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News from The Nation of Selenarctos


iKrolm

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[quote]
FROM: Ersch Electronics and SSDC Research Division E
TO: The Security Council
CC: Security Division Intelligence & Analysis
ENCRYPTION LEVEL: 512-bit

SUBJECT: Progress Report on GASP (Part II)

Esteemed Members of the Security Council,

Work continues on GASP at an acceptable rate, though slower than originally projected. This is no fault of those involved, in fact quite the opposite, but due to the massive complexity of the undertaking. As far as we are aware, a project of this magnitude has never been brought to fruition and not to expect delays would be foolish.

On the software front, the engineers involved have been split up into groups, each addressing an area of importance and are rapidly settling into the routine of living underground. Careful monitoring of the engineers has shown that our measures to keep the location of the Strategic Command Bunker secret have been successful; none of the engineers know exactly where they are, though it has been a matter of many discussion and wagers. Once we are certain the location has not been compromised, a possible weekend excursion to Manila might be arranged to help morale as time rolls by, but we will speak further of this in future communications.

On the hardware side, the multiple secure fiber lines laid during the Bunker's construction are being spliced to the appropriate systems as I write to you, and it appears the hardware teams may actually be slightly ahead of schedule, though I may be overly optimistic and looking to hard for signs of positive progress.

Updated will continue, hopefully delivering better news as work continues, but I hope you understand and extend thanks for your continued support.

Sincerely,
The GASP Development Team
[/quote]

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With the Mars mission winding down, construction of two relatively small, unmanned, mars-capable space craft is nearing completion. The crafts, assembled in orbit over the course of several shuttle missions, will carry the equipment necessary to refine rocket fuel from materials located on the Martian surface, ample supplies of food for a return voyage, and replacement parts for the Mars Rocket's life support system.

Both will jettison their main engines, primary fuel tanks and other unnecessary parts before preforming an autonomous landing on the Martian surface. Once arrived, the crew of the the Mars Base will assemble the refinery equipment and use it to refuel the two landers, maintained in working order since their original ferrying missions were complete. The landers will then be used to shuttle fuel, food, equipment, personnel and scientific samples back to both Mars Rockets. Once fully refueled, both rockets will break orbit within several days of each other for the return trip. Equipment left on Mars will be stored as best as possible, and the base effectively mothballed, however the government of Selenarctos stated that Plateau Selenarctos shall remain under Selenarctan jurisdiction.

Edited by iKrolm
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For the first time in four years, the Selenarctan economy has shown small signs of growth. Proponents called the 0.5% increase in GDP a "step in the right direction," while opponents pointed to the fusion power plant and other temporary construction projects the culprit for this temporary bubble of growth. The National Selenarctan Coin also showed slight deflation, which led in no small part to the apparent growth, but the Economic Division reaffirmed it's commitment to maintain near-zero inflation through careful currency manipulation. Despite the small growth, unemployment rose for yet another year in a row due to population growth and immigration increasing the size of the workforce.

A side note, the Selenarctan Strategic Defense Corporation came under fire when an editorial in the Manila Times examined the Corporation's recent weapon sales package to Sri Lanka. The article criticized the sale of blueprints only, claiming that the potential profits of building the large quantities of equipment the Sri Lankan military requires would have created numerous jobs in manufacturing and increased demand for steel, aluminum, titanium, plastics and electronic components. Futures in these areas fell between 1 and 5%, though economists hastily pointed out the there has been no change in demand for the materials, merely an estimate that the demand could have been higher.

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The UFE Central Bank expresses concerns about the presence of deflation in a fellow ASEAN country. In encourages the loosening of monetary policy to return low levels of inflation to the economy. Our concern lays primarily that deflation causes incentives to invest in currency rather in businesses which yield to longer term economic weaknesses which could spread to the rest of the South East Asia economic sector. As the UFE is currently still in a manufacturing and infrastructure boom as part of the national rebuilding phase of development, we offer to provide some investment if that is so desired.

