The Freetown Messenger - Congress votes to extend Boliatur sanctions

[Serbovia]

The Freetown Messenger​

English-language news coverage in the KSO since 1886. ​

FREISTADT - Eastern States join international sanctions against Boliatur

As international pressure against the regime in Boliatur mounts amidst accusations of state-sponsored terrorism, Aldenberg has announced that the Eastern States would be joining an international arms embargo against the Toyouan state. Earlier this week, the Confederate government classified Boliatur as a state supporter of terrorism, warranting asset freezing and travel restrictions against individuals, companies and organizations connected to the regime. Other european governments including Belmont, Cantignia, Danmark, Engellex and Potenza have instituted similar measures.

Since Boliaturian support to terrorist and criminal organizations became public knowledge together with threats made by the regime against Engellexic, Potenzan and other governments, the small Toyouan country has been a target of pressure from several European governments. Declarations of war against the country were issued by the governments in Danmark and Engellex. Though no shots have yet been fired by either party, military analysts believe that the actions undertaken against Boliatur will soon manifest in military action. "By the very least we'd be talking about a blockade, possibly surgical strikes against regime figures as well", said General (ret.) Dieter Backmann who commanded the Confederate Army between 1994 and 2003, "But it's likely that it'll stay at that unless a large coalition assembles, with Engellex already committed in Montelimar and the inherent logistical difficulties in case of a purely Occidental venture."

In response to growing international tensions, the Defense Ministry today announced that the state of alert of the Confederate Army had been raised from level four to level three in the entire country (except for Cagaya, where regular forces have been on level two and State Guards on level three since 1996). A Defense Ministry spokesman said that the purpose of a heightened state of alert was to "anticipate the growth of regional tensions as well as to enforce measures implemented against the Boliaturian rogue state on Confederate territories." The Defense Ministry has confirmed that several Naval units assisted by Customs and Border patrol cutters have now set sail with the objective of interdicting Boliaturian-flagged shipping on Eastern States territorial waters and exclusive economic zones. The possibility of other forms of military action has not been overruled.

President Heinrich Steinhauser has postponed his month-long holiday at the Sunrise Island Presidential Retreat, which was scheduled to begin next week, in response to the Boliatur crisis and is expected to meet with Cabinet, National Defense Council and Intelligence and Security Committee officials in Freistadt to conduct discussions on the matter. The crisis is expected to have an effect on trading at the Schräderhafen Stock Exchange as it continues on Monday.

 

[Serbovia]

The Freetown Messenger​

English-language news coverage in the KSO since 1886. ​

NEWS IN BRIEF

- Socialists, Greens express concern over Boliatur crisis, releasing a joint statement condemning the regime but urging calm and accusing Occidental states of "neo-imperialism" in handling the affair
- Defense Ministry "refuses to overrule" potential involvement of Confederate forces in any international naval blockade against Boliatur
- Two suspected CRPA insurgents arrested by Army forces in Northern Cagaya in connection with last week's mortar attack which left four soldiers dead
- Hauer-Kazkhanov meeting in Freistadt agrees to reduce the limits of commerce and movement between the Eastern States and Karakhstan, in addition to other cooperation
- Bicol State Police becomes the second regional police force to accept Tasers use after a similar move by Confederate LEOs and the Freistadt Police in 2009

 

[Serbovia]

The Freetown Messenger​

English-language news coverage in the KSO since 1886. ​

FREISTADT - 2012-2017 Presidential Election gear-up underway, Steinhauser and Dahilan confirmed as candidates

With October's Presidential elections for the 2012-2017 term drawing closer, the placement of candidates for the vote has already been commenced and parties are preparing to kickstart campaigning over their chosen candidates. President Heinrich Steinhauser has already announced his intent to seek re-election as part of a combined Confederate Republican-Agrarian ticket - with uncertainty as to whether the Christian Democrats would place their own candidate or rally behind Steinhauser - and the coalition of the Socialist Workers' Party and the Green Party recently named Councilman Malinao Dahilan as their combined candidate for the election. The Democratic Center Party is expected to announce its candidate on the 26th of July, when the party's heads will conduct a candidate vote in Freistadt.

The incumbent Confederate President has already opened up his campaigning and is expected to embark on a month-long campaigning tour spanning the entirety of the country in August. At the same time, Steinhauser's support organization - the Presidential Re-Electoral Movement - has commenced a recruitment of campaign volunteers from Confederate Republican and Agrarian ranks. Unconfirmed Congress sources say that Steinhauser could be seeking Christian Democrat support - the party is considering not placing an independent candidate and could constitute a "swing party" between Steinhauser and any DCP candidate - in exchange for a seat given to the party in the 2012-2017 Cabinet of Ministers.

President Steinhauser is holding his keynote speech on his re-election goals on Friday. Steinhauser is expected to campaign mainly on security themes such as the ongoing response to threats posed by Cagayan and Pangan separatists in addition to developing a more proactive foreign policy and addressing maritime security concerns together with what Steinhauser's staffers have described as "important regional partners." Furthermore, the campaign will touch economic themes as part of what one Steinhauser aide described as "encouraging business here at home to grow, but also by encouraging foreign trade with our neighbors in line with historical Conrep policy.". Councilman Dahilan on the other hand is expected to campaign on social themes as well as proposing cutbacks to the Confederate Army in addition to minority rights.

