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HENUA NEWS DIGEST -- 31.DEC.2008
25 November 2008 -- Henua adopts constitutional amendments (IBAP/EET)
Henua's King Ña'ara III affixed his seal to legislation to amend the country's constitution and create its first independent court system. The amendment has undergone multiple drafts as legislators in the Council of Advisors argued and bargained with the six Ariki, or chiefs, whose unanimous support is required whenever the island kingdom alters its constitution.
The constitutional changes have had a particular urgency on Henua. While officials have discussed similar reforms for years, the catalyst for their passage was the arrest last September of eight foreigners accused in the attempted assassination of Andrew Morris, the Anglo-Cambrian ecotourism baron, Master of Lundy, and come next year, High Chief of the Tokelau Islands. At least six Henua citizens have also been arrested as suspects in the conspiracy. The new court system recommended by the amendment will allow their case to finally be brought to trial.
Although in agreeing to sign the document, the king and the chiefs surrendered their monopoly on Henua's justice system, they and the clan structure they represent will continue to feature in the new system. All criminal cases on the island, including the Morris assassination trial, will be heard before one of five panels of three judges each, to be appointed by the Counil. The chiefs are allowed to petition the judges to move the cases to their old clan courts, so long as the cases are not of national importance - expected to include nearly all major crimes and most minor crimes between members of different clans. Civil cases may be brought before judges or chiefs, as the litigants prefer.
A new innovation in the final draft that nobody had predicted is the creation of a Great Court for the island. It will consist of seven panelists, each of which must be from a different clan. The Great Court, no longer the King and Council, will have final say in all matters judicial. The reforms will clear up many ambiguities in the status of foreigners and immigrants, most of whom slipped between the cracks of Henua's clan court system.
29 October 2008 -- Our Beloved Chiefs, by Hiña Pa'oa (Ratio te Pito broadcast, released through IBAP)
[BEGIN RADIO TRANSCRIPT]
KU: Hiña Pa'oa is a writer for Te Vaka Ama and a regular contributor to the program. In his piece for us today he enters the fray as Henua debates whether to create an independent body of judges.
HP: Nothing brings our beloved chiefs out in force like a constitutional amendment. Happening only once in several years, a change to the nation's founding document gives its oldest ruling class the chance to flex their dwindling political muscles like few other events. At other times, our chiefs are beloved family dignitaries, wise and generous caretakers of the surplus, indispensible intercessors to the gods. But during times like this, when the island considers changing the Agreement of the Seven Chiefs, when they know that their unanimous support will be the difference between rashness and prudence, or between progress and stagnation... in times like this, our chiefs have as much influence as they ever will, and they make sure to get as much use out of it as possible.
It is not hard to see why the chiefs would be vocal about the current proposal. The plan, brainchild of Justice Advisor Ma'oa, will strip the chiefs of nearly all their judiciary authority. With panels of Western-style judges replacing clan elders and appointment by council replacing the clans' individual processes of selection, it gives supporters of long-needed reform all they had wanted and more.
In the past, the chiefs have agreed to having their power reduced when it was clear that not doing so would seriously hurt their credibility with their clans. It seems like this might be that kind of time: everyone agrees that we need reform, and we need it badly. Eight Hiva [1] are still locked up for conspiracy, their trials postponed until a court can be created to hear them, or the Council decides to stop running the country for a few months so it can take the trial. And that doesn't include the several Henua already detained as co-conspirators - four by official count, although there are rumors of additional secret arrests. With many countries getting more and more angry at our delays, and many others simply laughing at our follies, why would the chiefs want to do anything other than enact the reforms immediately?
Then again, why would they want to sign their names to an amendment that will so shrink their authority, an amendment to what is, after all, their own Agreement, but which the Advisorate wrote without so much as asking for their input? The Council voted almost unanimously last week in what can only be described as a state of panic. And with ministers from various island groups haranguing them constantly, their panic is hardly surprising. But surely, there is time enough to respect the chiefs' ancient and revered position in their clans and in the nation; time enough to make sure that as Henua creates a modern justice system, its beloved chiefs have a role to play.
For Ratio te Pito, I'm Hiña Pa'oa.
[END RADIO TRANSCRIPT]
[1] Tañata Hiva, Foreigners --IBAP/EET
3 October 2008 -- Legal battle comes to an end for Henua - but not for the accused (PUNA)
The Council of Advisers has agreed to hear the case of Andrew Morris's attempted assassination pending new legislation that will reform Henua's judiciary. During the last week, the Council has tried unsuccessfully to persuade the Kemrese government and Morris's personal government of the island of Lundy to take the case instead. The ruling, announced Friday afternoon, handed full responsibility for the case over to Henua. It will allow Kemr to wash its hands of what is sure to be a long and difficult criminal case.
In their ruling, the Council also announced formal charges of conspiracy and attempted murder against eight of the ten foreign contractors currently in their custody. The other two detainees will receive summons as witnesses. Against the protests of the home nations of the accused, the "Orongo Eight" will remain on Henua "until appropriate judiciary structures can be put in place."
Immediately after announcing the ruling, the Justice Committee met to prepare a final draft of proposed reforms to Henua's courts. The proposal will, in the words of Justice Adviser Ma'oa, "ensure that Henua never has another month like this again." Any significant reform will require an amendment to the kingdom's founding document, the Agreement of the Seven Chiefs, and will require approval by two thirds of the council and all of the island's chiefs. Ma'oa's hopes notwithstanding, the Orongo Eight may have to wait for a long time.
25 September 2008 -- Morris, Kemrese minister face off with Henua Council (IBAP/EET)
A three-way legal battle unfolded in Henua's council Thursday between the Kemrese government, "Private empire builder" Andrew Morris, and the council itself over how to proceed with the trial for Morris's attempted murder. Ten men from various Polynesian countries are suspected of planting a bomb with intent to assassinate Morris in Henua's capital. Neither Henua, nor Kemr, nor Morris's semi-independent island of Lundy want to bear the responsibility for trying the suspects. Today all three parties argued that the other two were more fit to hold the trial. Morris, whose perceived neo-imperialism has made him a hugely unpopular figure on Henua, was often derided from the crowded galleries. Several spectators had to be escorted out of the building so that Morris could have the chance to speak.