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[quote name='Triyun' timestamp='1285873771' post='2470031']
The UFE Central Bank expresses concerns about the presence of deflation in a fellow ASEAN country. In encourages the loosening of monetary policy to return low levels of inflation to the economy. Our concern lays primarily that deflation causes incentives to invest in currency rather in businesses which yield to longer term economic weaknesses which could spread to the rest of the South East Asia economic sector. As the UFE is currently still in a manufacturing and infrastructure boom as part of the national rebuilding phase of development, we offer to provide some investment if that is so desired.
[/quote]

We agree with your assessment and offer assurances that any deflation observed was entirely unanticipated and unwanted. We have already taken measures to safeguard against further deflation, and expect the NSC to make a full recovery to it's prior value within six months. As usual, Selenarctan markets will remain open internationally and any investments you wish to make will be welcomed, but we do not require nor are asking for external help.

Regards,
The Economic Division

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  • 2 weeks later...

[quote name='iKrolm' timestamp='1285804727' post='2468952']
With the Mars mission winding down, construction of two relatively small, unmanned, mars-capable space craft is nearing completion. The crafts, assembled in orbit over the course of several shuttle missions, will carry the equipment necessary to refine rocket fuel from materials located on the Martian surface, ample supplies of food for a return voyage, and replacement parts for the Mars Rocket's life support system.

Both will jettison their main engines, primary fuel tanks and other unnecessary parts before preforming an autonomous landing on the Martian surface. Once arrived, the crew of the the Mars Base will assemble the refinery equipment and use it to refuel the two landers, maintained in working order since their original ferrying missions were complete. The landers will then be used to shuttle fuel, food, equipment, personnel and scientific samples back to both Mars Rockets. Once fully refueled, both rockets will break orbit within several days of each other for the return trip. Equipment left on Mars will be stored as best as possible, and the base effectively mothballed, however the government of Selenarctos stated that Plateau Selenarctos shall remain under Selenarctan jurisdiction.
[/quote]



The first of the two mars-bound Autonomous Resupply Crafts (ARCs) broke orbit today, with the objective to land on Plateau Selenarctos and furnish the Mars Base crew with material necessary to make the return voyage possible. The second ARC will begin it's ignition sequence approximately one month from today, and both will require slightly more than 8 months to reach Mars.

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[quote]FROM: Ersch Electronics and SSDC Research Division E
TO: The Security Council
CC: Security Division Intelligence & Analysis
ENCRYPTION LEVEL: 512-bit

SUBJECT: Progress Report on GASP (Part III)

Esteemed Members of the Security Council,

We are pleased to inform you that the hardware section of the GASP is now completed. Fiber links to the Aerial Defense Network, Radar Satellite Network, Security Division Archives, the SOSUS Network, the Internet and the Government Intranet are in place and ready for use as soon as they are incorporated into GASP's operating system.

Development of said operating system continues as a slower-than-expected pace, but remains at the same levels previously reported. Morale among programmers has taken a hit recently (due to security concerns, they have not been allowed to leave the bunker). We have recently begun to allow limited (but heavily monitored) email access and unbeknownst to the programers we are subjecting their emails to the current version of GASP's message analysis code in addition to human monitoring. Results are quite promising: while GASP has yet to demonstrate the ability to identify subtlety missed by humans, it has identified a number of security slips our programmers have, inadvertently in our opinion, included in their emails. Those emails were politely returned to their respective senders who were asked to be more careful in their word choice next time.

Also on the note of morale, there have been enough requests for an exterior view that we feel it worth bringing to your attention. Of course the programmers can not be provided with real windows, for the obvious security concerns and because the bunker is underground underwater, but we would like to request funding for a number of window-screens simulating outside view (perhaps from around Manila) to be placed within the mess hall and other common areas. The psychoanalyst assigned to our team feels this would go a long way toward reducing stress and improving the environment of the Bunker.

As always, we thank you for continued financial support and interest in the project.


