterian people now largely extinct in the region. It was first discovered by Eucleans in 1549, and settled by the Geatish in 1573. Conquered by the Iusitans in 1683, the island was transferred to its colony in Maracao, before being conqured by Gaullica in 1721, and then by Estmere in 1771. The island remained a part of the colony of Imagua, excepting a brief occupation during the Great War by Sautcine and Gaullican forces to neutralise the Estmerish naval and land garrison on Imagua. It became a part of the independent Imagua and the Assimas in 1948, and was invaded and occupied by Maracao in 1955. It remains under Maracan occupation to this day.

The 1955 invasion and occupation saw Nuvania break off relations with Maracao that had been established under Chief Minister J.P von Vollenhoven in 1945, although relations had begun to worsen between the two countries following the election of Charles Wakefield in 1949, in which he took a more aggressive stance against communist states in the Asterias. Alongside Chistovodia, Maracao has long been accused by various Nuvanian governments as being sponsors of terrorism, particularly in neighbouring countries and during the Nuvanian internal conflict between 1953 and 1990.

The eruption of Pico de Sangue saw the acting National People's Party (NVP) government of Joesoef van Lingen change tack from the aggressive anti-communist stance of former Chief Minister Robert Marten by sending military personnel and humanitarian aid to Maracao in the wake of the Pico de Sangue eruption. In the months following the eruption, Chief Minister Andrew Bohn, then Leader of the Opposition and Leader of the Democratic Action Party (DAP), made a commitment to reestablish ties with Maracao.

Today's announcement of the offer of a final settlement on the status of Dunhelm Island came as a surprise to political analyst Samuel Hofmeyr, who said that traditional Imaguan policy on the island was "uncompromising stubbornness".
"Last year you'd have got more progress in getting blood out of a stone than getting the Imaguan government to budge on the status of Dunhelm," he said. "However, this is not only a move that is progressive in terms of rapprochement with Maracao, but also very calculated in that it gauges whether or not Chistovodia is willing to accept offers of diplomatic solutions to longstanding international disputes, and could expose them as nothing more than belligerent in the face of willing diplomacy." Hofmeyr said that Chistovodia would be the "only speed bump" in the way of a final settlement on the status of Dunhelm, but said it could be an easy sell to the Chistovodian public."
"They could talk themselves up and walk away with the credit of orchestrating one of the biggest changes in the regional political sphere since the Asterian Spring."

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by **Eskaeba** » Sat Feb 06, 2021 3:32 am

Costa responds to accusations of militarisation amidst renewed diplomatic tensions in the Arucian
February 6, 2021 - Porto Leste, Maracao || Magdelena de Villacorta writing from New Warminster, Halland

Adão Costa addressed the media and the nation in wake of renewed fervour regarding military deployments in the Arucian

With states implicitly or explicitly directed at Costa and his regime by a range of political figures across the Arucian, Maracao and long standing ally Chistovodia set out once more to fight the war of words.

Costa began with echoing the sentiments of Chistovodian foreign minister Didyk, saying that the "continued presence" of the Mordred Naval Base, the largest naval base in the Arucian operated by Halland and located on the eastern side of Imagua, was "the biggest obstacle" to achieving demilitarisation in the Arucian.

He also denounced remarks by Aucurian chancellor Petras Uspelevicius, saying that the country "remains high and mighty on the human rights", but "falls silent on the human wrongs".

"Let me ask you this", Costa remarked during the address, "in these states, the way their economy is run and how they operate, a man must always have the right to defend his own land. Correct? Well, viewing this from our frame of mind is simple. This is our land, and we wish to defend it with the help and support of our closest allies."

Costa also vehemently denounced the sentiments of Imaguan Prime Minister Douglas Egnell and Nuvanian foreign minister Ian Palmer, and accused them of "diving head first into a delicate political and ethnic situation".

"Even after we have suffered an immense loss of life, one of the greatest humanitarian and natural disasters of our era, the powers that be wish to undermine us at every turn.", Costa said, passionately, "What it shows is that, no matter how low they must stoop, these nations will do whatever they must to denounce us, to accuse us of things we are not, to attempt to incite dissent and disunity."

