Kalistani Major History

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Socialists declare caretaker Government
Carrangus assumes Premiership
Kaliburg Ananto District
November 20, 4406


Dianne Carrangus becomes the Next Premier of the Republic

Declaring that the Majority has had enough waiting, the Socialist Party has declared a Caretaker Government to operate the Government until the Liberals decide to come in and vote.  "The elections were held in June, and it is almost November.  We have waited 5 months for a vote on the Government Bill, and we don't need to.  If the Liberals ever decide to come to the Chamber of Deputies and vote to join us in Government, we will welcome them and surrender the Ministries, as per our proposal.  But in the meantime, Kalistan needs a government, and we have the votes, so we will take care of it."

Word has already leaked out of a proposed meeting between the Foreign Minister of Narikaton to develop trade, and as soon as the Government is in place, Kalistan will proceed with a recharter of the The National Food Bank, National Service Program, KALNAPECO, KALNAFERCO, and ODEN.  Additionally, the Kalistani National Bank will be reopened, and an immediate survey of Kalistan's military will be undertaken.  If the Liberals return to the Chamber, they can continue the work that the Socialists are about to begin, but for now, according to Carrangus, "It is time to begin working, so our majority is not squandered.  The Dual System's return is inevitable, and will not be delayed by the tarrying of other Parties."

Carrangus' ambitious legislative proposal will, if she is able to accomplish it, represent the single most significant Legislative Session in the history of Kalistan.  Hundreds of years of legislative development will be reauthorized in two years.  So consequently, Carrangus has her work ahead of her.  We will report as developments occur.

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Socialists make good on promise
Dual Economy to be Reauthorized, Extremely full agenda looms before Chamber
Kaliburg, Ananto District
December 18, 4406

Dianne Carangus, Socialist Party of Kalistan Speaker and Premier of the Republic made good on her word to introduce a slate of 6 major bills renationalizing significant sectors of the Economy, essentially restoring the Dual Economy to Kalistan.  The Bills, called the National Service Act Reauthorization, Republican Food Bank Reauthorization, KALNAPECO KALNAFERCO, and ODEN Reauthorizations, and the Republican Bank Act, all take aim at restoring Government monopoly to significant sectors of Kalistan's economy.

Combined with the Kalistani Economic Reforms omnibus which is scheduled to pass in March of 4407, this radical alteration of the Kalistani Economy represents one of the greatest shifts in such a short period of time in Kalistan's entire history.  "Kalistan has been adrift for far too long," Carrangus said to a group of reporters following the marathon Bill reading this afternoon.  "These acts have been crucial to Kalistani fortune and stability, and they were simply let go and ignored.  Well, no more."  When asked if such a series of reforms wouldn't produce shocks in Kalistan's economy, Carrangus said,

"Well, I imagine so, at least for a short period of time.  The acts that we are reauthorizing in the next year were developed over centuries, not months, and the economy evolved with them.  Just like they were neglected out of disuse: over a couple centuries.  Reauthorizing them all, renationalizing that which private capitalists have been leeching off of for decades, that will certainly hurt.  But the pain is necessary to restore Kalistan to its proper place in the world, one which doesn't just have to look on as their neighbors run capital ships through our national waters, one which can trade our national products all around the world, one where Kalistan doesn't take a backseat to any other country in the world.  We are back, Kalistan is coming back too, and we would advise those who have been sucking our country dry to take notice.  We are not a non-entity any longer."

Carrangus also intimated that she was well aware of the fact that  neighboring Lourenne has acquired modern naval hardware from Kazulia, and that the sales of this equiptment, which poses a possible threat to Kalistan given the lack of diplomatic relations between the two nations, might have been opposed, had Kalistan possessed a functioning Foreign Ministry at the time. 

