Mazara Free Press Association

[Polesia]

Faith Alliance condemns "harassment" of party members and clergy

The Alleanza della Fede has issued a formal complaint to the Eiffellander Occupation Authorities over the actions of liberal student activists and journalists from La Stampa Libera, who have been conducting late-night visits to clergymen and party members openly opposed to homosexuality to demonstrate the potentially invasive consequences of sodomy laws. In a letter to the Eiffellander Occupation Authorities, which can be found in today's edition of Gazetta di Torrenza, the conservative rival to the La Stampa Libera, the Alliance described the visits as "harassment" and "intimidation" and urged the Eiffellander military to intervene and protect both Solaris clergy and Faith Alliance supporters.

The Faith Alliance has been at the forefront of the campaign to restore the sodomy laws after they were suspended by the Solaren National Congress in an attempt to resolve the dispute between Count Stefano di Perugia, leader of the Social-Liberal Party, and the Torrence Gazette, which had accused Count di Perugia of engaging in homosexual acts. Many of its members believe homosexuals should be executed if proven to be sexually active, as dictated by the Book of Leviticus and implemented by the old Regime.

La Stampa Libera is known to be sympathetic to the aims of the Social-Liberal Party, both of which have been accused of being close to the Eiffellander Occupation Authorities by the Faith Alliance, which also demands the immediate withdrawal of all occupying powers.

The letter published by the Gazetta di Torrenza was accompanied by a list of journalists and students, who are all believed to attend institutions established by the Eiffellander Occupation Authorities, suspected of involvement with investigations into the private lives of Solaris clergy and Faith Alliance supporters. There are now concerns those named may be the focus of a new campaign targeting those in favour of relaxed treatment of homosexuals.

 

[Rheinbund]

LA STAMPA LIBERA​

Modersohn: “Non-violent character of late‑night protests example for other protesters”

In his weekly press conference last Friday, General Modersohn commented on the formal complaint from the Alleanza della Fede over the late‑night actions of liberal students and journalists of La Stampa Libera. He was very explicit in stating that the Eiffellandian Occupational Forces were not involved in the recent late‑night actions against prominent conservatives: “The students and journalists of La Stampa Libera acted completely on their own behalf and upon their own initiative. We were not involved. I won’t comment on whether the action was justified or not, but I will comment on one other aspect of this action. Protest actions often end in violence in this country. Last week’s late‑night action was one of the few protests that was non‑violent. There are some protesters in this country who currently cause a lot of trouble; those protesters should take the non‑violent character of last week’s liberal protests as an example.”
General Modersohn also indicated that “the safety of everybody in this country, both liberal and conservative and socialist, is a concern to the Eiffellandian Occupational Forces”. But he also stated that “it is impossible to guarantee the safety of everyone in this country at each and every time point”. Regarding the safety of the leaders of the Alleanza della Fede, he said: “I acknowledge the fact that if students can get so close to the leaders of the Alleanza della Fede, an assassin can get so close as well. Therefore, we will give the top 50 of the Alleanza della Fede 24 hour protection in the form of two body guards, effective immediately.”


Comment on the letter from the Alleanza della Fede in the Gazzetta di Torrenza

Last week this newspaper reported about a protest action by liberal students against the sodomy laws. The actions in question caused some turmoil among the leaders of the Alleanza della Fede, resulting in an open letter in the Gazzetta di Torrenza accompanied by a list of students and journalists who are believed to investigate the private lives of Solaris clergy and supporters of the Alleanza della Fede. This is a comment by the two journalists who reported about last week’s protest action by liberal students against the sodomy laws.

The war and the occupation changed a lot of things in our country. One of the things that changed is the fact that it is no longer the will of the Pope that determines everything. Instead, everybody can have his own opinion. And we all have, from radically socialist to ultraconservative, and everything in‑between. We are also free to voice our opinions. And we all do so vehemently, sometimes even violently.
The Alleanza della Fede is known as an advocate of returning to the situation of the old regime, and is also known for the passion with which it defends this stance. With that, it is a typical example of the way freedom of opinion and freedom of speech are exercised in present‑day Solaren. Because of that, the way the leaders of this alliance reacted to our protests is extremely surprising. The letter itself is not a surprise to us, but the list of names attached to it is a more threatening attempt to intimidate people than what we did. This list of names was clearly published in an attempt to name and shame a group of people. It is a clear, not explicit but definitely implicit, invitation to harrass and attack the people on that list. And for what? For having an opinion that differs from that of the Alleanza della Fede. This alliance apparently also wants the climate of intimidation and suppression of the old regime back.
Our late‑night visits to leading members of the Alleanza della Fede was not meant for investigating the private lives of those people. It was an attempt to show the impact of legislation on someone’s love‑life to the private sphere of individuals. Nothing less, nothing more. However, if someone has strong opinions on how people should organise their private lives, opinions like those of the Alleanza della Fede on that topic, he should not be surprised if other people want to know if he himself lives according to his principles. And that has an extra dimension when the Alleanza della Fede is involved. That organisation wants to go back to the old days, but there is one aspect of the old days that really should remain in the old days, and that is the corruption. Before the war, Solaren was loaded with officials who imposed the teachings of The Church upon the ordinary people and privately violated each and every teaching of The Church. Such people should remain out of office in Post‑War Solaren.
Let one thing be clear. Basically, we don’t have anything against people who want to live according to the teachings of The Church as they were in Pre‑War Solaren. In Post‑War Solaren, you should be free to do that. But “free” is the keyword here. In Post‑War Solaren, you should be free to live according to the teachings of The Church as they were before the War. You should also be free to live differently. That is what we want to achieve. Nothing else. When supporters of the Alleanza della Fede are hampered in their freedom to live according to the teachings of The Church before the war, we will defend their freedom to live the life they want as well. But as long as the Alleanza della Fede itself threatens the free choice of others, we will fight against it.

