ARCHIVED: Zindrans Demand Autonomy

-THE BALAMB CHRONICLE-
​

BREAKING- Zindra Island. Mainly made up of volcanoes, this is where tourists go if they want to see volcanoes and geysers, such as the volcano Xia-Orodruin, seen in the picture at te bottom of this article. For a very long time it has been a centerpiece of Syrixian tourism. Those who want to brave the heat and get up close to a volcano, relax in one of the island's numerous hotsprings, and more come to the island in droves every year. However, the island is home to an indigenous community who dominates the island population-wise, as well as its provincial government. Most of the non-indigenous people are tourists, so they are widespread throughout the island. They are of a completely different ethnicity than most Syrixians, and so everyone saw this coming. The indigenous group, known as the Maakani, are now demanding an autonomous government for the island.

Prime Minister Alfred Nursson, who has pledged to help the Maakani in their quest for autonomy, has stated the following:
"I have met with the leaders of the provincial government of Zindra Island, whom are heading the autonomy movement. We have agreed in the event of a "yes" vote for autonomy, the Maakani will gain what they desire while still remaining a province of Syrixia, albeit...well, autonomous. Nothing will change for the country at all, research has shown. Our economy is growing faster than ever. All that will change is the gift of more governmental freedom to a people with a totally different culture to ours, and yet who have agreed to remain, loosely, a part of the Syrixian nation."

However, though the Prime Minister supports the movement, Parliament is divided on the issue. The leader of the anti-autonomy movement, the notably vociferous Minister Augustus Smith, had this to say when interviewed by Balamb Chronicle reporters:
"The Prime Minister is lying! By giving the island an autonomous government, we will not receive nearly as much money from the island as we used to! We'll get less taxes from them, the island's tourist industry won't allocate as much money to the overall economy as they used to, it'll be a disaster; all because the autonomous government, being autonomous, would receive more money from the taxpayers and tourism industries! Our economy will plummet due to the island's status as a tourism hotspot and yet the autonomous government will flourish! Sure, there will be less governmental freedom for the Maakani in the event of a "no" vote but the wrong location chose to move for autonomy in my eyes! Think about the prices of too much freedom; think about the financial status of a nation that's had two governmental changes in one year!"

While there is no violence about, the island is deeply mired in controversy and unless the issue is solved soon, tourists will continue to shy away from the beautiful island that used to be one of Syrixia's most famous locations.

ABOVE: the island's provincial capital of Yana, overlooked by Xia-Orodruin, Zindra Island's main (and most famous) volcano. Yana is famous for its lack of skyscrapers due to the Makaani culture's belief that if one builds too high in the sky they will be smited by the Maakani gods, who see skyscrapers as a cheaty way for humans to enter Tiyana, the Maakani culture's version of Heaven.​

BREAKING: Parliament has authorized other nations to comment on the issue.

Why not call a referendum? (OOC: like Scotland)

Due to Syrixian law, all referendi must be authorized by Parliament to prevent any security loopholes. Parliament, as mentioned before, is divided on the issue.

Perhaps an international conference could be held on the subject? One side may give up if a case is strong enough.

-Shaw Atlas, Minister of Foreign Affairs and Culture, Syrixia

As you know, there was the recent vote to create Castelli's di Taleham, di Illyrie, di Sandiel and di Capiona. As such, the Kaltian Estate stands behind the people of Zindra Island and their vote for greater autonomy. As such, Verstand Riaditel Ramon has authorized Sefydliad to set up a monitoring station to watch the election and make sure it goes off in a fair, free and open manner without any influence or corruption skewing the results.

There are not elections taking place but we welcome Sefydliad to monitor the process of debate.

Regardless of it being a debate or election, the KIC is pleased that Syrixia welcomes the monitoring situation from Sefydliad. It will help the KE determine the best course of action in the future.

We prefer to wait the resolution of the Parliament

(OOC: This is where the real story starts.)

January 27th, 2014
Parliament Hall, Chamber of the Parliament
Balamb, Syrixia

"This session of Parliament has now come to order." the Prime Minister boldly announced. "We will be discussing the situation on Zindra Island, as many of you may know or have anticipated already."

Some Ministers clapped, others groaned.

"It has come to our attention that Kaltians in the Kaltian agency Sefydliad have requested to monitor the debate. I have met with the High Cabinet and we have agreed to let them come. They should be arriving momentarily. In the meantime, I would like to hear from each side. As I am speaking for the pro-autonomy side of Parliament, I shall have Minister Augustus Smith of the non-autonomy side speak first."

Minister Augustus Smith walked up to the podium below where the Prime and Deputy Prime Ministers were. He began to open his mouth, when suddenly there was a knocking on the door.

"Ah, that must be Sefydliad!" said the Deputy Prime Minister.

Soisearach Verstand Praefectus Seli along with Verstand Asiant Matau and Verstand Asiant Anun have arrived in Syrixia. Once they get to the Parliament building they enter the main hall and take seats at the back of the room to listen to the proceedings.