"It is, perhaps, the greatest indicator of the socialist state that these countries are unaware of what true unity is."

Costa ended with strong statements on diplomatic squabbles between the blocs: "If nations wish to talk to us, to assert their concerns or lodge their complaints, they are well within their rights to do so. But it disappoints me to know we have surrounded by crooks who know no more than snide and snark, to treat us as if we are some rogue state built on false ideals. To them I implore to take a look at your countries without the rose-tinted glasses. While Aucuria suffers from some of the highest income inequality issues in the Asterias, we have worked consistently to eradicate it. While the indigenous people of Nuvania continue to suffer under a systemically discriminatory system, we have employed some of the world's best native rights for years. While Imagua continues to be politically shackled to its white population and neo-colonial overlords, we have broken those chains and swept off that influence to create a truly successful black state. To all nations, I declare, we are not your pawns! The Arucian is no longer your chess board, and we wish to be treated as nations with independent policies and independent goals, such as we are. "

The address comes shortly after Chistovodian foreign minister Kazymyr Didyk travelled to Maracao to reaffirm Chistovodian commitments in the region. Maracao is still suffering immensely from the economic and social fallout that the Pico de Sangue eruption and subsequent Guajaratuba disaster has had on the nation.

by **Norcandy** » Sat Feb 06, 2021 5:04 am

Satavian Foreign Ministry: Chistovodia has "ulterior motives"
SBC Editorial Team
Saturday, 6th February 2021|Northport

SNV Johan van Vallier could be deployed to the Arucian as a deterrent, according to the MOD

The Satavian Foreign Ministry has become the latest of the Asterian nations to support Imagua in its attempt to reach a solution with Maracao over Dunhelm Island, which in the eyes of the Satavian Government have been illegally occupied by Maracao since 1955.

Satavia's foreign minister, Toby Evans, said that Satavia fully supported Imagua in its attempts to reach a peaceful settlement. Reiterating the words of his Nuvania counterpart, the minister questioned Chistovodian intentions in the region, stating that it "is clear to see that there is an ulterior motive" regarding Chistovodia's olive branch.

Evan's message was clear; he condemned both Chistovodia's intentions in the region, and also encouraged Maracao to reach a settlement with Imagua over Dunhelm Island, which he hoped "would see the island transferred back to their rightful owner".

Satavia's hard policy stance on Chistovodia and Maracao is not new; several Satavian Governments have stuck to the policy that both countries are a threat to peace in the Arucian and Asteria on a whole. Satavia notably did not send any official state aid to Maracao following the eruption of Pico de Sangue last year, unlike the vast majority of other Asterian countries. Since Warwick's new government formed, a harder policy stance has been visibly notable: his meeting with the Prime Minister of Naua Roa yesterday was a stark reminder that Warwick will not be playing games - especially not with the likes of Maracao.

Whilst Satavia may not be one of the major players in the Arucian, the message clearly shows which side Satavia is on. Despite the direct political attacks on Halland, there has still been no official response from the Hallandic Government, or the NVO as a whole.

The MOD later announced that the SNV Johan van Vallier could be deployed to the Arucian as a deterrent to Chistovodian aggression.

by **Caltarania** » Sat Feb 06, 2021 8:49 am

by **Norcandy** » Sat Feb 06, 2021 10:33 am

by **Imagua and the Assimas** » Sat Feb 06, 2021 11:35 am

PROTESTS OVER PROPOSED NEGOTIATIONS WITH MARACAO OVER DUNHELM ISLAND
Imaguan Constabulary reports tens of thousands of protesters participating throughout the country

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KAMALA KLOBUCHAR (@KHivemind)
6 February, 2021 12:35 IST | CUANSTAD, CITY OF

Dalmazio Pasquarello at today's protests in Cuanstad against proposed negotiations with Maracao

Following Prime Minister Douglas Egnell's proposal to negotiate with Maracao over the status of Dunhelm Island at yesterday's press conference, protests arose across the country, as those opposed to any deal with Maracao joined the nascent anti-government protests, who were criticising the government for failing to support industries outside of agriculture, tourism, and finance. Protests opposing any negotiation with Maracao emerged in the towns of Altaithe, Bellmare, Bronstad, Nua Taois, Lundholm, Rutigliano, and San Pietro, as well as the city of Cuanstad, with the Imaguan Constabulary reporting "tens of thousands of protesters participating in the protests throughout the country."