For one thing we thank the leaders of the Alleanza della Fede. Their reaction reveals that we succeeded in showing the impact of the sodomy laws on someone’s private live.

 

[Socialist Commonwealth]

Heavy Riots Leave Six Dead

Protests by conservatives throughout Solaren have turned violent today, with the city of Galara hit hardest by the riots. What had started as repeated protest marches against homosexuality has turned into a large protest movement against the military occupation of the country. Conservative protestors clashed with supportes of both social-liberal and communist factions, clearing the streets of several major cities from oppositional presence and proceeding to assault offices of the social-liberal party and the national labor coalition, as well as occupational forces.

"The damage has been massive and several dozens of people were injured by the time we decided that drastic measures were needed to restore order," the commanding officer of the Carentanian forces in Galara said. Carentanian forces in Galara engaged protestors, supported by Solaren security forces, using live ammunition to end the riots, killing five people in Galara alone.

Analysts expect that the riots will persist throughout the next days, despite heavy military presence in major cities. High-ranking members of the Faith Alliance, Solarens major conservative party, are calling for a total retreat of foreign forces in Solaren, the inclusion of the Faith Alliance in the constitution writing process and demanding the release of Bishop Alviero Muzzoni, who was imprisoned by Potenzan forces during a rogue military operation in Cantignia.

Carentanian officials have criticised the Faith Alliance, commenting that their actions and words are jeopardizing the future of the Solaren people and the lifes of many in Solaren who are caught in between the growing unrest.

 

[Thaumantica]

Faith Alliance, International Chapter (First Haven, Cantignia)

One and the same, Carentanian and Potenzan occupiers shoot first and ask questions later. Holy believers of the Solarish Faith can go nowhere on God's green Europe without fear of persecution, for even here in this land beneath the World, Potenzan occupiers arrive with guns blazing to punish those who have formed a more perfect union with God than any of you non-believers could ever imagine.

Pity comes to mind when we address the coalition that molests our distant Holy Land. Pity, and oh Lord not forgiveness, for all the thousands and millions of imperialistic soldiers who deposed the One True Pope who dared to share the Gospel. One and the same, yes one and the same they all shall burn for their transgressions in this life or the afterlife; not but within the limits of total eternity will they escape their hellish due deserve.

 

[Potenza]

Protests Continue

Protests in the more populated areas of the north have continued since they were last reported, though the reasons have morphed over the past few weeks. Initially these were in response to the debate over laws pertaining to sodomy and homosexuality, which many believed the SNC was sacrificing in the name of politics. Now, however, many are protesting the arrest of Bishop Muzzoni, who was recently captured by Potenzan forces, who went into his home in Cantignia. The Potenzan government has announced that they will send Muzzoni to Solaren, where he will face trial for war crimes and "rebel activity." Many Solaris are calling this an illegal move, and demand the immediate release of Muzzoni from Potenzan custody. These cries were echoes of the Faith Alliance, Solaren's largest conservative party. Sources say that the number of protesters appears to be growing every day.

The riots are monitored by elements of the Scipio's Own division. There have been times where several Potenzan soldiers were assaulted, but the antagonizers were quickly arrested. Lieutenant General Battisti, commander of Potenzan forces in northern Solaren, has said that protests will be allowed so long as they do not turn violent. "Unlike other armies," said Battisti, "Potenzans don't just shoot anyone who disagrees with them." This was apparently a reference to Carentanian soldiers who shot and killed five protestors in Galara a few days ago.

The Northern Council, the representative body of the northern sector, called for calm from the people, and said that they would support the Potenzan move so long as the promise of a fair trial under Solaris authority was seen through.

Carabinieri in Solaren

The first wave of instructors from Potenza have arrived to assist in the reconstruction of northern Solaren's law enforcement. Their role will be one strictly of training, not enforcing. Many of these instructors are veteran Carabinieri themselves, and will assist the Solaris police and other forces with modern crime fighting. A restructuring and reorganization of the local law enforcement may be necessary, the Carabinieri spokesman said, but no one was expected to lose their job.

 

[Socialist Commonwealth]

Commissariate for Foreign Affairs

We are deeply insulted by the comments of Lieutenant General Battisti, who is fully aware of the extent of the unrest and shouldn't make unfounded claims that enflame the situation further. Carentanian soldiers shot in self-defense during riots that caused numerous Carentanian and Solaren citizens to be hospitalized and devastated infrastructure of political groups opposed to the conservatives. Potenzan authorities know that their soldiers would not have acted differently.

The Workers' Republic expects a formal apology by the Potenzan government.

