Kalopia

[Zanz]

viewtopic.php?f=17&t=2490&p=96072#p96072

[Reddy]

Jelbic Investors Welcomed In Helios
December 16, 3980


Prince Umar and the Jelbic guests

The Executive Council has laid out the red carpet for numerous Jelbic investors who are particularly interested in the 'mind altering subtance' industry. Several senior figures in the Jelbic market visited Helios and met with Prince Umar al-Razama, the Executive Councillor for Trade and Industry and 3980 head of state. The guests signed several contracts to expand their growing narcotic empire into the Central Majatran country. The elated Executive Council presented a gift to their guests of a troupe of dancing girls to the Jelbic nation, commending that they pass them on to the esteemed Khan.

The investors expressed great approval of the very business friendly climate in Kalopia-Wantuni with very low levels of taxation, extremely low labour costs and a thoroughly pro-business government. Prince Umar said the Executive Council was eager to welcome the Jelbic labourers who would be travelling to the country later in 3981 as part of a labour recruitment program. Prince Umar swore on the souls of his illustrious Razamid ancestors to ensure the safety of these workers in reply to a query by a local journalist who claimed that many who partake in such programs are never seen again.

[Kubrick]

OOC: Ah shit, the Razamids.

[Reddy]

OOC: Ah shit, the Razamids.

I hope to gather all my evil Majatran children here.

[Reddy]

Popov Accords Divide Executive Council
June 18, 3981


Involuntary labourers at a shrimp processing plant

Insiders say members of Kalopia Wantuni's ruling Executive Council are increasingly divided on whether to ratify the controversial Deltarian Popov Accords. Despite managing to convince the Deltarian government to use ambiguous language - with terms like 'lifetime involuntary servitude', few can be fooled in believing that this is anything less than a slave purchase agreement. Leading Wantuni Majatrans like Prince Umar al-Razama the Executive Councillor for Trade and Industry have expressed loud reservations about Deltaria's treatment of its Majatran minority and targeted enslavement of the persecuted minority. The Prince is a major player in the Wantuni oil industry and holds great clout in the area. Deltarian 'involuntary servitude' is different from Kalopian 'involuntary labour' where class rather than race is the prime cause of enslavement. The other members have their eyes on the estimated 100 million LOD value of the 7,000 persons to be 'gifted' to Kalopia-Wantuni and promises of more trade opportunities with generous tax exemptions. Members involved in the ever labour-hungry fishing, agricultural and sex trades have pushed for ratification, their greater numbers in the Executive Council make the prospect of ratification more likely than not.

[Reddy]

'Slight' Disturbances in Kalopia-Wantuni
As regime restricts voting rights
March 4, 3982


'Slightly disturbed' downtown Helios

After three days of mass riots and protests, the Executive Council has admitted that there are 'slight disturbances' in Kalopia-Wantuni. The disturbances were caused by the passing of the Freeholder Privileges Act which has seen more than 80% of citizens stripped of their right to vote as only so called 'freeholders' (landowners) are now allowed to vote and run for public office. This was confirmed in the elections held on February 26 when only 15.4% of citizens were able to satisfy the strict property requirements, annoying many. In another even more worrying development, parts of the national armed forces appear to have mutinied, joining the protesters. Many of these are in the traditionally restive themes of Wantuni al-Najd and Sessold. Many members of the newly re-elected Executive Council have withdrawn to the government palace, with beefed up security as they consider how to respond.

[Reddy]

'Difficulties' End
Regime Considers Radical Military Reforms
June 15, 3982

The Freehold Republic has survived its first serious test in the nationwide riots and protests which gripped the country for nearly four months. Leading members of the Executive Council facing a full blown mutiny, recruited domestic and foreign mercenaries from a variety of private defence companies and just individual foreign labourers in the country, enticed by the prospect of a 10,000 LOD payment offered to all mercenaries. By mid May the Executive Council had as many as 40,000 mercenaries and sent the bulk of them to restive city centres across the country where they have restored order at the cost of hundreds of lives. To address the mutiny in Wantuni al-Najd, Prince Umar al-Razama, the powerful Executive Councillor for Trade and Industry went home south in Wantuni and distributed large 'gifts' to many of the leading mutinying offers, make several political promises. Once most surrendered, with characteristic Razamid treachery, he secured the arrest of most and ushered in the entry of some 25,000 mercenaries in the area, suppressing the remaining pockets of dissent.


Foreign mercenaries in the Akbar desert, south Wantuni

The crisis has taught the Executive Council a few hard truths. The most important one is that a democratised army will not do in the long. It is not difficult transforming the entire officer class into a reliable freeholder dominated base. It will be more difficult though securing enough loyal common soldiers after the treachery that was used in ending the crisis. The Executive Council is said to be mulling turning the entire national army into a 50,000 men purely mercenary force which will not be tangled in local politics and with no preferences for anything but money. Many impoverished young men from the region would likely find such an opportunity to work in the wealthy Freehold Republic irresistible.

[Zanz]

viewtopic.php?f=17&t=2490&p=96305#p96305

[Reddy]

Armed Forces Dissolved
'Republican Stabilisation Forces' Created
June 28, 3982

The Freehold Republic has announced that it is to dissolve the Kalopian-Wantuni Armed Forces and will be introducing a 'Republican Stabilisation Force' instead. The move comes after the Armed Forces' loyalty was severely tested during the mass riots earlier this year and found to be sorely wanting. The new Force is to made up of a freeholder only officer class and foreign mercenary troops only, with non-freeholder natives expressly forbidden from taking any part in the force. Recruitment is going well, the target of 50,000 is very close to being, perhaps because of the sudden sprouting of several mercenary companies, many owned by individuals closely connected to the Executive and Great Councils. Some of the troops are already in deployment, and controversy has already touched Jelbek mercenaries in particular, who many view as highly violent and unsuitable for the task of pacifying nations.


Jelbek mercenary border guards

There are fears that some may be planted by Jelbania's notorious drug cartels with a view to lay roots for expansion into the Freehold Republic, outside of the official channels established by leaders of the two countries. Violence levels are certainly higher in areas where Jelbek mercenaries are posted, something which some reject as biased statistics, collected by some intolerant Kalopians. It has also been noted that the Jelbeks have been largely concentrated on the western border with Deltaria which is greatly destabilised by an ongoing Majatran refugee influx. Tales of rogue Jelbeks seizing refugees and smuggling them back across the border for fees from the Deltarian government are common while some are believed to be sending the refugees north to the Kalopian shrimping strongholds where slavery-in-all-but-name is common. The Executive Council has so far rejected all the rumours as 'racially motivated.'

[Reddy]

The Quiet Compromise
Leaders Reach Informal Agreement
June 11, 3983

Following the disturbances of early 3982, the leaders of the Freehold Republic have spent a great deal of time debating how best to pacify the restive populace, particularly the largely Wantuni southern themes. All agreed that a mixture of carrot and stick was necessary and the supremd position could not be weakened. A big public announcement of a change in direction would embolden the regime's opponents. It was decided to just silently begin devolving a lot of power on certain policy areas to the themes. The previously ceremonial regional establishments are to become powerful players with Governors appointed by the Executive Council at the centre.

The other reform was announced publicly with the Department of Foreign Affairs. The Freehold Republic is to adopt a stance of permanent neutrality in international dusputes The policy was apparently motivated by serious divisions between Kalopians and Wantuni regime leaders on what stance to adopt on the Deltarian crisis and other global issues.