Mazara Free Press Association

[Rheinbund]

Office of the Eiffellandian Occupational Zone of Solaren
Torrenza, Solaren

We thank the supporting words from the International Affairs Directorate of the Mezhist Union. We are doing our best to stabilise Solaren, so that terrorist attacks like the ones of Good Friday will not happen again and a Solaren as a constitutional state can stand on its own feet again.

General Modersohn, Commander of the Eiffellandian Armed Forces in Solaren and Temporary Governor of the Eiffellandian Occupational Zone of Solaren

 

[Rheinbund]

After the earthquake

About a week ago, Central Solaren was hit by an earthquake of 6.0 on the Richter scale. The epicenter of the earthquake was 200 km southwest from Torrenza, and the earthquake was felt all over central Solaren. One of the first reports that hit the news was the collapse of a newly constructed valleybridge that was meant to be used for a new train and road connection between San-Remo in the west and Testono, Tegeata and Southeastern Solaren. But later on, the real size of the damage became clear. As a result of the earthquake, that hit a relatively sparsely populated area with a city of 20,000 inhabitants, about 5000 people died and about 20,000 people became homeless.
Immediately after the earthquake, military engineer troops and medical troops were transported to the area to provide aid and reconstruct the roads so that more help can be transported to the area. The help efforts are, however, hampered by the fact that the area in question was already difficult to reach before the earthquake, something that also had to be changed with the new road and railroad that would go over the newly construced valleybridge.
Quite some questions remain open after this earthquake. It is known that Solaren was relatively late with starting seismologic investigations of its own soil, but in spite of that enough knowledge was available. However, the area hit by this earthquake was not known as risky w.r.t. earthquakes. Furthermore, the collapsed valleybridge should have been designed and built in such a way that it would survive an earthquake of 6.0 on the Richter scale. It is unclear why precisely the bridge collapsed. During his weekly press conference last Friday, General Modersohn announced the start of an investigation of why the earthquake wasn’t foreseen and why the valleybridge collapsed.

 

[Rheinbund]

23DEC1953
Former head of police Siciliano kidnapped

Today the former head of the police of Southern Solaren, Aldo Siciliano, convicted for drug traficking, multiple rape and his role in the old regime, managed to escape from prison. He was taken to hospital because of an acute appendicitis, when his ambulance and escorts were attacked. The escorts as well as the ambulance crew were killed. The ambulance was found outside Torrenza, without Siciliano. It is unclear why and by whom he was kidnapped. Basicly two scenarios are possible. Because of his role in the old regime, but also because of other reasons, it is likely that Siciliano has several enemies; they could have kidnapped him for revenge, although the Eiffellandian Occupational Forces and the Consiglio del Centro e Sudest (CCSE) indicated that they would “not completely understand why his enemies would still want to take revenge on him”, because he has been sentenced to life imprisonment, so it would be “extremely unlikely that he will leave prison on a short notice”, and he is bound to a wheelchair. The other scenario would be that Siciliano was freed by accomplices or friends; in that case, it could be very well possible that Siciliano faked an appendicitis in such a way that even the blood test results pointed at an appendicitis.
Either way, the Eiffellandian Occupational Forces and the CCSE are very keen on catching Siciliano again: “For the case that he was kidnapped by his enemies, there is indeed enough reason to hate Siciliano, but you cannot say that Siciliano has been punished too softly. He was condemned to life imprisonment, and he is bound to a wheelchair after having been beaten up by fellow prisoners. Furthermore, we cannot tolerate that somebody takes the law into his own hands. For the case that he was freed by his friends, it is evident why we want to catch Siciliano again: His crimes have been proven before three judges, he has been sentenced for his crimes, so he should undergo his punishment. But apart from that, if Siciliano’s appendicitis was real, he is likely to die in a few days if he is not treated.”

 

[Socialist Commonwealth]

Carentania Bans Controversial Book in Solaren

For a few weeks now, the controversial "Patriots Field Manual" has been circulating within Solaren, translated into Tiburan language. Copies of the book turned up in greater quantity during several raids on militant anti-occupation groups by Carentanian forces and the Commander of Carentanian forces in Solaren now decreed the book an illegal publication. The decree makes it illegal to own, produce or distribute any copies of the book within the Carentanian occupational zone and Carentania has urged both Eiffelland and Nichtstein to adopt a similiar stance.