"We will be sending a letter of protest to the Government of Lourenne in the near term, over the purchase of these six corvettes that aim to float just off our coasts.  Perhaps Lourenne is interested in sitting down and talking with us, one socialist Government to another, who share many similarities.  But perhaps they mean to become the Guarantor of the Anantanese Ocean, and this is a role which Kalistan has historically reserved for ourselves."  We have no idea.  But we don't want to wake up one day, and find that Lourenne has placed Ananto on the business end of their Corvettes.  So along with these fundamental economic reforms, we will also be looking at military reform.  And budget reform, if necessary...  There is so much to do to get this country running in top form once more..."

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Ministry of Defense Commissions audit of Kalistani Armed ForceSantamaria opens Kaliburg Naval Shipyard
Kaliburg, Ananto District
March 17, 4406


Corporal Philando Santamaria, Secretary of Defense of Kalistan, addresses top brass at Port Devon

The lights are on at the 400 year old Ship works located in Port Devon for the first time in more than 200 years.  In preparation for renationalization of the KALNAPECO and KALNAFERCO Organizations and the reopening of the Sulari Foundary and facilities at Port Sweedes which were mothballed or sold to private investors when Nationalization was scrapped, the Secretary of Defense, Socialist Philando Santamaria rededicated the Port, Naval facilities, and ship yards yesterday.  Below is a portion of Santamaria's address, mostly to reporters, high ranking officers in the Kalistani Navy and business men and women of Kalistan's private sector:

"Today, we rededicate this Shipyard, the cornerstone of Kalistan's past efforts to secure our country and its surrounding waters from foreign incursion and threats.  To echo the recent sentiments of our Foreign Minister to the Government of Lourenne, for far too long, great powers have moved to and fro between Ananto and the Mainlands of Selaya and Dovani.  Those great powers treat countries like Kalistan and Lourenne like pawns in their great power games.  Those days are rapidly coming to an end, as our Government charts a new course, one that may look all too familiar to historians, but one which has been sadly and tragically forgotten by modern politicians.  We see states around us being flooded by belligerent military hardware:  Of course, that hardware is to be used to kill off the poor and the workers of those countries that receive them.  And that hardware is seen as a threat to Kalistan, which is sadly underprepared.  Our own Government is responsible for that:  For centuries now, we have neglected to maintain any semblance of a navy, army or airforce.  Billions of Rubles have been dumped into the black hole known as the Defense budget, and for what?  Initial surveys of our combat fighting strength show that we have few sea worthy craft available to us.  Most of our Navy, what little there is of it, can't leave sight of shore.  We have been reduced to a navy which can't even see the enemy that is shooting at us, let alone mount an adequate defense.  Those times are done.  When the Government under Comrade Premier Carrangus has finally nationalized the steel and oil industries in Kalistan, for the first time in centuries, we will begin the restoration of Kalistani Deterrence on the Anantonese Ocean.

"I have ordered the Kalistani Military to begin conducting a formal survey of Kalistan's military assets, land, sea and air.  In addition, within 30 days, the Socialist Party is expected to rebuild the Revolutionary Socialist Militia of Kalistan to serve as a home guard until the military can get spun up.  Over the next 10 years, our goal is to fully modernize our naval, air and land forces.  We will procure and modernize our military, and once more launch patrols throughout the region.  We invite all parties interested in selling us surplus weaponry to do so, and meanwhile, we will start from where we left off, building first a coastal defense force, and will then follow up on fleets of projection.  We will begin retesting naval and land artillery at the Suldanor Proving Grounds to add to ships.  Meanwhile, the airforce will be modernized, and Kalistan's ground forces will be updated and reorganized.

"Kalistan will no longer be laughed at or treated as a rustic backwater any longer."

With this, the Secretary took questions, mostly dealing with funding.  The international effects of the declaration are unknown at this time.

