2023 Kaijan Status Referendum

2023 Kaijan Status Referendum

December 20, 2023 (2023-12-20)

North Kaijan: Do you believe there should be a change in the political status of Kaijan North Kaijan. South Kaijan: Do you believe there should be a change in the political status of Kaijan Island, including the provinces of North and South Kaijan?

The 2023 Kaijan Status Referendum is an upcoming referendum in both North and South Kaijan provinces, the resolutions are identical and both require 50% of those voting to approve it for it to pass. Although not legally binding, political leaders have stated they would discuss Kaijanese status if the referendum passed.

Background

Since its founding Kaijan has had a significant independence movement with a particular high point being the aftermath of the Great War when Kaijan was briefly known as the Republic of Kaijan from 1971 to 1972 before the central government invaded it. Starting in 2020, an insurgent group known as the Kaijan League took control of some of North Kaijan Province. This group's demands and overwhelming sentiment for independence led to the passage of identical measures in both provinces' legislature via a signed proposition signed by 350,000 in North Kaijan and almost 700,000 in South Kaijan.

Text

The 2023 Rerefrendum is non-binding although if passed experts suggest the central government could begin talks on status in 2024. Conservative thinkers such as Dennis Zhao have suggested the Referendum "holds no real political value and should be ignored". No province has ever ceded from Slokais, although attempts have been made such as the Northern Isles during the 1890s. The referendums although being passed by the same organization have differing texts in North and South Kaijan. In North Kaijan, the question is: "Do you believe there should be a change in the political status of Kaijan" while in South Kaijan the question is "Do you believe there should be a change in the political status of Kaijan Island, including the provinces of North and South Kaijan". The referendum is also written in English, Arabic, Spanish, and Slokasian provinces, with those in designated tribal areas being written in the local tribal language.

Campaign

The "Yes" campaign has drawn support from prominent Islamic thinkers, trade unions, human rights organizations, and state and local officials. The groups have argued that Kaijan has not benefited under the government of Slokais and that Kaijanese people would be better served by self-autonomy. The "No" campaign has drawn support from economists, the Minjian temple, and some federal political officials, these groups argue that Kaijan would be unsustainable on its own and need the military and economic support of Slokais, and Slokais Islands need the labor and raw materials of Kaijan. Additionally

Controversey

The governors of both North and South Kaijan have been called out for intentionally starting a push for voter registration right before the election. Turnout is usually low among youth as well as those in rural areas, and some have criticized these voter drives as political tools to inflate the "Yes" vote. Additionally, the South Kaijan Ministry of Transport has drawn criticism for operating new bus routes to polling locations and registration offices, with the move being seen as a state body taking a partisan stance on the Referendum.