The ten suspects, all employees of the Aotearoan firm Haukai Poronehia, remain in the joint custody of Henua and Chilean security forces. Both Morris and Kemrese charge d'affaires Cefin Ffeil Padrig insisted to the council that since the crime took place on Henua, it should be tried under Henua law. The council, meanwhile, claimed that Henua law does not provide for the extraordinary circumstances of this crime. The island kingdom continues to use a justice system described as "traditional" and "tribal" by a number of experts, and should it remain saddled with the Morris trial, the council itself will likely serve as the court. In the words of one council member, Advisor Rangitea, "This trial could last for months. The council simply does not have the time for that. We do have a country to govern." Rangitea and other Henua legislators made the argument that Morris should be tried in his own country.
However, it is not entirely clear what Morris's home country is. English by birth, Morris makes his primary residence on the Isle of Lundy, a small island in Kemrese waters. He is essentially the sole ruler of Lundy under a 700-year-old provision of the senate of Dumnonia and upheld by the Kemrese High Court, which makes the island an autonomous region of Kemr. While Ffeil Padrig said that either Dumnonia or Lundy should take the case, Morris claimed that both local court systems were inadequate for an international conspiracy case, citing the usual practice of shunting such cases from the provincial legal system to the national courts.
Diplomats from the suspects' home nations of Fiji, Toga, and Aotearoa will address the Council tomorrow. At the moment, it appears that no country is willing to hear the trials of their citizens, and they are expected to argue that Henua take the case as soon as possible.
17 September 2008 -- Muted Tangata Manu race brings Henua bicentenniel to "disappointing" end (IBAP/EET)
Kiokio Pa'oa of Clan Ra'a won Henua's famous Tangata Manu race Sunday, presenting the first frgate bird egg of spring to King Nga'ara at his throne at Orongo. The ritual race, believed to bestow the power and mana of the bird upon Henua's ruler for another year, has changed little since Henua's kings appropriated it from the warrior class exactly 200 years ago. Every year, another champion has emerged victorious from the grueling swimming and climbing race. This year, however, Kiokio's victory should have been particularly spectacular, a show for the entire world in Henua's largest and most deliberate event to attract crowds of tourists from abroad. But with most of the tourists either departed or packing up before the conculusion of the 2-week celebration, only a few stragglers were left among the mostly native Henua crowd gathered to watch on the cliff side.
"It really is disappointing, to see it end like this," said one onlooker, a visitor from Oregon. "You think about the work the whole island has put into this event, only to have it ruined by some crazy terrorists."
Many spectators expressed anger at the still-unknown perpetrators of the attempted assassination of Andrew Morris. Others, however, were more upset with the Henua government'shandling of the situation. "They basically cancelled the whole festival, but wouldn't let anyone leave," said another Oregonian on his way to the aerodrome. "Basically, every foreigner was treated like a suspect, and there was really no sympathy for the fact that here we were, at the end of the world, with no place to go. It felt like an Inspector Watson novel, where everyone's brought into the room at the end so the detective can figure it all out."
While the festival clearly accomplished its goal of drawing tourist money to the island, the attempted assassination and its chaotic aftermath have done little to improve Henua's image abroad. Still unresolved are the fates of as many as 30 people still being detained by Henua and Chilean police, some as suspects, but most for unruly behavior during the island's three-day lockdown.Henua Justice Adviser Ma'oa Petero revealed few details but told the press simply that "the Council will shortly enact special and extraordinary measures to ensure that everyone in custody receives a fair trial."
13 September 2008 -- Chilean police arrive in Henua (PUNA)
As Henua's state of emergency entered a second day following a blast targeting Cambro-English tourism magnate Andrew Morris, police detectives and security forces arrived from Chile to aid in the investigation. For two days, tourists visiting Henua for the Tangata Manu festival have been unable to leave the island as all flights have been grounded, while new visitors arriving to see the festival's conclusion have been confined to the country's only aerodrome.
The Chilean forces, contracted via Henua's Interpol office, were flown in via aeroplane, an unusual and expensive step deemed necessary due to the urgency of the situation. They have detained multiple suspects but are keeping their investigations confidential. Meanwhile, the festivities, planned to be more elaborate than ever this year for Henua's bicentenniel, have ground to a halt. The crowds of tourists, estimated at over 6000 compared with a national population of only 10,000, have responded in a variety of ways ranging from staying in their hotel rooms as requested, to one group arrested today while attempting to break down the doors to the aerodrome terminal.
Justice Adviser Ma'oa Petero refused multiple requests for an interview.
13 September 2008 -- Andrew Morris in stable condition following attack (IBAP/EET)
English-Kemrese ecotourism magnate Andrew Morris is in stable condition a day after an explosion believed to have been an assassination attempt, Henua officials reported Saturday.
Henua's head of government, Chief Adviser Kupenga Tuki, addressed reporters personally in a press conference, the first conference held since the blast brought the country's bicentenniel festivities to a sudden halt. Kupenga said, "After conducting preliminary investigation at the site, Henua's gendarmerie believes that this was likely a deliberate attempt on Mr. Morris's life. The explosion was centered directly below the cordoned-off section where Mr. Morris was sitting, and the blast coincided with his arrival to the stadium." Adviser Kupenga would not speculate on the identity of the would-be assassin or assassins, sayng, "We don't even know if the bomb was placed by a Henua or a foreigner."
The apparent attack occurred Friday afternoon just before a musical competition in Takataka Orongo, the main venue for Henua's heavily promoted festival. Morris had just arrived and taken his seat when the blast ripped through the air and destroyed a large portion of the stands. 37 people were taken to Hanga Roa for treatment; 15 have since been released.
