[Xiomera]

5 April 2021

DTNS reporter detained in Xiomera


Antoine Broussard, DTNS reporter assigned to the Huenya beat, during a March 2021 interview

In what is being described as a "blatant violation of freedom of the press," a reporter with the Democratic Times News Service has been detained by Xiomeran authorities and is currently being held incommunicado by the Imperial Police.

Antoine Broussard, a reporter assigned to the Huenya beat for DTNS, was interviewing local residents of the town of Culhuaca, in southern Xiomera, yesterday when he was arrested, according to eyewitness reports. Broussard has not been seen since his arrest, and Xiomeran authorities have refused repeated requests from DTNS to answer inquiries about his well-being, where he is being detained, or on what charges. A Xiomeran lawyer acting on behalf of DTNS was also threatened with arrest by Imperial Police officers after trying to obtain further information on behalf of DTNS and Broussard's family.

"The arrest of Antoine Broussard is meant to deter the press from doing their job, which is to report on the events taking place in Xiomera. It is an attempt to intimidate both Xiomeran and international reporters from covering events in Xiomera, with the threat of arbitrary arrest and detention. It is an unconscionable violation of freedom of the press, and we urge the international community to demand that the Xiomeran authorities immediately provide proof of Antoine's well-being and the reasons they are holding him, as well as access to both legal counsel and consular support," Katelyn Thomas, editor-in-chief of DTNS, said in a statement released today.

Broussard, along with other DTNS reporters, was investigating what appears to be a massive internal crackdown taking place within Xiomera. Reports have begun to emerge of mass arrests of anyone who has supported rivals to the now-dominant Xiomeran Citizens' Party, such as the banned Unification Party. Purges have also been reportedly taking place within the Xiomeran armed forces, security forces and civilian government to ensure loyalty to Empress Calhualyana and the XCP. Other DTNS reporters have been tracking and interviewing people fleeing from the Xiomeran crackdown, with refugees beginning to appear in Huenya, Eiria and even as far away as Lauchenoiria. The Huenyan government, in particular, has told DTNS that a sudden surge in people fleeing across the border into Huenya has begun to strain the resources of the already struggling emerging state. Witnesses have told DTNS that Broussard was interviewing followers of a dissident priest named Xayacama, who was arrested recently for denouncing the XCP, when he was himself detained.

The Xiomeran government, as of this time, has refused any comment and has not acknowledged the incident.

Who is Antoine Broussard?

Antoine Broussard is the chief reporter for DTNS assigned to the Huenya beat. He has worked for DTNS for ten years. He is 39 years old and a native of Laeralsford, Laeral. He has a wife, Ella, and two children.

Slokais Islands representative faces treason trial

John Woods, a Representative in the Slokaisian Legislature, is currently on trial facing treason charges.

The charges stem from accusations that Woods conspired with the United Front against the Slokaisian government. Woods is also suspected of killing a SIBI officer. Woods has pled not guilty, claiming that he was forced by the United Front to assist them. Woods has tried to portray himself as the victim, a defense strategy that Havier-Walls Franandez, Socialist representative for Victoria, said "disrespects all the people who have been victims of the United Front."

A committee of the Slokaisian Legislature voted 5-2 to forward the charges against Woods to the House. From there, the entire Legislature will vote on whether or not to forward the matter to the Supreme Court. If the matter is forwarded to the Supreme Court, Woods will face a lifetime ban from government office, with potentially much more serious ramifications.