President of the Republic calls for Truce
Socialist Militia backs off line
Kaliburg, Ananto
April 2, 4526
President Guttersnipe reacts to cheers from loyal supporters as he calls for Peace
At a barbecue in Kaliburg yesterday to celebrate the April First holiday, President of the Republic Oleg Guttersnipe held an impromptu press conference, where he issued a brief statement to assembled Press. The President's Press Secretary offered the Republic transcribed notes of the speech, which we will reprint here, rather than attempt to decipher his spoken comments:
President of the Republic Oleg Guttersnipe wrote:Friends, all of us assembled, and yes, some people who do not have a lot of basis and ground for trust with one another. The political troubles in our Republic have gone on too long. I have asked the leaders of the Socialist Party of Kalistan to call their militia off the line and send their boys and girls home. We are not resolving anything this way. Whether the other members of the institutionalist bloc follow is their own choice. But the one thing I do know, and the one thing I think my elections demonstrates is that the people are exhausted. I do not think that I was elected to make huge sweeping changes or to hold a line. I think I was elected to provide the people of this country with a different tack in politics. The one which wants to roll up its sleeves and get stuff done.
The Socialist Party has directed its militia to stand down for the moment. They will not disband, and I have not asked them to, but a temporary armistice I think would help us talk to one another. It will be temporary, for sure: there is one or two possible outcomes I see. Either the truce breaks down or it holds and we form the basis of a new arrangement in Kalistan which is based on not hostility that we see, but trust that the other side is not just a bunch of demonic actors the way we've been presenting it. If it holds for a while, maybe we can have a truth and reconciliation commission. It would be a good idea.
I've been approached about maybe sending someone to the World Council. Perhaps it would be a good idea to get their input on the matter. At any rate, this constant warring is not sustainable. So I have asked my Party to put away their guns, and come to Kaliburg in one year for a Unity Festival. We'll work with ODEN and make a GanJam with a reconciliation theme. We'll make it a neutral ground where all are invited and nobody will be turned away. And if people show up, they show up. And if not, well, the GanJam is always a great show anyway. We're also talking to the Brethren in Ananto about helping us out and getting the SP back onto peace mode.
When the President's speech was completed, he opened up to questions. A lot of wide ranging questions were briefly and somewhat incomprehensibly answered, but soon, the President said simply, "Aight lads, let's hit the grills!" and, with a huge grin on his face, proceeded to jump off the podium into the crowd of people, who are not used to their President mixing so freely with them. He was followed to the first BBQ stand and the festival was on.