Highlights from the protests
In Cuanstad, Dalmazio Pasquarello of the Movement for a New Imagua spoke to the protesters outside of the Red House, saying that "Costa has rejected any negotiation with Imagua over Dunhelm Island, proving once and for all that he and his red ilk are acting in bad faith! The only way that we Imaguans can liberate Dunhelm Island is to do it ourselves, to establish a military, a capable military, and then we can liberate these islands ourselves and expel the occupiers from our land! No negotiations, no concessions, yes to liberating Dunhelm Island!"

In Nua Taois, home to most of the surviving Dunhelm Islanders in Imagua, the oldest person from Dunhelm Island still living, Allen Goodheart, told people that "there should be no negotiations with Porto Leste: they were the ones who drove us off this island, they were the ones who expelled many influential natives from this island so they can bring in Maracans and imperialist soldiers. We cannot nor should we give up our God-given rights to these islands, for it is a historical fact that we Imaguans lived here for two centuries before the Maracans came and drove us out!"

In San Pietro, protesters demanded the creation of an Imaguan military to retake Dunhelm Island by force, with one demonstrator telling ITS that "we can not let the government sit back and watch as our citizenry on Dunhelm continues to be oppressed, continues to be abused by foreign occupiers! We need to take back Dunhelm Island as soon as we can, for our sake, for their sake."

Statements from the Constabulary
Chief Constable Miranda Salvati said that "across Imagua and the Assimas, we have tens of thousands of people protesting, with the highest numbers of protesters being in Cuanstad, with around ten thousand there protesting against the proposed offer by the government to negotiate the status of Dunhelm Island, Nua Taois, with seven thousand, and San Pietro, at around five thousand."

"There have been no incidents of violence against the Constabulary or against the protesters as of right now; the protests have been very peaceful given the high emotions surrounding Dunhelm Island," Salvati said. "While these are almost certainly the largest protest in recent history, the Imaguan Constabulary has been able to handle them with no problem, and have not needed the Gendarmerie to get involved at all."

"There were a handful of arrests though, mostly for breach of the peace among a few protesters in Cuanstad," Salvati said. "But all in all, given the size, scale, and the high emotions surrounding Dunhelm Island, the protests have been incredibly peaceful."

This is a developing story. Check back for updates.

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by **Krugmar** » Sat Feb 06, 2021 1:01 pm

Nicodème Royer, 06/02/2021

Foreign Office: "It is our belief that Chistovodia broke international law"

Minister for Foreign Affairs, Astor Sourd, held a press
conference over growing concerns of militarisation in the Arucian

Gatôn, Anniane - On the 20th of September, Chistovodia sent aid to the island state of Maracao after it suffered from a natural disaster. While the supplying of much needed aid to the afflicted country was welcomed by the international community, Chistovodia's usage of the disaster to establish a military presence and supply Maracao's regime with military materiel was unwelcome. Chistovodia took it a step further, by anchoring several ships at Dunhelm Island, which has been illegally occupied by Maracao since 1955.

The Chistovodian ambassador to Satucin was summoned shortly after to explain his government's actions. After that the issue in Satucin became relatively quiet.

Today, however, the Minister for Foreign Affairs, Astor Sourd, held a press conference in reaction to the growing alarm of multiple nations because of further militarisation of Maracao's waters by Chistovodia. Sourd stated that many countries felt a growing concern and had made such concerns clear to Satucin, particularly over Chistovodia's usage of the Arucian Straits, which lie in Satucin's territorial waters.