 

[Potenza]

You must be registered for see links

The Grand Duchy will gladly issue a formal apology when the Workers' Republic gladly issues a formal response regarding concerns both the Grand Duchy and the Northern Council have made known in the past regarding comments made by her new foreign affairs commissar.

Gian Lombardo
Foreign Minister​

 

[Remuria]

Solaris Protest in Altburg

Members of the Solaris community in Nichtstein protested against what they call an illegal occupation of Solaren. Organisers put at 1500 the number of people who attended the rallies in front of the Carentanian and Potenzan embassies, as well as in front of the Eiffellander High Commission. The Altburger City Police, however, put the number at 400, split into the three rallies in the different areas of the city. The rallies, which took place amid a heavy police presence, dispersed peacefully towards the evening.

 

[Socialist Commonwealth]

Another Night of Heavy Riots Kills Fifteen

Riots throughout Solaren, directed at the occupational powers, have left fifteen people dead. Conservatives took to the streets in the evening, protesting the occupation and the recent death of six protestors during riots earlier this week. An estimated amount of three hundred thousand people are on the streets in major cities, especially Galara, Mazara and Torrence. According to Carentanian authorities, soldiers were assaulted with petrol-bombs and guns by rioters, who shouted slogans in support of the old regime and decried the soldiers as "jews" and "sodomites". Again, live ammunition was used to disperse protestors.

The damage done last night is considerable and protests are ongoing in many cities. Carentanian forces have issued personal bodyguards to important figures of the interim government as well as the political opposition. "For their own safety," the commander of the Carentanian forces commented, "we will keep high-ranking members of the Social-Liberal Party and the Labour Alliance guarded within their homes, until order has been restored." Rioters had assaulted supporters of both political movements in the recent days and death threats are being issued by radical conservatives.

 

[Socialist Commonwealth]

Armed Revolt in Galara, Carentanians Retreat From City

Ongoing protests have turned into open revolt in the city of Galara, with armed right-wing groups staging attacks upon Carentanian forces and forcing them to withdraw from the city center. The Commander of Carentanian forces within Galara has confirmed to the public that a "tactical retreat" was necessary in response to heavy attacks that have killed an as of yet undetermined number of soldiers. The insurgency is estimated to number several hundred and seems to be armed with weapons stolen from pre-war military stockpiles, including heavy weaponry. In numerous other cities throughout Solaren, protests have meanwhile continued and conservatives repeatedly clashed with authorities in violent encounters.

Carentanias Commissar for Defence has called an emergency press conference in response to the events, announcing a "strong response" by Carentanian forces and putting occupational troops on highest alert levels. He called upon the insurgents to stand down and surrender immediately and vowed to the public that order in Solaren will be restored swiftly. Three airborne divisions, stationed in Carentania, have been mobilized and are preparing to leave for Solaren, reinforcing troops there shortly. It remains doubtful whether the insurgency, believed to consist mainly of former government and military officials, will follow the call to surrender and many in Solaren are preparing for a bloody week.

Carentania also raised strong criticism towards Potenza, claiming that it was inflaming the situation out of an "imperialist attitude" that "Carentania would have to answer to them". A formal complaint has been issued towards the Potenzan ambassador in which Carentania places a partial responsibility for the violence upon the Potenzan Lieutenant General Battisti. Carentanian troops have also begun to shut down the border between the Potenzan and the Carentanian occupational zone, however stating that this was not a response towards the Potenzan insults but rather a measure to contain the unrest in Solaren.

 

[Rheinbund]

Riots in Torrenza, Testono and Tegeata

Also Torrenza, Testono and Tegeata were the scene of large‑scale protests this week, sometimes turning into riots. The usual protests against dance halls and tolerance of homosexuality, that had already become larger after the decision by the SNC to put a moratorium on the anti‑sodomy laws but were declining again after the Eiffellandian decision to let the Consiglio del Centro e Sud-Est (CCSE) uphold the anti‑homosexuality laws, suddenly started to expand as soon as the capturing of Bishop Muzzoni hit the news. Soon all major places and several major roads in Torrenza, Testono and Tegeata were filled with conservative protesters shouting slogans against the occupational forces.
In Tegeata, which is a bullwark of Conte di Perugia’s PSL, the liberals were quick with organising a protest march against the protesters, while the protests by the conservatives were already escalating. The result was a severe riot, because attempts by the riot police to keep both demonstrations separate were not completely successful. The riot police managed to calm down the masses in Tegeata, but that took several hours. Currently Tegeata is relatively quiet, although the athmosphere is still tense.
The situation was more severe in Torrenza, the city that is still considered the capital of Solaren and where the conservatives have more influence. Here the demonstrations soon turned into severe riots. The riot police and the armed forces had to cooperate in trying to calm the masses down. Tear gas and rubber bullets were used to get the riots under control. Also here the offices of liberal institutions like the PSL and La Stampa Libera, as well as the offices of the temporary government, the SNC and the Coalizione Nazionale Operaia (CNO), were targets of the rioters. However, the riot police and the army managed to keep the rioters out, although at the expense of several severely injured people. Several dance halls were demolished, and some were burnt down. The current situation in Torrenza is as follows. The places and the main roads are free, although the riots left much damage behind. The worst damage to the roads is being repaired, so that ambulances and fire engines can cross the city without damage to the tyres. Riots still occur in several city quarters, and the athmosphere in the city is very tense. A spokesperson of the police said that the riots can flare up again any moment: “Torrenza is far from stable.”
There were also riots in the refugee camps around Testono, and in some of the rebuilt parts of Testono as well. Although the usual conservative demands were heard here as well, the rioters in and around this city mainly focused on the fact that the rebuilding of Testono is taking so long. This city was severely damaged during the war; about 80% of the houses here were uninhabitable. It took the riot police several hours to get the situation in the refugee camps and in Testono itself under control again. Colonel Ritschka of the regiment controlling the Testono area held a speech on Radio Testono. This speech was broadcasted through speaker boxes throughout the refugee camps and also in Testono itself. Colonel Ritschka indicated that less money was available for the rebuilding of Solaren because of the revolution in Franken, a country that used to donate a lot of money for the rebuilding of Solaren. He also promised to visit all the refugee camps soon to talk to the people there. The current situation in Testono is as follows. The riots have calmed down, but the athmosphere is still tense, especially in the refugee camps. A demonstration by local conservatives is planned for the coming week; the organisators called upon everybody to keep that demonstration peaceful.
There are also protest marches by conservative groups in the smaller cities of the Eiffellandian Occupational Zone of Solaren, but they did not lead to severe riots. There are, however, some reports about attacks against individual Eiffellandian soldiers, and against patrols.