Privately, royal guard officers requesting anonymity told reporters yesterday that Morris's dealings have made him unpopular in most of Polynesia, and many of the foreign visitors could potentially have tried to kill him.
Emperor Konstantinos XII of Greece, together with his wife, was also present at the event where the attack took place, but was sitting far from the blast and was uninjured.
12 September 2008 -- Blast in Orongo (Ratio te Pito news update, released through IBAP/EET)
[BEGIN RADIO TRANSCRIPT]
RH: We interrupt this broadcast for this urgent news update. Minutes ago, an explosion beneath the seats of Takataka Orongo [1] has injured several dozen people, including English billionaire Moriti Anetere [2], famous as the future proprietor of Tokelau. No deaths have been reported. Greek Emperor Kotatino [3] was also present at the site but is apparently uninjured. It is not yet known what or who caused the blast, or whether it was a deliberate attempt on the life of Morris or Kotantino. Security forces have already sealed off Orongo to prevent anyone from entering or leaving the capital. Ratio te Pito will continue to broadcast updates as events unfold. With Ratio te Pito, this is Rapahango Hieronimo.
[END TRANSCRIPT]
[1] - Orongo stadium 8 September 2008 -- "I didn't know they'd be naked:" Haka pe'i prelim finds tourists unprepared (PUNA)
Monday's race on the slopes of Rano Kau was undoubtedly the best attended haka pe'i event in the history of the sport - and it was only a preliminary event, not a championship. But many of the more than 2000 estimated spectators were not fully prepared for the sight of unclothed and bodypainted men sliding down the hillside on sleds of banana brush.
"I knew this would be a dangerous cultural sport," said one middle-aged woman, a tourist from Montrei. "But I didn't know they'd be naked."
Other foreign spectators expressed similar sentiments. An audible gasp was heard from the crowd as the first racer, Riro Veriamo of the Nonoho clan, slid past the barricades, whatever garments he had put on left halfway up the hill. As every Henua knows, haka pe'i contestants' attire is highly ceremonial and adheres to strict traditional guidelines. They wear courtesy coverings for the loins, but these (the coverings) rarely can withstand the rigors of the sled race.
No tourists have been reported to leave the country over the unexpected nudity. Officials are debating whether the news will likely hurt or boost attendance at the next round of races.
ERA MAGAZINE (EXCERPTS) -- 5.DEC.2008 ISSUE -- Trouble Brewing in the Balkans
"Despite its name, the Romanian Federation is not a collection of
Romanian states. Rather, its population consists of many
nationalities, including Russians and Serbs as well as Arabs and
Xliponians. But perhaps most problematical is the large Hungarian
minority, an ethnic group caught up in the tides of history....
Oltenians point with great pride at their restored Principality. They
glory in the fact that they were the first nation to cast off the yoke
of the SNOR. This pride takes the shape of the bat. It is to this
country a mascot and a sigil, as well as perhaps an avatar of their
identity. Because the bat is a versatile creature that takes to the
skies, like the fabled Oltenian Air Corps. It functions as an
essential part of the ecology. But the bat can also be a predator,
usually a nocturnal one....
...Hungarian employment by the Securitate was not an historical
accident. It was a deliberate policy. The whole idea was to foster
blame and direct it towards a group already viewed with suspicion. It
worked. Following the Princely Restoration, crimes against those of
Hungarian extraction increased fivefold. The government had to
actively step in, attempting to ban anti-Hungarian discrimination--an
effort begun with as many mixed signals as results. Politicians in
Oltenia don't defend Hungarians too often, not if they wish to keep
their jobs. Negotiating with Hungary is a dangerous past time, but
one no Oltenian government can avoid. Hungary forms a huge salient
directly into the heart of Oltenia (although Hungarians counter that
Oltenia all-but-surrounds their country on three sides). It is a
major trading partner. Many thousands and thousands of ethnic
Hungarians are scattered throughout the country, in all professions
and on virtually every level....
Adding to the furor is Transylvania. A small part of a small country,
Hungary, but claimed as a part of an even smaller country, i.e.
Oltenia (or more accurately, Romania--since Transylvanian Nationalists
see their state as a full partner in the Federation someday).
Positions here are reversed, at least in terms of minority status.
Romanians are the minority, most of them evidently quite happy where
they are, flying the flag of Hungary above the post offices and public
schools. A tiny fraction of that minority see Transylvania as a state
in occupation, and yearn to toss the invaders out. Some of them are
violent, and get support from Oltenians. How much and from whom
precisely is a matter of debate. Often extremely rancorous debate.
When ethnic Romanians are arrested in Hungary, it is big news in
Oltenia. Very big news.
...all this smoldering flames, a new pamphlet has tossed some kerosene
onto the flames. The only question is--how much? Dubbed 'The Ten
Commandments for Oltenians' this pamphlet, which has been printed and
reprinted over the last year, outlines a frightening world view--at
least if you have one drop of Hungarian blood in your veins. Or feel
very much common humanity with Hungarians. Each commandment includes
a mini-essay of explanation, but the rules themselves are enough:
I. Thou shall not forget Romania, nor place any land or nation before
your homeland in heart or mind or action. The diatribes against Hungarian women are indicative of the common
view that such are both unusually beautiful and very wanton (for
example, 'Hungarian woman' is slang for bisexual or lesbian).
Authorship of the pamphlet remains in doubt, but it is known that some
Pavelist groups have had a hand in at least the initial distribution."[DZ]
NEW AMSTERDAM POST -- 12.DEC.2008 -- Covenant Loyalist Leadership in Question
ATLANDA, JACOBIA (NAL) -- The National Covenant Loyalist Committee
begins its year-end meeting next week, amid considerable speculation
over the leadership election. When the party was formed in 2006, from
discontented elements of the Whig and Progressive Conservative
Parties, the new National Committee was faced with two equally
distinguished and ambitious candidates for Party Leader--namely
Senators Howard Provo of Jacobia and Diane Rodham of Illinoise. In
the end the question was set aside in favor of a less centralized
structure, with Ontario Moderator Sir Clive Parker acting as Committee
Chair, with Eugene Levi leading the House of Delegates. Rodham and
Provo jointly led the Senate C-Ls from then on.
