The Republic of Free Somal Makes an Announcement

[Firestorm]

Earlier today a representative of the Republic made an announcement without prior approval of his government. He stated the Republic of Free Somal would provide covert support to various movements in Africa.

The Republic of Free Somal will not be supporting this offer. The representative is hereby transferred to our new one man Embassy in near the South Pole. As for our membership in the Trans African Defense Pact we affirm that we will be dropping our participation in this bloc.

Our reasons are as follows, and based upon the discussion transcripts taken from the meeting:

The pact simply will not take a strong enough stance against the colonization of Africa by outside powers. We do not feel that this is something that needs to be discussed or compromised upon. We sought a unanimous agreement on this issue and instead found far to many willing to brush aside centuries of European interference, brutality, war, and corruption on the African continent.

The rights of native Africans have been trampled for far to long and we will not waste our time with an organization that seeks to protects its own individual interests, by covering them up with sophomoric platitudes in the vein of, "We really are all the same".

That is all.

Bob's Mom

[Serg92]

Emperor Sergio II has made a statement on this announcement.

"We are sorry to hear about your distrustful ambassador but your views on this nation is completely and utterly foolish. We have not once stated that we feel we should do nothing. We feel that a drasterous move would be too much and threaten the stability of the most stable continent in the world. They have done nothing to prove that they are not worthy enough to occupy the land they have which by the way Transvaal allowed them to have. We have no say over them now and never will. All we can do now is try and keep them from oppressing their people. But if the general population wants the government who are we to deny thier wants?

You left the TADP for your own selfish needs and maybe TADP will be better off without you."

[Firestorm]

We left the TADP because there are those within it who do not feel as strongly as we do regarding the right of self-rule for the native people of Africa. These members, or colonialists as they ought to be called, are merely protecting the interests of their own holdings.

They care not one jot or tittle about native African rights. They wax on poetically about the equality of man whilst their own nations have European governments standing on the backs of Africans.

No, Somal will not be party to hypocritical behaviors such as this. While we will defend ourselves, and support native rights in other lands through peaceful means, we have zero intentions of interacting with these governments.

To us they are disdainful.

Should you feel strongly about native African rights like we do we are open to creating a bloc that supports those rights.

Clearly, the TADP does not have the muster or integrity to do so on its own.

[Serg92]

"Again you are wrong. The ENTIRETY of Africa has european background including yourself whether you like it or not. TADP was created to protect the stability of Africa and her fellow nations whether in the Bloc or not. TADP was created to keep out colonist. The Seventh Reich are not colonist but African natives who perfer an European government. Im sorry you are to blind to see that.

I also do not take kindly to being called colonist. You might have your selfish needs for taking an isolationist approach but please keep your name-calling out of the International stage. it makes your government look incapable of handling International affairs."

[Firestorm]

Oh dear, you are offended, probably far less than those of my ancestors that have been savagely abused by European slavers, European Colonialists, and other such European cretins.

The Republic of Free Somal is an African nation with an African government. This nullifies your claim that the entirety of Africa has a European background. Further, the background you seem to be missing is the majority population of native Africans who are being stood on by Colonialist powers.

The stability of Africa at the expense of the native Africans is of no interest to the Republic. We see the presence of European minority governments as a sad legacy of a dark era that had its time. We will continue in our course to encourage native African governments by peaceful means. We will not allow ourselves to be sullied by associating with colonialist powers that are stripping the natives of Africa of their sovereign rights to self-rule.

In short, our position is, "Go home to Europe, you've really done enough harm, now let us rule ourselves."

As for you falling for the 7th Reich's obvious blatant propaganda inspired by fear of being confronted by the spineless toilet paper treaty called the TADP that's a true shame. The 7th Reich even admitted to a mass migration of Germans, clearly not native to the area, who in turn formed a government.

After diplomatic pressure was applied they conveniently remembered that somehow this veritable horde of foreigners was welcomed with open arms.

If you believe that I have a bridge in Brooklyn for sale.

You might dislike my strong sense of African Nationalism, but that my good man is your problem.

The Republic of Free Somal will continue to agitate, via 'peaceful means', for the self-rule of Africans.

Edited June 14, 2009 by Firestorm

[Biohazard]

Imperium Romanum cannot help but applaud Somal as they present their views in the face of adversity. Rome believes in strong nationalism too, and would like to tell off the majority of the colonized-African nations to shut the hell up about 'european governments.'

The African nations have been colonized and abused by European colonialism. Once more, we applaud Somal. Hail!

[Firestorm]

The Republic of Free Somal welcomes government interaction with the Imperium. You might be European, but your hearts are in the right place.