Modersohn: “Independent Solaren not without constitutional state”

In his weekly press conference, General Modersohn commented on the demands by the conservative groups in Solaren: “First of all, there won’t be an independent Solaren without a strong and stable constitutional state. The Potenzans, Carentanians and we will stay in Solaren until we have created such a state and we have confidence that the Solaris are able to govern themselves.”
He strongly condemned the riots by the conservative groups: “I can imagine that those groups want to be heard, so I don’t object against them organising demonstrations. But I do object against their attempts to put people with opinions differing from theirs to silence. Whether they like it or not, there are large groups in this country with opinions differing from theirs. They will have to share Solaren with those people, if they like it or not. In any case, they have to stop destabilising this country.”

The Eiffellandian Minister for Foreign Affairs, Rudolph Kögler, indicated that the Eiffellandian government supported General Modersohn’s comments on the situation in Solaren: “We won’t want chaos in Solaren but the constitutional state. Nothing else.” He also commented on the current dispute between Carentania and Potenza: “With all due respect, the Potenzan Ministry for Foreign Affairs asked a question to the Carentanian Commissariat for Foreign Affairs, and did so in a polite way. We don’t understand why the Carentanian Commissariat for Foreign Affairs does not want to answer that question, and we understand it even less that the Carentanian Commissariat for Foreign Affairs becomes angry when the Potenzan Ministry for Foreign affairs asks an answer to their previous question. What would the Carentanian Commssar for Foreign Affairs think when he asks for a bread at the bakery and the baker refuses to answer him?”


OOC: Carentania, one question. Torrence/Torrenza is in my occupational zone. Could you please leave it to me to decide what happens there?

 

[Socialist Commonwealth]

Commissariate for Foreign Affairs

Mr. Modersohn quite clearly doesn't understand the issues at hand, but apparently likes the sound of his own voice talking about things he doesn't have the slightest clue about. For the beginning we should maybe clarify that Carentania is not a bakery. We are not a store, we are not offering our services to the Potenzans and we have never taken on any obligation to answer to Potenzan questions. The Potenzan insistence that we do have such an obligation is an imperialist attempt to patronize our people, state and nation - and in itself the answer to the Potenzan questions.

Secondly, we do not see how Carentanian foreign policy in any shape or form justifies the insults by high-ranking Potenzan military officials. Our outrage was straight-forwardly directed at comments implying a "shoot first, ask later" policy by Carentanian forces, who in fact acted in self-defense. Issuing such comments in the public during such a volatile period can only lead to further escalate the situation and Potenzas refusal to apologize and withdraw these comments are testimony to the irresponsible selfishness of the Potenzan Monarcho-Capitalist cabal.

OOC: Prop 10. If you don't like me doing stuff there, just veto it.

 

[Potenza]

Potenzan-Carentanian Borders Monitored

The Potenzan Royal Army have announced that the the border along the Carentanian controlled zones will be monitored and traffic between the two borders controlled by elements of the Folgore. Some have said this is in response to the recent Carentanian announcement that they are shutting down the border between the two zones, but General Battisti, commander of Potenzan forces in northern Solaren, told reporters that, like the Carentanian motivation, it was to control the violence happening on either side of the border, especially to the south. Civilians will still be permitted to cross the border freely into the south, but will be inspected for weapons or suspicious materials when crossing into the north.

Protests Continue; Royal Army Expands

As protests worsen in various parts of the country, Northern Solaren is no different. Supporters of Bishop Muzzoni have appeared in greater numbers, near Potenzan headquarters. At one point the crowds grew so large that the front guards were overrun and beaten horribly, and more troops from the area had to be rushed in to prevent the headquarters itself from behind overrun. The crowds were dispersed with tear gas and several arrests were made. Protestors have accused the Potenzans of unnecessary force, but no deaths have thus far been reported. The two soldiers - members of the Scipio's Own division - are receiving medical condition and are expected to recover.

