Malivia

[Rogue]

Deltaria to open naval/airbase in Malivia, announced 3 point plan

[Aquinas]

July 4769

Malivia offers to occupy Keymon as "peacekeepers"

Following Prince Carlu's rebellion against Queen Eva in Keymon, President Patanjali Ganapuli has written to both sides in the conflict, offering to send a temporary occupying army to Keymon to act as "peacekeepers and neutral arbiters".


Higher education quotas infuriate Esinsindus

Following on from the decision to reserve 5% of public sector jobs for non-caste Rajuttis, the government is about to introduce exactly the same system for places on higher education courses. This decision is being greeted with considerable resentment, particularly from the Esinsindu (OOC: African/Jamaican) community, who face similar socio-economic disadvantages to non-caste Rajuttis (OOC: Indians), but will not benefit from the quota and risk being further "squeezed out" by it. The Esinsindu Student Union is organising protests and lecture boycotts across campuses.


Police close down Bishopal Church's soup kitchen

A soup kitchen in east-central Walkaunar, organised by the the Bishopal Church, has been shut down by police after being charged with violating the clause in the Freedom of Religion Act against bribing people to change their religion. Nobody was arrested or fined, although police cautions were issued to 3 of the soup kitchen's organisers.

Duane Milner, the local priest and chairman of the soup kitchen denounced the police behaviour as "both ridiculous and deeply, deeply sinister".


200,000 protesters march against new religious laws

Surprisingly enough, a lady all the way away in Likatonia, Melisa Tonken, provided the original inspiration for the march. Her Reformed Hosian Church has only a tiny level of support in Malivia, but her call for a public protest against Malivia's new anti-conversion laws sparked a chord with Hosians all across the country - and some non-Hosians as well. The organisers claim 300,000 people attended the rally in the capital city, Modalin, today. Police put the figure at 100,000. This newspaper, familiar with the habit of protest organisers to inflate their numbers, and the police to deflate them, makes a rough guess that around 200,000 turned up.

The outrage of the demonstrators is directed not just at the earlier arrest of 9 Hosians under the new anti-conversion laws, but also at other recent developments, including the proposal to privilege Geraja over Hosianism by making Geraja the official state religion and the proposed blasphemy law which will protect Geraja but not Hosianism. Just as unpopular with the protesters are the quotas for non-caste Rajuttis in public sector jobs and higher education courses, which Esinsindus (who are disproportionately Hosian) feel discriminate against them.

So far, the smaller evangelical organisations have been the main target of police focus in terms of using the anti-conversion laws, although the two biggest churches in Malivia - the Bishopal Church and the Aurorian Patriarchal Church - are starting to feel the pressure as well. By contrast, it seems the authorities have been most careful not to antagonise the small but growing band of Terran Patriarchal Church followers who have turned up in Washebar with the arrival of the new Deltarian military base. Chatur Nijasure, the Internal Affairs Minister, has reportedly sent a memo to police chiefs telling them "No pissing off Deltaria".


President Ganapuli welcomes "historic new partnership" with Deltaria

President Patanjali Ganapuli has lavished praised on his "historic new partnership" with Deltaria, which will see the country flushed with Deltarian money in return for permitting Deltaria a naval/airforce base in Washebar, by the name of Czar Dušan. A few Rajutti National Party backbenchers are making mumbles of discontent at Deltaria's growing influence on Malivia, but at least for now, most are so grateful for the investment they are more than willing to put aside any such concerns.

Gau Raksha Paltan bombs Lodamese burger restaurant

A bomb has exploded at a burger restaurant run by an anarchist workers collective in Orean, killing 2 people and injuring 7. Gau Raksha Paltan (OOC: Cow Protection Army) has claimed responsibility. Asked to comment, Internal Affairs Minister Chatur Nijasure described the incident as "an internal matter for the United Communes of Orean and Martin". Later on he was overheard telling a colleague "Well, what can they expect in an anarchist commune but anarchy?"