[Sarah Tintagyl]

It has always been in the Hanseatic mindset that people should be given the right to self rule if they so desire. In my country's past, we have given independence to countless lands and nations that desire independence and even those inside the Commonwealth are equally represented. Japan, Australia, the Russian Far East, and our Polynesian provinces all have members in the Diet. The same should apply with every country in the world. If natives are being oppressed then the governing body is not doing enough for its own people and the citizens have the right to overthrow this corrupt government.

I have always been an adamant opponent of minority politics and African self-rule is not of that list. If the natives desire a native government than they should have it, if they do not, then that is fine too. But the will of the people is the most important thing to consider here. They run countries, the government is only to be their servant.

[Firestorm]

Yes and I'm absolutely certain the colonialist governments of Africa will unanimously announce to the world that they are beloved by their captive native Africans. Because we all know that these poor natives just need these Europeans and that without them they'd hardly know what side of the bed to get out of in the morning.

Thankfully, Africa and its much abused peoples have survived this far and we'll survive these latest interlopers. For now we merely need busy ourselves for the eventual transition to African self-rule.

[Lynneth]

It has always been in the Hanseatic mindset that people should be given the right to self rule if they so desire. In my country's past, we have given independence to countless lands and nations that desire independence and even those inside the Commonwealth are equally represented. Japan, Australia, the Russian Far East, and our Polynesian provinces all have members in the Diet. The same should apply with every country in the world. If natives are being oppressed then the governing body is not doing enough for its own people and the citizens have the right to overthrow this corrupt government.

I have always been an adamant opponent of minority politics and African self-rule is not of that list. If the natives desire a native government than they should have it, if they do not, then that is fine too. But the will of the people is the most important thing to consider here. They run countries, the government is only to be their servant.

"Singapore finds itself agreeing with the Lady Protector in regard to natives ruling themselves.We also believe that, if the natives are indeed oppressed, then other countries should take steps to help the natives and weaken the governments and their - often loyal - military. These steps should, however, be peaceful."

[hawk11]

The government of the Elective Dictatorship of Palintine has always been anti-expansionist and anti-colonization. It is only natural that we support the Republic of Free Somal's view on the need for a strong stance on colonialism. European governments only have a place in Europe, just like Asian governments only have a place in Asia.

[Serg92]

"We are not saying that we believe in natives ruling African land. I Myself was born and raised in Serca. My father was born in Serca. My country was almost destroyed early in its existance due to European powers and we are strongly against european colonization as much as Somal. You are not understanding that Transvaal is supporting and harboring The seventh reich and there is NOTHING anyone can do."

[Firestorm]

Well you are wrong about being unable to do anything regarding Transvaal, but that's a matter for another day. The conversation has moved onto other governments holding minority governments of Europeans over native African populations. We were at first willing to wait these governments out knowing the tendency of such bodies to fall apart. However, given the utterly absurd levels of denial demonstrated by the member nations, not specifically yours, of the TADP it has become obvious to others that something may well need to be done about them.

Africa ought to be for Africans.

RESOLVED The Republic of Free Somal formally refuses to recognize any African government held by a foreign minority group. We will continue to utilize peaceful methods to see that the majority populations are allowed the chance at self-rule.

RESOLVED The Republic of Free Somal is open to any treaty organization which seeks to ensure protected lands are held in trust for native African groups. These wandering bands of wayward foreigners will not gain another toehold on the continent of Africa if we can possibly stop it.

RESOLVED The Republic of Free Somal likewise has begun opening communications with leaders of nations who feel as strongly against colonialism as we do. These nation leaders will be approached for the purposes of gaining their support for a Native African Protectorate Organization.

RESOLVED Once in place it is expected that NAPO will provide for the security of Native African self-rule and prevent these disgusting foreign intrusions. Likewise, these participants will take a hands off approach in their treatment of African protectorates in order to prevent cultural and social contamination. These peoples will be allowed to grow of their own merits.

If the governments of Africa can't do what needs to be done, we will enlist the support from elsewhere. Stability at the expense of self-rule is unacceptable to the people of The Republic of Free Somal.

Secra, given its native African roots on the continent is welcomed to participate in NAPO. We merely seek a very firm commitment for the self-rule of Africans.

Edited June 15, 2009 by Firestorm

[iamthey]

As we were the voice of opposition in the previously private meeting we issue the following rebuttal to the premises laid out by the republic of free somal.