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Initial Capitalization of KALNAPECO and KALNAFERCO published in Kalistan
Suggests Nationalization with Compensation
Kaliburg, Ananto
April 20, 4407

Details of an initial valuation of Nationalization have been leaked to the Press.  In a response to a request for information from the Government of the Kingdom of Vanuku, the Finance and Trade Minister put initial valuation of KALNAPECO at 45 billion KRB (1.35 Billion LOD), and KALNAFERCO at 35 Billion KRB (1.05 Billion LOD).  The Trade Ministry confirmed these numbers today and issued a statement:

"It is our intention to not greatly upset the national economy by nationalizing without compensation.  Since nationalization ended, and the properties of the people were sold off, Kalistani capitalists have dramatically cut back production in both major sectors.  However, they continued to modernize and update these operations over the whole time, to increase productivity.  What we will use the initial capitalization for is to purchase these properties, at a discount, from their current owners.  We consider the 80% valuation we have made on the formerly nationalized properties to be an exceptional return on investment, considering that the development of these industries was fully funded by the State, and private interests were sold them at firesale prices in the Government's rush to return them to the private sector.  An 80% valuation is more than generous to the current owners and investors, and the Republic would be happy to offer former investors new stock in the Nationalized Industries in lieu of a cash payout.  However, stock trades will be significantly discounted, at 3 for 1.  When the Nationalization Bills pass, we will have a more updated number which will take other factors, such as unrecoverable depreciation, into account."

Speculation on the Stock Price of the National Companies has already begun in the Nation's capital.  With 51% already guaranteed to the Republican Government in the Charter, and an expected release of close to 20 billion publicly tradeable shares, speculative prices currently put one share of KPO at 1.1 KBR and one share of KFO at .86 KBR a share.  The Trade Minister hinted that these prices might go up as much as 5 cents per share before the Companies are fully nationalized.

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Sounds of Naval Gunfire at National Proving Grounds in Suldanor
"Music to my ears" says Defense Minister
Sulari, Suldanor
May 28, 4407

Ahead of Nationalization and the formal survey of Kalistani defenses, naval and artillery gunfire exercises began at the recently reopened National Proving Grounds.  The purpose was to test the serviceability of assets that have been kept in storage for decades.


Units from the Regular Standing Force test a Howitzer at Suldanor Proving Grounds this May.
Of all guns fired, more than 80 percent failed or were too deteriorated to fire.
Artillerymen marked working guns with pithy named.  They named this one "Old Granny."

The commanding Officer of the exercises, Captain James McCook-Jones, spoke to reporters during the live fire demonstrations.

"I've been authorized to report that of the nation's indirect fire assets tested here today, no more than 18 percent of existing weaponry was usable.  This figure is obviously quite concerning for the Brass in the regular Navy and Standing Force, but the silver lining is that we are not completely defenseless.  And the servicable items can be employed immediately, as well as improved once the Steel Works gets back on line.  We can begin mass producing cannons for both army and navy, as well as building munitions at a fairly rapid pace.  I imagine that within a year following the reopening of Sulari, we will be on pace to replacing most of what was lost."

The Defense Minister, Cpl Santamaria was on hand for the demonstration.  Minister Santamaria said,

"We are on track to completing the survey of Kalistani forces within two months.  As a matter of preview, now that the shipyards have been reopened, Kalistan will be able to refit two of its Ananto-class destroyers.  The rest of the old navy, unfortunately, will need to be scrapped.  The guns in those ships are so rusted, and the hulls in such a state of disrepair, that they are not seaworthy.  However, we have it on good authority that the Militia will be reorganizing, and are already beginning to recruit new Partisans, to serve as a standing force until the Regulars can take their place, fully armed, trained and supplied.  I have asked the Government to begin to prepare a bill to reauthorize the National Agricultural Enterprise, for strategic logistical purposes, and they are expected to float a bill to that effect in June or July.  All told, Kalistan's military preparedness will increase, and thanks to the generous grant of 750 Billion Rubles for each of the next 10 Years, Kalistan's fighting force could be restored to pre-privatization levels very soon."