[ChengherRares1]

Lodamee anarchists arrested suspect on the recent terrorist attack, tightened security around key points

[Aquinas]

January 4770

Party hardliners push government in to Greater Malivia claim

A session of the Rajutti National Party (RNP) party conference has voted by 312 to 188 votes in favour of Malivia staking a territorial claim to sovereignty over "Greater Malivia", an entity which would consist of Malivia, Darnussia-Narikaton, Hobrazia, Selucia and Keymon.

At first, President Patanjali Ganapuli hesitated and tried to wrangle himself out of any commitment, much like he did a year ago when the party conference demanded a claim on Keymon. But it soon became clear the conference was having none of it, and would even be willing to replace Ganapuli as party leader with the leading backbench hardliner, Ramesh Vemulakonda, if he was not prepared to commit the government to the course of action demanded by the party.

Ganapuli reportedly considered resigning, but was persuaded by party oligarchs to accept the will of the conference and stay the course. The next day, a sombre President addressed a joyfully uproarious Lok Sabha to introduce the Greater Malivia Act. He was careful, though, to assure the world that "Malivia has no plans for military aggression" and "Malivia will seek to bring about a Greater Malivia through peaceful and democratic means". The day has been widely described in the tabloid press as "the greatest day in Malivian history".

Foreign Minister Arpit Bajpai resigned in protest at what he called "an unhealthy lurch towards unrealistic positioning and impractical politics". He is expected to become a key figure for the moderate/"dovish" wing of the party on the backbenches. He is replaced by Defence Minister Vrikodara Mahalanabis, a man known to be passionate about Greater Malivia, but also a realist who knows his nation's army is not ready for war. In an interesting move, Ramesh Vemulakonda, the ringleader of the Greater Malivia movement, replaces Mahalanbis as Defence Minister.

According to senior sources, the new Defence Minister, a major power-broker in the party, put pressure on Ganapuli to take advantage of the civil war in Keymon by intervening there. He backed down, however, after receiving a telephone call from his Deltarian counterpart, Oto Brotz, who threatened to withdraw all Deltarian aid and co-operation from Malivia if Malivia sent military forces in to Keymon. Brotz's telephone call, some now believe, was made at Ganapuli's own request.


New "compost loos" to "revolutionise sanitation in Malivia"



Infrastructure Minister Benegal Satavelekar, who has become known as the "Minister for Poop" due to his leadership of the "Swachh Maliviya" ("Clean Malivia") campaign against open air defecation, has announced part of the latest tranche of Deltarian cash will be used to build and freely distribute the "compost loo", a two-storied system involving a toilet on top, and a composting unit underneath. These loos use natural processes to breakdown waste to produce organic compost which can be used for agricultural purposes - something very valuable to rural Malivians. They require no water, electricity or sewer system - which makes them perfect for the poor rural communities they will serve, where infrastructure is unavailable or unreliable. Satavelekar has called the new loos "a game changer", and promised they will "completely revolutionise sanitation in Malivia".



A few days ago the Minister took the Deltarian Ambassador and some World Congress officials on a tour of central Bhulkhandra, proudly showing his guests the impact compost loos are having in Malivia. He was somewhat embarrassed, however, when the official limousine passed a peculiar village festival in which Rajuttis were smearing cow dung on themselves and hurling it at each other, as part of a ritual designed to placate an occasionally vindictive local deity. One of the World Congress officials who saw the scene is said to have later muttered that "it will take at least another 200 years of civilisational development before this becomes anything like a normal country".

[ChengherRares1]

The Communes call for extradition of the perpetrators, while massive protests break out and violence against Gerajan and Rajjuti locals is on the rise

[Aquinas]

July 4770

Influential committee recommends Vascanian monarchy for Malivia

The parliamentary Select Committee for Constitutional Affairs has published a report recommending the country "consider carefully the clear advantages of moving towards a system of constitutional monarchy" and in particular that "the Royal House of Vascania enjoys unprecedented prestige, both in Malivia and across the world, and should be viewed as an option with potentially very great benefits".