However, now that Parker's term as Party Chairman is due to expire,
the fifty-member National Committee must elect his successor and this
has become widely seen as a referendum of different leadership styles
and goals.
Provo, who enjoys the "home court" advantage of venue, is under
increasing fire as a Pegre War in Castreleon New threatens to escalate
League-wide. His role as Minister of Justice makes this growing
problem more-or-less his responsibility. The presence of the CBI
headquarters nearby makes that point even greater.
Rodham, on the other hand, is widely seen as more of an administrator
than an inspiring leader, despite the fact she has attracted a core of
extremely loyal adherents. Although she has absolutely refrained from
criticizing either Provo or the coalition government of which she is a
part in public, rumors insist that she has privately been highly
critical of his achievements.
At stake is more than simply the leadership of the Covenant Loyalists.
In less than two years the election for General Moderator takes
place. Currently, the Progressive Conservatives are still rebuilding
after the disaster of the Watergap Scandal. The Whigs, having held
the Oblong Office for three decades, have no obvious frontrunner in
the wake of Ion Edwards's resignation. It is entirely possible that
whoever wins this contest will be in a position to become General
Moderator in 2010.
Many pundits have predicted that a compromise candidate is likely to
win, such as Speaker Levi or Moderator Parker.[DZ]
NATIONAL NEWS CORPORATION -- 2.DEC.2008 -- Gambeau Crime Lord Dead, Mysterious Circumstances!
NEW CASTRELEON -- Jean Boutins, born in 1922, died Friday according to
official provincial records. The death certificate lists "heart
failure" as the cause of death, but doubts were immediately raised
despite the man's eighty-six years. Boutins was a prominent figure in
the Pegre, having been one of the most trusted lieutenants of the late
Charles-Luc Gambeaux (1909-1992). He and four other such lieutenants
comprise the "Old Men," the junta running the vast Gambeaux crime
organization since 1998. Maybe even more importantly, they make up
the most prominent representatives of the Old Guard, conservatives
within the Pegre that favor a more-or-less strict code which includes
distrust of those without Gallic blood, maintaining a low profile
whenever possible, and limiting acts of violence to decrease the
number of innocent bystanders involved (this to maintain stability
rather than out of any sense of morality).
The death of such a major figure within the Pegre would always be a
cause of concern to law enforcement, but falling as it does amid what
is being dubbed the Signoret Crime War, the dangers to the public are
increased. Guillaume Vashon and "King" LeBrun are battling to inherit
control of the Signoret Famille following the death of their
father-in-law Peter Dale, aka Pierre Daille. Vaschon is a known ally
of the Gambeaux Old Men and the Old Guard in general. LeBrun, like
the late Dale, allies himself with the Youngbloods, who are more
liberal in their approach to crime, willing to employ non-French and
to put a more public face upon the organization.
Rivals within and outside the Gambeaux Famille have vied for the vast
power of the leadership for years, especially since it extends far
beyond Castreleon New, despite having its leadership headquartered
there. Indeed, a so-called Southern Confederacy of Pegre crimelords
have been agitating to create a "Fifth Family" for some years,
according to the CBI.
What hinders a relatively peaceful settlement to this situation is
that now two members of the Tribunal, the semi-official commission
intended to mediate such disputes, have died within the past year and
so far neither has been replaced.
Justice Minister Howard Provo has promised to have a public
announcement about what he called "this crisis in law enforcement"
within the week.[DZ]
NEW CASTRELEON POST -- 14.NOV.2008 -- Liebermann Criticises Gore
PHILADELPHIA -- Connecticut Senator Jozef Liebermann openly criticized
the Gore administration on a subject generally held to be taboo in
Parliament--the death of the General Moderator's daughter. The
prominent Progressive Conservative legislator noted that the
increasing levels of violence in Castreleon New clearly falls under
the authority of the CBI, a federal agency. He asked Jacobia Senator
Howard Provo, current Minister of Justice in the Whig/Covenant
Loyalist coalition, what failures on the part of the current
government might have led up to the current "Signoret Crime War" and
what efforts the new Minister was taking to correct the errors of the
past.
Provo replied that clearer lines of jurisdiction needed to apply
between Provincial and League law enforcement, while admitting that
the CBI had perhaps focussed too many resources towards less pervasive
problems, specifically the hunt for serial killers. He pledged
further coordination between Provincial law enforcement and the CBI,
not least to bring the violence in 'The Big Peach' to an end.
Liebermann, Deputy Whip of the Progressive Conservatives, is a
long-time ally of PC leader Steven Harper. Since the 2006 elections
and his own election as leader, Harper has been rebuilding the party's
strength and been looking for some issue with which to oppose the
current administration while uniting the dispirited PCs (still reeling
over the the Watergap Scandal). He has successfully negotiated the
union of his party with numerous local conservative parties throughout
the NAL. Some commentators, such as H. Ross Lambaugh, suggest that
law-and-order might easily prove the banner the party needs to
re-energize the base and attack the Whigs, leading up to the General
Election in 2010.
Since the death of Peter Dale earlier this year, almost three dozen
murders and disappearances have occurred in the greater New Amsterdam
area, believed in connection with a fight between Dale's sons-in-law
for control of his crime empire. It is feared the fighting may spread
as other Pegre familles start taking sides.
Just prior to Dale's death by cancer, the General Moderator's daughter
Philadelphia "Philly" Gore was found dead in her apartment of a drug
overdose. She was reportedly dating Andre Vaschon, Dale's grandson,
although both had denied the rumor. Vaschon himself, wanted as a
witness, vanished soon after and remains missing.[DZ]
LWR (League Wide Radio) -- 17.OCT.2008 -- Jump in Murder Rate Signals Pegre War!
