03-14-2006, 04:55 AM
Roughly two years ago, a rift formed within the government of the Allied States of Xtraordinary Gentlemen over allegations of election fraud. Benjamin Bustamente was accused of orchestrating a scheme that resulted in the throwing out of massive numbers of votes in order to maintain his grip on power. Articles of impeachment were brought against him but the fraud allegations were never successfully proven, and Bustamante remained in office. Several months later, scandal again rocked the capital city of Siguatepeque as it was discovered that the nation's intelligence agency, la Direcci?n General de Inteligencia (DGI), had been violating the citizens' right to privacy and spying domestically in an attempt to uncover and foil an alleged terrorist plot. Bustamante maintained that the plot never came to fruition because of his misuse of the DGI, while detractors claimed that no such plot ever existed.
The illegality of the DGI's domestic surveillance program was unquestionable, however, and Bustamante's political opponents, having already failed once to remove him from power, jumped on the second opportunity immediately. Bustamante was promptly arrested along with all of his cabinet members who had voted in favor of the program during the secret cabinet session. A new interim government took over which withdrew the Allied States from all previous international treaties and obligations, including the United Nations and the International Democratic Union, a regional body of which the Allied States itself had been a founding member under Bustamante. This move ushered in a new era of political and economic isolationism when the interim government refused to relinquish power after the first national elections since Bustamante's arrest.
Military elements sympathetic to Bustamante's plight quietly freed him from his cell in early 2005. Bustamante demonstrated his leadership skills almost immediately, gathering what troops he could and disappearing into the Allied States' rural countryside to plan his coup. The new government responded by summarily executing all of Bustamante's previous cabinet members with the hopes of crushing the rebellion outright before it started. However, with the new government unable to locate Bustamante himself (in an ironic twist of fate, this failure was in spite of the fact that they dispatched DGI agents domestically to hunt for him), he had the element of surprise on his side and managed to win several key victories early on, including the capture of the Allied States' main seaport. This allowed Bustamante to begin receiving supply shipments from nations with whom he had previously enjoyed strong diplomatic ties, with particularly large amounts of aid coming from IDU nations such as the Confederated City States of Mikitivity, the Glorious People's Republic of Groot Gouda, and the Armed Republic of Nieuwe Munchkinland. It also drew the attention of the nation to his cause.
Many civilians who were previously content recalled how much better off they were economically prior to the isolationist policies of the new regime. Still others were outraged by the political executions and were willing to forgive Bustamante's past transgressions in the face of the latest developments. Offerings of aid in the form of safe houses, funding, and food poured in, and Bustamante soon found himself with massive popular support domestically to go along with his strong international supply chain. It would not be long from this turning point before the civil war would be over.
By early March 2006, Bustamante had regained control of virtually all strategically important locations one by one, and had surrounded Siguatepeque. Civilians were given notice to evacuate the capital immediately, and the ruling government was offered the chance to step aside peacefully and receive amnesty. The ruling party declined and the final siege was on. Bustamante's forces shelled the city with heavy artillery night and day. Automatic gunfire rang out continuously throughout the city, and in several neigborhoods the streets literally ran red with blood. Losses were heavy on both sides, but on March 12, after a week of the most intense fighting of the civil war, Bustamante's forces were victorious.
Bustamante has retaken leadership of the nation and appointed new cabinet members after the model of his previous reign. The rebuilding process has begun, both domestically and with regards to re-establishing previous international ties. March 12 is now an official holiday in the Allied States. It is a day both of remembrance and celebration; remembrance for the brave souls on both sides who gave their all for what they felt was the good of the nation, and celebration of the Allied States' return to power within the international community.
The illegality of the DGI's domestic surveillance program was unquestionable, however, and Bustamante's political opponents, having already failed once to remove him from power, jumped on the second opportunity immediately. Bustamante was promptly arrested along with all of his cabinet members who had voted in favor of the program during the secret cabinet session. A new interim government took over which withdrew the Allied States from all previous international treaties and obligations, including the United Nations and the International Democratic Union, a regional body of which the Allied States itself had been a founding member under Bustamante. This move ushered in a new era of political and economic isolationism when the interim government refused to relinquish power after the first national elections since Bustamante's arrest.
Military elements sympathetic to Bustamante's plight quietly freed him from his cell in early 2005. Bustamante demonstrated his leadership skills almost immediately, gathering what troops he could and disappearing into the Allied States' rural countryside to plan his coup. The new government responded by summarily executing all of Bustamante's previous cabinet members with the hopes of crushing the rebellion outright before it started. However, with the new government unable to locate Bustamante himself (in an ironic twist of fate, this failure was in spite of the fact that they dispatched DGI agents domestically to hunt for him), he had the element of surprise on his side and managed to win several key victories early on, including the capture of the Allied States' main seaport. This allowed Bustamante to begin receiving supply shipments from nations with whom he had previously enjoyed strong diplomatic ties, with particularly large amounts of aid coming from IDU nations such as the Confederated City States of Mikitivity, the Glorious People's Republic of Groot Gouda, and the Armed Republic of Nieuwe Munchkinland. It also drew the attention of the nation to his cause.
Many civilians who were previously content recalled how much better off they were economically prior to the isolationist policies of the new regime. Still others were outraged by the political executions and were willing to forgive Bustamante's past transgressions in the face of the latest developments. Offerings of aid in the form of safe houses, funding, and food poured in, and Bustamante soon found himself with massive popular support domestically to go along with his strong international supply chain. It would not be long from this turning point before the civil war would be over.
By early March 2006, Bustamante had regained control of virtually all strategically important locations one by one, and had surrounded Siguatepeque. Civilians were given notice to evacuate the capital immediately, and the ruling government was offered the chance to step aside peacefully and receive amnesty. The ruling party declined and the final siege was on. Bustamante's forces shelled the city with heavy artillery night and day. Automatic gunfire rang out continuously throughout the city, and in several neigborhoods the streets literally ran red with blood. Losses were heavy on both sides, but on March 12, after a week of the most intense fighting of the civil war, Bustamante's forces were victorious.
Bustamante has retaken leadership of the nation and appointed new cabinet members after the model of his previous reign. The rebuilding process has begun, both domestically and with regards to re-establishing previous international ties. March 12 is now an official holiday in the Allied States. It is a day both of remembrance and celebration; remembrance for the brave souls on both sides who gave their all for what they felt was the good of the nation, and celebration of the Allied States' return to power within the international community.