Land of Fire

[Aggressivenutmeg]

Recent times had been hard on the people of South America. Ever since the collapse of the Holy American Empire, conflict had erupted across the continent, culminating in nuclear war in Bolivia, the collapse of the Democratic-Ubersteinian Republic of Argentina and the most recent war between Tianxia and Imperio Republica. The people at the end of the earth, on the islands of the Tierra del Fuego archipelago, had been lucky enough to escape most of the fighting, yet there existed a tiredness from the constant conflict that had rocked the region and a yearning for the days of the Holy American Empire - largely, this was based off fanciful tales told to them by their elders. While the government of DURA had never been a problem, intermittent regimes in the region had proven to be corrupt and abusive. Instead of waiting for people in the metropolises of the north to form nations anew - which would no doubt yield the same results as ever - political meetings had been held; in the mines, ports, factories, cruise ships, gas and oil fields, the sheep ranches and the town halls across the region. It was resolved that the Islands of Tierra Del Fuego and the Magallanes region would form their own nation, separate from the historic territories of the far south. Even before the war had ended preparations were made, a congress was convened, a militia was raised and signs were erected at the border. “Welcome to the Land of Fire, where the people speak and the government obeys.”

 

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Declaration of Magallanes and Tierra Del Fuego

 

Magallanes and Tierra Del Fuego declare themselves to be a fully autonomous state of the Holy American Imperium. We shall take upon ourselves the tasks of statecraft and the management of all affairs, economic, military, domestic and foreign. We shall recognise the Emperor of the Holy American Empire as our official head of state. The government of Magallanes and Tierra Del Fuego shall be a congress of recallable officials, elected from amongst the communities of the nation, as well as representatives of the native peoples of the land.

Signed, The Inaugural Congress of Magallanes and Tierra Del Fuego.

Edited January 19, 2014 by Aggressivenutmeg

[Triyun]

[center]Dispatch from the Office of the Emperor[/center]

 

The Emperor hereby recognizes the State of Magallenes and Tierra Del Fuego and welcomes it into the Imperial Communiy and hopes they shall enjoy a long and prosperous history as part of the new dawn of the Southern Americas.

 

[b]Signed,[/b]

 

Yuan Jia I, Emperor of Tianxia, the Japans, Meihua, and the Holy American Imperium

[Aggressivenutmeg]

The inaugural congress was quick to act in the establishment of all the facets of the state. Inspired by the republics of antiquity, it was decided that there would be co-executives, the Consuls. They would be elected annually, along with the congress, and would be given the power to veto any congressional legislation. They are also empowered to convene a plebiscite for any issue. The bureaucratic functions of the state would be performed by the ministries, who are presided over by Congressional Committee of three members. The congress itself would contain thirty members, elected from the six municipalities, as well as representatives of the four First Nations.

The Congress also enacted a directive ordering the dissolution of the militia raised during the formation of the state and ordered the creation of a professional defence force. The Fuegan Defence Force (FDF) is to be divided into four branches; the Royal Fuegan Army, the Vigilant (a gendarmerie force), the Royal Fuegan Air Force and the Royal Fuegan Navy.

No decision was reached on the official codification of the directives into a constitution. Elections for the first consuls are expected to take place in due course.

[Aggressivenutmeg]

Elections have been held for the position of consul, as well as local administrative officers. Overwhelmingly, the Partido Radical Socialdemócrata (Social Democratic Radical Party), won the two consular positions, while the city office bearers were split between the PRDS and the Populares. The conservative parties, while having a large section of the congress and the municipal councils, failed to win any offices.

 

Meanwhile, the economy of Magallanes and Tierra del Fuego is in a dire state. While the export and tourism sectors had boomed under Argentina, they had suffered dearly during the war. Not only had production stopped for a time, the conflict had driven prospective visitors away from South America - no one wanted to visit a war zone. Due to safety concerns, the majority of shipping companies were unwilling to continue operations in South America, with the sole exception of the Antárticas Empresa de Comercio (Antarctic Trading Company). The AEC’s profit margins expanded as they took over the contracts the other companies were unwilling to accept. As the war drew on, most other companies were forced to fold or were bought out by the AEC. Since the declaration of independence, the AEC had been busy setting themselves up to establish a whaling and sealing outpost in the South Shetland Islands, although sections of the congress have moved to block them.

[Aggressivenutmeg]

Classified

 

With the disarming of the militia, and plans made for the formation of a professional army complete, recruitment and weapons procurement is underway. The Royal Fuegan Army, is expected to be a force of no more than five thousand combat personnel. Equipped with a variety of small arms and light artillery, the infantry battalions will comprise the core of the army. They will be supported by a cavalry battalion, equipped with light armour vehicles, an artillery battery, with howitzers, and a combat engineer battalion.