[TRANSCRIPT BEGINS] Of course, for the crew of the airship 'White September', or more
accurately for their loved ones, it is already an atrocity. Maybe
their suffering would be increased in hundreds or thousands had had to
endure similar losses. Or perhaps they would feel better, less alone
somehow. It hardly seems to matter.
The brutal fact is that in the wake of Pegre Crimelord Peter Dale, aka
Pierre Daille, his sons-in-law are grappling for the throne like the
sisters in KING LYR. Or maybe we're looking at the wrong play. Maybe
RICHARD III is a better choice, with the Pretender vying against the
wicked Duke of Buckingham. Then again, what are literary allusions
but ways to deal with unpleasant facts? And among those are the
almost certainty that murders will continue to rise. Questions will
be asked in Philadelphia, fingers pointed, chalk lines drawn on city
streets in New Amsterdam, insurance companies will be getting nervous,
French restaurants will suffer loss of business, and lots of blood
will get splashed all over a supposedly civilized city.
Oh, and just to put things in perspective. The Pegre member murdered
this morning? His name was Jean Dupres. And the same guns that
killed him put Rhoberth Mara in the hospital. Who is Rhoberth Mara,
you ask? A street vendor. He sold fresh fruit. Dupres was a regular
customer, it seems, and that fact allowed his assassins to chose that
particular spot at which to slaughter him. Shades of IULIUS CAESAR,
really.
Mara is in critical condition. He is not expected to survive. He is
a single father of a baby girl, whose mother died of cancer. Anyone
thinking that crime wars are maybe a chance for the criminal element
to thin their ranks might want to remember this soon-to-be orphaned
infant. And consider that she is unlikely to be the last child to be
made an orphan before the dust, and the blood, settles.
This is David Darknell. NEW AMSTERDAM POST -- 8.OCT.2008 -- Crime Lords Make Public Appearance
New Amsterdam -- Weeks after the "White September Massacre", following
which an uneasy truce has been observed among members of the Pegre in
the city and province, both leaders of the rival factions vying for
control of the Signoret Crime Family have been seen in public.
Louis Philip "King" LeBrun and his brother-in-law, Guillaume Vaschon
(father of the missing Andre Vaschon) were seen by multiple witnesses
during the last twenty four hours.
LeBrun, who was widely assumed to have been aboard the "White
September" when it exploded, appeared in the Breuckelen Hall of
Justice to register to vote at 4:45pm. He was accompanied by at least
six men who seemed to be bodyguards. Members of the press from
various outlets got wind of his arrival and within minutes surrounded
him, asking questions. Impeccably dressed as ever, he said little and
was wearing an arm cast. Asked about the destruction of the "White
September" he merely repeated that it was a great tragedy at least
three times before entering into a rolls royce limo registered in his
name. Many reporters present had covered LeBrun prior to this and
agreed the man in question was indeed LeBrun.
Vaschon, perhaps in a response to this sighting, had brunch in a
public cafe--the Palace de Croissant--at 10am Wednesday morning the
East Village. A regular at the establishment, Vaschon was with his
wife Antoinette, daughter of the late Pegre Kingpin Peter Dale, aka
Pierre Daille.
Constabulary officials feared with both leaders alive and no longer in
hiding, this might indicate a renewal of conflict.[DZ]
HENUA NEWS UPDATES
September 4, 2008: Easter Island bicentennial begins with diplomacy (IBAP/EET) This is about the Very Small States meeting just prior to the opening
ceremony.
September 1, 2008: Imperial newlyweds arrive on Henua (PUNA) A bit of royalist hoopla that adds some much-needed zest to the event.
NEW AMSTERDAM POST -- 1.AUG.2008 -- ARSON AT FAMOUS BREUKELEN BAR
New Amsterdam -- The Boa Room, watering hole for celebrities and
underworld figures alike, was destroyed by fire at approximately 4:30
in the morning of Friday, August 1, 2008, according to Breukelen Fire
Brigade spokesmen. Evidence at the scene indicates arson.
Fortunately, no one is known to have been killed or injured. But NAPD
authorities openly worry this is the opening salvo in a war for
control of the Pegre Signoret family. Rivalries between adherents of
Guillaume Vaschon and Louis Philip "King" LeBrun have been escalating
since the death by overdose of Philly Gore, only daughter of the
General Moderator. Her sometime companion, Andre Vaschon
(Guillaume's son), is still wanted for questioning regarding her death
but remains missing. The death from pancreatic cancer of Pierre
Daille, longtime head or "Duc" of the Signorets (and father-in-law of
both rivals), has set the stage for what officials believe may
degenerate into a full-scale Pegre War.
Sources insisted that the Tribunal, a kind of oversight commission for
the Pegre in general consisting of its most senior members, is trying
to broker some kind of compromise. However, this is hindered because
both candidates for taking over Daille's power have allies and enemies
within the Tribunal itself. It is widely believed that the conflict
will not end until one or the other is dead, along with their most
loyal adherents.
Meanwhile, since Daille's passing in June at least two suspected Pegre
members--albeit fairly low-level Capitaines--have been murdered. No
suspects have been arrested in either case although both cases remain
open.[DZ]
DASTUR ARDA VIRAF CONSORTIUM FOR ALTERNATIVE ENERGY STUDIES NEWSLETTER -- 30.JUL.2008 -- NEW WIND POWER ARRAY COMES ALIVE
Forty of the highest-profile Tengriist shamans gathered 100 miles west of Yasý, Turkestan today in a ceremonial dedication of the newest section of the extensive Jorðatai wind generation facility on the Betpak Dala steppe. They were joined by a large crowd of spectators, including several members of the clergy of Turkestan's other religious traditions.
The ceremony was far more extensive than usual because of the special nature of the new facility. The thirteen new wind generators, nicknamed "Wind Horse's Tail", are of a new type, each having twenty-two smaller turbines all connected to the same drive shaft. A small aerostatic balloon on the free end helps to stabilise the array.
