Nieuws van Batavië | Diepenbrock Refuses to Apologise

[Batavië]

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nieuws op elk uur, Rapport op 20.30 GMT- 1 1/2​

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»» Energy Batavia has agreed to accept the offer of Serbovian atomic energy authorities with consultations and design planning for future nuclear power plants in the Republic. PM Diepenbrock said that 'we should never refuse help from those with experience.'

»» An obscure message was received from the foreign offices of the Himyari state of Trans-Nineveh today, what the Foreign Ministry is calling 'a highly unprofessional joke' of a message. The country, with which the Republic has no formal relations will not be receiving a formal reply from the Government of Batavia.

»» The Republic of Batavia Naval Forces wishes to send the sole aircraft carrier the De Graaf to a Vistrasian port to begin the proposed project of jointly operating the carrier in an effort to cut costs and increase bilateral defence co-operation.

»» A group of students in Hilversum have called out for an anti-nuclear power demonstration in the city after hearing news of the government's plans to introduce said power source. PM Diepenbrock said that 'these students are young and naïve and cannot begin to pretend they understand the process of nuclear energy'. He went on further to say that 'my party was elected to lead this country forward to prosperity. We know what's best. Student's attend school as they are still learning. They know but very little and will not dictate our energy policy's future.'

»» Eskom's board responded coldly to the Prime Minister's ultimatum for energy reform with one unnamed member stating that 'who does this guy [PM] think he is? De Graaf?' The PMO's ultimatum still stands with Eskom having until the end of the month to produce a convincing report to the government or risk top-down restructuring, which would include a replacement of the board.

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[Batavië]

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»» PM Diepenbrock condemns the Warric embargo as 'destined to fail' thanks to the NC's intertwined economies, but also calls on Lumina for restraint. 'All we did was send two normally patrolling vessels a bit farther north to islands that historically belong to the Republic, any way. We mean no harm.'

»» The strength of the Northern Dollar is indeed hurting Batavian exports as well as consumer activities domestically as Batavians struggle to keep up with rising food and fuel costs. Vistrasian consumers protested the high value of the currency last month and bank officials in Drottninggården are expected to take measures to devalue the NCD.

»» Eskom, the state energy corporation, failed to impress PM Diepenbrock, who held true to his ultimatum and sacked the entire board of the company saying that he will 'implant' proper officials who will devise a plan to meet the Republic's current and future energy needs, which he says will include nuclear power.

»» Gays, who have been allowed to perform civil unions (preferred over marriages in Batavia), may now receive a legally binding civil union in Batavia even if they are not from the Republic. So long as they show a Northern Council passport the government will happily arrange civil union ceremonies.

»» The Republic of Batavia Air Force will from today increase long-range patrols of the Sea of Batavia (Lyric Sea) as well as the Nordic Sea (between Éireann & Arendaal) in order to keep an eye on international shipping lanes heavily used by Batavian and NC merchant marine fleets. The aircraft type used in patrols will be the

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, an aircraft frequently used by the Air Force for maritime patrols.

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[Batavië]

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»» Trade Batavia, the ministry charged with regulating and organising international commerce dealing with the Republic, announced that the Warric-Bantyr embargo on Batavia will hurt their economies more than Batavia's. Warre, more so, due to the traditionally large amount of grain and dairy exports to said country as well as more recent factory-produced goods required in every-day industry. Batavia's position as the 'bread-basket' of Scandinavia has grown stronger since the fall of communism thanks to improved agricultural techniques.

»» The Nationalbank Batavia's chairwoman has called for Drottninggården to call a Norrazone conference on the future of the Northern Council Dollar, whose unexpectedly strong value has been harming domestic consumers as well as Batavian exports, notably in Trabant cars normally shipped to developing country's in Himyar and Cathay.

»» The destroyer duo of the Republic of Batavia Navy has reportedly returned to waters slightly further south from the Batavian Antilles in the Sea of Batavia (Lyric Sea) to continue normal patrols of international shipping lanes. The ships are due to remain at sea through the end of April before returning to Windhoek Island Naval Base for a crew swap and regular maintenance. As per standard policy since the 1960s, the duo will be replaced by their cousin destroyers, which will take over patrol obligations.

»» PM Diepenbrock says that one of his main goals will be to take control of rising unemployment rates by doubling efforts to create more 'steady' and 'safe' factory jobs in the Republic. While immigrants continue to pour into the country due to the favourable immigration policy in place, Diepenbrock maintains that the immigrants are vital for the economy and normally take jobs even Batavians would prefer not to. Meanwhile Batavian workers continue travelling to Arendaal and Suionia for jobs, mainly in the construction industry.