As a nation which has foreign holdings around the world our ideology as a nation has developed along objective lines which views humanity for what it is, as equal; and holds that the sole factor which divides one person from another is their actions and consequently their merit. In this regard the only thing which objectively matters is first and foremost the safety of the people and their health; and second their material well being. Everything else, be it race, culture, or the location a person was born is irrelevant. In fact these things are simply fantasies that were created by one group to justify their oppression of another. When the anglo majorities saw it fitting to oppress those of African decent they justified their oppression on the grounds of their dark skin color. It is because of this that we beleive that as long as a government carries out that basic mandate, regardless of what form it takes, then as far as we are concerned they are a just and legitimate government. In response to this your nation has scoffed, and has asserted a bitter policy of racist motivations which seeks to separate those of extra-African ethnic backgrounds and politically disfranchise them on the grounds of their skin's chemical composition, and the location of their ancestor's birth. This mentality not only upsets us as sensible political managers, it disgusts us. We live in a global world, where particular scientific realities have confirmed the overall irrelevance of ethnic and racial background, it is time that your nation wake up to this.

Moreover, your discrimination of ethnic minorities from positions in African governments is just as bad as the hundreds of years of oppression the African people suffered in the foreign nations they were brought to to work as slaves. And in this regard your ethnic nationalism is no better than the very Germanic nationalism you despise. It is justified along the same lines as well as carries out the exact same modes of oppression which you presume they are guilty of.

We implore those who have expressed support for their political lines to withdraw it. Their message is not one of self government, or freedom it is one of racial and nativist discrimination. They seek to push a radical and backwards world view of cultural and ethic homogenization upon Africa that will set it back centuries in the global world. They have with their most recent communication threatened to once again fund violent extremists groups if the legitimate nations of africa should refuse to carry their standard.

If the governments of Africa can't do what needs to be done, we will enlist the support from elsewhere.

Their cause will only intensify the hatred and xenophobia that we as the TADP have been working to mitigate. We as a nation of many peoples say that if an African should be allowed to run and participate in the political system of a nation outside of Africa then there is no reason why a European, or an Asian, or a Latino shouldn't be allowed to participate in the political system of an African nation. That being said we hope the Republic of Free somal will moderate.

Edited June 15, 2009 by iamthey

[Firestorm]

As we were the voice of opposition in the previously private meeting we issue the following rebuttal to the premises laid out by the republic of free somal.

As a nation which has foreign holdings around the world our ideology as a nation has developed along objective lines which views humanity for what it is, as equal; and holds that the sole factor which divides one person from another is their actions and consequently their merit. In this regard the only thing which objectively matters is first and foremost the safety of the people and their health; and second their material well being. Everything else, be it race, culture, or the location a person was born is irrelevant. In fact these things are simply fantasies that were created by one group to justify their oppression of another. When the anglo majorities saw it fitting to oppress those of African decent they justified their oppression on the grounds of their dark skin color. It is because of this that we beleive that as long as a government carries out that basic mandate, regardless of what form it takes, then as far as we are concerned they are a just and legitimate government. In response to this your nation has scoffed, and has asserted a bitter policy of racist motivations which seeks to separate those of extra-African ethnic backgrounds and politically disfranchise them on the grounds of their skin's chemical composition, and the location of their ancestor's birth. This mentality not only upsets us as sensible political managers, it disgusts us. We live in a global world, where particular scientific realities have confirmed the overall irrelevance of ethnic and racial background, it is time that your nation wake up to this.

Moreover, your discrimination of ethnic minorities from positions in African governments is just as bad as the hundreds of years of oppression the African people suffered in the foreign nations they were brought to to work as slaves. And in this regard your ethnic nationalism is no better than the very Germanic nationalism you despise. It is justified along the same lines as well as carries out the exact same modes of oppression which you presume they are guilty of.

We implore those who have expressed support for their political lines to withdraw it. Their message is not one of self government, or freedom it is one of racial and nativist discrimination. They seek to push a radical and backwards world view of cultural and ethic homogenization upon Africa that will set it back centuries in the global world. They have with their most recent communication threatened to once again fund violent extremists groups if the legitimate nations of africa should refuse to carry their standard.

Their cause will only intensify the hatred and xenophobia that we as the TADP have been working to mitigate. We as a nation of many peoples say that if an African should be allowed to run and participate in the political system of a nation outside of Africa then there is no reason why a European, or an Asian, or a Latino shouldn't be allowed to participate in the political system of an African nation. That being said we hope the Republic of Free somal will moderate.

Oh look, its one of those Colonialist powers whining about fairness while they are busy oppressing the natives.

Tell you what bub, YOU hold Free open elections that are monitored by a jointly manned African oversight force and then we'll pay attention to your mewling about fairness and freedom.

Till then, be gone..