Shamanistic blessing of new wind generators is considered normal in Turkestan; the Tengriist religion that they represent treats wind turbines as semi-sacred objects imbued with the almost-shamanic ability to draw power from the spirit of the winds. Even the other religious traditions seem to accept this Tengriist link with the wind farms.
"It seems to work," a young Zoroastrian priest trainee said, taking the pragmatic approach. "We haven't had one fail yet."[GH]
Pacific Press Association -— 29.JUL.2008 -— PORF admits two candidate members, rebuffs another
KAILUA, KINGDOM OF HAWAI'I, KANAWIKI -- The Pacific Ocean Regional Forum made the most high-profile decisions of its annual summit today as it voted on petitions from three countries seeking candidate membership in the regional organization. The Chinese state of Canton and the Empire of Germany were received as members, while an application from the provisional government of the Tokelau Islands was declined.
PORF, a regional forum concerned with commerce, ecology, and human rights in the Pacific Rim nations, expelled Canton in 2003 after its anarcho-capitalist revolutionary government used atomic weapons to retaliate against an invasion by neighboring Hunan. Canton's unqualified welcome back into PORF is considered one more sign that the world is willing to forgive and forget Canton's troubled recent past.
Germany's application caused more debate. The decentralized European empire has repeatedly requested to join since aquiring tiny Rickerman Atoll in 2003, but PORF has until now rejected Germany on the grounds that, in the words of last year's resolution, "the Holy Roman, or German, Empire has not demonstrated a stake in the needs and issues of the greater Pacific region." An eloquent speech at the summit by Rickerman's Commissioner, Walter Steinmeier of the Principality of Lippe, apparently changed the PORF foreign ministers' minds. Steinmeier emphasized ecological challenges to small atolls like Rickerman and the need for international cooperation to combat these challenges.
PORF was not so understanding toward the representative of the Provisional Government of Tokelau, which has governed the islands with the tacit consent of its overlord nation, Fiji, since April, although it had de facto administered the island for some months before that against the will of the Fijian government. Not surprisingly, Fiji's foreign minister objected to Tokelau's application, but so did a number of other nations wary of Tokelau's sepratist ambitions or its controversial plan to privatize its entire territory. PORF's official declaration states, "Tokelau cannot demonstrate a stable, working government required of PORF members, as its future status remains uncertain pending certain legislation and negotiations."
In the day's session, the foreign ministers also addressed whaling and porpoising rights and the issue of rising global temperatures.[BK]
BBC WORLD NEWS SERVICE, CONSTANTINOPLE DESK -- 26.JUL.2008 -- GREEK EMPEROR'S PLANS UNFOLD
ATHENS -- At Athens, this morning, the new Emperor of the Greeks announced plans for laying the groundwork for a League of the Pontic & Meditteranean Peoples. Representatives from Crimea, Georgia, Armenia, Albania, Libya, and Egypt were present and have expressed interest in the proposed League. Other Nations contacted were Xliponia, Ethiopia, Dalmatia, the FK, and Cyprus. The latter two have also expressed considerable interest in the project. Cypriote representative Maria Stavrinides said after the presentation: "One thing this region needs is a stabilising international organisation. Unwittingly perhaps, the new Greek king has proposed a solution that will not only bring to a newly unstable Greece a greater sense of calm and common sense; but will also draw together many nations around the great Black and Mediterranean Seas to work together on common issues."
King Constantine said during the presentation that the League will be: "...a network of culturally similar nations working together economically and to protect each other in times of need". He hopes to see the League up and running by early 2010.
When asked how he is settling in to family life with Alexandra, he cryptically commented that they will be "baby-proofing the Palace". Seemingly the young royals will be welcoming a new addition and heir to the family in short order.[KL/PB]
APA -- 17-JUL-2008 -- Abbot Patriarch Down Under
Sednir, NSC -- Sednir today officially and warmly welcomed His Beatitude, the Abbot-Patriarch of Glastein, head of the Cambrian Rite of the Catholic Church. He is in town to celebrate the liturgy for the World Week of the Young; and also to meet with Australasian and Aotearoan government and church leaders. His Beatitude arrived on the 14th, but as is his custom when travelling, has been in seclusion for the last few days in a local monastery; it is said he is offering special prayers for the youth of the world.
In his first official speech, the Abbot-Patriarch has asked the
people in attendance to remember that it is a sin to abuse life in
its many forms, including natural resources, saying that "...life is one of our most precious gifts from God". He also attacked new technology such as the videotex for making lustful materials too easily accessible.
The World Week of the Young has been well attended, attracting
hundreds of thousands of pilgrims from around the world to its various retreats, concerts and bible study groups.[MP]
NAL TODAY -- 16 July 2008 -- World Notes: International News in Brief
BRISBANE -- The Whummlin World Cup scandal took another turn as the
Ouisconsin women's skip Kassandra Jenssen resigned, causing her team
to drop out of the tournament and forfeit its scheduled match against
English Australia. Jenssen faces ongoing allegations of inappropriate
financial deals with gamblers, some connected with Chicago Pegré
members. English Australia will face Cuba today in the next round of
competition.
TOKELAU ISLANDS -- The much-anticipated election that may turn this
Pacific republic into a privatized state has been postponed, according
to the islands' provisional government. The Tokelauan people will
vote on the controversial proposal early in September.[BK]
BBC World News Service, Bosporous Desk -- 12-JUL-2008 -- GREECE PREPARES FOR MILITARY STEP-UP IN REGION
CONSTANTINOPLE -- A leak was reported in il Giorno (Rome) very early Thursday morning that a mid-level official of the Greek diplomatic corps, stationed in Malta, approached the Knights of the Order of St. John Hospitaller with an offer of the return of the Turkish held island of Rhodes to the government of the Knights for an undisclosed level of support for Greek plans in the eastern Mediterranean region. Although the Knights lost Rhodes to the Ottomans in 1522, they have never relinquished their claim to the island. The last serious application on the part of the Knights was to the League of Nations in 1935, but the rising tensions in Europe and the subsequent Great War and Oriental War caused Malta's case to be left in abbeyance.