 

To ensure that Tierra del Fuego is adequately capable of fulfilling its obligations to the Holy American Imperium and the Commonwealth, and additional three battalions of commandos will be raised to act in as both storm troops and as clandestine forces. Each battalion will be trained and equipped for a different mission type - terrestrial, marine, and airborne.

 

For law enforcement capacity, a branch of internal troops - the Vigilant - is to be raised. Equipped much like the army the vigilant will be responsible for law enforcement in all districts. Each district will be assigned a "research company" of detectives, and a battalion of infantry or light cavalry for regular patrol duties. These forces will also be capable of acting as military units during wartime.

 

Currently, the minister of Defence is devising plans for the creation of a Navy and an air force the final two - and arguably, more important - branches of the Fuegan Defence Force.

[Aggressivenutmeg]

The go-ahead has been given, by congress, to the Antarctic Trading Company to begin civil colonisation activities on Deception Island. The population of Magallanes and Tierra del Fuego has exploded over the years and in an effort to curb overcrowding in the already established cities, the congress has approved two projects for colonising previously uninhabited regions of the country. Besides Deception Island, the other colony is planned to be in the Última Esperanza region, on the fertile plains below Monte Burney, surveying of possible sites will begin early next year. At the same time, the Congressional Committee for the Environment has issued a ban on oil tankers to traverse the Magellan Strait, the Beagle Channel or any waterway within the Tierra del Fuego or Última Esperanza archapeligos. All oil and petroleum tankers must not sail within 100 nmi of any national park or protected area.

 

Classified

 

The Congressional Committee of the Military has officially approved the plans for the creation of both the Royal Magellan Navy and the Royal Magellan Air Force. The RMAF will be the main focus of this second stage of military development. While both are numerically smaller than the army, the air force and the navy will play a much greater role in the security of the state.

 

The RMAF will have a total of six hundred and forty-six combat personnel,  and an even larger number of support personnel flying unarmed aircraft and acting as ground crews. The RMAF will have all of Tierra del Fuego’s military aircraft at it’s command - with the exception of the Navy’s maritime helicopters. The RMAF will have a combination of air-superiority fighters, interceptors, ground attack aircraft, aerial refueling tankers, and transports,  as well as attack helicopters, scout and transport helicopters. The RMAF will also have all anti-aircraft weapons under its command; a combination of mobile long range SAMs, semi-static AAA and self-propelled AA.

 

The RMN will have a total of six blue water combat ships, and thirteen brown water patrol boats. The blue water ships will be; one frigate, two corvettes and three gunboats. The RMNs ships will typically have the job of patrolling the Drake Passage and defending Tierra del Fuego’s EEZ, while the brown water patrol boats will patrol the fjords, estuaries and straights to conduct anti-smuggling and general law enforcement operations. The ship prefix for all Magellan naval vessels is to be SMIMN - Su Majestad Imperial Magellan Navío (His Imperial Majesty’s Magellan Ship).

 

OOC: I have sacrificed 500 tanks for 10,000t of ships that is split between the gunboats, corvettes and the frigate.

[Evangeline Anovilis]

To: Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Magellanes and Tierra del Fuego

From: Nanwa Mining-South America

 

To whomever it concerns,

 

Due to recent reports of gold findings in your country, our company has become interested in possible trade and investment. Our business is one of the leading Japanese mining firms in South America, running large operations already in Minami-Kechua and Brazil, with much expertise and efficiency. While we do not know how your government seeks to handle the gold mining operations, Nanwa Mining would be very willing to offer its expertise for mining rights, or, should this be not acceptable, we would like to ask for being allowed the establishment of a trade post to export locally mined and bought gold to Japan for further processing and sale.

 

With regards,

Obe Hachiro, CEO

 

[Aggressivenutmeg]

To: Nanwa Mining-South America

From: Congressional Committee of Foreign Affairs

 

Mr. Hachiro,

 

In regards to your inquiry as to gold mining in Tierra del Fuego, I can inform you that there are currently two large mining projects - both owned by Punta Arenas Mining Corp. - as well as large gold fields dominated by small scale and independent prospectors, diggers and panners. However, we welcome foreign investment and competition in the magellanic gold market. If you company wishes to apply for an exploration and mining licence then the Ministry of Foreign Affairs can lodge such a claim on your behalf. You are, of cause, also welcome to establish a trading post in Ushuaia.

 

sincerely,

Celio Antunez, Congressional Commissioner of Foreign Affairs

[Evangeline Anovilis]

To: Congressional Committee of Foreign Affairs

From: Nanwa Mining-South America

 

Mr Antunez,

 

Thank you for your swift reply. Our company would like to get a mining licence, so we can start operations as soon as possible. A trading post will be set up soon, to offer small-scale diggers to sell gold (or other marketable commodities) for actual money. We would hope such is fine with your country.

