06-05-2018, 01:57 PM
"Gonhog's backing Chaher"
The words uttered by Conternia's Minister for Defence Klara Stein, matter-of-factly but with an unmistakable severity, as she entered the office of Prime Minster Ezra Griffiths quickly silenced the hum of discussion within the room. The Prime Minister's cabinet were sitting around the table at the room's back, discussing the ongoing crisis in Lauchenoiria. The air was stifling, and the room had never felt smaller or more suffocating to the veteran politicians seated within it. It was Minister for Foreign Affairs David Falange - an older man with greying red hair on his face and chin and a weariness in his eyes - who spoke first, and rather taciturnly: "well, fuck". There was no hope of a peaceful resolution now, if there ever had been.
Stein continued as if she hadn't heard him, her tone remaining composed by every word imbued with the weight of their implications.
"I think it's beyond time we accept that neutrality is no longer an option. Sides are being taken, lines are being drawn, and the violence is escalating every day. It's no longer a matter of if we get involved as just how and on who's behalf."
Griffiths sighed deeply: he'd hoped it wouldn't come to this. Making eye contact with the Minister for Defence, he spoke, his tone collected but with an unmistakable air of resignation
"What do you propose?"
"Chaher has subverted his country's democracy and plunged it into chaos. We all know that he is a frankly fanatical ideologue, and that if, no, when the people of Lauchenoiria stand up to him, he will clamp down, and hard. We have the power to stand against him, and I think that under the circumstances we have a moral obligation to before this mess gets any worse."
"Hang on, now", interjected Oswald Benneke, one of the Prime Minister's most senior advisors. "You talk about democracy, but there are serious doubts about the conduct of Lauchenoiria's capitalism referendum. I say we ought to find out just what sort of government Prime Minister Moore's was before we take sides in this."
Stein turned her gaze to him, letting just enough derision into her tone to let him know exactly what she thought of his suggestion.
"With due respect", she said, trying not to let sarcasm coat the words too thoroughly, "people have died. The Prime Minister and President of Lauchenoiria remain unaccounted for, we still have no idea what has happened to the hostages at the Buttercity tv studios, and whoever tried to take out Noguera remains at large, and you're asking me to base my decisions on a conspiracy theory more associated with disreputable online forums than the chambers of government?"
Obviously flummoxed, Benneke opened his mouth to respond when the Prime Minister silenced him with a raised hand. Stein was one of his longest-serving and most trusted colleagues, and he took her words very seriously.
"I understand what you're saying, I really do", said the Prime Minister, his gaze meeting that of the Minister for Defence. "But my hands are tied here."
Stein frowned and tilted her head slightly in confusion and apprehension. "How so?"
"I was elected", began Griffiths, "on a platform of traditional Conternian values - the encouragement and funding of education and innovation, the duty of the powerful to help the helpless, a commitment to fighting inequality."
"And?", Stein responded, "if Chaher gets his way, then I doubt those values are going to be top of his agenda."
"My ability to promote those values", the Prime Minister continued, "has been dependent on Conternia maintaining strong allegiances with other left-wing parties in the region. Including Chaher and the Communist Party. If I am seen to move against him, it could cost this government crucial international allies. It would be a blow to our image as a beacon of enlightened, socialist government"
"And if you act in favour of him, what will that do to our image?", Stein replied without missing a beat. "You said it yourself, you were elected for your commitment to the values that make this country what it is. Can you really say the words "Free Minds, Free Eyes, Free People" in good conscience if you backed a would-be dictator trying to have people killed for graffiti?"
Griffiths inhaled and paused. Stein was right, he knew it.
"Very well", he said. He turned to Falange, and spoke precisely yet urgently: "I want your department to issue a statement. Let Chaher know that we do not recognise his government, and that if he does not stand down we are ready, willing, and able to act against him."
*
Excerpt from the Statement by the Conternian Ministry of Foreign Affairs regarding the crisis in Lauchenoiria, 5th June 2018
"Conternia does not recognise Suleman Chaher as the Prime Minister of Lauchenoiria, or his government as legitimate. Conternia recognises Laura Moore as the true and legitimate, democratically elected Prime Minister of Lauchenoiria, and consider Chaher's actions to be acts of terrorism, which we wholly condemn. If Chaher does not stand down and relinquish his claim to power, then Conternia is prepared to launch swift and decisive military action to depose his illegitimate, rogue government and restore Laura Moore to power."
