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Post by Republic of Lintsyia on Jun 30, 2012 21:30:00 GMT -5
Having gathered the entire Senate and deliberated, Glatia sent back a response:
"With all due respect, Sunbeam, we took all the security precautions that we believed were necessary. Nothing like this, in the history of the Republic or otherwise, has happened before; therefore, we can hardly be called irresponsible. Naive, perhaps, but never irresponsible.
"The matter of the recent food shortage can hardly be blamed on the government. A large portion of our crops have been affected by a devastating disease, to which we have devoted a massive amount resources, including our only AI unit and her creator, to curing. It is not the government's fault that no solution has been found as of yet- we have done we can."
Glatia's voice became bitter.
"How dare you accuse the Lintsyian government of oppressing its people! This is a blatant insult to the Republic of Lintsyia! I assure you that the Senate and I wish only the best for the people of the Republic. Must we provide you a copy of our very Constitution and an account of the Republic's history? You would surely find that we have more or less upheld the morals set forth within the document that governs our nation throughout our 3,000-year history! Again, we cannot do more than set researchers to work and assure the people that everything will be fine in this situation with the crop illness."
The Empress cleared her throat.
"Now that the HFI has reared its head, we will do all we can to negate their influence on the population. We can assure you that their leaders will be dealt with according to their vile actions.
"With this in mind, the Senate and I have come to the conclusion that your demands are unacceptable. We refuse to call elections on the grounds that we are doing everything in our power to correct the events that have occurred recently. And while we deeply regret the death of Idur Iyar, we simply cannot supply compensation. It is not that we do not value his life- no, it is quite the contrary. In our culture, a life is worth more than material possessions. Life is worth more than money. It would be an insult- I apologize, another insult- to us if we were forced to pay for a life- surely you do not truly believe that Mr. Iyar's life has a price?
"The best I can offer you is a proper burial in accordance to your customs. If your culture allows it, I will personally lead the funeral. I will prepare a eulogy. I will do anything it takes to make Mr. Iyar's life one well spent. But we will not compensate with currency."
She feel silent.
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Post by Revolutionary Workers' Union on Jun 30, 2012 23:21:07 GMT -5
There was a long silence as the picket ship relayed signals to set a radio line directly from the Union Council to Lintsyia.
"This is Field Marshal-Councilor Quintus Kazamar on the line. I wish to speak to Empress Glatia directly."
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Post by Republic of Lintsyia on Jun 30, 2012 23:22:15 GMT -5
"Well, you've got her," Glatia replied bluntly.
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Post by Revolutionary Workers' Union on Jun 30, 2012 23:37:20 GMT -5
"I don't believe you understand the gravity of the situation, good Empress. Last time there were riots on New Sovereignty like the ones ongoing in your Republic, there was a Revolution. And it was a long-needed Revolution, one that the traditional guardians of power across the galaxy, 'democratic' and autocratic, decried as folly and insolence, but one that brought liberty and well-being in the end. As a veteran of the Revolution, I am not inclined to trust traditional guardians of power, whether upheld by a constitution or not.
"Who I am inclined to trust are the masses, and the masses of Lintsyia cry out against your administration. They starve, but do you? Does the Lintsyian Senate? Do the moguls of Lintsyian business empires? Of course, you will dismiss the populace as ignorant or impatient, a convenient justification to ride the shocks of your capitalist system without disturbance while the poor and disfranchised are rocked about against the shoals below your ivory tower.
"3,000 years of history? We had more than that, and it meant nothing but that the chains on our backs were that much heavier. A constitution? Eshara has that, but it continues in the trade and working of slaves. To add insult to injury, you apply individualistic and emotional generalities to wriggle out of something that is not even radical: The universally-accepted practice of national compensation for damages and death.
"But, Jawalir Leneru thinks otherwise of your administration. Ever the scholar, tabulating nations according to their 'Politico-Economic Democracy,' Leneru scored you well, and seems to trust your administration to a degree. I disagree, and Leneru is not present to argue his case, but because he is a man I respect, I will give you the chance to prove me wrong about what I see plainly before my eyes. A slim chance, but one nonetheless."
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Post by Republic of Lintsyia on Jul 1, 2012 0:06:07 GMT -5
Glatia cleared her throat. "Sir, believe me when I say that I do, in fact, understand the importance of this situation. Have you read the Lintsyian Constitution? What about the history, the cultural synopses? Let me tell you, "Field Marshal-Councilor," that these riots are only happening because of the famine. And like I said before, the famine is only persisting because we have not yet found a cure to the disease afflicting our crops. There is no more that we can do!"
Glatia was about to go on when someone walked up to her.
"Empress, we're not broadcasting anymore," the man said.
The Empress furrowed her brow. "Why not?" she demanded.
The man sighed. "There's an external override. From Kalemboro Tower."
Glatia's eyes widened. "Get me Reama Amaer. Now!"
____________________
A very different, noticeably younger and very perky voice was suddenly being transmitted to Kazamar.
"Please excuse the interruption, but I have something to say. Do you know how hard Father and I have been working on getting a cure for this crop disease? A year! Nonstop! Literally! But we're close to a breakthrough, I can feel it! And once we get this cure, there'll be more food, and once there's more food, the riots should stop!"