Chistovodia has justified its usage of the straits to supply Maracao with materiel by claiming 'Innocent passage', which is part of the law of the sea which allows for a vessel to pass through the archipelagic and territorial waters of another state, subject to certain restrictions, and is codified in the Community of Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea.

In the conference Sourd stated that "it is our belief that Chistovodia broke international law by claiming Innocent Passage to break Satucine arms embargoes on the Maracao regime. Furthermore the passage of military vessels to aid in the occupation of Dunhelm Island is a clear violation of Imagua's territorial waters, and we believe the intention to violate those waters while in Satucin's territorial waters negates the usage of Innocent Passage. Finally we have reason to believe that Chistovodia is utilising these passages to further its own propaganda at the expense of our security of the straits, and have a suspicion that they are collecting information which would prejudice our security."

Sourd clarified that they believe Chistovodia has broken sections 2a, 2c, 2d, and 2l of Article 19 of the Convention on the Law of the Sea, which are as follows:

2. Passage of a foreign ship shall be considered to be prejudicial to the peace, good order or security of the coastal State if in the territorial sea it engages in any of the following activities:
(a) any threat or use of force against the sovereignty, territorial integrity or political independence of the coastal State, or in any other manner in violation of the principles of international law embodied in the Charter of the Community of Nations;
(c) any act aimed at collecting information to the prejudice of the defence or security of the coastal State;
(d) any act of propaganda aimed at affecting the defence or security of the coastal State;
(l) any other activity not having a direct bearing on passage.

Sylvain Chevalier, Professor of International Relations at the Gatôn University, has expressed doubts that the Satucine government will be able to provide concrete evidence that Chistovodia violated sections 2c and 2d, and that 2a in its current wording is not amenable, but believes that section 2l may be vague enough to cover Satucin's argument,. He said that "It is an interesting argument from the Satucine government, that intent intended to prejudice the owner of the territorial waters being passed through, even if the prejudicing is planned to take place after passage has been completed through territorial waters, can and should nullify Innocent Passage before it has begun."

"It brings up a lot of future problems if accepted, such as accurately gauging the intent of a ship claiming Innocent Passage, and may lead to straits being blocked off for countries seen as untrustworthy or inimical to the strait's owners."

When asked if Satucin's government could count on any support, he responded that the Asterias would likely rally behind Satucin's arguments, and that "the Euclean Community and Zorasan, each wary of each other's usage of the Montecaran Straits, may actually back the argument and support changes to the concept of Innocent Passage."

Foreign Minister Sourd ended the press conference by saying that there were no plans to halt Chistovodian traffic through the straits yet, but he did warn them not to continue their current actions and advised them to demilitarise the Arucian and withdraw immediately from Dunhelm Island.

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by **Nuvania** » Sat Feb 06, 2021 7:15 pm

Costa's Gamble Is Paying Off And Why There Is Nothing We Can Do About It

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Samuel Hofmeyr, Professor of Political Science at the University of Pietersburg and political analyst for Die Vrystaat (@SamHof)
7 February (1:00pm)|PIETERSBURG

OPINION: Adão Costa's played his hand and he has won.

If I wasn't being paid for this contribution to Die Vrystaat's opinions section by the word, I would have left it at that. But I'm not, and most people would want to know why, so here's an expanded explanation.

Adão Costa's gamble is winning because of two factors: diplomacy and economics.

Much of the liberal states around the West Arucian Sea have expressed discomfort regarding Maracao's long time benefactor, Chistovodia, expanding its military presence in the island state in the months following the eruption of Pico de Sangue in September last year, these concerns raised by Sylvain Chevalier, the Professor of International Relations at Gatôn University in the months following the eruption and the world's reaction to the worst natural disaster to afflict it this century so far. Even Nuvania sent aid to a country it hasn't had any diplomatic relations with since 1955, and this show of good will saw Chistovodia, and Maracao, return it with continued military aggression and propaganda grandstanding.