Sincerely,
The GASP Development Team[/quote]

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The Selenarctos Security Division has released a new map of Selenarctan water boundaries. There are no major changes to water claims, this is merely a clarification and remapping of said boundaries. Please note that Selenarctos maintains sovereignty of, and jurisdiction over waters reaching 10nm out from, the Pratas Reef system not depicted on the map below.

[img]http://images1.wikia.nocookie.net/cnrp/images/thumb/a/a8/Selenarctos_Water_Boundaries.png/612px-Selenarctos_Water_Boundaries.png[/img]

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[quote]FROM: Selenarctos Strategic Defense Corporation
TO: The Security Council
ENCRYPTION LEVEL: 512-bit

SUBJECT: Termination of Projects

The Selenarctos Strategic Defense Corporation is pleased to announce development of the Predator-C UAV upgrade package has been completed. This add on to existing squadrons, and standard of all new squadrons, includes advanced, radar-absorbing materials to coat the UAV, greatly reducing the radar signature while only minimally impacting aerodynamics. The upgrade package also includes an improved guidance system to reduce the risk of a crash caused by temporary loss of communication with the ground station, a number of key systems upgraded against EM pulses and the ability to transfer control from one flight controller to another while airborne. The upgrade process for existing squadrons shall begin shortly, and is estimated to take one month per squadron. Work shall begin with squadrons based off the SS Manila first and continue in numerical order until all squadrons have been upgraded. Upgraded Predator-Cs shall retain the designation Predator-C.


Selenarctos Strategic Defense Corporation
Office of Governmental Affairs[/quote]

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[b]Classified:[/b]

Funding has been approved for the construction of secondary Heron Class OTH radar emplacements facing east and north. The Security Division had requested a secondary station for each emplacement, but was allocated funding for only two Heron emplacements and a backup for the Silay Station. These new stations shall be completed within one year and will be located between twenty and forty kilometers further inland than the existing emplacements. They will remain off in DEFCON 4 and DEFCON 5 and standby in DEFCONs 3, 2 and 1. They will only be turned on in the event that the primary emplacement is destroyed. The new emplacements shall be linked to the Strategic Command Bunker by separate fiber lines. Funding was also approved to harden all radar and SAM emplacements against EM pulses.


Additionally, Ersch Electronics has begun to lay two RO fiber lines, one from a router near Laoag to the United Federation of the East and a second from a router on the west end of Palawan to the Malay Federation. Both will carry full long-range and medium-range radar records, SOSUS recordings, visual and IR satellite images as well as any warnings the Strategic Analysis Committee [further classified: the GASP array] deems important.

Edited by iKrolm
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[quote]FROM: Ersch Electronics and SSDC Research Division E
TO: The Security Council
CC: Security Division Intelligence & Analysis
ENCRYPTION LEVEL: 512-bit

SUBJECT: Progress Report on GASP (Part IV)

Esteemed Members of the Security Council,

It is with sorrow that we write to inform you of the death of one of our programmers. Tico Medrano committed suicide around 2330 last night in the men's restrooms on level 4 in the Command Bunker. Medrano had been in counseling for the last two weeks; approximately one month after all communication with those outside of the bunker was terminated.

Overall however, morale remains low and our resident psychologist has voiced concerns that this may not the be the first such event we see. As a result, we have taken steps to increase monitoring of personnel in all areas and our medical team has been patched into the security system to provide rapid response should another incident occur.

Please express our condolences to the family of Tico Medrano.

Sincerely,
The GASP Development Team[/quote]

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Captain Napoleon Patricio looked around the base's central dome as he and Mission Commander Ciril Ventura made their way to the power control room. "Well Ventura, it's been quite a ride."

Ciril too appeared lost in memories. "Indeed it has; ten years later, millions of kilometers from the planet on which we were born and here we are, final preparations for departure."

