Kafuristan

[Auditorii]

Der Globus: Dorvik to provide low-interest loan to Kafuristan (July 5201)

[Reddy]

Kafuri Majatran News Agency
Basic Income Project Announced As Protesters Lose Interest and Head To Homes
February 26, 5199


al-Kasraj, Abi'nadi Governorate Acting President Ahmad al-Hijal has announced the introduction of a Kafuri Basic Income Project. al-Hijal said every unemployed adult citizen would receive a monthly stipend equivalent to 150 LOD per month. The President said the Government would advance payments from the 1st of March. The country is thought to have between 3 and 4 million Kafuris who are registered as unemployed and the cost of the program is expected to stand somewhere between 8 and 10 billion LOD per year. Following the announcement several protesters in central a-Kasraj declare themselves "impressed" and many have packed their tents and are returning to their homes. The Acting President hinted that he would introduce more social programs but pleaded for "cooperation and patience." The arrival of the first installment of the 2bn LOD loan from Dorvik which is expected to cover the cost of the program for several months.

[Drax]

منارة الرياح الموسمية
Manarat Alriyah Almawsimia
(If it’s in the Monsoon, it’s got to be true)

NEW POLITICAL PARTY

Shibab, September 7, 5206: At the Holy City of Helem Hotel, following a Commerce Club buffet banquet and after dinner speaker on the importance of being on time, a local attorney, Bashir al-Saab, took the floor and surprised everyone by not adjourning the gathering but suggesting the group form a political party. The attorney indicated somebody ought to speak up for business and they were as able as anyone else.

In point of fact they did begin to organize and lay plans for filing paperwork and fielding candidates in the 5210 elections. Bashir al-Saab will serve as Interim Chair. The Head Waiter, Khalid Rajab, will be Acting Treasurer, and a local mathematics instructor, Achmed, al – Javid, will be Interim Registrar.

Hizb Alkafurii Altijarii (HAA) or Kafuri Mercantile Party, as it calls itself, appears to be starting with members who are local civil servants or are in small businesses and with some retired officials and military officers and a few farmers.

The Monsoon, knowing there is no vast widespread outcry of discontent calling for a new party, will continue watching this group to see if it is perpetrating a joke or actually trying to enter the political arena.

[Drax]

منارة الرياح الموسمية
Manarat Alriyah Almawsimia
(If it’s in the Monsoon, it’s got to be true)


HAA Chair Bashir al-Saab

HAA ORGANIZING IN O’MER

Ahaz, February 7, 5208: The Monsoon found Bashir al-Saab, Interim Chair of Hizb Alkafurii Altijarii (HAA) in Ahaz, O’mer Muhafazza, meeting with organizers of a new HAA chapter. Asked by the Monsoon how they were doing, Saab responded:

We are on track to have chapters in most of the metropolitan areas of Nekkah and O’mer and the University sector of al-Kasraj. From these we should be able to launch phone banks, canvassing, advertising on the ground and on television and engage with social media. Honestly, for now we are not going to try to organize elsewhere but concentrate on where we have received encouragement.

Monsoon asked if HAA was confident of good results and the party chair replied:

With the collapse of the ruling party the big question is where are the Ba’athists and the Republican Guard going to throw their weight; neither HAA or Ideology of Ahmadism seem like an easy fit. They may well have other ideas.

We are not anti religious but recognize Ideology of Ahmadism has a lot more appeal to people who primarily see themselves as Israi or Abadi.

A key influence is the military. Likely they know our concern about taxes being too high may affect their budgeting. We are trying to counter this with a promise of modernizing but we may very well not be where they land.

We also doubt if we will be supported by those who think of themselves primarily as Metzists or monarchists either.

Then there is the business community. We are clearly not the choice of those oligarchs who want to sell off everything but the bare title to land to foreigners so they and their associates and family can live out their days in luxury regardless of the consequences to others. Thet really want us out of the way.

So we are endeavoring to speak for the business interests who want to build the Kafuri economy for the benefit of all Kafuristan but can not say we represent all business interests.

These are treacherous waters we are trying to navigate.

[Drax]

منارة الرياح الموسمية
Manarat Alriyah Almawsimia
(If it’s in the Monsoon, it’s got to be true)

HAA AGENDA

Presidential Palace, January 7, 5209: After a meeting of the Council of Ministers at the Presidential Palace, The Monsoon asked President Bashir al-Saab what the Hizb Alkafurii Altijarii (HAA) was planning for the future, and he replied.

Most important is improving our economy and getting more people working. We are reviewing the safety net to insure we are not leaving the disadvantaged in a hopeless position.

Helping the economy involves several different approaches. We think a lot of small businesses could develop with a little government assistance to get started. We know international trade has periods when isolation rules, but we do think there may be opportunities at the moment and will be exploring these possibilities.

Oil has dominated our economy and we have no reason to think this is going to change any time soon. We are exploring how our oil policy can best be used to help all our citizens. We will be announcing more on this before very long. We do not want to be a day late and a KAF short but we also want to get it right.