Protestors have also accused the Northern Council of being a puppet to Potenzan forces, run by influential men and turning the regional government into an oligarchy. Some of the protest leaders have formed the Northern Resistance Movement (NRM), and, like Solaris refugees in Cantignia, are calling for a complete removal of foreign troops in Solaren and a preserving of the Solaris Catholic faith. They accuse the Potenzan forces of permitting the Tiburan Catholics in San Salvo of trying to press their control into the region, as well as defending the encroachments of the Reformed Church of Potenza, whom the NRM consider "Calvinist agents of Satan."

Much like the Carentanian forces, the Potenzans are planning on deploying more troops to the region. A second brigade of the Folgore are expected to be deployed within the next two weeks, in an effort to assist with the already 20,000 Potenzan troops in the region. Battisti has assured the press that protestors will be allowed to present their opinions so long as they present "civilized tones." The extra troops will assist the Scipio's Own in the security for Potenzan personnel (including contractors and Reformed missionaries) as well as in expanding patrols along the roads and hills in the north.

The Potenzan Royal Army also announced, for the first time, that their forces would begin training a military force that would assist and answer to the Northern Council. Drill officers from the Folgore would assist in the building of small units, made up of Solaris recruits, who would initially be funded by the Grand Duchy (later to be funded by the NC), and who would have firearms supplied by the Potenzan-based Beretta Firearms Manufacturers. Battisti told reporters that it would be part of the Potenzan efforts to leave a stable governing force before the Royal Army withdraws.

Anti-Carentanian Pamphlets Discovered

Folgore patrols discovered a cache of anti-Carentanian pamphlets suspected to have been circulated in the more rural parts of the region, outside the main centers of control. Among the pamphlets are caricatures of Carentanian soldiers crushing Solaris women with their boots and words like "BEWARE - HE SHOOTS YOUR MOTHER!" They accuse the Carentanian occupational force of attempting to set up a puppet government in the SNC and provide quotes from the Foreign Affairs Commissar that try to convince the reader that Carentania is pushing a socialist dictatorship. It likewise uses the SNC's recent treatment of the homosexual issue as a sign that the government will begin "Satanic atheistic tendencies."

The cache was confiscated by the Potenzan military, and they have announced that they are beginning an official investigation. Royal Army authorities have said that rebel groups, seeing they cannot win militarily, are most likely starting to turn to politics and espionage, in an attempt to undermine the reconstruction efforts. More caches are believed to exist, and Potenzan authorities are asking locals to report any found.

 

[Vangala]

Faith Alliance demands respect for Solaren national integrity

Following the closure of the border between the Carentanian and Potenzan zones of authority, the Faith Alliance has demanded the occupying powers respect Solaren's national unity and territorial integrity and openly reject any prospect of permanently dividing the country. The Faith Alliance also denounced the regional councils established by Potenza and Eiffelland as collaborators, and called for their disbandment.

The Faith Alliance has been at the centre of recent protests, organising demonstrations against continued military occupation, suspension of the sodomy laws and absence of a political settlement for the future. Many of these marches have since turned violent, which the Faith Alliance has been reluctant to condemn fully, claiming many protesters were attacked first by foreign peacekeeping forces.

The leadership of the Faith Alliance is dominated by land-owners and senior clergy close to the old regime of Pope Urban, although many have since gone into hiding and use pseudonyms to avoid persecution by the occupation authorities.

 

[Rheinbund]

Border controls between Eiffellandian and Carentanian Occupational Zones intensified

During his weekly press conference, General Modersohn announced several measures as a response to the intensified protests all over the country. One of them was that the border controls between the Eiffellandian and Carentanian Occupational Zones would be intensified: “It will still be possible for civilians to cross the border, but we will check everybody for weapons. Both people travelling from the Carentanian to the Eiffellandian zone and people travelling from the Eiffellandian to the Carentanian zone will be checked. I realise that this is burdensome for the people crossing the borders, but restoring order is our top priority at this moment. The intensified border controls will remain until the riots stop.”


Modersohn: “Occupation temporary measure”

Another topic of General Modersohn’s weekly press conference was the criticism by the Alleanza della Fede against the occupational forces. He indicated that the current occupation of Solaren by three countries is meant to be a temporary situation “until the country has been stabilised and a new governmental structure has been developed”. He reiterated that “there won’t be an independent Solaren without a constitutional state”. He also stated that “the Solaris should not blame us but their former leaders for the current situation in their country”, because “it was Pope Urban who started the war, not us”. He continued by saying that “the people who yearn back to the rule of Pope Urban apparently forgot in what kind of country they were living: A country where the elite did whatever they wanted and even violated their own preachings while the common people were starving and high‑handedly ended in jail even after false denunciations”.
General Modersohn condemned the Alleanza della Fede for calling members of the Consiglii in the Potenzan and Eiffellandian Occupational Zones traitors: “These people are concerned with the future of their country and are doing their best to rebuild it. The fact that they cooperate with us to rebuild Solaren does not change the fact that they work extremely hard out of love for their country. With all due respect, the only thing the Alleanza della Fede is doing is organising protests and laming the country. Does this alliance have any workable ideas about this country?” On the question whether the protests would be forbidden, Modersohn answered: “No, we won’t forbid any demonstrations. Everybody has the right to voice his or her opinion. One way to do so is organising protest marches. The only thing I object against is protesters becoming violent.”
He closed this topic by saying: “It may sound a bit strange, but we are not here to impose whichever system upon the Solaris. Indeed, we have some ideas about how Solaren should look like, but they are not that detailed that Solaren should become a second Eiffelland. The only Eiffellandian idea that we want to introduce to Solaren is a flexible governmental system that can be easily adapted to the wishes of all Solaris. And when needed easily adapted again, for instance when the wishes of the Solaris change. Such a Solaren can become as conservative, socialist or liberal as the Solaris want.”