 

With regards,

Obe Hachiro, CEO

[Aggressivenutmeg]

To: Nanwa Mining-South America

From: Congressional Committee of Foreign Affairs

 

Mr. Hachiro,

 

Such a situation is amicable. We have lodged an application for a two mine licence on your behalf and will ensure the bureaucratic necessities are taken care off as soon as possible. This licence can be altered at a later date. We look forward to having Japanese investment in Tierra del Fuego.

 

sincerely,

Celio Antunez, Congressional Commissioner of Foreign Affairs

 

 

OOC: If you want to RP the development or whatever, you can do it in the Land of Gold thread.

[Aggressivenutmeg]

Classified

 

On top of the recent purchase of F-16E fighter aircraft units from Hershey Defense, the Congressional Committee of Defence has placed orders with Kovac Fabricaciones Militares, for a large number of military vehicles and weapons. For the army, the order includes; light utility vehicles, light armoured vehicles, howitzers, and heavy mortars. As well as a wide array of infantry weapons. As well as their new foreign fighters, the air force will receive interceptor and ground attack aircraft, attack and support helicopters, mobile long-range surface-to-air missile systems, and a combination of self-propelled and towed anti-aircraft weapons.

 

The Navy will receive a total of nineteen ships to be constructed by Poseidon Military Shipyards Co., at Puerto Williams, Punta Arenas and Ushuaia. There will be one frigate, two corvettes and three gunboats. The rest of the ships will be small brown water patrol boats.

Edited February 20, 2014 by Aggressivenutmeg

[Aggressivenutmeg]

Tierra del Fuego has been witness to a massive wave of strikes in the past month. The central dispute is between the Antarctic Trading Company, the owners of the Ushuaia docks and the longshoremen's union, the Sindical de los Estibadores de Tierra del Fuego (SETdF), who are backed up by the Consejo Nacional de Sindicatos (CNS - National Council of Trade Unions). The dispute has resulted in a lockout of the dockworkers and picketing that has often turned to violence. Ushuaia police have made five arrests and are accused of excessive force causing tens of injuries. The ACT has issued a stern warning to the SETdF that they must back down an accept the Company’s terms or face the prospect of being sacked and replaced.

[Euphaia]

The government of Euphaia recognizes the nation and government of Tierra,del Fuego, and requests the start of formal diplomatic relations, and the trading of embassies and ambassadors between our two nations. You may use your own guards, or our government will provide six military guards for protection.
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FARC-People's Revolution offers its friendship and solidarity to the people and fellow striking comrades in Tierra del Fuego.

We here in Euphaia, too, continue to fight for freedom, fairness, and justice. May we both be victorious in our identical, noble and just struggles.

[Aggressivenutmeg]

We thank the government of Euphaia and offer them embassy space in Ushuaia. With the recent violence and attacks on foreign embassies in Euphaia a detachment of the Consular Guard will be sent to provide security for the embassy. We look forward to closer cooperation between our nations.

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“We thank FARC-People’s Revolution for their words of support. We express our solidarity with the revolutionaries and workers of Euphaia in their struggle for socialism. In Solidarity.” - Strike Committee of the Sindical de los Estibadores de Tierra del Fuego

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With the collapse of the short lived and unsanctioned Kingdom of Argentina, elements of the Magellanic Defence Forces will be deployed to secure the nation and ensure a seamless transition back to the governorship of the Holy American Imperium.

[Euphaia]

(OOC - lol, how did 'striking get into my message?  Must've been my iPad autocorrect.  Oh well, I guess it works.)

[Aggressivenutmeg]

 

Ushuaia - The strike at Ushuaia docks has escalated as SETdF branches in other cities declared solidarity strikes with the Ushuaia branch. The striking dockworkers were joined by unionists from around the region for a massive demonstration. As they marched towards Congress they were met by a police blockade but were undeterred. The situation quickly turned violent as protesters attempted to break through the police blockade, projectiles were thrown and police responded with tear gas and batons. The riot continued late into the night with protesters erecting makeshift barricades and torching cars. A total of two hundred and twelve protesters were arrested, eighty-two police and vigilant officers were injured and at least one protester was killed. An investigation into the death has been launched, but officials say that early signs point to the protesters death as being “an accident”.

 

At daybreak, the political ramifications of the riot unfolded. Everisto Asturias, Junior Consul and Social Democratic Radical Party leader refused to denounce the actions of the police, instead referring to the striking workers as “extremists” and “thugs”. This has caused the Revolutionary Marxist Current, a faction within the PRSD, has split taking a fifth of the party with them. What this will result in at the next elections is anyone's guess, but the PRSD will forever be weaker for it.

Edited May 5, 2014 by Aggressivenutmeg

[Captain Enema]

 

Diplomatic Cable

Esteemed Sirs,

My government wishes to meet with your government to discuss matters of trade and commerce.

-Presidente R. Montessori of Uruguay