"I know what you mean. My team launched months later, but the end date still seemed like it would never reach us. Amazing, how quickly time passes." Patricio paused to swipe his card on the power room's door-one of two doors in the base that locked. Nothing happened so he swiped the card a second time; half second later a green LED lit up and the lock clicked. "Arriving on Mars for the first time was something else… I know your team had already been here a few months, but still: walking on a different planet! A new and unknown world, made me think of what the European explorers must have thought as they made their way through the Americas…"

Patricio trailed off as he logged into the console and began shutting the base down. Lights, climate control, water and waste management systems all had to be rendered inactive-Ciril clicked on a flashlight as the overhead lights gradually dimmed. Patricio saved the air system until second to last; they'd more than enough air to get to the airlock, suit up and exit the base, but living on an inhospitable planet for the last decade had left the entire crew nervous about anything that involved shutting off the air. Finally, as the very last thing, Patricio typed in the 64-key alphanumeric code SelCom had had him memorized on Earth all those years ago; the remote-detonation sequence. Only Patricio and a select few in the Security Division knew of the command but once entered, an overload and subsequent supercriticality of the base's nuclear reactor could be triggered from back home.

"All finished?" Ciril noticed he'd stopped typing.

"Finished, the base is now offline which means it's time for us to scram." In the glow of Ciril's of flashlight, they made their way though the base for the last time. The flashlight was optional, the base wasn't large and they both knew it by heart, but it was comforting. Four crew members waited outside in the lander, the rest were already in orbit, and the base was spookily empty. They suited up quickly and silently, entered the airlock and waited as suits ballooned under the decreasing pressure.
When there was not enough air to adequately carry sound, Ciril clicked on his radio and Patricio followed suit.

Stepping out of the airlock, Ciril began to speak as Patricio shut the airlock's outer door. "I've switched to the all-team band, so those in the lander and orbit should be able to hear me. I felt it'd be appropriate, as we shut down the base we've called home for the last ten years, to saw a few words. I haven't prepared anything, so bear with me."

Ciril drew a breath of canned air, then continued. "We've had an outstanding run; ten years on another planet is no small matter. We've been through hardships and we've had moments of unparalleled triumph. The work and research we've accomplished here quite literally could be done nowhere else in the Solar System, and I could not have asked for nor chosen more qualified and hardworking people for the mission.

"We've lived in close proximity for years now without major conflict, and we've explored a planet without a single major injury. We set out to live on a planet where no life should survive, and we thrived. With us on our return voyage, we bring more new knowledge and experience than many could hope for in a lifetime, but which we accumulated in just a few short years.

"For many of us, we now have a chance to return to families and loved ones we've not seen for years, but for all of us this is the end of a chapter; the closing of a period in our lives where we did what was once thought impossible and preformed one of the most incredible feats in human history. Thank you, everyone. We could not have done this without any of you."

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The Security Division has announced it will be returning the Selenarctan armed forces to DEFCON 5. The just-declassified orders to move to DEFCON 3, which came approximately a month ago, represents the first time in over five years Ground Force readiness has been above DEFCON 5. Officials within the Ground Force declined to comment further on the matter.

[b]Classified:[/b]
Air Force, Naval Fore and Active Ground Force units are hereby ordered to return to Stand Down. Backup OTH radar stations return to Inactive. UAV patrols return to Normal routines.

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[b]International Announcement[/b]

The Kármán Shuttle carrying Lieutenant II Rey Ventura and seven other crew members of the Mars Rocket touched down at 1247 this afternoon, marking the successful return of the first citizens of Selenarctos to set foot on another world. The Mars Rocket II is still two weeks out from it's final destination in Low Earth Orbit, however the remaining crew of the Mars Rocket will return to earth in two more shuttle missions over the next two days.

[img]http://i211.photobucket.com/albums/bb26/iKrolm/astronaut.png[/img]
[size="2"]Lieutenant II Rey Ventura, before launch.[/size]



[b]Local Public Notice:[/b]

In other news, current metal detectors in all Central Government buildings are to be phased out and replaced with full body scanners utilizing x-ray backscatter and millimeter wavelength radiation. All persons entering secure buildings will be required to pass through the scanners. Public concerns over privacy have been relatively minor so far, however government officials have issued assurances that images will not be saved except as evidence if prohibited objects are located, and have introduced legislation to list unauthorized capture and/or storage of scans under felony stature.

