Malivia

[Aquinas]

January 4782

Inika celebrates as police shoot cow killer suspects

The two Vanukeans arrested on suspicion of cow slaughter in the small town of Inika have been shot by police officers after being brought back to the crime scene for investigative purposes, and then allegedly attempting to steal police weapons and escape.







The people of Inika have responded with delight to the news, celebrating on the streets, putting garlands around the necks of police officers, throwing flowers over them and offering them sweets. Similar scenes have been repeated across the country. Even senior politicians have joined in, with Defence Minister Ramesh Vemulakonda and Minister for Cows Satyender Ahluwalia both publishing posts on Tweeter (OOC: Twitter) praising the Inika Town Police.

Under the orders of Education and Culture Minister Prashant Jadhav, the state broadcaster, the Malivian Broadcasting Corporation, has been forbidden from featuring members of the Social Justice Foundation for one month after its leaders denounced the death of the Vanukeans as "horrible, with all the hallmarks of a deliberate extrajudicial killing" and described the public celebrations of the killings as "akin to a grotesque lynch mob mentality".

Some columnists in the Rajutti tabloids have speculated the cow killers could have been Vanukean agents seeking to avenge an earlier incident where Malivians tried to murder individuals who took part in a bull sacrifice ritual in Vanuku. The government has made no attempt to give credence to these claims, although it has slapped a 30% trade tariff on all goods entering Malivia from Vanuku, in response to Vanuku's controversial testing of a nuclear device. Foreign Minister Vrikodara Mahalanabis said the nuclear test was "irresponsible and deliberately provocative, and will not go unpunished".


Workers' Textiles faces tax investigation

Finance Minister Arjuna Singh has ordered an investigation in to the tax affairs of Workers' Textiles, a workers' co-operative organisation in the textiles industry, which has its headquarters in Lodamun. Speculation is mounting the investigation was launched for political reasons, because Rajutti (OOC: Indian)-owned textile companies - many of them substantial donors to the Rajutti National Party - do not welcome the impact Workers' Textiles has had on their market. More broadly, senior figures in the Rajutti National Party are suspicious of Workers' Textiles' alleged subversive left-wing political agenda.

Nagini Kapudia, the Trade and Industy Minister, is from the more left-wing faction of the party, and is known to be sympathetic to worker co-operatives. According to inside sources, she attempted to block Singh's tax investigation, and is working behind the scenes to relieve the pressure on the troubled organisation.

[Rogue]

FOMAT 4782 concluded!

[Kubrick]

Prefect snaps back at “hypocrisy” of international community - issues embargo on Malivia

[Aquinas]

May 4782

Khiva worship in ancient Malivia

The Ministry of Education & Culture has released a controversial 400 page report of an official study in to Khiva (OOC: Shiva) Worship in Ancient Malivia, arguing that historic phallus monuments and cave drawings in Malivia and beyond point to "the strongest possible evidence for Gerajan (OOC: Hindu) and Malivian cultural and religious practices across the ancient world" and even "provide fascinating insights in to how the territory of Ancient Malivia may have been far, far larger than previously believed".

Prime Minister Patanjali Ganapuli, in a foreword to the study, praises the authors for "the sterling and groundbreaking work they have done on this important subject" which "demonstrates yet again the evidence for Greater Malivia". He goes on to argue:

The concept of "Greater Malivia" is often misunderstood by foreigners. The term "Avibhājya" is commonly translated in to Luthori (OOC: English) as "Greater", but the more accurate meaning is "Undivided". When we talk of "Greater Malivia", what we are really talking of is "Undivided Malivia". In other words, Malivia as it naturally is. We are not talking about a Malivia based upon subjugating peoples of foreign cultures. What we are talking about is showing people with the same history and same cultural heritage as us that they do in fact belong to our same Malivian family, and that if we all come together as one, and learn from one another, then we can more truly be who we are. As a political concept, Avibhājya Maliviya is not about suppressing people's cultural identity, but allowing them to fulfil and express it in the the most authentic way possible.

Alleged Khiva phallus in Hobrazia


Alleged Khiva phallus in Keymon

The study mainly focuses on alleged Khiva phalluses in the territory comprising the area the Malivian government has designated "Greater Malivia", namely Malivia, Hobrazia, Darnussia-Narikaton, Keymon and Selucia. However, it also claims evidence for Khiva worship in other nearby countries. In this regard, it focuses particularly on Luthori, where although phallus monuments and drawings are more limited in number, it claims the historical records provide strong evidence for puritan-minded Hosians tearing them down. There is also a chapter on the famous Noorddam Phallus in Vanuku, which it claims is "an ancient Khiva monument which has stood on the same site for more than 4200 years". However, local historians in Voorddam have since countered that the monument was originally built less than 300 years ago, and that it has been taken down and put back up again several times as a result of political controversies.

Jemarcus Jameson, Professor of Archaeology at the University of Kajpur, has dismissed the study as "speculative and wishful thinking based on the dubious assumption that any phallic image found anywhere in this region of the world is definitive evidence of Gerajan and Malivian civilisation", continuing that "there are phallic symbols all over Terra, and not all of these places can possibly have been occupied by ancient Malivians" and that "phallic symbols usually represent fertility and strength, or are used for certain rites". "They may be connected to the worship of gods," he added, "but not necessarily ones from the Gerajan pantheon".

A number of Professor Jameson's students have now begun boycotting his lectures and demanding he be sacked. Prashant Jadhav, the Minister of Education & Culture, has announced, with no explanation, that the government grant to the university's archaeology department has been cut by 25%.