Minister Smith turns to the Sefydliad agents and welcomes them, then proceeds to state his argument.

"By giving Zindra Island an autonomous government, we will not receive NEARLY as much money from it. We'll get less tax money and the island's tourist industry won't allocate as much money to the overall economy as they used to because the autonomous government, being autonomous, would receive more money from the taxpayers and tourism industries than they do now!"

The Minister continued, "Our economy will plummet due to the island's status as a tourism hotspot and yet the autonomous government will flourish! Sure, there will be less governmental freedom for the Maakani in the event of a "no" vote but the wrong location chose to move for autonomy in my eyes! Think about the prices of too much freedom; think about our financial status! Our economy only started getting better this year; do we want it to go back down again?"

The Ministers began conversing. One Minister, Minister John Alaqh, came up and said, "What if we gave them autonomy but had them pay a tax to us made up of some of the money they've gotten from the taxpayers and the tourists? Sure, we won't be as strong economically but they won't be as strong either, which means we would be better off than if we just gave them autonomy. Plus, they'll still be autonomous even with this tax."

The Deputy Prime Minister chimed in, "So, basically, you're saying the Zindrans should pay us money to gain autonomy, like some sort of autonomous government fee? That sounds like forced bribing, and I believe that's unconstitutional, though we'd have to get the Court to check on that one."

Minister of Justice Savus Archelius chimed in, "Let me and the Ministry consult our records. In the meantime, I move for a brief recess."

"For?" said the Prime Minister.

Around 5/6 of Parliament raised their hands.

"Against?" said the Prime Minister.

No one raised their hands.

"Abstain?" said the Prime Minister.

Two people raised their hands.

"Present?" said the Prime Minister.

A bit less than 1/6 of Parliament raised their hands.

"Then it appears we shall have a brief recess. All Ministers may converse on whatever they deem necessary, excluding Minister Archelius and his Deputy Minister. They are allowed to leave and converse with the Ministry of Justice on the constitutionality of Minister Alaqh's proposal. The agents of Sefydliad will be given a tour of the Parliament Hall complex while the recess is in effect. We shall reconvene in one hour." said the Prime Minister.

Everyone did as they were told; while the Prime and Deputy Prime Ministers ushered the Sefydliad agents to a tour guide and a couple Syrixian guards who would show them around the complex.

OOC Note: The Sefydliad agents are being accompanied by two Guardians of the State. They will probably not have a role in this but just thought I'd mention it.

As the Sefydliad agents are given a tour of the complex, only Soisearach Verstand Praefectus Seli seems interested. Verstand Asiant Matau and Verstand Asiant Anun fall back a little to discuss matters amongst themselves.

"That idea to propose an autonomous government fee? Absolutely preposterous. No democratic and free nation should ever propose such an idea."

"I know, here's hoping everyone sees reason on the issue and votes against that sort of thing."

"Too bad there isn't anything that Kaltian Estate could do to persuade the vote to the yes side."

"Absolutely not, we are here to monitor the situation, not interfere. And besides, doing such a thing would tarnish our reputation with Syrixia."

One hour later...

"Mr. Prime Minister. We have returned with our analysis. Obviously, as we predicted, the act of an autonomous government fee is considered forced bribery by Amendment 32 of the Constitution, Article 4, Clause 2.7." said the Minister of Justice.

"Very well." said the Prime Minister, noticing the Sefydliad agents walk in. "ATTENTION, ALL MINISTERS. THE RECESS IS NOW OVER."

The Ministers sat down at their seats, and the Prime Minister stood up. "The Ministry of Justice has reported that during their analysis they have found the proposal of an autonomous government fee is unconstitutional via Clause 2.7 of Article 4 of the 32nd Amendment of the Constitution. Thus, such a proposal is dismissed. I shall now present my argument and rebuddal to Minister Smith's claim, and then afterwards we will vote."

The Prime Minister cleared his throat.

"I have talked to the Zindran provincial government and we have agreed that the Maakani and thus all of Zindra Island should gain autonomy. Simple as that. Minister Smith's worries are not quite valid; our economy is growing faster than ever."

The Prime Minister continued, "All that will change is the gift of more governmental freedom to a people with a totally different culture to ours, and yet who have agreed to remain, loosely, a part of the Syrixian nation. It is a government's duty to protect the ideas and wishes of the people living in the nation which that government is, well, governing; not granting these people the autonomy they desire and, to be honest, deserve, would be a huge black spot on our nation's reputation and would make us and our democratic government rather hypocritical by not allowing more freedom to a people who are nothing like most of us, yet live on our soil. We must keep our reputation and our quest for democracy true, and we must respect all groups of people and their natural rights as human beings."

The Ministers clapped.

Minister Smith stood up.