The "Patriots Field Manual" is a collection of several practical essays, manuals and reports by Mezhist authors, concerning themselves with the issue of urban guerilla war, terrorist activity and clandestine operations. Originally published in Carentanian language, the book has spread throughout the European far-right and influenced their strategies, especially in countries where they face a strong central authority or a professional military as opponent. Being themselves the main target of the Mezhist movement, Carentanians react particularily sensitive to the book, which includes several insider reports on how assassinations and acts of terror within the Workers' Republic had been carried out.

"This is nothing less than incitement to terrorism and possession of this book clearly indicates a criminal intention," the Carentanian Revolutionary Armed Forces justified their decision. "The translation and distribution of this book in Tiburan language constitutes a clear threat towards security and order within Solaren and it is Carentanias duty as peacekeeper within the country to act quickly and decisively to contain this threat."

 

[Rheinbund]

"Patriots field manual" also banned in Eiffellandian Occupational Zone

During his weekly press conference, General Modersohn indicated that the "Patriots field manual" will also be banned in the Eiffellandian Occupational Zone. "There is one thing in which we strongly agree with Carentania, and that is in our views on the far-right movement," Modersohn said. He also indicated that the book in question is "a clear safety threat", especially in a country where "only recently a war was fought" and "differences in opinion often lead to acts of violence".


Still no sign of life from Siciliano

There is still no sign of life from the former head of the police in Mazara Aldo Siciliano, who was kidnapped just before Christmas. Strangely enough, a body was never found, either. It is widely speculated about what could have happened to him. The most important question is: Was he kidnapped by a friend or a foe? Fact is that Siciliano had quite a lot of enemies. Many people were arrested under his command; all of them underwent severe tortures and many of them died, either in the house of detention or at Ustica. Surviving victims, or relatives or friends of deceased victims, could have decided to take revenge. But he also had enemies in the underworld. And friends. It could have been possible that he was kidnapped by his friends. Where would he be then? Still in Solaren? or in a country with sunny beaches under a false name?


Istituto Sismologico di Solaren starts its work

The newly founded seismologic research institution Istituto Sismologico di Solaren will start its work on Monday 3 February 1954. The earthquake in Central Solaren of last October was the immediate cause for the Eiffellandian authorities to found this organisation, after it appeared that the seismologic knowledge of the soil of Solaren was extremely limited. This institution will get the task to investigate the Solaris soil for any lines of fracture.

 

[Remuria]

Nichtstein unremarkably follows suit: "Patriots field manual" banned in Northern Potenza

In a move that surprises nobody after both Eiffelland and Carentania banned the "Patriots field manual" within their respective zones, the book has been slapped with the ban-sticker in the Nichtsteiner Occupation Zone. During a press conference, the spokesperson for the Nichtsteiner military just shrugged and said: "Hey, if Eiffelland and Carentania manage to agree on something, we're surely not going to play Devil's advocate. Besides, in case you have forgotten, this kind of dangerous literature is systematically banned as they are a clear and present danger and threat to peace and a stable and continuous development of all of Solaren."

 

[Socialist Commonwealth]

Carabineri sent to Panetelleria

A detachment of 1500 armed police officers, Carabineri, have been sent to the Caprarian island to be stationed in the regional capital of Panetelleria. The order comes from the Ministry of the Interior of the interim government and was very surprising, considering the relative stability Capraria has enjoyed in comparision to the mainland. Critics have suggested that the policemen would be more useful in the north of the country, where the security situation has worsened yet again since new years eve.

The interim government has suggested it possesses information about a future campaign by Urban loyalists on Capraria. According to the minister of the interior, Capraria was chosen by terrorists as target for a new wave of attacks precisely because of its relative security, Urban loyalists intending to destabilize the country by creating the impression that there was no safe place in the entire nation.

"We've preempted these attacks, but there is no telling how the terrorists will proceed from here," he cautioned the public.