Ill Giorno reported on Friday that the Grand Master has denied the truth in the rumours, stating that the Order is not interested in engaging in military conquest, even to regain stolen properties. He concluded that should Turkey ever desire to return what was taken so long ago, such an act of amity and good will would be welcomed most heartily.
Within an hour of the original report on Thursday, Greek foreign minister Konstantinos Leganopoulos issued the following statement: "No! We deny this entirely. We categorically veto this theory most completely. If anyone can claim Rhodes with justification, it is the Hellenic Empire, not an Order of knights of the pope of Rome who seized it from us in 1309!"
When asked about the nature of the long-standing claims of Malta on Rhodes, Leganopoulos replied: "Why would the Hellenic Empire negotiate with hollow threats? Go ahead, let them think they own it! Whatever they think, it won't happen."
At the Kings College Department of Foreign Affairs (Castreleon, Kemr), on Friday a leading scholar on Helleno-Britannic relations suggested that: "The rapid and somewhat haphazard nature of the Foreign Minister's comments indicates some culpability. It has been substantiated that there have been some low level talks between Greece and Malta of late; and it would not be at all surprising if they involved the status of Rhodes and perhaps the claims on Rhodes being made by both countries. What is most interesting about the rapid sequence of events is that one is left under the impression that Greece is actually trying to hide something."
Early Saturday morning, it was revealed in il Giorno that a series of low level talks between Greece and Malta took place in Rome the last fortnight. Mostly, they involved routine trade negotiations, but it is now clear that some sidebar discussions regarding Rhodes did in fact take place. At a press conference in Constantinople, the Foreign Minister reiterated his earlier statements; but was preempted when an official from the Greek imperial palace issued a video recorded address in which the emperor turned the whole issue on its head: "The Foreign Minister is very much mistaken if he thinks it is his place to make policy decisions! If he turns out to be corrupt I get to execute him. I think it's time we take back Rhodes. It's also high time we retake Turkey; then all of Macedonia! Clearly, the Macedonians want freedom from the Bulgars and I suggest an equal union between the two countries; a dual monarchy. If the League of Nations wishes to play
nice and give us some land to keep us quiet, there will be no war! Empire of Yesterday, Empire of Tomorrow!"
Furthermore, at the conclusion of the press conference, the Foreign Minister issued a statement indicating that Greece plans to court Romania, Turkey, Albania and Montenegro allied against Bulgaria in a "second and more glorious Balkan War" with the aim of "liberating enslaved Greeks in Macedonia". It will remain to be seen how the international community will respond.[PB]
Il Girono di Roma -- 11.JUL.2008 -- Order of St. John Denies Greek Connection
The Order of St. John today categorically denied the rumors that
they had been approached by Greece about the acquisition of
Rhodes. Basil Davids, Chief of the English _langue_ and
secretary to the order stated, "While we do not renounce our
historical claim to the island of Rhodes, the business of today's
order is peace -- not war. That would be our attitude should we
ever be approached by Greece about Rhodes."
The Order's claim to Rhodes dates back to 1309 when the Order
conquered the island from a Byzantine governor running the island
as his personal fief. The Order was driven from the island by
the Ottomans in 1522, but never gave up their claim to it. Even
today they refuse to use or acknowledge the title "of Rhodes"
when referring to anyone but themselves.
The Order's historical claim to Rhodes is a matter of debate even
among professionals in international law. While recent legal
precedents concerning aboriginal lands have strengthened their
claim, those precedents have yet to be applied in a European context.[JW]
IPAB/EET -- 1.JUL.2008 -- Lukas says: Henua to Share in War of the Heavens International Premiere
Far from the memories of men... and from almost everything else...
the people of the island kingdom of Te Pito o te Henua are used to
disappointment when it comes to movies. Tucked in a remote corner of
the Pacific and 1200 miles away from the nearest land, they usually
must wait one or even two years for films to make their way to their
country, where a single studio adds subtitles and sells them to
various local businesses that show them in small public theatres.
But this year, as part of his bid to bring unprecedented global
exposure to his long-awaited film, American director-guru George
Lukas has announced that the new installment of War in the Heavens
will open simultaneously across the world, and that Henua will share
in the international cinematic event.
The "WITH" franchise, known locally as Tau'a i te Rangi, holds a
special place on Henua, where back in 1990, the third film, Ho'ona
Ma'ehha (Bright Revenge), became the first film ever shown on the
island with subtitles in the native script. The Hangaroa Movie
Studio acquired the first two films soon after, and the next two
sequels proved wildly popular as well. Revivals of the five space
opera movies still draw full houses across the island. The opening
of Teata Tonga - that's Winter White - after a decade of waiting is
expected to draw still more.
The owner of Henua's subtitling studio, Pokitani Ure, contacted
Lukas's company a year ago when rumors of a worldwide release first
began to circulate. The film company, Metropolitan Moving Pictures,
was receptive to the idea of a premiere in the world's remotest
country. A script and a copy of the new sequel arrived at the island
soon after, and Pokitani and two or three staffers began work on
their translation. Under the terms of their contract with MMP, they
had to keep their work, the plot of the movie, and even the news of a
Henua release a secret until Lukas's announcement this week. Doing
this was quite a feat on Henua, where rumors can spread like a "dance
of light and darkness" described in the movies. "Every day was a
struggle against the urge to tell somebody - anybody - what we were
doing," says Pokitani Peripe, a relative who helped with the
subtitling work.
The announcement of the premiere has caused a stir like few on Henua
can remember. A special outdoor space is being prepared to host what
may be a majority of the country's population on the night of the
release. "I'll be there. I've been waiting ten years for this,"
says one fan in the capital, Hangaroa. "Henua has never been honored
in this way. Most people have never heard of us. I'm so thankful to
Lukas for this."