The words uttered by Conternia's Minister for Defence Klara Stein, matter-of-factly but with an unmistakable severity, as she entered the office of Prime Minster Ezra Griffiths quickly silenced the hum of discussion within the room. The Prime Minister's cabinet were sitting around the table at the room's back, discussing the ongoing crisis in Lauchenoiria. The air was stifling, and the room had never felt smaller or more suffocating to the veteran politicians seated within it. It was Minister for Foreign Affairs David Falange - an older man with greying red hair on his face and chin and a weariness in his eyes - who spoke first, and rather taciturnly: "well, fuck". There was no hope of a peaceful resolution now, if there ever had been.
Stein continued as if she hadn't heard him, her tone remaining composed by every word imbued with the weight of their implications.
"I think it's beyond time we accept that neutrality is no longer an option. Sides are being taken, lines are being drawn, and the violence is escalating every day. It's no longer a matter of if we get involved as just how and on who's behalf."
Griffiths sighed deeply: he'd hoped it wouldn't come to this. Making eye contact with the Minister for Defence, he spoke, his tone collected but with an unmistakable air of resignation
"What do you propose?"
"Chaher has subverted his country's democracy and plunged it into chaos. We all know that he is a frankly fanatical ideologue, and that if, no, when the people of Lauchenoiria stand up to him, he will clamp down, and hard. We have the power to stand against him, and I think that under the circumstances we have a moral obligation to before this mess gets any worse."
"Hang on, now", interjected Oswald Benneke, one of the Prime Minister's most senior advisors. "You talk about democracy, but there are serious doubts about the conduct of Lauchenoiria's capitalism referendum. I say we ought to find out just what sort of government Prime Minister Moore's was before we take sides in this."
Stein turned her gaze to him, letting just enough derision into her tone to let him know exactly what she thought of his suggestion.
"With due respect", she said, trying not to let sarcasm coat the words too thoroughly, "people have died. The Prime Minister and President of Lauchenoiria remain unaccounted for, we still have no idea what has happened to the hostages at the Buttercity tv studios, and whoever tried to take out Noguera remains at large, and you're asking me to base my decisions on a conspiracy theory more associated with disreputable online forums than the chambers of government?"
Obviously flummoxed, Benneke opened his mouth to respond when the Prime Minister silenced him with a raised hand. Stein was one of his longest-serving and most trusted colleagues, and he took her words very seriously.
"I understand what you're saying, I really do", said the Prime Minister, his gaze meeting that of the Minister for Defence. "But my hands are tied here."
Stein frowned and tilted her head slightly in confusion and apprehension. "How so?"
"I was elected", began Griffiths, "on a platform of traditional Conternian values - the encouragement and funding of education and innovation, the duty of the powerful to help the helpless, a commitment to fighting inequality."
"And?", Stein responded, "if Chaher gets his way, then I doubt those values are going to be top of his agenda."
"My ability to promote those values", the Prime Minister continued, "has been dependent on Conternia maintaining strong allegiances with other left-wing parties in the region. Including Chaher and the Communist Party. If I am seen to move against him, it could cost this government crucial international allies. It would be a blow to our image as a beacon of enlightened, socialist government"
"And if you act in favour of him, what will that do to our image?", Stein replied without missing a beat. "You said it yourself, you were elected for your commitment to the values that make this country what it is. Can you really say the words "Free Minds, Free Eyes, Free People" in good conscience if you backed a would-be dictator trying to have people killed for graffiti?"
Griffiths inhaled and paused. Stein was right, he knew it.
"Very well", he said. He turned to Falange, and spoke precisely yet urgently: "I want your department to issue a statement. Let Chaher know that we do not recognise his government, and that if he does not stand down we are ready, willing, and able to act against him."
*
Excerpt from the Statement by the Conternian Ministry of Foreign Affairs regarding the crisis in Lauchenoiria, 5th June 2018
"Conternia does not recognise Suleman Chaher as the Prime Minister of Lauchenoiria, or his government as legitimate. Conternia recognises Laura Moore as the true and legitimate, democratically elected Prime Minister of Lauchenoiria, and consider Chaher's actions to be acts of terrorism, which we wholly condemn. If Chaher does not stand down and relinquish his claim to power, then Conternia is prepared to launch swift and decisive military action to depose his illegitimate, rogue government and restore Laura Moore to power."
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