Galara Steel Works bankrupt

The Galara Steel Works have filed for bankruptcy today, citing the desolate security situation and political volatility as the main reasons for their bad business performance. According to its owner, domestic demand had reached an all-time low at the end of the war against Pope Urban from which it couldn't recover, due to stagnant growth in the overall Solaren economy, while the political lockdown prevented Solaren government from aiding an export-oriented strategy.

"We've been crushed by foreign competition," the company said in a press release, "who can produce more efficient and cheaper, often with government subsidies we don't get in Solaren since the fall of the Pope." Furthermore, the company argued, that import restrictions and tariffs that are de facto still valid are often not enforced, meaning that the weak domestic market is furthermore flooded with foreign goods.

Workers of what was once Solarens third-largest steel producer took to the streets in a protest organized by the National Labor Coalition. A spokesperson of the NLC claimed that the current political situation was a deliberate strategy by foreign governments and their capital factions to exploit the Solaren nation:

"These nations and their fat-cat masters have no interest in a prosperous, a wealthy Solaren. All they care for is to undermine the Solaren industry to exploit its markets, its ressources and to eliminate a potential competitor."

The interim government has meanwhile placed the steelworks under control of a state board, pending the bankruptcy proceedings.

 

[Socialist Commonwealth]

"Editorial: Phoenix from the Ashes - Love for Solaren must be foundation of new government"
Originally published by Gazetta di Torrenza

The occupying powers have their leapdogs, their favourites amongst the Solareners. Carentania supports the Socialists of the Labor Coalition, Eiffelland supports the Social-Liberals. And even though they fight each other, wrestle with each other for the control of our nation, they are brothers in arms when it comes to decrying any independent thinking individual in Solaren as Urbanite nostalgic.

But we don't long for these days of hardship and misery. We don't long for fighting the war again in hopes that, this time, we might win a battle for a lost cause. What we, as conservatives, long for is the return of independence and sovereignity to Solaren. The return of a government by Solaren people for Solaren people, free from foreign interests. As conservatives, we don't want to whitewash the name of Pope Urban, but we want to clean the name of the Solaren people from the filth that has been slung at its reputation.

No one else will do this, but us.

Many sympathize with the Socialists or the Social-Liberals, those agents of more sinister powers than they claim to be, because they hope for change, for progress, for a strong and resurgent Solaren that can meet its neighbours as equals. But it is a false hope, because neither of them works for the Solaren people. If we want a future for our country, we will have to do it ourselves.

And to do this, we must come to terms with our past.

Let us rid ourselves of the spectre of Pope Urban, let us rid ourselves of the haunting and lingering influence and those who think they can only oppose the foreigners by upholding his memory. There is no man in Solaren more wicked than him, who sacrificed the entire nation for his own goal. Him, who opened the doors for foreign powers to take over our country, just to appease his own megalomania. If you want idols, if you want people you can follow, look for those who sacrificed themselves so Solaren can live instead of those who sacrificed Solaren so they themselves may live.

Carry in your heart the memories of soldiers who fought for their families, carry in your heart the memories of those who stood up to the occupation, only to be treated the same as extremist terrorists. Even a Colonel Antonelli, whom Urban regarded as "Arch-traitor" of our country, he who first surrendered to the foreign armies, is a man we should respect. Not for his surrender, but for his willingness to sacrifice himself, his own career and possibly his life, as the government of Pope Urban demanded his death and many of his followers still wish to carry out that sentence. A sacrifice he made, so the man under his command can live.

What Solaren needs now is a man, a fellow Solarener, who is bigger than all the petty squabbles that have taken our country hostage. Bigger than the National Congress, where liberals and socialists fight over half-sentences, unable to lead our country to rebirth because they are too busy talking to start leading. Solaren needs a leader who places the country above himself, who is willing to do what others can't, even at the cost of his own interest.

As conservatives it is our duty, not to dwell in the memory of a time passed, but to find that man and help him gain the power needed to rebirth our country like Phoenix from the ashes.

 

[Socialist Commonwealth]

Protests against occupation remain peaceful

Five-thousand protestors who gathered in Mazara yesterday have demanded the withdrawal of foreign troops from Solaren. The protest, which was called for by several conservative groups including the Faith Alliance, remained peaceful. Carentanian forces and local police showed strong presence along the route of the protest, but reported that no interference with the demonstration was necessary and stressed the right of every Solarener to participate in political activities, as long as they abstained from violence and did not obstruct security operations.

