Buryatia begins New Dawn Project

[Imperator Azenquor]

BCNA: Buryatia New Dawn Project

-Parliament

“Today, President Rokossovska unveiled the first of a series of reforms under what she calls the ‘New Dawn Project’. The project’s primary focus is to restore the effectiveness of the institutions of the government as well as to reform weaknesses in the Buryatian military. Although the investigation into the attempted coup is still ongoing, the President has submitted the reform plans to the Parliament for their consideration.

Parliament convened for its first session since the attempted coup today. The session became increasingly heated once debate on the President’s decrees started. Despite several disturbances, the Parliament approved the first package of decrees which will be enacted into law immediately.

The Parliament is set to review and debate the first part of the ‘New Dawn Project’ in the next session tomorrow morning. This will likely be another heated debate, with Opposition MPs accusing the Buryatian Socialist Alternative Coalition of steamrolling opposition to their proposals to push them through Parliament.

We will now go to delayed footage of today’s debate in Parliament”-News Reporter

===Buryatian Parliament Chamber===

“Under the relevant procedural rules, the motion before this Parliament is to debate and vote on the Presidential Emergency Decrees 1-19. Accordingly we have allotted 30 minutes for debate on this matter after which we shall proceed to a vote”-Speaker

Buryatian Presidential Decrees:

Decree #1: All members of the Armed Forces above the rank of Lieutenant General are to be arrested and charged with High Treason for their parts in the attempted coup

Decree #2: The Buryatian Constitution Article 301 is hereby suspended in its entirety.

Decree #3: All private media stations that are owned or funded by members of the Armed Forces above the rank of Lieutenant General are to be nationalized without exception with immediate effect

Decree #4: The government temporarily suspends the maximum period to hold suspected coup plotters without charge indefinitely.

Decree #5: The Base Commanders at any military base whose forces were deployed in support of the coup attempt will be detained

Decree #6: The National ban on the use of the death penalty is lifted with immediate effect

Decree #7: All property owned by persons convicted for their actions regarding the coup will be seized in the interests of the state

Decree #8: The families of those convicted for treason shall have their passports and travel documents seized by the state.

Decree #9: For their unconstitutional conduct both in allowing Article 301 to be enacted into law and for their support of the coup, the Supreme Court is dissolved and its judges shall be subject to charges of treason

Decree #10: All soldiers based around the capital city are confined to their barracks without exception. Should this decree be disobeyed, the soldier or soldiers in question shall be charged with treason

Decree #11: The BTV News Station, funded by supporters of the banned Pan Asia Party is immediately barred from broadcasting with immediate effect and all licenses granted to the BTV are revoked

Decree #12: Under the defense of the State Act, the government hereby seizes all files contained in the Military High Command and is to have them verifiably sealed until they are brought into evidence.

Decree #13: Until further notice, travel abroad by any citizen of Buryatia is strictly prohibited. All International Airports in Buraytia are to be closed

Decree #14: The Parliament and Senate shall continue their Legislative duties fully independent of the Executive, despite the state of national emergency

Decree #15: Due to the dissolution of the Supreme People’s Court of Buryatia, the Tier Two People’s Regional Court shall be temporarily granted the powers previously held by the Supreme Court until it is possible to select and appoint new judges to the Supreme Court via the normal Constitutional Process

Decree #16: All Presidential decrees require bi-partisan support in Parliament to be enacted into temporary law. Despite having 2/3 of the Parliament in the Socialist Alternative Coalition, no Decrees may be approved unless they are also supported by a non Socialist Alternative coalition party.

Decree #17: All roads leading to the Presidential Palace shall remain barred to pedestrian traffic.

Decree #18: The right to bear arms is temporarily suspended. Accordingly citizens of the capital city must surrender their firearms upon request.

Decree #19: Until further notice, the transfer of financial assets to any account outside of Buryatia is strictly prohibited.

