[Lauchenoiria]

Liaville Times – Referendum Special

26th February 2019

Pro-independence side asks Kerlile to quit making statements supporting them

The leadership of the pro-independence Yes Aeluria campaign have sent a request to the government of the Matriarchy of Kerlile to ask them to avoid making any further statements in support of Aelurian independence. This comes after Councillor Electra Georgiou, who recently attended the Tofino Leaders Summit in Zamastan in a break from Kerlile’s previously semi-isolationist policy, issued a statement supporting Aeluria.

“Aeluria has a fascinating culture, and I hope the island becomes independent so that perhaps we could have some kind of cultural exchange programme, which Lauchenoiria would never allow,” Georgiou told the state-run Kerlian News Service, which publishes stories online for foreign readers. This itself was a break from custom, and marks the first (known) time a Kerlian Councillor has been interviewed for the KNS since the foundation of its online international edition.

First Minister of Aeluria, Nazario Macías, however, was not happy with the statement. “An independent Aeluria would hold no exchanges with the Matriarchy of Kerlile while that nation continues to commit atrocities against its own citizens, and the AIP does not welcome any ‘support’ that Kerlile offers.”

Controversial Lauchenoiria First leader Paul Doberman has jumped on this statement, citing it as proof independence is a ‘Kerlian plot’: “if Aeluria leaves Lauchenoiria, it won’t be long before it becomes a Kerlian colony. This will give Kerlile a place to launch an invasion of Lauchenoiria. Other nations nearby, such as Conternia and Libertas Omnium Maximus should also be worried.”

Ally Wallis, leader of the no campaign does not agree with Mr Doberman’s comments, however she has stated her concern around Kerlile’s endorsement: “Kerlile does nothing without an ulterior motive, and Councillor Georgiou’s unusual behaviour should worry all of us. If Kerlile supports Aelurian independence, it is because they think it will weaken both the island and the mainland.”

When asked by this paper for comment, a spokesperson for the Kerlian government said: “we don’t talk to foreign patriarchal propaganda outlets.”

Today’s opinion poll shows support for independence has dropped back to 49%.


Issue Focus – Law & Order

Historically, Aeluria has had lower crime rates than mainland Lauchenoiria. Since last year’s war crime has increased somewhat throughout Lauchenoiria, however, it has increased dramatically on the island, to the point where crime on the island is now higher than the mainland.

Most people, on both sides of the independence debate attribute this to the rise in drug use following the brief contested ‘legalisation’ of tobacco during the war. After tobacco was once more banned, some of those who had begun to smoke during the war chose to turn to drug dealers to get their supply. And due to having to interact with these dealers, some have even begun to take harder drugs, such as cocaine. This number is small, but certainly not negligible.

The increase in drug crime has been followed by an increase in some kinds of violent crime, notably domestic abuse. Theft is also on the rise, but only some commentators attribute this to Aeluria’s drug problem. Others say this is down to the fact that wages have stagnated, while living costs have increased considerably following the blockade, as food suppliers increased prices to make up for lost revenue during the war.

Both sides of the independence debate are agreed on what the situation is. However, they are generally at odds about how to solve it. In general, opponents of independence believe that greater numbers of police, government programmes to help drug users quit, and time to allow the post-war symptoms to pass will solve most of the problems, all of which do not require independence.

The AIP say that allowing very limited imports of tobacco could be the answer, which would indeed require independence. They also blame the mainland for the rise in food prices, saying the island is being unfairly punished for what happened to it during the war. But some supporters of independence prefer a more radical view. The Green Party is in favour of the decriminalisation of drugs, while a very small minority of independence supporters believe in full legalisation. Both of these policies would require independence.

Supporters of independence say it would allow them to develop radical new policies to tackle crime on the island. Opponents say these policies are unnecessary for Aeluria to get crime back down to pre-war levels. Both sides agree there is a problem, however, and regardless of the referendum result, this is something that will need to be tackled in the future.