What Professor Chevalier revealed was a doubling of the naval vessels in the waters around Maracao and Dunhelm Island, known as "Revolution Island" as well as a doubling of military aircraft in the island country, and an expansion of existing military facilities. Ostensibly, these military assets were deployed to Maracao under the guise of rendering humanitarian aid to the stricken nation. Unlike most other military personnel and equipment deployed, these forces remained in Maracao, and are still there. Moreover, the deployment also included naval vessels that were not equipped for the effective transport or deployment of humanitarian aid, unless the Chistovodians had come up with a method of delivering bottled water via cruise missile.

The overall feeling among governments in the West Arucian region was that they had been caught with their pants down, that this increase in military presence had gone unnoticed or uncalled out by governments, many of whom were grappling with the flash crash of their economies and the overnight collapse of their tourism sectors and the knock-on effects of the sudden loss of billions in tourism revenue. Unsurprisingly, the Chistovodian regime exploited an opportunity to expand its military presence during such a period, and no one could be at fault for not realising it for what it is.

With Misto Myru's backing and blessing, President Costa rejected Imagua's recent olive branch to solve the longstanding dispute over the status of Dunhelm Island as part of a wider regional initiative to engage in rapprochement with Maracao. To outsiders, this may seem like a strange thing to do, but Costa and Maracao has the benefit of not being tied into the rest of the Asterias to the same extent as other nations.

As a part of the socialist bloc, Maracao can count on economic support from other socialist and left-wing nations, as well as those of sympathetic governments. As it is a small nation of about 3.4 million people, it's needs are met through both domestic industry and those of its partners, especially Chistovodia, who is by far the biggest investor in Maracao's economy, and its largest trading partner. Unaffected by the economic fallout from the Pico de Sangue eruption, Chistovodia stands to benefit from increasing its influence in Maracao to its benefit, and strengthening the economic and political ties between the two nations. Maracao's isolation from the regional economy and reliance on socialist states means that it also has the benefit of having firm and significant economic support, especially to repair and replace the damage and destroyed infrastructure across Maracao, without paying a centime for it. It also has the benefit of having socialist nations in cooler climates, allowing for a steady stream of tourists to help rebuild the tourism industry that was shattered by the Pico de Sangue eruption, a common experience that all countries where significant amounts of ashfall occurred encountered.

The benefits of being tied into the socialist bloc, and especially Chistovodia, extend beyond the economic sphere and into the diplomatic and political one. Primarily this benefit stems from Chistovodia's status as a nuclear power, and its willingness to use its military as a means of enforcing it's diplomatic policy, and this support has allowed Maracao to essentially be free to conduct its own foreign policy as it wishes; to allow Costa to burn the olive branches and shove the ashes back into the faces of Imaguan diplomats. He knows Imagua and its allies can do nothing in the face of increased regional economic and social instability, and thus can engage in any kind of political response he wants, save for outright war, which even Chistovodia would want to avoid.

The simple fact of the matter is that much of the West Arucian region is in chaos, both economically and socially. Anti-government protests have erupted in Sainte-Chloé and Saint Cyriaca, major regional economies have gone into a severe and sudden recession, much to the joy of outside players such as COMSED, NVO, and ROSPO who are all looking to buy political influence in the region as entire regional economies are plunged into alarming statistics not seen since the Great Collapse. Satucin, the leading diplomatic and military power in Asteria Inferior, is mooting taking Chistovodia to an international tribunal over claims it had violated four sections regarding the concept of innocent passage in Article 19 of the Convention on the Law of the Sea, something which analysts have expressed doubts about regarding the firmness of the evidence backing up the allegations. Likely these will fall flat on any serious scrutiny before any tribunal or court, but it sums up the complete lack of options Liberal Asteria has. For Nuvania at least, this puts to bed any hopes of Chief Minister Andrew Bohn's plans of rapprochement with Maracao, as promised during the campaign in the lead up to last year's general election. Bohn and his government now face the awkward and uncomfortable prospect of having failed on a key policy for its foreign affairs merely days into taking office, and now have to figure out what to do next.