»» The junior coalition partner party, the Svenska Folkspartiet, announced that the federal government will call a referendum for May in which the citizenry may vote whether or not Swedish shall become the second official language of the Republic. Currently the minority language, spoken by roughly 5 per cent of Batavians as a mother tongue, has official provincial status in Noordveld Provincie.

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[Touzen]

Take this to the Roleplay Coordination and Settlement. OOC posts never have a place in IC forums.

 

[Batavië]

De Vrije Republiek
De grootste vlaamse krant in de NC​

2,— NCD​

Christian Group Sues Government over Cross Display

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Vlaanderen, BCT. A small Christian organisation has filed a lawsuit against the Republic in Vlaanderen today claiming that their rights have been violated after an application to place a Christian cross on the steeple of an old church in the northern city of Spa was rejected. Shortly after Christmas, a holiday largely ignored in Batavia with 90 per cent of citizens claiming to be atheist, the Christelijke Volksunie submitted an application to the federal government to place a Christian cross atop the largest church in Spa, supposedly 700 years old. Crosses and the ringing of bells has been absent in Batavia since the early 1950s when the communist government outlawed religion. The churches remained in place for historic purposes, but many went without repair.

The Christian People's Union, however, claims that as a Batavian organisation, they now have the right to place a cross atop their church based on the guarantees provided in the constitution. The new Prime Minister, Mr Diepenbrock, commented on the filing of the lawsuit today when stopped outside Parliament shortly after question period. He said defiantly and with confidence, 'Batavia has no constitution, we have a mixture of independently created laws and texts that guarantee the rights of every citizens and resident of the Republic. Nowhere will this group find anything that guarantees the right to display religious symbols in public. Perhaps these people should close their bibles and go back to school where they can learn about their country instead of fairy tales of wizards who created cults of personality and claimed to walk on water. They will be humiliated in the courts, I guarantee it.'

The PM was criticised after his opinion was given, but a political talk-show on btv conducted a poll that said '76 per cent of Batavians do not want crosses or other religious symbols placed in view of the public'. It is very possible that the Christian People's Union, after a presumed failure in federal court, will result in an appeal and call for a national referendum on the issue. One new law of the Republic requires major and controversial subjects to be decided directly by the people. The call and or results of a national referendum may only be vetoed by the President (currently Social Democrat Joos van Randburg), who is unlikely to intervene. A provincial referendum, however, is untouchable by the federal government, although if in contention with federal laws, a possible victory at the provincial level would still not be seen through due to the blanket federal law on religious symbols.



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Northern Council Secretary-General Hans-Erik Rasmus wants another conference of High Representatives and Foreign Ministers to be held to discuss the security of the group. Meanwhile PM Diepenbrock says that while defence cooperation with Vistrasia will go ahead as planned, it is unlikely that the Republic will enter a formal alliance on the likes of the Suionian-Frescanian sort.

PM Diepenbrock schedules visit to Zingapoer (Wing Sing) and is supposed to unveil a new dual-citizenship plan for Dutch-speaking residents of the city-state.

Universal Exports is shifting 'all possible' cargo traffic west to the Northwest Passage in order to avoid the more turbulent & restricted waters of the Long Sea. The route also saves greatly on shipping time and fuel consumption and ships sailing the route receive more attractive insurance rates.

The aircraft carrier 'De Graaf' is being prepared to leave port in Windhoek after more than a year of being forced out of service due to budget constraints. The ship will be escorted to Vistrasia by two destroyers. There it will undergo refurbishment and refitting as well as training for the new dual-national crew. The carrier is not expected to enter active service for some time, however, and a new fleet of planes is also being searched for on the market.




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[Éireann]

It is sad to see that, even though communism has fallen, the government of Batavië is still unable to allow Christians to publically display their faith or even observe it without being denigrated for it.

Francis Cardinal Ó Hara - Archbishop of Ard Mhacha and Primate of Éireann

 

[Barbossa]

"It is comments such as these that proves that, though they wear a different skin, communists are alive and well in Batavia and still control the reins of government."

~ Generalísimo Alejandro Fulgencio Goya commenting on PM Diepenbrock's verbal attack on Christianity.

 

[Batavië]

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»» Batavian High Representative to the CN Hans Rembrandt addressed the GA today before an unusually large hall to denounce the claims of the government of Warr that Windhoek Island is occupied Celtic land and that a communist-era genocide was conducted against them. He cited lack of legitimate and legal evidence, yet invited an international investigative led by the CN to come and see for themselves.