[Vedran]

"Somal has left the TADP, an organization dedicated to furthering African brotherhood, prosperity, and stability, because the TADP would not take a strong enough stance against colonization. The meeting started off well enough, with most of us agreeing that Africa should not allow a repetition of the continent's dark history under colonialism. It was necessary, we agreed, that the pact's protectorate regions should only be released when a local government rises to replace them, not a foreign one.

But then somebody noticed that Somal's arguments were coming not from a sense of duty to the people of this continent but from racism. Their representative was soon suggesting all government with leadership of European ancestry be dismantled, forcefully if need be. He then withdrew his country from the pact and threatened to support anti-government insurgencies in African nations.

Supposedly the representative was given some harsh and unpleasant posting and Somal promised it would not give covert aid to insurgents. But then again you can't really give covert aid if you've publicly announced your intentions, so that declaration was worthless.

They have promoted their ideas to the international community under the guise of 'self-rule'. Out of all the African nations that have ethnic minority leaders, only one that I know of actively suppresses the natives, and that is Transvaal. Note that Transvaal has not been a member of any trans-African organization (beyond an observer capacity) since November of last year. There is also no evidence to suggest any other African nation actively suppresses their population.

Somal has also said that if the governments of Africa won't willingly dismantle themselves and hand power over to a Somal-supported leader, then they will enlist foreign powers to do it for them. This is clearly a hostile act. They have rebutted reasonable arguments with insults. Simply put, Somal does not want to see a white man in charge of anywhere in Africa and they are willing to go to great lengths until their xenophobia is satiated.

So the international community can either believe established, stable, and capable governments or they can believe some machete-wielding warlord whose land was recently nothing but a scattering of warring tribes, and is now (thanks to the support of the international community) a land of united, well-armed bandits who seek to topple legitimate governments on the basis that a white man is in charge. It should be quite clear who is in the right here."

[Firestorm]

"This coming from a government who is a European minority lording over an African Majority. Who's the racist now, Mr. Jim Crow?"

[hawk11]

The Elective Dictatorship of Palintine reasserts its support and invites interested parties to go look at the original message for why.

[Vedran]

"This coming from a government who is a European minority lording over an African Majority. Who's the racist now, Mr. Jim Crow?"

"Arctica is governed by a non-elected triumvirate whose members all happen to be of European descent, which makes decisions on matters of national importance. Under it, governing the daily lives of the citizens is an elected legislature whose membership is (ethnically) largely representative of the population.

The government is not 'lording over' the Africans. If it were, how might those of African descent overthrow their slavedrivers? Let's see. They could elect representatives. And they have. These representatives are not making policy to 'put the whities in their place' as Somal has suggested is necessary for freedom. How else? They could start a rebellion. But the white man has his army to stop them. Yes, quite, the army that is 60% composed of personnel of Malagasy ethnicity, and the officers which are 40% Malagasy. The army that has had a chance to coup whitie for some time now and has not. The army that, when last August a few rogue divisions acting under foreign influence came close to overthrowing the government, fought against the rebels (along with foreign forces, most of them African) when it had a window of opportunity to finish off 'their oppressors.'

Rather than treating the black man as some sort of second-class citizen, Arctica has promoted the idea of brotherhood and unity among the different races and cultures in our nation, as well as the idea that another nation has presented (another nation whose arguments Somal has been brushing off with vague insults) of humans being humans regardless of skin color. Somalians see a white man in charge getting fanned by palm leaves and gorging on fruit while his people starve. Arcticans see a leader that happens to have different skin."

"That said, I see no indication of Somal changing its mind anytime soon, so Arctica will be ordering an embargo on that country as well as severing diplomatic relations and publicly condemning their recent statements to the world and suggesting other nations do the same."

[hawk11]

The Elective Dictatorship of Palintine requests information on the history of Arctica, specifically information relating to the establishment of its government and how it works.

[Botha]

They have rebutted reasonable arguments with insults. Simply put, Somal does not want to see a white man in charge of anywhere in Africa and they are willing to go to great lengths until their xenophobia is satiated.

Field Marshal Malan even offered to meet face to face with the Somal leaders at a neutral location in Serca but his offer wasnt even turned down, it wasn't even acknowledged. Clearly this renegade regime only seeks destabilisation and anarchy in Africa.

[Firestorm]

Please, spare us your anti-African rhetoric. You'd no sooner have an native African Government in Transvaal than you'd have your own left testicle deep fried and served up to your own dog. Again, for those who can't read, The Republic of Free Somal will work with native Africans to achieve self-rule through peaceful means.