Any expansion of already-extant sanctions by some nations or even military action would be out of the question, not through a lack of political will or because they would be rendered ineffective, but because of the economic implications such measures would have; chiefly the signal of future potential instability in the region which would scare investors off and cause problems with the negotiations of rescue packages various governments are negotiating. Such measures are politically undesirable for the economic implications, which leaves diplomats wrangling with the possibility of being forced to allow Chistovodia and Maracao to increase their militarisation to preserve fragile domestic economic positions and investor confidence.

With this in mind, it is not difficult to see why Costa rejected the proposed final settlement on Dunhelm offered by the Imaguan government. When your know all the hands of your opponents and know that those hands are bad, it makes sense to reveal yours.

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by **Beumontte** » Sat Feb 06, 2021 7:44 pm

ARUCIAN___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

FONSECA URGES PEACE ON THE ARUCIAN
Premier says the government is analyzing the situation "very carefully" while everyone is divided on how to react about it
Renata Gaspar (@renatagaspar) | Feb 06, 2021 | Castelonovo

The premier addressing journalists outside Aranha Building today.

CASTELONOVO - Amid the developing crisis on the Arucian, Premier Graça Fonseca urged at journalists outside the Aranha Building the immediate restoration of peace in the region, claiming that the elevation of tensions on that area would be "catastrophic" for both continents as a whole.

Ever since tensions began to rise again on September after the Pico de Sangue eruption at that same month, the Belmontese Government maintained its neutrality on the issue whilst sent almost 600 medical personnel to relieve and help searching and reconstruction efforts in Maracao on the city of Guajaratuba, which was the most hitten place of the entire island. However, with such tensions becoming higher, the premier was forced to address the situation today, asking for both sides on the issue to come together in a peaceful solution of the problem:

"What we are seeing is the buildup of a possible conflict that will have catastrophic results not only to Maracao or neighbouring Arucian countries but for Asteria as a whole... Due to this, I ask to the world leaders involved in this to come together and solve the problem peacefully and bring back immediate peace in that area."

The premier ended saying that the government is analyzing the situation "very carefully." When asked about her personal opinions regarding the Chistovodian decision of sending troops to the socialist island, she refused to answer.

Not only Fonseca refused to express her direct opinion about the crisis as a whole, but also various top-ranking officers of her cabinet too. Last week, once asked, foreign secretary Aldo Conti said that the government "doesn't took any side in this problem" and is busier about the "humanitarian concerns" that Maracao still faces. Similar answers were also heard from several ministers during this week, but it appears to be that a rift is cracking up between the more moderate Socialist Bloc (which is the premier's party) and the more radical Belmontese Section of the Workers' International regarding how to react with the looming crisis, with the latter demanding vocal support to Chistovodia and its military manoeuvres while the former prefers to maintain the current neutrality.

Meanwhile, the opposition also remains divided. Among the most hardline sections of the URN - the main opposition party, Belmonte's support to Chistovodia would not be only morally wrong, but also the "last nail in the coffin" for the country when it comes to its foreign affairs with its trade partners, more specifically Satucin and Halland, as well as the Euclean Community: siding with Chistovodia would officialize the Belmontese geopolitical shift in favour of the AIS and socialist countries in general, leading to "horrific results." The most moderate wing, though, see this as a "minor issue" and is more focused on combating the government's socialist agenda on Congress.

The PSD, which is in the opposition bench after the humiliating defeat a year prior, is also split up, but more on the lines of the government rather than its right-wing counterpart: while the most moderate group supports neutrality, its growing progressive wing wants to voice their total support towards Maracao and their "anti-imperialist struggle." The results of these minor conflicts of power will shape the country's eventual response in the future - if such response still is necessary by that time.

The current crisis, which shows how fragile and unstable the Arucian is, started on the aftermath of the Pico de Sangue eruption, when Chistovodia sent a large military force to Maracao, settling a military base there as well as a response to similar acts made by the NVO recently. The move was widely criticized by many countries who feared a possible militarization of the sea. This militarization would be further intensified by Chistovodia after harsh criticism on the Aucurian side, and as Satavia threatens sending its navy to the epicentre of the conflict, nobody knows what the outcome of one of the various incidents that happened on such troubled place will look like.

