Re: The Greater Hulstrian Chronicle
Posted: Sun Apr 26, 2009 10:15 pm
Governor-General, Defense Minister to organize convoy
Container ships waiting in the port of Luthorische Bai to set sail with the convoy
Kien, Hulstria - In response to Lodamun's quarantine and its failure to address His Majesty's Government's concerns the Defense Ministry has begun the process of instituting a convoy system to ensure the free passage of Hulstrian goods through the so-called quarantine areas. "Only ships that have no alternative but to sail through the areas in question will be convoyed," Defense Minister Sandra Forestier told reporters, "and our ships will be under the strictest of engagment guidelines." Operational details have yet to be released by the MOD has said that the first convoy will consist of eight civilian container ships, two frigates and one destroyer of His Majesty's Imperial Navy. The convoy group will be sailing at a range between 600 to 700 kilometers from the Lodamunese coastline, well outside waters guaranteed to that nation by the Law of the Sea Treaty.
Governor-General Raske used a speech at the University of Kien to address the Lodamunese quarantine:
"Terra, our home, has never been a stable place. Dictators, tyrants, terrorists, and rebels menance civilized nations at almost every turn. Liberal democracies are constantly forced to defend themselves and international order. Ideologically driven extremists currently threaten the safety of several nations while terrorism strikes fear into the hearts of innocents the world over. Governments are right, indeed they are required, to do everything practical to ensure the safety of their citizens and the preservation of their sovereignty. However those actions cannot be without limit; they cannot be done without consideration of international order and civilization as a whole.
The unilateral military quarantine imposed by the United Republics of Lodamun is well beyond the limits of international norms, decency, and law. Their action, while done with what we can only assume were the best of intentions, is clearly illegal. There is no basis, no right, no precedent, and no defense for this action. National authority extends no further than 500 kilometers from the coastline. Beyond that Lodamun has no more right to enforce its laws and decrees than Hulstria, Vorona, or Rutania. Our argument is not economic; this action is a threat to every nation's sovereignty and right to navigate the high seas.
Might must not make right; the actions of the few but bold must not be tolerated and validated by the quiet but many. Any attempt to enforce national law or authority a single centimeter beyond 500 kilometers is illegal. Allowing Loduman's action to stand establishes dangerous precedent. It sends a message to all that a nation can extend its sovereign authority without limit as long as their guns are large enough. It spells the end of neutrality, the end of innocent passage. This quarantine aimed at combating Nova Terra is itself the harbringer of chaos and strife.
I call upon the United Nations of Terra to act and stop this illegal action. Acceptance of the so-called quarantine will be the end of international waters on Terra and the end of whatever legitimacy the United Nations hoped to establish. Failure to act or silenced forced by Lodamun will only serve to confirm the fears of all too many that the UN is a puppet of the United Republics' regime. This is our test. This is their test. I know Hulstria will not fail, but I fear the United Nations will."
Container ships waiting in the port of Luthorische Bai to set sail with the convoy
Kien, Hulstria - In response to Lodamun's quarantine and its failure to address His Majesty's Government's concerns the Defense Ministry has begun the process of instituting a convoy system to ensure the free passage of Hulstrian goods through the so-called quarantine areas. "Only ships that have no alternative but to sail through the areas in question will be convoyed," Defense Minister Sandra Forestier told reporters, "and our ships will be under the strictest of engagment guidelines." Operational details have yet to be released by the MOD has said that the first convoy will consist of eight civilian container ships, two frigates and one destroyer of His Majesty's Imperial Navy. The convoy group will be sailing at a range between 600 to 700 kilometers from the Lodamunese coastline, well outside waters guaranteed to that nation by the Law of the Sea Treaty.
Governor-General Raske used a speech at the University of Kien to address the Lodamunese quarantine:
"Terra, our home, has never been a stable place. Dictators, tyrants, terrorists, and rebels menance civilized nations at almost every turn. Liberal democracies are constantly forced to defend themselves and international order. Ideologically driven extremists currently threaten the safety of several nations while terrorism strikes fear into the hearts of innocents the world over. Governments are right, indeed they are required, to do everything practical to ensure the safety of their citizens and the preservation of their sovereignty. However those actions cannot be without limit; they cannot be done without consideration of international order and civilization as a whole.
The unilateral military quarantine imposed by the United Republics of Lodamun is well beyond the limits of international norms, decency, and law. Their action, while done with what we can only assume were the best of intentions, is clearly illegal. There is no basis, no right, no precedent, and no defense for this action. National authority extends no further than 500 kilometers from the coastline. Beyond that Lodamun has no more right to enforce its laws and decrees than Hulstria, Vorona, or Rutania. Our argument is not economic; this action is a threat to every nation's sovereignty and right to navigate the high seas.
Might must not make right; the actions of the few but bold must not be tolerated and validated by the quiet but many. Any attempt to enforce national law or authority a single centimeter beyond 500 kilometers is illegal. Allowing Loduman's action to stand establishes dangerous precedent. It sends a message to all that a nation can extend its sovereign authority without limit as long as their guns are large enough. It spells the end of neutrality, the end of innocent passage. This quarantine aimed at combating Nova Terra is itself the harbringer of chaos and strife.
I call upon the United Nations of Terra to act and stop this illegal action. Acceptance of the so-called quarantine will be the end of international waters on Terra and the end of whatever legitimacy the United Nations hoped to establish. Failure to act or silenced forced by Lodamun will only serve to confirm the fears of all too many that the UN is a puppet of the United Republics' regime. This is our test. This is their test. I know Hulstria will not fail, but I fear the United Nations will."