The protestors decried the Solaren National Congress as well as political factions like the Social-Liberals and the Socialists as foreign controlled and warned that Eiffelland and Carentania were both controlled by what they called "sinister powers", bent on keeping Solaren in poverty and chaos. Similiar protests had in the past often resulted in clashes with left-leaning groups, as well as security forces.

Interim government files official request for extraction of former Solaren officials by Cantignia

The interim government has formally requested the persecution and extraction of several former Solaren officials currently believed to reside in Cantignian exile. All of them are wanted for crimes against humanity committed while in service of the government of Pope Urban, most related to the prison camp system on the island of Ustica. One of the men is wanted for the massacre of a rural community in central Solaren in the year 1948, when the village was believed to shelter heretics from the Solaren church. Cantignia had been an important destination for war criminals and Urbanite loyalists after the fall of the old regime, but recent changes in government policy, most notably Cantignias admission to the RDTO, have put enormous pressure on the expatriate communities.

If the request is met with positive replies by the Cantignian authorities, the men may be tried as early as april and must expect long prison terms up to lifetime imprisonment. Conservative critics have decried the persecution of former officials as appeasing the occupying powers and "national self-castration", claiming that those who merely followed orders should not be held responsible for the crimes of a single man.

 

[Thaumantica]

Grand Covenant Commission
for
JUSTICE​

Recognizing the moral and legal necessity of cooperating with the democratically elected Interim Government of Solaren, we formally acknowledge that the Grand Covenant of Cantignia has received extradition requisition documents. We furthermore express the immense responsibility we feel to delivering justice to both refugees within these friendly confines, and the family and friends who remain in Solaren today. To ensure each file is given the utmost attention, we have officially formed a task force with the Cantigian National Police to review documents of evidence and monitor the accused to prevent the accused from fleeing.

 

[Rheinbund]

Office of the Eiffellandian Occupational Forces in Solaren
Torrenza, Solaren

We commend the participants in last Sunday's protest in Mazara for keeping their protest civil. We assure you that the occupational forces are doing everything they can to turn Solaren into a viable country again. Up to now, the Eiffellandians have, together with the Franconians, the Nichtsteiners and the Potenzans, spent 24 billion Lire (i.e. 300 million Eiffelland Marks) in repairing the war damage in our respective occupational zones, and also in building new roads and railroads, setting up a new harbour on the west coast of Solaren and modernising the harbours of Torrenza, Tegeata and Testono. We also hire Solaris companies and Solaris workers for all this construction work as much as possible. We don't have exact numbers on the Carentanian efforts, but also they are doing what they can.

We ourselves do not consider our work done yet. Furthermore, it is in the interest of everyone, also of conservative groups like the Alleanza della Fede, that a stable constitutional state is formed in Solaren, so that the Solaris can choose their leaders.

General Karl-Heinz Modersohn

 

[Rheinbund]

LA STAMPA LIBERA​

Di Perugia: “Barbaric attempt to turn clock back”
Modersohn, CCSE, PSL and liberals sharply condemn assault against SNC member Garibaldi

As it became known today, an assault took place against a member of the SNC. After the closure of yesterday’s session of the SNC, Mr. Garibaldi, a member of the Socialist faction in the SNC, walked out of the SNC building when he was attacked by a seemingly confused man. A nearby soldier managed to defeat the attacker, who lost his life. At this moment, there is no information on the condition of Mr. Garibaldi.
Immediately after this news became known, the Eiffellandian Occupational Forces released a statement written and signed by General Modersohn, in which the assault was sharply condemned and described as “nothing less than a terrorist attack”. The political leader of the PSL, Count Stefano di Perugia, who himself was the victim of an assault one year ago, called the attack “a barbaric attempt to turn the clock back to the days of Pope Urban”. Cosimo Giannotti, the chairman of the Consiglio del Centro e Sud‑Est (CCSE), also condemned the attack in very sharp words.
The Eiffellandian Occupational Forces were the first to send flowers and an enormous fruit basket to Mr. Garibaldi, followed by the PSL and the CCSE. All indicated that they wished for a speedy recovery of Mr. Garibaldi, and wished him and his family and friends all the best.