June 4342Draddwyr village flooded to make room for reservoir for Inglian cityTo the consternation of international human rights observers, the Draddwyr village of Tri Mohon has been flooded in order to create a new reservoir to meet the needs of Arrowhead City, an Inglian-dominated city in Englia Province. The village's approximately 400 residents were forced to leave their homes, with 50 of them being forcibly evicted after refusing to leave voluntarily. They have all been offered council housing in Arrowhead City, although the majority have refused this, insisting city life is not for them. Many have relocated to other nearby villages. Some are believed to have become homeless and to have resorted to a nomadic style of life.
The flood has subsumed Gorffwysfeydd, an ancient Draddwyr pagan shrine and cemetery. However, the steeple of an old Aurorian Patriarchal denomination church peers ominously and symbolically above the waterline. Photographs of the scene have gone viral over across the international media and the internet.
Lord Protector Rafe Shevington defended the government's actions, saying "this was necessary for the cause of progress" and that "we had to put the needs of a big and growing city with water shortage problems ahead of a dying, economically inefficient and socially backwards villages". He acknowledged the
concerns expressed by the Commonwealth of North Dovani, saying he "understands and respects the views of our neighbours", and tried to assure them that "this was a difficult but inevitable decision to have to take". He also claimed Tri Mohon had become "a hotbed for OLA (Onglian Liberation Army) activity", although this claim is strongly rejected by both the Tri Mohon Residents Association and the Onglian Civil Rights Association.
Rhona Buell, the chairwoman of the resident's association, has called the decision "a travesty of justice and a great tragedy for the Draddwyr people", adding that the flooding of "our sacred land of Gorffwysfeydd" was "an insult to our ancestors, our traditions, our heritage and our identity as Draddwyr".
Wulveden family assassination "an abomination", says Lord ProtectorLord Protector Rafe Shevington has called the
assassination of the Minister of Internal Affairs, Avery Wulveden, and his family by the Onglian Liberation Army (OLA) "an abomination" which "takes this situation to a whole new level". This is believed to be the first time the OLA has deliberately targeted the family members of government officials. The brutality of the crime has sent shockwaves through New Englian society, horrifying not only Inglians, but also a great many Onglians as well. Cardinal Maonach Ó hEadhra, the Archbishop of Viene, issued a strong statement condemning the incident on behalf of the Aurorian Patriarchal Church, calling it "inexcusable" and "a grave sin".
Metzism on the rise amongst the Onglians?According to a report released by the Ministry for Onglian Affairs, Metzism (OOC: Marxism) is "rapidly becoming a much more significant political force amongst the Onglian population". It has been known for some time that a significant proportion of Onglian Liberation Army (OLA) leaders hold Metzist views, but Metzism now seems to be making its presence known in other areas of Onglian community life as well. The report claims that "Onglian schools are being infiltrated by Metzist teachers", and calls for "stronger measures to ensure the removal of teachers who are trying to ideologically indoctrinate their pupils with Metzist propaganda". It also makes claims about the growth of Metzism within the Aurorian Patriarchal Church in New Englia, with the suggestion that a number of priests have become "at least closet Metzists" and are "preaching their own brand of pseudo-Metzism from the pulpit". There are claims too about the Onglian Civil Rights Association "being infiltrated by Metzists", as well as a startling claim that "of the Onglian Civil Rights Associaton's 20 executive members, we are confident there are at least 6 Metzists, 3 homosexuals, 2 undercover druids, 2 terrorist-sympathisers, a lesbian, a transvestite and a Kilani pagan ritual prostitute". Further down in the report it became clear that the "transvestite" was just a kilt-wearing Caldorian (OOC: Scot).
Godfrey Sibill, a populist MP from the National Party's conservative faction, spoke in Parliament blaming the rise in Metzism amongst Onglians on "the excessive and misguided efforts being made to educate the Onglians", warning that "this will only encourage them to read literature they should not be reading and get unnatural and revolutionary ideas into their impressionable little primitive minds". Octavian Petley, the Minister for Onglian Affairs, conceded that "our Onglian education programs have had some negative and unintended consequences" but insisted "we will continue with our Onglian literacy programs", arguing that "the real problem here is Metzists from abroad, who are trying to meddle in our affairs and stir up our natives".
Perica installed at Lucas PalaceLucas Palace, 10 miles to the east of New Indrala CityEdvard Perica, the
recently-ousted leader of Statrica, has been officially welcome as a guest by the government of New Englia, which has installed him in Lucas Palace, the luxurious residence which once belonged to Peter Lucas, who first founded New Englia as a Kirlawan colony. He has been awarded a generous government allowance, as well as ownership of large tracts of land seized from Onglian farmers after the recent uprising in Central Province.
Ministerial security improvedFollowing the assassination of two Cabinet Ministers in quick succession, the government has announced beefed-up security for all government ministers, and also for senior figures in the civil service and the security forces.