Our taxes need revision. Our initial look indicates they are too high and reforming them can not be revenue neutral. Since we are not going to do deficit financing despite the unspeakable joy this would bring to some economists, the reduced revenue will have to be reflected in a combination of surplus reduction and budget shifts.

We will be proposing some changes but are not interested in change for the sake of change. We will be proceeding with respect for our traditions and culture and existing institutions.

Presidential Palace

[Drax]

منارة الرياح الموسمية
Manarat Alriyah Almawsimia
(If it’s in the Monsoon, it’s got to be true)


Finance Minister Rajab

OIL AND GAS FOCUS OF HAA

Al-Kasraj, January 7, 5211: After a meeting of the Council of Ministers at the Presidential Palace, The Monsoon asked Finance Minister Khalid Rajab what the Hizb Alkafurii Altijarii (HAA) was planning for the future, and he replied.

The Finance Ministry is looking to revamp the tax code. The President has explained that the tax rate is just too high.

We also are working on how to get all our oil under control of the Kafuri National Oil Company (KNOC) known as Sharnaft, our state oil conglomerate. This is essential for managing our economy. Let me be clear, HAA is not against foreign investment in Kafuristan. Not at all. We welcome it. But we want the Sovereign Kafuri People to own the oil and gas. All of it. But then we anticipate leasing the opportunity to drill and sell petroleum and natural gas to private enterprise while continuing Sharnaft drilling and selling as well.

There seem to be at least three types of outstanding private interest in oil. One size does not fit all, and we are looking at several approaches in each case.

There appear to be a few outstanding private owners of oil. Maybe 7% of the existing reserves. To the extent Sharnaft can simply buy them out, this is certainly the best way. We are likely to pass a bill allowing eminent domain in the near future. Presuming that we do, we may well end up taking those private interests if we can not amicably buy them. This will not be nationalizing per se but a government taking for a vital national purpose with just compensation.

You may well say, but we need the funds from oil sales to fund our public healthcare and education, and you would be right. So this will not be an overnight effort but maybe a ten to fifteen year plan.

Then there is the attempt to have Vanaku based interests take over 15% of our oil. This effort is now moribund but vestiges of it are bound to exist. Accordingly, as our records searches proceed any actual ownership of oil or land which might have oil that is held by those holding them because of this Vanaku adventure will be handled by buying them outright or taking them through eminent domain.

Then there is possible ownership of Sharnaft itself. We are not concerned with subsidiaries or affiliates but KNOC which we want to own the oil and gas. But there may be outstanding instruments such as judgments, mortgages or security agreements or more exotic debt obscuring contracts including purchase options or hypothecation agreements which may have the capacity to transfer title to an interest in KNOC or its oil interests or land it owns.

We are employing the international law firm, Aziz, al-Akim, Wallenstein, Bourguiba and Vasilevskii to isolate and deal with these interests to the extent they exist. Some may be purchased and some may be removed by record clearing procedures or litigation, some may be handled by the Board of Sharnaft repurchasing its own stock equivalency and some may require eminent domain.

We understand some will say, but is that capitalism? To whhich we answer, no, this is Kafuristan.

[Drax]

منارة الرياح الموسمية
Manarat Alriyah Almawsimia
(If it’s in the Monsoon, it’s got to be true)


President Bashir al-Saab

PRESIDENT ANNOUNCES FOCUS ON MAJATRA CORRIDORS TREATY

Presidential Palace, October 10, 5211: In an interview with The Monsoon, President Bashir al-Saab included a discussion of the Trans Majatran Corridors Network:

The Council of Ministers has decided to introduce the Trans Majatran Corridors Network Treaty in the Majlis-al-Umma and hopes to convince that body that connections to the Corridors Network should be built.

The Trans Majatran Corridors Network Treaty was agreed to some time ago by nine of the nations of Majatra. The concept is to build roads and railways in a standard manner that will connect all of Majatra. Making the connections from Jamahirit al-Qalb would first connect us with Kalopia and points east,including Deltaria and Jakania.

We would thebe looking at connecting with Solentia and then look at how to reach the islands of Badara. Badara has an undersea tunnel to Cildania but our current thinking is that a ferry system might be more doable.

The intent of the treaty was to promote intra continental trade and we believe continuing that task and adapting and restructuring it to present conditions will have that same desired effect. Hizb Alkafurii Altajarii pledges to join with the other nations of Majatra to bring this worthwhile project to fruition so it can benefit us all.

[Drax]

منارة الرياح الموسمية
Manarat Alriyah Almawsimia
(If it’s in the Monsoon, it’s got to be true)


Finance Minister Rajab

TAX REDUCTION AND SPENDING FOR ROADS

Al-Kasraj, July 7, 5212: After a flurry of mostly economic legislation was introduced by Hizb Alkafurii Altijarii (HAA), The Monsoon asked Finance Minister Khalid Rajab what was different after the 5212 election and he responded:

The elections were really close. Any closer and Ideology of Ahmadism would have won. The main upshot is amendments to the system and new treaties will require both parties agreement.

Asked by The Monsoon what the legislation was about, Rajab responded:

Two were withdrawing from the Majatran Association (formerly the Majatran Economic Association) and its arrangements since it appears pretty much moribund. We will see if it revives or another regional economic organization appears which might be a useful engine for trade and economic growth.