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[b]Classified:[/b]

Security Division Command had raised the nation to DEFCON 2. All Air Force, Active Ground Force and Naval Force units are now on Alert. Reserve Ground Force Units and Backup OTH Radar Stations are moved to standby. The SOSUS network remains on alert. UAV patrols are Stepped Up, and essential Security Division personnel are ordered into the Command Bunker.

Additionally, iodine tablet stores left over from the last nuclear-war threat are to be checked and inventoried in preparation for distribution, should they be needed.

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[b]Public News release:[/b]

Data from the latest Census has placed the population of Selenarctos at 24,000,000 citizens, a 33% increase over the last census approximately fifteen years ago. The Popular Division report states that the three largest contributing factors to this growth are immigration, a decreasing infant mortality rate and an increasing life expectancy.

Individual population figures for cities are as follows:

Manila: 8,000,000 (+77%)

Fieres: 1,300,000 (+44%)
Cerrie: 600,000 (+9%)
Raine: 650,000 (+8%)
Rrenes: 1,200,000 (+0%)
Oénsel: 900,000 (+12.5%)
Andalia: 600,000 (-8%)
Preh: 2,550,000 (+50%)
Rantél: 450,000 (-10%)
Eyes: 1,250,000 (+56%)
Viena: 650,000 (+8%)

Urban: 18,150,000 (+50%)
Rural: 5,850,000 (-1%)

Percent Urban: 76% (+8%)



(OOC note: Most cities don't relate to RL cities right now.)

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With the conclusion of the Mars Mission, the Selenarctan Space Program finds ourselves with all-but-unused extra-earth relay satellites. Rather than decommission them at a significant loss, the Space Program has decided to rent bandwidth on these satellites. Perfect for long-range communications with the Moon, Mars or outer-system exploratory craft, renting bandwidth costs a mere fraction of installing new ground-based transmitters/receivers or satellites able to reach deep space. Recognized nations or private corporations are encouraged to submit requests to the Space Program's administrative offices in Cerrie.

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[b]Classified:[/b]

Under the guise of routine maintenance to all Selenarctan satellites (including both commercial and military satellites) conducted via , a second stealth satellite will be inserted 500m off from and in the same orbit as each of the existing surveillance satellites operated by the Air Force. The stealth satellites, significantly more expensive non-stealth counterparts, will be unregistered and feature a reduced radar, visual and IR signatures while maintaining the capabilities of the non-stealth satellites. Under normal operating parameters, the stealth satellites will only communicate with the primary non-stealth satellite and the Air Force's satellite receiving array via LOS laser, not radio or microwave.

To the Economic Division, the advantage a stealthed backup satellite provide should be obvious: in the event that the primary is disabled or destroyed, the secondary satellite provides continuous coverage. Since the stealth satellite is unregistered, it's not listed in a database so is extremely unlikely to be found and targeted given the previously mentioned precautions, and because it is still in a registered orbit there is relatively no risk of collision or it's orbit being taken by another satellite.

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[b]Classified:[/b]

The Security Division has lowered the nation to DEFCON 4 from DEFCON 2.

Air Force units return to Standby; Naval and Ground Force units return to Stand Down. The Backup OTH stations and backup satellites installed so far return to inactive. The SOSUS network returns to Low Alert, and UAV patrols return to Normal. Only maintenance and security personnel are required to remain in the Command Bunker.

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  • 1 month later...

The Security Division is pleased to announce the last members of the 5th Mechanized have returned from Australia today. With the most of Australia now handed over to stable, native governments, the Security Council on the recommendation of Ground Force commanders in Australia voted to return the 5th Mechanized Division and the 138th Interceptor Squadron to Selenarctos; the last of the 138th should return later this month. Elements of the 6th Mechanized Division, the 305th Remote Squadron and the 137th Interceptor Squadron remain in Australia, however the Security Council also passed a resolution to redeploy the 3rd Task Force to New Guinea where the almost-complete restoration of a former-Queendom naval base will decrease operational costs.