»» PM Diepenbrock refuses to apologise for his comment earlier this week in regard to a Christian group trying to gain permission to place a cross at the top of a church steeple in Spa. He said that as a Batavian citizen he has the right to 'speak his mind', which does not reflect government policy. He also said that the public display of any religious symbol is banned in order to prevent warping the minds of impressionable children. 'They may do what they wish in the home or within the inner confines of their community spaces. So guarantees Batavian law, but displaying a cross in public will only anger the vast majority of Batavians and this group and the international community must learn to understand and accept that.'

»» General Franz Rupert Albrecht, High Commander of the Republic of Batavia Defense Forces, commended the Government of Serreniérre for cancelling a planned rocket drill, agreeing that it would only complicate tensions in the Sea of Batavia (Lyric Sea) region.

»» The national referendum on whether or not to adopt Swedish as an official language of the Republic has been set for 5 May. Citizens will receive post ballots on 1 May. So long as the ballots are postmarked on or before 5 May and are received on or before 7 May they will be counted in the referendum. Current polls suggest that many Batavians are unsure of adopting Swedish as an official language, citing cost concerns, however analysts suggest that they may be persuaded by the Svenska Folkpartiet's long running campaign.

»» The Warr and Bantyr embargo on Batavian goods is complicating exports across the NC as many port authorities struggle to reorganise shipments packaged together with goods from across the common market member states. Cargo ship loads goods headed for Warr and Bantyr often have a mix of containers coming from all over the NC, whether they are departing from a Batavian port or not. In Poortstad, the fast growing and largest port of the Republic, it is increasing loading and unloading times as well as costs and some companies are simply refusing to sift through the container stacks to pick out Batavian containers. Some containers are even multi-national, making the job more tedious. 'We're either going to put this on the invoice for our customers in Warr, the extra organisational costs, or just not bother with it. It's unlikely they'll turn goods back, but instead let them be impounded in Warr until the embargo blows over' said one manager of Universal Exports, the large Batavian logistics shipping company.

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[Anglyn]

Foreign Office

HM Government urges Prime Minister Diepenbrock to reconsider his decision of not apologizing for his comments as those comments, whether he wishes to admit it or not, has far greater ramifications as it encompasses a much larger and far more ranging group than just the Christelijke Volksunie.

Sir Avery Whyte
Foreign Secretary
Kingdom of Anglyn

 

[Batavië]

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The Prime Minister's Office wishes to express it's gratitude for receiving Sir Avery Whyte's communiqué. The Prime Minister, however, stands firmly by his right to express his own opinion. What he said he stands by because that is what he believes in. Batavia, as the world must try to understand, is primarily a country of atheists, proud of that fact. To them when a Christian or Muslim or other religious leader preaches teachings from their scripture, it is seen as insulting and degrading in the eyes of Batavians, but no demands for apologies are made. Those leaders are expressing their own beliefs and opinions. Therefore we wish to make it clear, that the PM will not be making an apology for what he said as a private citizen. The Government of Batavia does not support or denounce his statement. We are a secular government in which religion plays no role whatsoever, but we are also tolerant to the extent that religion remains a totally private affair.

Arjan van Vliet
Minister van Buitenlandse Zaken

 

[Touzen]

Ministry of Revolutionary Defense and Foreign Affairs

While not passing judgment either in the form of approval or disapproval of Mr. Diepenbrock's latest comments, the Constitutional State sees it as his right as a free individual to proclaim what he considers to be acceptable for the public discourse. He thus stands in the tradition of democratic free speech this government seeks to defend at all cost.

Hosokawa Asao
Minister of Revolutionary Defense and Foreign Affairs

 

[Anglyn]

Foreign Office

Secularism is the belief that government or other entities should exist separately from religion and/or religious beliefs, but I would like to point out that Mr. Diepenbrock was expressing his own religous belief but not as a private citizen, but as the Prime Minister of Batavia and in so doing his statements does reflect the policies of his government. A government is secular if it refrains from promoting any and all religious beliefs, but if that government promotes atheism, even if the vast majority of the population supports such a belief, it is no longer a secular government.

Sir Avery Whyte
Foreign Secretary
Kingdom of Anglyn

 

[Batavië]

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The Prime Minister was not promoting atheism. The Prime Minister was speaking as a private citizen. Just because he has the title of Prime Minister of the Republic does not mean that every time he utters a sentence it is to be considered government policy. When he speaks in the chambers of Parliament, at an official press conference or other gathering or in official government correspondence, his words may be considered as official government policy. In this specific incident he was approached (as is normal) by journalists after Question Period in parliament to comment on the lawsuit. His comments were private, there is nothing more to it. We hope that this will be understood. In Batavia, the PM may live a private life alongside his official one.