General Modersohn also commented on a remark by a Carentanian diplomat: “There should be a dictionary somewhere in the Carentanian Commissariat for Foreign Affairs. I recommend that the employee of said Commissariat who addressed me to tell that Carentania is not a bakery to look up the word ‘metaphor’ in that dictionary. Furthermore, there are quite some differences between my Minister for Foreign Affairs and myself, so I’m a bit puzzled that said diplomat imputes a remark by my Minister for Foreign Affairs to me. A kind and fatherly advice to said diplomat: Have yourself investigated by an ophthalmologist and an otorhinolaryngologist. And finally, the Carentanian diplomats currently don’t have any right to complain about insults by diplomats from other countries, given the cascade of insults they produce themselves. It is amazing to see how the Carentanian diplomats overlook or ignore the detrimental effect their insultive attitude has on Carentania’s relations with foreign countries.”


Protests flare up

This week the protests against the occupation flared up again. Many protests remained non‑violent, but many others turned violent again. Especially in Torrenza, the riots were severe. Tegeata remained silent, and Testono reported some protests which remained non‑violent. Many smaller cities became the scene of protests as well, often non‑violent, often violent.

OOC: Prop 10. If you don't like me doing stuff there, just veto it.

OOC: What in Heaven’s name happened to you?

Anyway, herewith I veto it.

 

[Rheinbund]

Liberal demonstration disturbed by conservative protesters

A liberal demonstration that was held in Torrenza was disturbed by a group of conservative protesters. The liberal demonstration was organised as a response to the various riots by conservative groups. The 100,000 liberals taking part in the demonstration protested for civil rights and carried supportive signs for the PSL. One sign read “No governmental interference in the bedroom”. The demonstration was guarded by the Eiffellandian army. A spokesperson of the Eiffellandian Armed Forces in Solaren indicated that “everybody has the right to give his opinion; it is our duty to freedom of mind to prevent other forces from denying that right to the liberals”.
Towards the end of the demonstration, a group of conservative protesters attacked the liberal protesters. The Eiffellandian army was able to block the attack, but several protesters, and also soldiers, were wounded. The attack was severely condemned both by La Stampa Libera and the PSL and the Eiffellandian Armed Forces in Solaren.


Modersohn presents proposal for new constitution of Solaren

“Ladies and gentlemen, good afternoon. I am going to present a proposal for a new constitution of Solaren.”

These were the words with which General Modersohn opened his weekly press conference. Remarkable words, given the fact that the EDF and Carentania had agreed upon it that the SNC would write the new constitution for Solaren. Something that has been repeatedly emphasized by the SNC and Carentania. General Modersohn indicated that he was aware of that: “Indeed, it is the task of the SNC to design a new constitution for Solaren. I am fully aware of that. Therefore, what I present now, is not the new constitution of Solaren, but a suggestion for a new constitution. With that said, I am not crossing the limitations of my competences. Everybody has the right to give an advice, and that is the right I exercise.”

General Modersohn mentioned the following as the reason why he decided to propose a constitution himself: “The SNC has had almost a year to agree on a constitution, and did not manage to do so. That is ridiculous. OK, that organisation is the result of putting people with highly differring opinions at the same table, but then again. Those people managed to agree upon several things in the past. Then why not now? How difficult is it to look at the things everybody can agree on and put that into a working constitution? It is a shame that the SNC cannot do so. Apart from that, we have seen in the recent past, and we are still seeing, that there is a large conservative current in Solaren. Nobody knows how many people that current really represents, but it represents at least a minority that is too large to ignore. In general, there are several factions in this country with widely differing opinions. If all those factions don’t compromise on certain things, this country will be ungovernable. What I present here, is my idea of how such a compromise can look like.”

The general indicated that he would not read out his whole constitution proposal. Instead, booklets with the constitution proposal were given to all journalists. He did give a rough indication of what the constitution contained. The first chapter is called “ground rights” and stipulates the rights all citizens have. The general did read out the first article, which he described as the cornerstone of his proposal: “Everybody who finds himself in Solaren is equal before the Solaris law.” This means that the law is applicable in the same way to everybody in the country, from the factory and land worker to the factory director, from the common citizen to the policeman and the judge, and also to the members of the government. Other ground rights are freedom of opinion, freedom of the press, active and passive voting rights and freedom of religion.