"So what you're implying, Mr. Prime Minister, is that they don't have enough freedom already? Syrixia is a democratic nation that respects the rights of all peoples. Even the Empire was tolerant! The Maakani are asking for stuff they already have! Freedom is good but TOO MUCH freedom is NOT!"

Some Ministers gasped.

The Prime Minister was not one of those who scoffed or gasped. He remained composed, and said:

"While too much of anything is not good, Minister, you must remember that all the provinces and the freedoms of the people in those provinces are indeed universal and natural rights and the Maakani already have those; but they need more freedom from the collective group of provinces in the Syrixian nation. They are NOTHING like the average Syrixian, and thus deserve the autonomy they need to bring their OWN CULTURE into the mix and create their own autonomous government using their culture's own version of Syrixian law."

This statement had convinced even Smith himself that perhaps autonomy would be the right choice. "Does anyone else have a rebuddal to my statement or shall we go to vote?" said the Prime Minister. No one raised their hands, so the Prime Minister prepared to begin the vote. Suddenly, however, a courier randomly barged into the room, panting, and delivered the terrible news he brought with him: "Sirs! Terrible news from Zindra Island! A "non-autonomist" fanatic has shot the island's Lieutenant Governor! The Maakani are rioting in the streets like madmen! We need police support!"

"Oh, feces..." said Deputy Prime Minister Sirus. "Get the Syrixian Star ready, and tell the Governor we'll be on the island in around 25 minutes."

"Yes, sir." the courier said, before rushing off.

"OKAY, QUICKLY!" said Nursson. He was in high gear now. "FOR?!"

Everyone raised their hands.

"That's good enough. FOLLOW ME, JOHN!" said Nursson.

"Damnit, why now?! We were just about to conclude that they'd get their autonomy and then some fanatic gets in the way; now I have to race against the clock and calm them down before things get REALLY out of hand!" he thought.

Soisearach Verstand Praefectus Seli turns to Verstand Asiant Matau and Verstand Asiant Anun: "Wel, mae hyn yn troi allan i fod yn llawer mwy cyffrous nag yr oeddwn wedi rhagweld. Gadewch inni weld beth fydd yn digwydd, ond mae'n edrych yn debyg y gweinidogion yn mynd i ddechrau ymladd ymysg ei gilydd..."

Verstand Asiant Anun: "Yr wyf yn cytuno'n llwyr â chi."

Verstand Asiant Matau: "O leiaf y ddadl yn aros ddemocrataidd.."

Soisearach Verstand Praefectus Seli: "Yn wir iawn, gadewch i ni barhau i wylio a gwrando a gweld sut mae hyn i gyd yn dod i ben."


OOC: Yes, I am using the Welsh language as the Kaltian language. It is easily translatable via Google Translate.

Kalti:

Soisearach Verstand Praefectus Seli turns to Verstand Asiant Matau and Verstand Asiant Anun: "Wel, mae hyn yn troi allan i fod yn llawer mwy cyffrous nag yr oeddwn wedi rhagweld. Gadewch inni weld beth fydd yn digwydd, ond mae'n edrych yn debyg y gweinidogion yn mynd i ddechrau ymladd ymysg ei gilydd..."

Verstand Asiant Anun: "Yr wyf yn cytuno'n llwyr â chi."

Verstand Asiant Matau: "O leiaf y ddadl yn aros ddemocrataidd.."

Soisearach Verstand Praefectus Seli: "Yn wir iawn, gadewch i ni barhau i wylio a gwrando a gweld sut mae hyn i gyd yn dod i ben."


OOC: Yes, I am using the Welsh language as the Kaltian language. It is easily translatable via Google Translate.

Click to expand...

(OOC: I see what you said. Google translate and copy-paste comes in handy. I'll post the PM and DPM's arrival on the island tomorrow.)

Viqha Chola (Yana's Main Road)
Yana, Zindra Island Province, Syrixia
January 28, 2014
6:34 PM

"ZHUZHUZAZHUZEIZHO!" cried the Maakani rioters in their native language. "ZHIZHAZEIZEQZEIZEI!" They marched through the streets, demanding their autonomous government along with a ritual Maakani execution for the fanatic who shot the Lieutenant Governor. "ZHUZEIZAHLZHIZHA!" they yelled; and it scared the Prime Minister.

Poor old Alfred had taken Maakani back in grammar school; he had understood what they said. They were growing more radical by the minute; he needed to intervene. The Syrixian Star had landed in Yana and he (along with the Deputy Prime Minister and the Sefydliad agents) was riding his motorcade, quickly, to the city square.

Ten minutes later...

Aqoura Yana (Yana's City Square)
Yana, Zindra Island Province, Syrixia
January 28, 2014
6:56 PM

The Prime Minister and Governor Jiqawassa Hudawop of Zindra Island Province stepped onto the podium in front of the city square. He made the announcement. The crowd cheered on and on.

The Maakani now had the autonomy they wanted. Celebrations ignited across the island, and everything was happy.