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Stevid Criticises Morrdh Over Tuktar
Conroy hits out at Mórrdun over its holding on to the devastated city
Mon 14 AugTuktar is largely destroyed following a massive allied siege last year
Prime Minster Conroy has spoken out strongly against the decision by the Commonwealth of Morrdh to hold on to the ruined city of Tuktar in the north of former Red Star Union (Zvezda). The city was a major flashpoint in the Kashubia War between an allied coalition of nations, including Stevid, and the Fourth Reich of the United World Order.
The war involved several nations supporting the Mokan-backed militia fighting in Kashubia, but international attention became more focused when reports of mass killings by the Fourth Reich began to trickle into world news. Eventually a coalition invasion, led by Holy Marsh and Stevid in the north of the country met up with allied forces moving from the east and encircled Tuktar. The endgame was for the establishment of the Eastern Star Soviet to be final and/or the full removal of the United World Order. Neither fully came to pass as the war reached a nuclear conclusion.
The Holy Empire committed a whole airborne division, several armoured infantry battalions, an Astratii naval fleet and hundreds of aircraft to the conflict in which nearly two thousand service personnel lost their lives.
However, in a bizarre twist, the Commonwealth of Morrdh retained its troops in Tuktar whilst their regional allies departed. The reasons given were to keep the peace and allay fears the locals had of rival gangs and guerrilla movements disrupting the way of life. However it appears that the intention of the Commonwealth was probably annexation all along as a haphazardly arranged referendum ended with a vote for joining the Commonwealth.
In a statement to Parliament, PM Conroy stated:
“Given that the war was not fought by the Empire and her allies in order to further divide an already incredibly unstable territory, the Commonwealth of Morrdh thought it prudent to put its name on the ballot sheet while seemingly feigning support for the idea. Given that the very notion of taking the city would end in it being held perpetually by the victors, other than RSU, is blatant veiled imperialism in the face of established culture and local politics. The coalition was formed to prevent the Fourth Reich taking the land by preventing genocide and supporting the Mokan-backed government – NOT divide and conquer!”The Prime Minister continued to berate the referendum idea by drawing on the lack of local knowledge or the geo-political ramifications of a separation:
“Instead we see yet another set of random map lines shaded in an assortment of colours with no effort being made as to the addressing of the cultural and international impact of such a rushed vote. A plot of land Morrdh has never outwardly expressed any interest in, decides to but their name on the ballot paper, have no involvement in the election process, and yet manages to win having only months before participated in the near total destruction of the city.
“I for one do not believe for a second that the very people Morrdh, Stevid and Lamoni, subjected to daily bombardment for a month and the near razing of the city would ever vote to join afterwards.”The criticism clearly shows the political rift between the two nations has still not healed and that the Empire is clearly not happy with the ‘cloak-and-dagger’ land grab by the Commonwealth. Cross-party discussion in the House denounced the former close ally further by suggesting, although without any hard evidence, that there were darker political machinations behind the scenes during the referendum in that it was only too convenient for Morrdh to distance itself completely from the election and the idea of retaining the territory, whilst no protesting the option of joining the Commonwealth being on the ballot paper, and then accepting the result as a fortunate twist of fate.
There was even loud opposition to the involvement of Lamoni and Lyras as election invigilators for even allowing the vote to take place seeing as it was essentially a foreign invasion and the foreigners imposing democratic vote that included separation to an otherwise random foreign entity.
Further opposition towards Lamoni’s and Morrdh’s handling of the election was that it was fully orchestrated by Morrdh, invigilated by allies and won by the seemingly nonchalant party. Given the lack of input and public information on Morrdh’s part, a Commonwealth victory seemed impossible. Stevid has lauded the fact that this result actually occurred as a ‘democratic travesty’ with further such statements coming from backbenchers like: ‘farcical freedom’. It is believed that the government is preparing an official statement condemning the election as illegitimate or otherwise non-binding, stating that it was hastily put together and rushed within a timeline of less than three months and in the wake of complete and utter devastation.
AnalysisEmily Hornigold
International Politics CorrespondentIf one was starting to think the rift in relations between the Holy Empire and the Commonwealth was beginning to mend then this public declaration in parliament by PM Conroy will probably force a change in opinion. Outwardly, it appears that the Empire is still very displeased with the Commonwealth and its more clandestine political activities.