Rajutti (OOC: Indian) opinion has responded enthusiastically to the proposal, with the Rajutti tabloid press demanding Emperor Manas's installation as "Emperor of Greater Malivia". Opinion in the Esinsindu (OOC: Jamaican/African) and Luthori (OOC: English) communities has been more mixed. On the one hand, they seem troubled by the upsurge in Rajutti chauvinism which has accompanied the recent Greater Malivia claim, and fear the monarchy proposal is a part of that, but on the other hand, Vascania is perceived as a more modern, advanced and secular country than Malivia, and there are hopes that greater links between Vascania and Malivia might move Malivia in what they would perceive as a more positive direction.

Speculation is now rife that President Patanjali Ganapuli will discuss this issue with Emperor Manas's son, Prince Madhu, when he visits Malivia shortly. Trinika Pantofflett, the chairwoman of the National Esinsindu Forum, has let it be known she has requested a private audience with Prince Madhu, in order to discuss her concerns about "the difficult situation my community faces in Malivia".


Jagdeep Thalla extradited to Lodamun

Following the Lodamum Commune's request for the extradition of Gau Raksha Paltan (Cow Protection Army) vigilantes wanted for a deadly attack on a burger restaurant, Malivian authorities have arrested one of the wanted men, Jagdeep Thalla, and packed him off handcuffed and accompanied by police officials on a plane to Orean.

This move comes as a surprise, since Malivia has a long history of ignoring Gau Raksha Paltan atrocities, and has previously been barely on speaking terms with the Commune. However, digging a little deeper, it is less difficult to understand what is going on here. Jagdeep Thalla, although a faithful Gerajan (OOC: Hindu) and passionate Gau Raksha Paltan activist, is also a fierce opponent of Malivia's ruling Rajutti National Party, and has funded political candidates against it in his home city of Rakaya. Political analysts are suggesting that with this move, the government is sending a warning to Gau Raksha Paltan that its members will not continue to enjoy immunity from prosecution if they fail to be loyal to the party.


Gerajan thugs murder dairy workers

Three dairy workers at a village in north-eastern Dendhadrash, two Esinsindus and one Untouchable, have reportedly been killed by a gang of Gerajan militants, furious at the fact that non-caste Gerajans were working with cows. In traditional Rajutti culture, dairies should only be staffed by caste Rajuttis, lest the cows and their milk be spiritually contaminated.

[Aquinas]

November 4770

Recognise "Malivian dimension" to the Keymon crisis pleads Mahalanabis

Foreign Minister Vrikodara Mahalanabis has used a speech at an academic conference on foreign policy in Modalin to speak out about the "Hutori and Lourennais incursions in to Keymon", reminding his listeners that "Likatonia was crucified for doing much the same thing in Zardugal" and that "Hutori and Lourenne, which are themselves members of the Security Council, should have consulted with the international community before becoming involved". He insisted, in particular, that a "Malivian dimension" to the Keymon situation should be recognised, because "Keymon is just off the coast of Idhaghra" and is "an integral part of our Greater Malivian homeland". Berating Hutori and Lourenne for "not even informing us about their actions", he demanded they "retreat from our Greater Malivian soil forthwith" and "pay us substantial compensation for this gross breach of our rights as a sovereign nation".

He spent the last half hour of his speech talking about various "Gerajan (OOC: Hindu) holy sites" in Keymon and his concern they might be damaged or destroyed as a result of the ongoing conflict.

[Rogue]

Deltarian naval/airbase officially opens in Malivia

[Aquinas]

July 4771

Leather workers prosper with arrival of Deltarian base



In the small Washebarian village of Pahladgarh, leather working has been the trade of Untouchables for as long as anyone can remember. This community is used to being triply despised by the other villagers, both as Untouchables, as people who handle dead animals, and as people who deal with the carcasses of dead cows - animals considered sacred in traditional Gerajan (OOC: Hindu) culture.

However, with the arrival of the Deltarians at the nearby newly-opened military base of Czar Dušan, things have started to change.

Liliana Uherková is the wife of one of the senior Deltarian officers on the base, and also an entrepreneur with a passion for social justice. Seeing the plight of the leather workers near the base, she reached out to them and tried to learn all about their trade. The leather workers, she discovered, are rather clever at what they do, but were being seriously under-paid by their contractors. So, putting initiative in to action, she worked on their behalf to find better contracts for them. The first new contract came from the base itself, but before long, orders were coming in from all over Terra.