One was concerning the Majatran Corridors Network in which there has been a lot of renewed interest. HAA believes joining in will be beneficial to the growth of trade in Majatra. The budget measure was shifting funds to the infrastructure budget to accommodate increased road building.

Two concerned lowering taxes which HAA has long felt were too high across the board. The lost revenue will come from the existing budget surplus. Quite frankly, these bills should be a beginning. And further cuts may be more difficult since we are not going to run a deficit and there is not much surplus remaining. Future tax cuts would almost certainly require budget cuts.

[Drax]

منارة الرياح الموسمية
Manarat Alriyah Almawsimia
(If it’s in the Monsoon, it’s got to be true)


Infrastructure and Transport Minister Achmed al-Nayan

OIL PIPELINE TO ISTALIA ALMOST DONE

Presidential Palace, February 10, 5215: President Bashir al-Saab met with Kafuri National Oil Company Executives and Achmed al-Nayan, Minister of Infrastructure and Transport, to discuss progress on the oil pipeline from O’mer Muhafazza in Kafuristan to Istalia.

After the meeting between President Bashir al-Saab and Achmed al-Nayan Minister of Infrastructure and Transport, and Impero Istaliano’s Foreign Minister Flavio Bosetti and Minister of Trade and Industry Niccolo Parenti, it was agreed to build an underwater oil pipeline connecting our existing pipelines in O’mer Muhafazza in Kafuristan to connections in Impero Istalia.

Kafuri TransOil (KTO) is the subsidiary of the Kafuri National Oil Company (KNOC or Sharnaft) conglomerate that handles oil pipelines. KTO began construction and is very close to completion of the underwater pipeline and is working with Impero Istaliano’s Ministry of Trade and Industry to complete the connections in Istalia.

The Monsoon asked Cabinet Minister Achmed al- Nayan whether overall oil production would increase in Jamahiriat al-Qalb thereby undermining oil prices at a critical time, and he replied.:

Not necessarily. The purpose of our agreement with Impero Istalia is that it will give both our nations some stability in an important area of both of our economies. Having a friendly and secure partner in this joint venture will help us both.

In all probability our overall production will remain about the same. The Kafuri Oil and Gas Refining Company (KOGARC) under the oversight of the Ministry of Trade and Industry will be pretty much producing the petroleum products and natural gas necessary for domestic consumers.

Beyond that KNOC will have surplus crude oil much of which will go to Istalia via our joint venture pipeline while the balance will be available for international sale on oil markets. The balance will be considerably less once we start sending crude oil to Istalia since we will continue to maintain the basically 2/3 of previous maximum level of production which is less than half of the estimated potential level of production.

[Drax]

منارة الرياح الموسمية
Manarat Alriyah Almawsimia
(If it’s in the Monsoon, it’s got to be true)

RELIGION INTERSECTS POLITICS

Presidential Palace, October 11, 5215: The Monsoon has learned that President Bashir al-Saab met with Finance Minister Khalid Rajab, Justice Minister Umar ibn Marwan, Interior Minister Hakim al-Afdal, Director of the General Intelligence Directorate (GID or Dariat) Ivrahim ben Hadad and their aides at the Presidential Palace to discuss several requests from an Abadi cleric and a related idea of the President.

Moqtada al-Dufaz, an Abadi Mujtahib, has asked the Minister of Justice if there is any reason he should not be allowed to form an Abadi militia to be called the Dufazi Militia since the Ba’athists and the Bedwi each have their own paramilitary forces. The Justice Minister indicated current law would permit the government to allow it if it wished to do so as it has with the Kafuri Border Guard and the Republican Guard.

GID Director Ivrahim ben Hadad stated the Republican Guard was opposed while Ba’athist and monarchist elements would not be the only military leaders that would be appalled. He also indicated that Abadi cleric was going to oppose the government no matter what it did. The President asked if they would go ahead anyway and was told GID believed it would. The Interior Minister said then they would just have to be crushed.

Justice Minister Marwan said Mujtahib Moqtada al-Dufaz also asked if morality police would be permitted if only used to police willing families. The Justice Minister planned to simply deny the request since it would be male family heads volunteering their families to face assault and battery by such enforcers of the Dufazi interpretation of the Book of Bliss which included murder of non believers, murder of women and outrageous attacks on women and girls. All agreed but the Finance Minister noted it was unlikely they could prevent that either.

The President then brought up the idea of naming a head of the State Church, Ahmadism, as a way to try and make peace with the seriously religious who were lamenting the dissolution of the one outright Ahmadi Party. The GID Director said a lot of Abadi and Israi dislike each other more than Hosians or the government.

President Saab indicated what he had in mind was have the Abadi Ayatollah of Helem and the Israi Grand Mufti of Zerin alternate in naming a Grand Iman of the Ahmadi State Church of Kafuristan. The GID Director felt the Grand Mufti would agree and the Ayatollah might. His information was the two of them maintained contact to avoid unnecessary clashes. The Finance Minister suggested there was no harm in trying.

The Monsoon can confirm that the Office of the President will make the necessary contacts.


Presidential Palace