Arjan van Vliet
Minister van Buitenlandse Zaken

 

[Anglyn]

Foreign Office

A Prime Minister, as head of a government, does not have the luxury of being a private citizen and what he says in public does reflect on himself and his government.

Sir Avery Whyte
Foreign Secretary
Kingdom of Anglyn

 

[Batavië]

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Sir AVery Whyte, perhaps I have made myself not clear enough. In the Republic of Batavia, perhaps not in Anglyn, the Prime Minister has the right to a private life and voice. Just because Anglyn says otherwise does not mean that is how it will be operated in Batavia. We have our own laws within our own government and we do not begin to inform other governments what their officials can and cannot do.

 

[Anglyn]

Foreign Office

Be that as it may, as other governments, as well as their citizens, more often than not, do pay attention to what foreign leaders say and do, and it rarely matters whether them if it was done in their official capacity or not, so, Prime Minister Diepenbrock might want to keep that in mind the next time he decides to make a comment to the press as a 'private citizen'.

Sir Avery Whyte
Foreign Secretary
Kingdom of Anglyn

 

[Batavië]

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Your concern, Sir Whyte, has been duly noted, especially the next time a non-citizen votes in a Republic of Batavia election.

Arjan van Vliet
Minister van Buitenlandse Zaken

 

[Batavië]

De Vrije Republiek
De grootste vlaamse krant in de NC​

2,— NCD​

Republic of Batavia Navy Plans Honorary Visit to Zingapoer

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The Vrijheid class destroyers Kampioen & Noordkaap are preparing for the long voyage​

Wing Sing, Zingapoer Ahead of a large official state visit in Zingapoer (Wing Sing) between the governments of Keida and Batavia, the Republic of Batavia Navy (RBN) is preparing to send two of its destroyers and a supply ship to the city-state to make an honorary visit to the jointly governed city-state. Ironically the two Vrijheid class destroyers were the very same pair that were accused of breaching Warric territorial waters south of the Batavian Antilles last month. The honorary visit will involve an official inspection of the destroyers by the Keidan and Zingapoerean naval forces. The supply ship also en route will be responsible for refuelling the destroyers with diesel on the way. This particular class of destroyers, built in 1989-1991, is the most modern and advanced of the RBN and last to be built. As part of military reforms, newer ships are to be ordered from abroad, possibly from Suionia.

The three-ship task-force will be sailing westward north of Hyborea and the Suionean Arctic islands and through the Implarian Ocean. The route is much shorter than the Long Sea route typically favoured due to its warmer and fairer sea conditions, however the 'Northwest Passage' as the shipping industry calls it, has become increasingly popular over the last few months due to naval blockades near the Long Sea. Portions of the passage are, however, difficult to traverse in the middle of winter due to icy conditions, which often require the assistance of ice breakers.

The RBN task-force is expected to take three weeks non-stop to reach their final destination. The administrative officials and Board of Zingapoer have been invited to dine on-board the RBN Kampioen when docked in the city-state's harbour.



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The preliminary hearing in Vlaanderen Christelijke Volksunie versus De Bataafsche Republiek lasted 20 minutes in court today with a secondary hearing scheduled for the first week of May. Shocking the media present in the room, the Christian union members requested permission from the judge to pray before proceedings, which was promptly and sternly denied; 'this is a court room of the Republic, not a church!' the judge was reported to have said.

Despite growing tension between Vlaanderen and Lumina, Prime Minister Diepenbrock says that as part of military reforms, Military High Command should lower the number of troops stationed on Robben Island, a tiny fortified island at the cape of northern Batavia, crucial during the Northern or Hyborean War.

A cargo ship of Universal Shipping traversing the Northwest Passage radioed for ice-breaker assistance from the Suionean Arctic islands after getting stuck in drift ice moving south due to warm spring weather. The company is planning to lobby Parliament to build more ice-breakers in Batavia to deal with increased use of the Arctic passage.




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[Polesia]

পররাষ্ট্র মন্ত্রক
Ministry of External Affairs

The current arrangement by which Wing Sing is governed is a relic from the imperialist age and the People's Republic of Vangala continues to be disturbed by Batavia's presence on the island. We call for the Singlish people to have the opportunity to determine the future of their nation.

 

[Batavië]

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While we beg to differ due to the high number of Batavian city dwellers who speak Dutch and our long standing presence and relationship with the people of the island, the People's Republic of Vangala has voiced its opinion on the matter. I intend to inform the PM that this should be discussed in Zingapoer with our Keidan friends as part of the visit's official agenda.

Met vriendelijke groeten,

Arjan van Vliet
Minister van Buitenlandse Zaken