Concurrently with the election campaigning, the Congress continues to debate on the possibility of imposing greater transparency upon election funding in the wake of the political corruption scandal in Newhaven. The cross-partisan "Transparency Caucus" is expected to bring a legistlative proposal to the Congress before the elections, with some having called for a speed process to be carried out [in order to enact such laws by the time of this year's Presidential campaigning. In an interview with the Messenger, Attorney-General Anton Müller (Conrep) expressed criticism over such prospects, saying that "it'd be bad precedent to change election laws as we're on the very doorstep of an election" and that "such propositions by their very nature invite corruption in the political progress". Attorney-General Müller said that the administration's stance was that while necessary, any changes to the election law would have to come under the 2012-2017 administration.

- Summer monsoon period set to begin this weekend with nationwide heavy rainfall as authorities issue a national flood warning
- SXE reacts with alertness as the crisis in Boliatur sparks growing regional tensions, particularly in sectors with heavy investment in Toyou nations
- Cantignia hosts conference on the Boliatur crisis, Defense Minister Christian Svenson and Presidential Security Advisor Constantin Tännhauser head up the Eastern States delegation
- Contraceptive-distribution campaign by secular charities in rural and slum areas draws in serious criticism from Protestant and Catholic Churches
- Navy, Customs and Border Service announce a joint shipbuilding project: Same base and hull planned for Navy's new multi-purpose corvette and for the new CBS heavy patrol cutter

 

[Serbovia]

The Freetown Messenger​

English-language news coverage in the KSO since 1886. ​

FREISTADT - Congress votes to extend Boliatur sanctions

Following earlier announcement of a limited embargo against Boliatur, the Confederate Congress yesterday voted to extend the sanctions imposed against the country to affect all categories of products excluding basic food supplies and medicines on human rights grounds. The move extends the anti-Boliatur sanctions which previously banned the import of arms and dual-use products - civilian items which could be used in advantage of military or terrorist operations - to the country in addition to freezing Boliaturian assets in the Eastern States and banning the use of Eastern States territorial waters and exclusive economic zones from ships flying the Boliaturian flag.

President Heinrich Steinhauser, who ordered the previous sanctions as per presdential prerogative granted under Confederate anti-terrorist legistlation, hailed the Congressional decision. President Steinhauser said that the move "strenghtened the Eastern States' commitment to ending the human rights abuses carried out by the Boliaturian regime" and "provided a clear signal of our willingness to engage against sponsors of terrorism and threats to regional stability." The Boliatur Extended Sanctions Act was passed with favorable votes from cross-partisan Councilmen and Members of Parliament, with dissenting votes being only put out by a minority of delegates on the account of advocating Confederate neutrality. Though neither the Confederate Republicans or the Agrarians have expressed intent to enforce party discipline upon such dissenters, President Steinhauser - himself a Confederate Republican - said he was "negatively impressed in the lack of motivation among some of our democratic legistlators to defend the very same ideas of democracy because of which they're in office."

Presidential Security Advisor Constantin Tännhauser and Defense Minister Christian Svenson are currently in Vesper, Cantignia, attending an international conference concerning Boliatur and possible measures to be undertaken by members of the international community against the Nodovinya regime. The administration has remained tight-lipped over the aims of the conference, except by Svenson's brief press statement saying that Freistadt wanted to see a "comprehensive international solution to the Boliatur question." Anonymous sources in Aldenberg say that the conference will likely press for more concerted sanctions against Boliatur together with the possibility of staging international military action against the regime.

While official sources have declined to comment on the Boliatur situation until the conclusion of the Vesper Conference which is expected to produce some kind of an international agreement in further measures to be undertaken against the Nodovinya regime, anonymous Aldenberg officials have stated that the Steinhauser administration also has the intent of limiting Occidental involvement in the affair. "In a short time Boliatur has become the go-to place for anyone seeking cheap political points from the electorate or attempting to improve their political prestige", said one official from the Office of the President, "It'd be in the major interests of the administration to make sure that Toyouan and Implarian-Oceanian states have as large role as possible in resolving the affair."

President Steinhauser is expected to convene a joint session of the Defense Council and the Intelligence and Security Committee on the Boliturian situation after the Vesper Conference is concluded.

- Engellexic naval expansion noted by military analysts as power projection- oriented increasing pressures for Freistadt's announced maritime security development
- Summer monsoons hit Sunrise Island, causing blackouts in sections of island capital of Palayan and other tourist areas while authorities warn of minor local flooding
- Two PNA members arrested by Siayan Police, Confederate Marshals in connection with a fire-bomb attack against a local police station two weeks ago as investigation continues
- Bureau of Foreign Trade to expand its representation in Almati, Karakhstan in the wake of trade and cooperative agreements signed with the Karakhstani government
- Ministry of Labour sets up committee to prepare anti-unemployment measures including work placement for introduction in the FY2012-2013 Confederate Budget

 

[Serbovia]

The Freetown Messenger​

English-language news coverage in the KSO since 1886. ​

NEWS IN BRIEF

- Severe monsoon rains in the Northern Islands continue with local blackouts, flooding in Sunrise Island, Panga and Dapitan, emergency services are put on high alert
- Defense Ministry recalls regular servicemen from leave in several units, announces additional reservist exercises but refuses to verify a connection with the ongoing Boliatur crisis
- Interstate Football League auctions two new team licenses for the 2012-2013 season for Island and New Germania League champions FC Palayan and SV Nürnberg 1907
- Cross-partisan proposal against political corruption mandating a Justice Ministry- run registry of election funding to be submitted into the Confederate Congress
- Frescanian President in hospital after being shot by a would-be Regiomontanero assassin, a book of condolences for aides killed in the attack to be opened at the Congress Hall
- Twenty-one marijuana farmers arrested by Cagaya State Police, Confederate Army as a joint anti-drug operation begins in Northern Cagaya