Orphans write heartfelt plea to Khatun Bhatari





The children of the Queen Mrjmai Orphanange in south-east Walkaunar, which has just had its funding pulled by Vanuku have written a desperate letter to Khatun Bhatari, the wife of the Vanukean Khagan, Juhn XIII, and the niece of the Vascanian and Greater Malivian Emperor, Manas, appealing to her to intervene on their behalf to keep their orphanage open.

"You are our goddess and our mother, and we turn to you in this, our hour of desperate need," the letter begins, going on to explain that "unless funding is quickly restored, our orphanage will be closed down and we will be thrown on to the streets, where evil-doers will drive us in to exploitative labour, organised crime and prostitution". The letter also asks Bhatan to "pass on our kind regards to your husband the Emperor, and to the Prefect, Duke Hkinor Kárak, who we believe, despite everything people are saying, is a nice man really who is kind to children and animals".

[Pragma]

Vascanian-Born Khatun Offers Malivian Orphans 'Private Education & Luxury Accommodation'

[Kubrick]

Gau Raksha Paltan assassins finally sentenced

[Aquinas]

January 4783

Nouveau riche Rajuttis complain about Hijras gatecrashing weddings


Hijras

A growing campaign, mainly amongst nouveau riche Rajuttis (OOC: Indians) who have acquired wealth and are impatient with tradition, is calling for firm action against Hijras who turn up at weddings begging for money.

It is an age-old custom in Rajutti culture that Hijras, who identify as belonging to a "third gender", show up whenever there is a wedding or a child is born, to bestow blessings and perform certain rituals and dances, and are then given gifts and money in return.

Increasingly, though, especially amongst wealthier Rajutti families with more "modern" outlooks, the Hijras are seen as a nuisance, particularly when they refuse to go away until they are paid the amount of money they demand. In recent years, many Hijras seem to have made a speciality of gatecrashing weddings held by very wealthy and respectable families, performing bawdy dances, making a scene of themselves through such antics as flashing their underwear and pinching men's bottoms, and then not agreeing to depart until paid a sizeable sum of money by the mortally embarrassed hosts.

Over recent months, there has been an intensive letter-writing campaign to local newspapers, social media activism and lobbying of parliamentarians demanding the police take stronger action against these activities.

Opinion within the Rajutti National Party (RNP) is mixed on the issue. Rajutti opinion generally despises the Hijras, yet also grudgingly acknowledges the special and important role they play within Rajutti society, particularly in ceremonial/religious terms. There is prejudice against the Hijras and irritation at the way they sometimes behave, but this is also tempered by a resentment against those with more "modern" attitudes who feel the involvement of Hijras at weddings and the birth of children is unnecessary. At the moment it seems difficult to predict how the government will react, but the pressure to appear to be doing something looks like it will be difficult for the politicians to ignore for long.


Return Malivian street urchins back to the Malivian streets, demand social workers

Following Khatun Bhatari's generous decision to rescue the street orphans of south-east Walkaunar and give them a new and privileged life in Vanuku, the Walkaunar Union of Social Workers has issued a strong statement of protest, accusing Khatun Bhatari of "robbing these children of their cultural heritage in order to impose her elitist social values on them" and demanding she "immediately return them back to their own environment, so they can develop in a natural and healthy way".

Kanada Ajagavakar, the Minister for Health & Social Service, responded by saying "the government does not share the view of the social workers" and that "we are sure the Khatun, a gracious, charitable and saintly lady who we all revere greatly, will ensure those children grow up with a healthy awareness of their Malivian culture".


Nirakhpurians return to Branovice

About 17 years ago, the villagers of Nikrakhpur on the eastern coast of Washebar paid a famous visit to Branovice's "Tourist Strip", where they appalled locals and other tourists by, amongst other things, openly defecating on the beaches and spitting paan all over the place. Last week, after saving up the money for years, and taking advantage of the reduction in prices due to the current Deltarian recession, village headman Pandu Randhawa again made the journey to Branovice, along with 322 of his fellow villagers. By all accounts, a fantastic time was had by all - and there were none of the problems which marred the previous visit. Many of the Nirakpurians and Branovice locals recognised each other, and rekindled their friendships from the previous visit. Since the last visit, thanks to Deltarian aid money, the village of Nirakhpur has installed toilets and a sewer system, so they had no problem adjusting to the Deltarian customs surrounding urinating and defecating.

The trip finished with a cricket rematch between the Nirkakhpurians and the Branovice locals - which was, unsurprisingly, won by the cricket-mad Malivians.

[Aquinas]

July 4783

Malivia goes to MEA with begging bowl

The recession in Deltaria, one of Malivia's most important trading partners, has had a knock-on effect on Malivia's economy. It may not technically be a recession, but in some parts of the economy and areas of the country, it is beginning to feel like it. Foreign Minister Vrikodara Mahalanabis and Finance Minister Arjuna Singh have contacted the Majatran Economic Association (MEA), trying to persuade them that "although neither in Majatra or a MEA member, Malivia, at the southern tip of Artania, is very much in the region, and its economy is very much interconnected with those of MEA members" and that "providing economic support to Malivia would undoubtedly help to stabilise the region, both economically and politically".

It remains to be seen how sympathetic the MEA will be. Malivia is already the recipient of generous overseas aid from Deltaria, Vascania and Dorvik, and although some of that has been put to good use - with some progress made towards reducing open air defecation, for example - critics complain the Malivian government is disregarding the civil rights of Hosians (OOC: Christians) and Esinsindus (OOC: Afro-Caribbeans), is spending an excessive amount of its budget on building up its military forces and is a potential threat to its neighbours, on most of whom it has made controversial territorial claims.

[ChengherRares1]

Workers' Textiles fires back at the recent incidents, as well opens clothing shops and offer social programs to the impoverished

[Kubrick]

Minister Obbéz offers reconciliation to Malivia; Khaganate willing to bail-out Malivia