Henua's newly elected head of government, Chief Adviser Kupenga Tuki,
is an admitted fan. "I don't know what is more exciting, this news
or the 200th anniversary coming up in September. This is definitely
an exciting year for Henua." He added, "I look forward to watching."
The premiere will be held on the fifteenth of August. Several sites
have been mentioned, but most intriguing is the natural hollow of
Rano Raraku, the famed "statue graveyard" full of moai statues
abandoned in the 16th century.[BK]
New Amsterdam Post -- 28.JUN.2008 -- PIERRE DAILLE DEAD AT 69
New Amserdam -- The man known as either Peter Dale or Pierre
Daille, depending upon to whom one was speaking, died Friday afternoon
at his Llo Rhiant estate in Castreleon New. Once renowned for his
flamboyant dress and attention-grabbing behavior (such as giving away
tickets to Broadway shows to strangers at restaurants) has been almost
a recluse for months. Most assumed this was out of concern for his
missing grandson, Andre Vaschon, wanted for questioning regarding the
death by overdose of GM Gore's daughter. In a statement released to
members of the press Saturday morning, it was revealed the man
believed to have been one of the most powerful crimelords in North
America was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer. Time of death was given
as 8:53pm Eastern Standard Time.
Dale always maintained he was nothing more than a very successful
investor and real estate developer. The CBI and NAPD, however, openly
referred to him as the Duc, or head, of the powerful Signoret Famille
of the criminal Pegre organization. Experts maintain Dale was a
leader of the so-called "Young Bloods" who seized control of the four
major Familles during the 1980s. Dale himself is said to have been a
member of the Tribunal, an inter-famille commission of sorts designed
to function as a kind of League of Nations for the Pegre. The
Signoret famille specializes in the drug trade, making them among the
wealthiest group of professional criminals in the NAL, possibly the
continent. CBI experts claim the group has ties to many foreign
nations, including Louisanne, the now-defunct Florda-Carribbea, Tejas
and others.
Most troubling to the city of New Amsterdam and to law enforcement in
general is the question of the succession to Dale's power. A widower,
his wife having died from an accidental overdose of pain medication in
1998, Dale is now survived by four children. The eldest, Peter Victor, was
estranged from his father and lives abroad in New France as an
architect. Each of his three daughters married powerful lieutenants
in the Signoret famille, lieutenants who have achieved 'Cardinal'
status within the Pegre. That is, they are considered just below a
Duc in prestige and authority. Guillaume Vaschon, father of the
missing Andre, is believed to be in charge of most if not all of the
famille's legitimate businesses and investments. As such he has some
of the closest ties with other familles, especially the Chicago-based
Arnauds. Louis Philip "King" LeBrun, husband to Dale's eldest
daughter, has made no secret of his low opinion of Vaschon as well as
his intention to succeed Dale. He is reputed to run over two thirds
of the trade in illegal drugs within Castreleon New and surrounding
provinces. Adherents of the two have been coming to blows since at
least April.
Wild Card in this situation, other than the suddenness of Dale's
demise, is the youngest of his sons-in-law, Luc Poifret, reputed to
have made a name for himself in extortion and blackmail. He married
into Dale's family in 1997, a mere eleven years ago.
One police source stated his firm opinion that "its only a matter of
time now till the streets run with blood."[DZ]
OMNIPRESSE -- 25.JUN.2008 -- A NEW STATUS FOR NEW FRANCE
QUEBEC, NF -- In a suprising move today, the Intendant of New
France, Leonce Boucher, has announced some further changes for New
France. First, to end the stalemate in the Chamber of Patricians
regarding the status of the republic, the Intendant has decided to bypass
the Chamber's study committee and declared: "From this day forward, New France
will be officialy called (in French) La République de la Nouvelle-France and A République da France-Neuve (in Laurentien)."
The Intendant also announced that both the flag and coat of arms would
be changed to reflect the reality of modern New France. Using a sugar
maple leaf, long in use in the intendancy's history as a republican symbol,
the new symbols serve to cut ties with the past, eschewing the fleur-de-lis which is considered by the present government to be a royalist symbol.
Both moves come after months of agonising debates over the status of
the Intendancy. The monarchist Ducal Party said it would appeal
the decision in the Superior Law Council as being against the Organic
Laws which govern the Intendancy.[MP]
[2] - Andrew Morris
[3] - Konstantinos -- IBAP/EET
II. Thou shall not treat any Hungarian as an equal to any Romanian, on
pain of treason.
III. Thou shall not call any person Romanian who is not of that
blood, with no Hungarians or other pollution in their family tree for
three generations or more.
IV. Remember the first of November, and keep sacred in your hearts
the despair of our enemies on that day.
V. Honor thy fathers, and never forget their enemies remain thy
enemies for no less than ten generations.
VI. Thou shall not allow any Hungarian to harm any Romanian, upon
pain of death.
VII. Thou shall not marry any woman not fully Romanian, for such
unions are not marriage but adultery, and such women are not wives but
whores.
VIII. Thou shall not allow any Hungarian to steal from any Romanian,
but take from them an eye for an eye, a hand for a hand, a tooth for a
tooth.
IX. Thou shall not spread falsehoods about the innocence of those who
have wronged Romania or Romanians, on pain of treason.
X. Thou shall not succumb to the temptation of Hungarian women, who
are the agents of our enemies.
At nine o'clock in the morning, October 17, shots rang out two block
from Cafe Du Monde Too, a popular French bistro in the Village.
Within a few minutes, sirens were heard and within one hour after that
the NAPD was confirming what most New Amsterdammers had already
guessed. A member of the criminal organization called the Pegre had
been gunned down by another member of the same. This marks the tenth
attack, and sixth murder, within the past week. Everyone in the know
feared this was coming, but no amount of I-told-you-so's makes up for
the growing fear in the city. Internecine warfare, generally
speaking, is never a good thing. When it is played out in public
places between professional killers who don't seem to care all that
much who happens to be in the way, it goes from being not-a-good-thing
to a potential atrocity.
[TRANSCRIPT ENDS][DZ]