Of course the constitution proposal also describes how the structure of the state would look like. The general chose for a system with much power in the hands of local governments and a federal government which is responsible for defence , foreign affairs, monetary policies, macro‑economics, national infrastructure and all things for which it is more efficient to handle it on national level than on local level. Furthermore, the federal government has the right to intervene on local level in case of mismanagement or calamities. Education is a national matter, so that Solaris diplomas indicate the same level of education and skills throughout the country. In contrast, the local governments have quite a lot of freedom to organise the economy on a local level.
In the general’s plans, Solaren will consist of 100 regions, each with a local parliament and a local government. The local parliament is chosen by the people at least once every four years. It appoints and fires the members of the local government, supervises the local government and either approves or rejects the plans of the local government. Furthermore, individual members of th local parliament have the right to propose new laws themselves. The national parliament is also chosen by the people once every four years. This parliament appoints and fires the members of the national government, and has the same rights and duties on national level as the local parliaments have on local level. But there is also a second national parliament, called the council. This consists of all members of the local parliaments and has to approve or reject the national budget and declarations of war.

It has also been made difficult to change the constitution. First the national parliament has to approve it by simple majority. Then new elections for the local parliaments and the national parliament have to be held. And finally, both the national parliament and the council have to approve it with a 2/3 majority.

Basicly, the constitution proposal of general Modersohn only describes certain ground rights of the Solaris citizens and the way how the government and the courts of justice are organised. It does not describe anything else. General Modersohn: “My constitution proposal leaves Solaren the room to choose where it wants to go. Does it want to go the socialist way? That is possible. Does it want to go back to the conservatism of the days before the war? That is possible, although the leading class won’t be able any more to escape its own stringent laws, like in the old days. Does it want to go the liberal way? Also that is possible. In any case, contrary to what the Carentanian Commissar Jerman claims, we don’t know what the Solaris want at this moment. At this moment, the conservatives are the loudest, but that does not mean that they form the majority in this country. I think it is needed to organise elections so that the people of Solaren can give their opinion. When those elections are held according to my proposal, the result will be a set of local parliaments and a national parliament; then those parliaments will have to decide how the future Solaren will look like.”

 

[Rheinbund]

LA STAMPA LIBERA​

The love life of Manuelo Rallusconi

Is this something we should publish about? In principle not. In principle, we stay out of the bedroom. In principle, we don’t lower ourselves to gossip or what is called “the yellow press” outside Solaren. But the case of Manuelo Rallusconi is different. This man is a hard‑line conservative and a prominent member of the Alleanza della Fede in Gorizia, a city with 20,000 inhabitants 200 km south of Torrenza. Every Sunday morning, he sits in the first bench of the church. He was the man who turned the first homosexuals in when the Conciglio del Centro e Sudest started to prosecute against homosexuals. He was the man who publicly outed other people for sex outside marriage. He was the man who forced his unmarried daughter to marry her raper. But does he practice what he preaches? Or better said, does he apply to himself what he wants to impose to others?

I have to admit that I have a special interest in people who preach extremely strong conservative ideas, especially after the conviction of Aldo Siciliano, a former high police officer who led an anti‑homosexuality unit but was actually a homosexual himself who abused the people he arrested. Well, that is, when they were beautiful and young, and the evidence against them was so weak that Siciliano could release them. That were often straight boys who had been reported by vengeful competitors in love or other people that wanted to take revenge, either on the boy or on his father. The question is still open whether he also raped beautiful and young boys he could not release.
But that were not the only crimes committed by the respected police officer Aldo Siciliano. The man led a gang that smuggled lots of forbidden goods into Solaren. He misused his function to make sure that the police looked somewhere else than where his gang was working, and to give his competitor‑smugglers a one‑way ticket to Ustica. His gang also produced heroin and cocaine in Solaren and smuggled that out of the country, something for which the Eiffellandians would have loved to send him to a prison in their own country. But the Eiffellandians left the honour to us, and a Solaris court convicted him to life imprisonment last March.
Meanwhile, it has become clear that Siciliano was not the only person high in the rankings of the old regime who abused their positions to enrich themselves and do things that they prohibited common Solaris to do. In fact The Law only applied to the common Solaris who were not part of the ruling class. I hope this is not the kind of Solaren the Alleanza della Fede wants to return to.

But let’s go back to the original topic. The strong Solaris Catholic Manuelo Rallusconi is a respected international businessman. He often travels abroad for his business. One way or another, I heard about some rumours about extramarital affairs of this respected businessman. To be honest, I hear such rumours about members of the Alleanza della Fede more often, not only about him, but also about other people. Because the members of the Alleanza della Fede should be publicly shamed when they don’t practice what they preach, I always investigate such rumours. Often they cannot be confirmed by evidence; then I don’t write about it. Often I even find evidence that disproves the rumours, showing that one old habit did not die in Solaren: The habit of falsely accusing people for your own benefit. I decided not to write about those cases, because otherwise I might do the victim more harm than good, even while debunking bad rumours against him. And sometimes, .... Sometimes .... I find evidence that the rumours are correct.

