Klassekampen - Dreton declares independence from Kazulia

World events, conflicts, conferences and visits from all over.

Klassekampen - Dreton declares independence from Kazulia

Postby Stuart » Fri Jan 01, 2010 4:48 pm

KLASSEKAMPEN

Revolution breaks out in Dreton, new independent republic declared

The SV (Socialist Left Party), following its departure from the national cabinet and the passing of many new anti-socialist laws such as the slashing of the top rate of income tax, has taken the historic decision of declaring an independent People's Republic in the province of Dreton where they received a large majority of votes in the last election. Following a call early in the morning over local radio and TV by the SV's leader Kjersti Åsheim and a number of trade union officials the ordinary citizens of Dreton arrived at their workplaces to seize control, decorating shops, offices, factories, trains and buses with the red flag of socialism and the red and black flag of anarchist communism. Both the mainstream Trade Union federation LO and the radical anarchist union the KAS have given their full support to the revolution as have a number of social movements.

Almost all councils in Dreton are controlled by the SV (who won 63% of the national vote there last time) and have instructed their police forces to assist in the revolutionary takeover of economic and political power. Kazulian army units situated within Dreton have also been urged to join the revolution and to ignore any commands from the central government, from now on being direct representatives of the people of Dreton. Most ordinary soldiers are believed to be supporters of the revolution although there may be some conservatives officers who will try to resist the orders of the new government.

A revolutionary council meanwhile has been set up which will take over all powers currently held by both the Storting and Statssjef and help manage Dreton's transition towards socialism. Up to new elections which will be held in three month's time the council will consist of 100 members - 50 appointed by local councils (most of which are likely to go to SV representatives), 30 from the trade unions (with 20 for the LO and 10 for the KAS) and 20 from various social movements such as the feminist organisation Kvinnefronten.

The following policies are among those which have been announced after a provisional meeting:

* Complete democratic workers' control of the economy. All private ownership of businesses, services and the media will be abolished at midnight without compensation and in future all companies will be owned and run by their workers. State companies will immediately be converted into democratic workers' cooperatives.

* Wage and income differences will be reduced as much as possible over the years ahead. From tomorrow a progressive tax system ranging from 0% to 90% will be introduced and all savings held by wealthy individuals over 1 million kroner will be confiscated for the benefit of the people.

* Power will be radically decentralised and brought as close to the people as possible through workplace democracy, the empowerment of local councils and various neighbourhood initiatives.

* Where possible all decisions within the government and other elected bodies will be taken collectively without the need for elevating anyone to leadership positions.

* Total gender equality. Quotas will be introduced for female representation in all management positions, all restrictions on abortion will be abolished and all women will be encouraged to take up free state childcare. The buying of sex will again be outlawed while new worker controlled porn collectives will be encouraged to promote feminist values and challenge a culture of male domination.

* Protecting the environment will be a top priority with Dreton aiming for a zero oil and carbon economy within a decade. All power will be from renewable sources and only environmentally friendly vehicles will be allowed.

* The armed forces will be converted into a democratic militia under the direct control of the people and in which soldiers have the power to elect their superiors. Police boards will be elected by their local communities and will be accountable to them only.

* The flag of Folkrepublikken Dreton will be a plain red flag and the anthem Internasjonalen (The Internationale) until anything different can be agreed upon. The capital is Skalm.

The reaction from the Kazulian federal government is being nervously awaited meanwhile. Will they try to reclaim the separatist province? And what will the consequences be for the SV, LO and KAS in the rest of Kazulia after what will be seen by many as a serious violation of the constitution? Many of the leaders of all three organisations, including Kjersti Åsheim herself, are believed to have fled to Dreton for fear of arrest by the right-wing Thorgerd regime.
Sosialistisk Venstreparti
User avatar
Stuart
 
Posts: 3
Joined: Wed Sep 09, 2009 7:03 pm
Location: Scotland / Kazulia

Return to World Events

Who is online

Users browsing this forum: No registered users and 7 guests