Now, only a few months later, the lives of the leather workers have transformed. They have became prosperous - or at least prosperous in terms of the standards of Pahladgarh. Many of them are knocking down their mud huts to build sturdier dwellings, and acquiring trappings of modernity like radios, televisions and - crucially - mobile phones, which are crucial for keeping in touch with customers.

The other villagers are not so happy, though. Higher caste Rajuttis (OOC: Indians) used to lording it over the leather workers are miffed at their newfound wealth and self-confidence. One of these, Sahadeva Nambisan, told us:

May a curse be on Liliana Uherková, that silly, ridiculous woman! How dare she come in to our village and change everything around? Before everything was stable and everybody knew their place. Now these Untouchables no longer defer to us when they see us walking down the path, and when we ask them to work on our land, they refuse and say they can earn more money doing things with leather.

This is all, all wrong! Those Untouchables were born Untouchables because they did bad things in a previous life. They are meant to suffer and be lowly in this life, so they can have a better reincarnation next time.

Deltaria is upsetting the entire cosmic and karmic balance of the universe, and who knows where this will all end? I wish that base had never opened and I wish that dreadful Uherková woman had never come here. May she be reborn as a slug! That's what she deserves for doing this.

Some of the other villagers are also muttering that the leather workers are using illegally slaughtered cattle, instead of relying on the carcasses of cattle who have died naturally, as they are supposed to.

[Aquinas]

December 4771

Malivian economy overtakes rivals

A report from the Centre for Economic Studies at the University of Malakina has found Malivia's economy has surged ahead of those of Kazulia, Lourenne, Valruzia and Keymon. The study found the Zardic Institute of International Studies had seriously over-estimated the size of the other economies due to falsifications of data samples. This, combined with the discovery of more than 30% more Malivian black economy than was previously believed to exist, was enough to push Malivia's total Gross Domestic Product size to the front of the pack amongst these 5 countries.

Finance Minister Arjuna Singh hailed the news as "another sign that Malivia is shining with happiness and prosperity". He added, though, that he was "gravely concerned to learn how the living standards of the citizens of these places are far, far worse than we have been told by their governments". Lakshmi Mallaya, the Agriculture Minister, has announced part of this year's rice surplus will be "distributed to the poor, hungry people of these four nations" as well as half a million tonnes of coconuts each.


Rooftop train tickets abandoned after "Battle of Kubir Station"



Following the government's controversial and unpopular decision to charge tickets for travelling on the exterior of train carriages, the government has finally abandoned the scheme after a tense stand-off between transport staff and passengers at Kubir Station. This was an incident where hundreds of passengers boarded the exterior of the train and refused to either pay tickets or leave the train. For two hours, the train driver refused to move the train forward, insisting "nobody is going anywhere until everybody has paid". Despite much pleading and threatening, none of the passengers complied, and eventually the train set off anyway, absolutely covered with persons, not one of whom had purchased a ticket.

The next day, Transport Minister Benegal Satavelekar threw in the towel and announced those travelling on the exterior of trains would no longer be charged tickets. However, he insisted "this is not the end of the matter" and that "we fully intend to eliminate this problem, which does not belong in a modernising country like ours".


Majatran language to get new priority in schools

Education Minister Prashant Jadhav has announced a "radical new push for the learning of the Majatran (OOC: Arabic) language in schools", promising to "triple our recruitment of Majatran language teachers by 4790".

This is seen as part of a continued effort by the government to build its links with the continent of Majatra, where Majatran is a key language of business. The new policy has not been without controversy, however. Many parents are already angry that minority Rajutti (OOC: Indian) languages like Ananti (OOC: Punjabi), Zaqrami (OOC: Urdu), Rajavanshi (OOC: Gujarati), Khoni (OOC: Sindhi) and Bhapori (OOC: Kashmiri) are not sufficiently supported in the education system, and are questioning why Majatran is being privileged.

Over recent decades, Washebarian (OOC: Hindi) has become the most dominant language in Malivia, although Luthori (OOC: English) and Malivian Patois (OOC: Jamaican Patois) remain widely spoken too.