Claims that the elections are illegitimate are not exactly unsubstantiated. Tuktar was almost wiped off the map by Morridane and Lamonian ground troops, and by the massive bombing campaign led by Stevid leaving the city in ruins. Given the shock of war, the abrupt nuclear end to the conflict and allied pre-agreed war goals and endgame aims (supposedly), the Morridane seizure of territory in the north of Kashubia is very much a surprise.
It would be hypocritical for the Empire to completely lambast the Commonwealth’s land grab; Stevid is one of the region’s biggest culprits of imperialism. However the methods are what seemed to have rattled the Empire considering there was supposedly an agreement between nations prior to the invasion of UWO held Kashubia of what they are looking for from the war. Clearly the Empire believes the seizure of land was not an option and the less than plausible result of the election seems to reinforce this belief.
On paper the election appears legitimate with international observers of Lamoni and Lyras supposedly involved. But closer and well-informed scrutiny pulls apart what starts to look like a very thinly veiled attempt to ‘legitimise’ an otherwise illegal or controversial land grab of seemly un-strategic territory.
Firstly is the election itself. Quite rightly one should have been held for the people to decide what to be part of. But the question as to why the Commonwealth was an option should be asked, given the Commonwealth’s distinct lack of influence on this landmass - just off Lyras and Greal. Coupled with the nonchalance of the Commonwealth yet inaction surrounding their name on the ballot paper raises eyebrows and suspicion.
Secondly is the apparent win, coupled with the above points, it seems less than likely for such a result to occur. Lack of campaigning for the Commonwealth, and Morrdh itself deliberately distancing itself from the election (plus their actual involvement in the devastation of the city) “should” have wrought a different result.
Thirdly is the use of outside powers to monitor the election. While not wrong in its own right so as to provide transparency, there was no representation from those supporting the Fourth Reich/Kashubia – both were Morridane allies, one was involved as an attacking power with Morrdh, and both carry massive hard and soft power influence.
The result of the election is clearly contested and if it truly has been orchestrated behind the scenes then Morrdh may have acquired territory with deep and long lasting cultural divisions with infrastructure damage running into trillions of dollars.
Morrdh may have a ‘victory’ or sorts, but this prize will undoubtedly be a poisoned chalice that, in time, they’d rather not have drunk from.
Read more from Emily Hornigold on the Stevid-Morrdh diplomatic row here
Are relations getting worse?Joint Lamonian-Morridane forces (shown here) involved in
the siege were supported by RAF air strikes
This is the latest row in a string of objections the Holy Empire has had with their cousins from Morrdh stemming from the Great Dienstadii War a few years ago. Relations deteriorated when Morrdh refused to join the war on Stevid’s side but ended up participating anyway in their own capacity in Mordent and have steadily gotten worse. The diplomatic fallout from this was Stevidian withdrawal from the Commonwealth Colonial Authority, the withdrawal of Morridane access to several Stevidian military facilities and military intelligence, the redeployment of an Army Group from Mordent to Liberated America (an action that prompted Imbrinium to invade the Morridane half of the island), and the Stevidian refusal to launch nuclear weapons against the Crown in response to the WMD attack on Mordent.
Since then there have been limited, but progressive, overtures from both sides trying to warm relations towards the status quo. However this latest political gambit from the Commonwealth appears to have enraged the Stevidian government into a full diplomatic response.
There is yet no indication that there is any direct change in relations. Technically the Empire still considers the Commonwealth and ally but it should Morrdh require foreign aid (in whatever form) tomorrow, it is unlikely Stevid will heed the call given PM Conroy’s statement today.
There also growing signs of discontent within the corridors of power in Stevid Capita of the apparent warming of relations between the Commonwealth of Morrdh and the Protectorate of Lyras. Almost all olive branches from the Protectorate to the Holy Empire have been angrily rejected and there is a tangible resentment towards Lyras and definite mistrust towards most of their Covenant allies. Given the war between Morrdh and Imbrinium involved Lyras in a limited manner, it seems strange from the outset that Morrdh would befriend a former enemy so quickly.
It maybe that the Stevidian government is more than aware of this and trying to distance themselves away from not only an unreliable ally (in their eyes) but a politically unpredictable one too; the Tuktar vote with Lyran monitoring notwithstanding. Although this is merely conjecture at this stage, there does appear to be a major shift in the geo-political landscape in central Greater Dienstad where allegiances have been strained or broken and do not appear to be healing. The vote in Tuktar is amplifying this even more.
A response from Morrdh is anticipated and likely will try and refute the Empire’s allegations. Irrespective of this, the vote in Tuktar has caused massive division not only in the territory itself but also throughout the region of Greater Dienstad.
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