How this equates to anarchy is beyond me, but I'm taking a stab in the dark here by thinking you are one of those sorts that believes no African nation can be governed by Africans.

If you sincerely absolutely want to meet with the Republic of Free Somal's government to better understand our aims we'll consider a meeting, but given your own social policies it is a momentous decision in the sense that being seen consorting with the likes of Transvaal implies condoning your ethnic policies towards our own fellow native Africans.

We'd have to have the meeting in strict secrecy in an undisclosed location.

[Vedran]

The Elective Dictatorship of Palintine requests information on the history of Arctica, specifically information relating to the establishment of its government and how it works.

Arctica was started as a republic after gaining independence several decades ago (in the Arctic Circle, hence the name). The current system of government was created in early 2008.

The people wanted new horizons and the government decided that living in a polar region forever was not good for anyone. Several locations were considered before Madagascar was chosen. Madagascar at that time was ruled by some tin-pot dictator who lived in his palace and did generally unfriendly things. It was decided that to go there and try to form a republic from a wartorn land was not going to work out well, but that the people still needed to be represented. So the two-tiered system in place today was thought up.

A non-elected triumvirate (named the Hierarchy) was put at the top. The leaders at that time did not want to create the appearance of a monarchy or a dictatorship so vague terms were used for the offices, two of them even being taken from some obscure and unknown language from which writings were found at one of the islands in the Arctic.

The first of these is the Mundokiir, who serves as the commander-in-chief of the country's armed forces and directs the military and oversees war-oriented government departments. He (or she, as is the case currently) is responsible for coordinating with the different service branches and building up the military and furthering Arctica's strategic interests.

The second is the Thurokiir, who performs a variety of tasks and oversees various ministries such as the Foreign Ministry, the Ministry of Commerce, intelligence agencies, and other departments which are technically under the jurisdiction of the lower tier of government. He advises the departments in their actions and often acts as a liaison between the leader and the rest of the government. In a sense, the Thurokiir does the most work of the three.

Officially part of the triumvirate but also the senior of the three, the Sovereign position is exactly what it sounds like. The person who holds this position is officially the head of state and government and the powers of the other Hierarchs as well as all executive power in the nation is consolidated here. He may issue edicts at will and his decisions may be overturned by a 3/5 vote in the national congress (vetoes work this way too).

When the Hierarchy was conceived, three existing leaders were chosen to fill the positions. The President, Vice President, and Chief of Staff of the Army were chosen to be the new Sovereign, Thurokiir, and Mundokiir respectively. The change in government was voted upon in the legislature, and having passed, was put into effect several days before the ships sailed for Madagascar. In the case of one of them dying or resigning their office, they have a list of worthy successors drawn up. In the case of there being no line of succession for one of them, the Sovereign gets to pick. In the case of all three dying at once and no line of succession being drawn up for any of them, there is no contingency plan to cover that because that is an absolutely silly idea.

The lower tier of government is what one might expect in a republic, minus the executive branch. There is a supreme court which is elected by the people (9 members, no political parties allowed, decisions may be overthrown by unanimous decision of the Hierarchy unless it was a 8-1 or 9-0 decision). The legislature is pretty simple. There is a national election (again, nonpartisan) in which the people elect candidates to represent their province in the 99-member national congress. The amount of representatives per province is determined based on population. The legislature (under the direction of the Hierarchy) allocates funding for governmental departments and other nifty things those type of people do.

In an emergency situation (such as in a war) the lower tier's powers are suspended (to avoid the inescapable delay and bickering that democratically elected governments devolve into in these situations, as happened in Vaule) while the Hierarchy takes direct and unchallenged control of the government. This has only ever happened once, and even then it wasn't in the intended way as the Mundokiir and Thurokiir were dead and Vedran was in Rebel Army.

OOC: If all this seems pretty impractical, there's a reason. I looked at the government of the Auroran Empire in the game EV Nova and tried to see how it could work in real life. But I'm gonna stick with it >_>

Edited June 15, 2009 by Vedran

[Firestorm]

OOC: hey, its all good. i'm just playing my character and so are you. right now I'm to loaded to answer anything intelligently. Keep up the good work, I'm enjoying this and I hope you are. Africa hasn't been this interesting in months.

[Botha]

Please, spare us your anti-African rhetoric.

Somal fails to realise that the Afrikaners are native to Africa as well - we do not have a homeland elsewhere to return to, Southern Africa IS our home.

Anyways, our offer still stands: a public meeting in Serca between Malan and the Somal leadership. Nothing on the table for negotiation - just an open door to Somal to build some understanding, or at the very least an agreement to disagree and respect the others right to that.