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Post by Revolutionary Workers' Union on Jul 1, 2012 0:16:46 GMT -5
Kazamar's sigh was audible over the radio. Who was this new voice? Regardless, he would reply; he was sure the Empress would be back on the line eventually.
"So you say. And perhaps this cure will compensate for your government's prior neglect. But riots tend to follow injustice, not misfortune. If the masses of Lintsyia were convinced by your argument, they would not be breaking into food stores and rioting in the streets against your government. Clearly, they see more than a mere understandable mistake or unfortunate incident behind this disaster."
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Post by Republic of Lintsyia on Jul 1, 2012 0:23:58 GMT -5
The voice replied; it had an odd quality to it, like the speaker wasn't breathing in between sentences. "I am connected to the entire Primary Network- I run it, you know- and from what I'm seeing... the general consensus is that the assassination of Iyar was unwarranted. I see that... Glatia is still popular among at least... half, the population, it seems. Ooh, but I do see what you're saying about the riots... 'Glatia is really an "Empress," just like her title,' one post says. Hmm. 'She sits in the Palace all day and does nothing.' Hey, that's not true! I know that's not true! I know she cares for Lintsyia! Both the Averi and the Zentrin!"
The voice changed dramatically to a hostile, suspicious tone. "But of course you wouldn't believe that."
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Post by Revolutionary Workers' Union on Jul 1, 2012 0:46:15 GMT -5
So Kazamar was talking to a computer. The lack of breath, the sudden and dramatic tone changes. Before any words, Kazamar let out a short chuckle.
"The issue at hand isn't whether Glatia cares for her populace. I honestly don't care for the answer to that question. The issue is whether she represents her people, whether she acts in their interest. Plenty an ivory tower autocrat of the past has thought to be acting for the good of her people. What the people of Lintsyia are beginning to do in their riots is holding their government accountable. To complete this process, new elections must be held, or the protestors must otherwise have true representation in the government."
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Post by Republic of Lintsyia on Jul 1, 2012 0:55:37 GMT -5
"You make it sound like this is part of something that's completely normal," the voice noted.
There was a high pitched squeal. "Finally!" the voice continued. "Uh, yeah. Gotta go. Kthanksbye!"
The line went dead. A few minutes later, Glatia was back.
"I am so sorry for that interruption," she said. "Where were we?"
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Post by Revolutionary Workers' Union on Jul 2, 2012 0:02:57 GMT -5
Kazamar sighed again. "Empress Glatia Atgali. I see riots. Riots do not happen simply because people feel bad and unaware of the greater good, or because they are suffering and impatient for a solution. As I have experienced and witnessed them, riots happen in response to injustice and neglect. To say otherwise is to accuse your people of ignorance or brashness, an accusation that is all too often levied against the poor and dispossessed to keep them in 'their place.'
"Understand, then, that I am ill inclined to take your feelings of insult and scandal seriously. I am in no position to doubt your good intentions, but good intentions do not mean that you represent your people, that you understand them, or that you can act in their best interest.
"As for the issue of compensation, do not try to phase me with your glittering emotional generalities. It is common practice to pay compensation for the loss of a nation's civil servants, because the damage is not only that of the death of our honored comrade, but damage to the Revolution. Iyar's protection was your administration's responsibility, and whether or not you could predict the simple fact that widespread riots might possibly imply extremist movements does not excuse you from that responsibility."
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Post by Republic of Lintsyia on Jul 2, 2012 0:26:39 GMT -5
"OK," Glatia replied. "We will pay the amount of 1,000,000 Reyeds (30 IP) for the death of Mr. Iyar. However, we still refuse your other demands. With all due respect, Field Marshal-Councilor, I fail to see how anything else other than the compensation applies to you. I am the leader of this nation, and the Senate makes the nation's laws. You are not me, and you are not the Senate. What happens in this Republic is our business! If the people wish to overthrow us, if they see us as unfit to lead them, so be it; we will accept that we have failed them and endure the results. It has nothing to do with you or the RWU. You have absolutely no right to drop in here and try to force these changes on us. What the Lintsyian people do, what they want, is their business- not yours."
She paused, and sighed.
"Final words? You will receive compensation by the end of the next cycle. All other demands are refused. End of discussion."
The line went dead.
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Post by Revolutionary Workers' Union on Jul 2, 2012 14:47:12 GMT -5
At his seat in the Union Council building, Kazamar smiled wryly. Empress Glatia Atgali was a strong and eloquent speaker, and he respected that. The last Antov had been the same, and Kazamar had respected him before putting a bullet in his head.
The Empress was correct, though, that if such a bullet was needed, it ought to come from the Lintsyians themselves. Of course, Glatia was no tyrant, and certainly no Antov. She seemed, though, naively detached from the sufferings of her people, and more concerned with maintaining her own power than with staying accountable to her electorate. After all, Kazamar's demands were exactly what Glatia was supposedly supporting: giving the Lintsyian people an opportunity to decide on whether she and her Senate were fit to lead.
In any case, compensation had been paid. Damage had been done diplomatically, but Leneru or Karad could work on repairing it. And if the damage was irreparable, that only meant that the RWU kept its distance from a hub of capitalism, and distance would be necessary for such a new nation to preserve its values.
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