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[b]Classified:[/b]

In recognition of the colonial nature of the Kimberley Legion holding per the definition of a colonial holding set forth in the Oceanic Union charter, the Security Council has authorized use additional surveillance resources to monitor Legion assets in the Oceanic Region.


[b]Also Classified:[/b]

Regarding the conclusion of hostilities in Australia, the 1st Task Force readiness is hereby lowered to [size="1"]Stand Down[/size], and the 1st Task Force shall return to normal peacetime operations.

Edited by iKrolm
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  • 1 month later...

OOC: Continued from here: http://forums.cybernations.net/index.php?showtopic=79762&view=findpost&p=2729280
IC:

[b]Public Television Broadcast, multi-channel:[/b]

A filipino man in his mid forties in a tailored western business suit stands at a podium in front of the a pair of Selenarctan flags. The well-versed eye would notice that room is the Central Government Press Room, however the Central Government crest is missing from the wall behind the man, inbetween the flags.

"Good evening. Good evening to the population of Manila, my comrades in Preh, the people of Selenarctos and viewers from around the world. My name is Carlos Burke, former Spokesperson for the Ferrerist Coalition of Selenarctos. It is tonight that I inform you of the dissolution of the Central Government of Selenarctos and the institution of a new governing body.

"For months, a silent war has been waged by the old Central Government against the people of Selenarctos. For years opposition political leaders, including my predecessor, have disappeared or been the victim of 'accidents.' For months the people of Selenarctos have been silently arrested in the middle of the night, never to be heard from again. For months, the people of Selenarctos have demanded answers to little no avail.

"I am here to tell you those days are over. On Friday, the people of Preh said enough is enough. On Friday, our comrades to the south took to the streets to protest the actions of the Central Government. Peacefully, mind you: these were not malevolent criminals or gangs but the hardworking people who built Selenarctos. They were not given a chance to negotiate. They were not given a chance to plead their case. They were not even given a chance to flee when the Central Government deployed Domestic Force assets with the orders to clear the protestors at all costs. Lethal force was authorized by the Central Government, and lethal force was used against the population of Preh.

"We said enough is enough. A government that kills its own people in order to govern them is no government at all. It is a rogue terrorist cell that pretends to have the support of its people, when in fact it has noting at all. On Friday, the people of Preh rose up to fight the forces of the Central Government. The Security Division deployed Ground Force troops into the city of Preh to combat their self-created 'rioters,' but their own soldiers turned against them and joined our cause because it is just.

"Today, I proclaim the creation of a new government to wash away the stain of the old government. Today, our communist and socialist brothers tanned united under the principles of Francis Ferrer, and today we witness the creation of the People's Republic of Selenarctos and today.

"Representatives from the Ferrerist Coalition are assembling in Manila as I speak to draft a constitution for our new government. In the coming weeks, we must all work together to rebuild our nation: to help our comrades who still fight in Preh, to drive our economy out of the decade-long recession, and to reinvest in the people of Selenarctos, not the corporations.

"In the mean time, I ask all parties to calm down. To our allies in the Ground Force, I extend profound gratitude for your service to our cause. To the Domestic Force officers in Preh, I ask that you stand down. The time for fighting has past and we need everyone for the great task of rebuilding that faces us now.

"In seas and mountains, in air and in skies of Thine azure, there is beauty in the poem, and song for freedom beloved. Thank you."

Edited by iKrolm
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The United Federation of the East does not make judgements on the internal governing decisions of its allies unless there are egregious offenses committed. As such we will continue to work with our allies in Selenarctos under forms of government of their own choosing.

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"As the UFE, Sri Lanka does not judge the decisions of its allies' population or government regarding internal matters concerning governance, with exception of grievous offenses.
We will, as such, continue working with our friends and allies in Selenarctos, regardless of their chosen form of government."

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