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by **The Kingdom of Eldmark** » Sat Feb 06, 2021 9:25 pm

OP:ED: A Lesson in Compassion
^{Tyra Brahe, Prime Minister of the Kingdom of Eldmark}
^{Saturday, 6th February 2021|The Riksdag}

Eldmarsk humanitarian workers comfort an injured Maracan child, 2020

When I was 8 years old I remember when an earthquake damaged my home. At the time, I lived on the rocky shores of the Vehemens in Erikstad. It was a sunny day and I had just returned from school when it happened. We were fortunate, it only broke some windows, shattered some plates. This isn't an unusual occurrence, after all, largely anyone who's lived on the west coast has at least one earthquake story. But it comes back to me now, knowing the events of which had transpired this past year. Now that we've essentially thrown our money at a monster.

The nature of human experience is largely universal, it is just at different levels and moments we experience it. We all know loss, we all know suffering. We all know tax season. And, when a neighbor needs help, it is a natural feeling to help them, even if we know there is no immediate benefit to us. At least, this is what I have learned through my years in public service. And when a VEI Level 6 eruption decimated several towns of one of our neighbors, claiming immediately the lives of 23,000, and perhaps thousands more, we did not take into account who this neighbor was. We ignored how much they hated us and our way of life. We helped them. And not just the nation of Eldmark, but the entire Asterias lent a hand, reaching back to the good nature that rests within each of us, that inner, innately Sotirian feeling that compels us to give. We sent unarmed volunteers, humanitarian aid, and enlisted the help of private fishermen to conduct one of the largest evacuation operations in Arucian history.

These past few months, I have been approached by people from both sides of the bench on this response, most of which are critical in some regard. I was asked why I would help Maracans when there were Eldmarsk people who could benefit more from our aid money. I tell them that the damage we faced is largely contained and fixed. This has caused me personally a lot of flak, but I don't care for that. I did not approve the aid plan for political clout. I approved it because I felt it was, at the time, the right thing to do. I believe, in the end, that it's also a patriotic trait to want to do the same. But that's the difference between Tyra Brahe and Mr. Costa, or Tyra Brahe and Mr. Didyk. That's the difference between these nations and Eldmark.

See, while we were showing our mercy and compassion, the councilist powers were mocking it by turning their humanitarian response into rapid militarization of the country to shore up the regime's authority. While most Maracan refugees were searching for their dead comrades, their government was actively ensuring they would remain oppressed under the thumb of Costa. What they did was see our attempts at aid and compassion, and then have the audacity to demand that we pull out of the Arucian Sea. They cry out that Mordred Naval Base is a threat to their national security, as if one of the only two military bases guaranteeing the free trade of the Asterias suddenly doubling in size would affect them (ignoring the fact that they have already met that number with Chistovodian military support and more). Mordred's existence shouldn't be tied to a humanitarian disaster, nor should it be demanded of the NVO and its allies, especially from the power that illegally occupies Imaguan land. I have heard nothing but chatter from these nations that claim to have an intrinsically more compassionate way of life, and to that chatter, I point only to this.

In this, the Maracan and Chistovodian military have played their hand and, for the moment, look smug and victorious, while Guajaratuba still smoulders, and Costa's people starve. And it seems, according to Minister Sourd of Satucin, that they broke international law in doing it. We agree, and wish for this to be investigated. Personally I want nothing more than for peace to rule the day in the Asterias, and I wish that in a just world, a true meeting of the minds can occur in the Arucian, between councilists and so called "liberal" nations, for good faith debate and diplomacy to give us something other than controversy and spectacle. But I don't see that coming from Mr. Costa, and until then, I will continue the policy of re-enforcing our assets in the area, such as the Knuten Naval Station, the Vaxholmen Depot, and continue supporting the Imaguan Constabulary in the hopes none of it is necessary.

Know that we at the government are monitoring this situation and working with our allies to ensure our interests in the Arucian are continually protected.

©världenidag.el 2021

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by **Nuxica** » Sun Feb 07, 2021 8:46 am

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