*A Democratic Party of Buryatia MP rises*

“Mr. Speaker, I strongly object to the manner in which this matter is being handled. The government of this country has taken the unprecedented step of presenting several Presidential decrees to the Parliament and demanding that the decrees be approved with less than an hour of debate on the matter. These decrees are highly questionable, as is the true intention of the present administration.

Mr. Speaker, these decrees violate several fundamental laws and articles of the Constitution in a manner that has never been seen in this nation’s history. I cannot and will not stand silently by as the Constitutional freedoms that our ancestors fought and died for are trodden upon! These decrees mark the beginning of an unprecedented concentration of power in the hands of the Presidency of this nation, and I will vote no. I urge all members of this Parliament to do the same”-DPB MP

*Immediately a Buryatian Party of Workers (PoW) MP rises*

“Mr. Speaker, due to the unprecedented unrest that has afflicted this nation and the possibility for even further instability in the aftermath of the failed attempt to overthrow our government, these decrees are necessary. It is the duty of the Parliament to ensure that order and law are maintained in the nation. This crisis has undermined nearly every single state institution in a matter of days. These measures are necessary, and must be implemented without delay. If these measures are rejected, and we are proven right, then history shall show that the blame rests with the Parliament.

Mr. Speaker, I find it laughable that the Democratic Party of Buryatia is protesting the concentration of power in the elected Executive, yet when the military modified the Constitution to concentrate oversight of the government in the hands of the military, the DPB was absolutely silent. The point remains, regardless of the position of the Democratic Party of Buryatia, we will debate this issue and we will vote upon it. Should the members of the Democratic Party of Buryatia wish to do nothing more than throw empty insults across the floor, then we shall simply request that the Democratic Party of Buryatia be ejected from this Parliament.”-PoW MP

*Jeers from the Opposition*

*Buryatian Liberation Party MP rises*

“Mr. Speaker, this entire process of approving the Presidential decrees which themselves are illegal, is absolutely illegal and unconstitutional. The decrees violate several fundamental rights of the people of this nation and must not be permitted to continue. The decrees violate rights of privacy, ownership of property, freedom of movement, habeas corpus and the basic principles of human rights. I am appalled that this matter is even being brought forward for discussion. I believe that this Parliament must do the right thing and must immediately impeach President Rokossovska.”-BLP MP

*Clearly angry, the Speaker interjects*

“The time for discussion has passed. Despite being presented with an opportunity to debate each individual amendment, some members of this Parliament have opted instead to trade insults. Regardless of this, members are now asked to indicate their votes on the amendments as presented.”-Speaker

An Opposition member jumps to his feet and shouts: “This is not Democracy! This is a dictatorship!”

Without hesitation, the Speaker ejects the MP from the Parliament and watches, slightly amused as security officers drag the MP from the Parliament chamber. Opposition MPs shout their protests loudly as government MPs continue to register their votes. In protest, none of the Opposition MPs vote on the decrees. Several similar outbursts and incidents occur before the votes are tallied.

The Speaker rises from his seat as he is handed the results. He shouts to be heard above the din as he announces the results:

“525 MPs in favor, none against, 225 null votes. The motion is carried unanimously.”-Speaker

Immediately Buryatian Liberation Party MPs start chanting: “Death to Communism! Down with the dictatorship!”

===News Studio===

“When asked to comment on the heated exchange in Parliament, President Rokossovska issued a short statement”-Reporter

“While we always wish to find a solution to the issues facing the nation that is approved of by consensus in the Parliament, this is not always possible. I have no intention to have the national security of this nation be placed at risk simply because a few MPs are squeamish about the idea of tougher laws. All MPs were given notice that the decrees would be sent to them for consideration and they had the opportunity to debate them. If they chose not to use that time wisely, then it is to their own detriment.

If the MPs in Parliament cannot arrive at a bipartisan solution, then clearly we will have to proceed without the backing of non-coalition MPs in Parliament.”-President Rokossovska

[Subtleknifewielder]

"While we can understand most of the 'decrees,' no one should be punished except those convicted of treason themselves. This includes any high-ranking members of the military who might have been innocent in the coup attempt, as well as the families of those convicted."