And that is the case for rumours about Manuelo Rallusconi, the man that presents himself as the best Catholic in the country, even better than Pope Urban himself. I have evidence that Manuelo Rallusconi has a mistress in Talemaniki. I have eye witness reports, plane tickets and a woman with a child who resembles Mr. Rallusconi as a child to a high extent. The child, a daughter, was born on 12 march 1945. Plane tickets and eye witness reports prove that Mr. Rallusconi was in Talemaniki between 5 and 19 June 1944, so during the time span that the child was concipiated. Furthermore, the confessions of a doctor who was arrested for conducting abortions revealed that the mother of said child underwent several abortions after 1945, each time shortly after a visit to Talemaniki by Mr. Rallusconi.
So the man who forced his daugther to marry her raper because of Faith, also forced a woman to undergo an abortion after he had concipiated a child with him. Suddenly Faith wasn’t that important any more when his mistress was pregnant again.

Like I said, I hear many rumours about members of the Alleanza della Fede. I even found some homosexuals in the ranks of said alliance, but then homosexuals of the type said alliance loves to see: The ones who don’t have sex with other men but are married to women instead. According to me, those men make both themselves and their women unhappy, but the positive thing is that they practice what they preach. And that is laudable. The quod‑licet‑Iovi‑non‑licet‑bovi attitude of Mr. Rallusconi, however, is despiccable. Despiccable because he violates the laws he imposes upon the people around him. And that is why I write about him.

Daniele Grillo

 

[Rheinbund]

Arrestments all over Eiffellandian Occupational Zone
Eiffellandian Armed Forces dismantle terrorist organisation

With a series of arrestments all over the Eiffellandian Occupational Zone, the Eiffellandian Armed Forces claim to have dismantled a terrorist organisation which was in the final phase of planning a large series of terrorist assaults throughout the country. More details, a.o. on the philosophy the organisation was based on, were not given, it is even sketchy what exactly happened today, but it is clear that the country was saved from a large cascade of terror. General Modersohn will give more details during his weekly press conference.

 

[Rheinbund]

27SEP1953

“Lega di Papa Leo II was about to conduct several major terrorist attacks”


As was reported yesterday, the Eiffellandian Armed Forces in Solaren arrested about 40 people on several locations in the Eiffellandian Occupational Zone of Solaren. Today General Modersohn explained yesterday’s events during his weekly press conference. Here is a transcript of his announcement.

“A couple of months ago, we obtained information about a group of people calling themselves the Lega di Papa Leo II, named after an important Pope of the Solaris Catholic Church. For the people who are not familiar with the history of the Solaris Catholic Church, Pope Leo II reigned from 1842 to 1869. He became Pope during a turbulent period in Solaren’s history. Pope Leo II managed to calm the situation down, and he is still honoured for that. But not only for that. It is said that he conducted several miracles, among others curing people. This together makes him an important figure in the Solaris Catholic Church, and that is the reason why these people chose him as their inspirator.However, it remains to be seen if Pope Leo II would have been happy with the chaos these people wanted to create. I will come back to that later.
When we heard about the Lega di Papa Leo II, we decided to investigate this group further. During the past months, we discovered the ideas of this group, and its plans. It appeared that this group went even further in its ideas than the Alleanza della Fede. Moreover, this group was planning and preparing several severe terrorist assaults. We also discovered that this group was responsible for the terrorist attacks in Testono on Good Friday this year. When we discovered that this group was planning several severe terrorist attacks throughout the country, among others on a large train station during rush hour, we decided to step in. We managed to arrest the whole group. Currently the members of the Lega di Papa Leo II are interrogated.”

Upon a question from one of the journalist about the well‑being of the arrested people, Modersohn answered: “We had to apply violence in several cases. As a result, some of the arrested people were wounded. Severe injuries did not occur. The wounded people are currently under treatment. All arrested people are doing well. They will be put before trial on the charges of membership of a terrorist organisation, the planning and preparation of terrorist assaults, multiple murder, afflicting severe injuries to people and public violence. The last three items because of their involvement in the terrorist assaults of Good Friday this year.”
Upon a question from another journalist whether there were any links between the Lega di Papa Leo II and the Alleanza della Fede, Modersohn answered: “Up to now, we have not found any links between the Lega di Papa Leo II and the Alleanza della Fede. This does not mean that there were any, but the principle of innocent until proven guilty also applies to this matter. Legally speaking, there were no links between the Lega di Papa Leo II and the Alleanza della Fede until we find evidence that there were.”


28SEP1953

Protests in Torrenza and Testono against roll-up of Lega di Papa Leo II

Today several spontaneous protests against the roll-up of the Lega di Papa Leo II emerged, all over the country, but mainly in Torrenza and Testono. Also slogans against the Eiffellandian presence in Solaren were heard. In several cases, those protests turned violent. For the first time, there were also attempts to plunder local shops, something that could not completely be prevented by the Eiffellandians.

 

[Ashkelon]

INTERNATIONAL AFFAIRS DIRECTORATE

This Mezhist Union applauds the timely actions of the Eiffellander Military in detaining these dangerous terrorists before they could perform any further damage to efforts in reconstructing Solaris Society. The hypocrisy of arranging for a vile assault on human life on the very day we commemorate the Lord Jesus Christ's sacrifice to save humanity from sin is utterly disgusting. The Halls of Giecz trust that the Eiffellander military will be prudent with the task of delivering justice upon these terrorists.