The guns which held up best were the 155 mm light towed howitzers, preferred by the Militia, and Mk. 22 3x16 Turrets developed for the Kalistani Navy 350 years ago.  Several of these turrets were stripped from old Schmee-class Battleships and brought to the Proving Grounds.  Barrels were replaced from stocks purchased from the still privately run defense industries in Kalistan, and the automatic loading and firing mechanisms on these cannons worked as expected.

"Luckily," said Santamaria, " what didn't rust away, were the schematics for these weapons.  As soon as our foundry provide us with the steel, we will set to building ships and cannons based on our old schematics.  And until then, we will purchase steel on the open market, and send it off to Port Devon.  Within 6 months of the Nationalization, we will produce our first new Ananto Class Destroyer in over 350 years."  The Minister was more circumspect about modernization.  "That will take some time, obviously.  Shipwrights and engineers need to be trained.  The goal is to get on two feet for now.  Modernization will take a bit longer.  As for now, this gunfire is music to my ears."  Santamaria was all smiles.

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reprinted from
REVOLUCION-  The Voice of the Kalistani Left
RSMoK of Kalistan activated
First Regiment of Infantry Stood up in Ananto, Fastboats launch on Anantonese Ocean
Kaliburg, Ananto District
June 15, 4407


The First Recruit Regiment of the RSMoK forms up in Kaliburg, preparing for a forced march into the Angry Mountains

The Socialist Party of Kalistan has announced that it will be standing up several regiments of the Revolutionary Socialist Militia of Kalistan.  Units will be primarily composed of irregular partisans for the time being, as Artillery has not yet come on line.  Utilizing several million Rubles of Party money, including generous donations from several wealthy industrialists who are concerned about Kalistani Security, the Party has acquired weapons, ammunition, uniforms and logistics for one regiment of Partisans already.  The Ananto Regiment will immediately go into the field in and around Mt. Schmee to begin Officer and Recruit training, led by Officers and NCOs of the Regular Military.  Training will last for 12 weeks, and will include discipline, endurance building, courses in field survival, close combat training, land navigation, marksmanship training, psyops and counter espionage training, improvised explosives, and political education. 

One recently joined partisan said he looked forward to the training:  "It should be fun.  I always wanted something to do with my life, and playing soldier sounds like a blast."  A Regular Lieutenant standing nearby laughed and said "It is.  Army life is one of the easiest lives one could have." 

Both were immediately dressed down by the Political Commissar assigned to the platoon, with the most stringent toungelashing reserved for the Lieutenant.  The Commissar explained to both men that the training was meant to prepare them for the rigors of combat, where the odds against their survival are 50:1.  In a clear, calm voice, the Commissar explained:  "The life of the Partisan is pain and misery, filth, disease and starvation.  You will be dehydrated.  You will come very near to hypothermia.  At any moment, you won't be paying attention, and then it is my job to push you off the trail and down a hill, where you will break ribs or legs.  That's because you both are screwing around and not paying attention, and that gets people killed.  Don't think the enemy won't hesitate to shoot you to death if you are screwing around and you give him half a chance. 

"But, if you make it through this training, Not you, Lieutenant, but you, Recruit Rodriguez, you will kill effectively and unthinkingly.  And you will continue to fight until you are killed or the battle is over and the enemy is all killed.  There is no retreat, there is no surrender.  There is only death and grief, and the only choice you have in this matter is whether you visit that on some other poor family, or you visit it on your own.  Now.  Snap to.  You are a Partisan!  And you, sir...  Don't you ever encourage these militia members to think this is fun.  If it is fun, I am not doing my job, and s--t rolls downhill.  You're the first stop on that slope, you f--king clown."  The Commissar turned and headed up the line to harangue some "new joins", still wet behind the ears, for smoking in formation.

Once the 12 week training cycle is completed, the Commissars will select the most promising 20% of the recruits and they will receive battlefield promotions to either officer or NCO ranks, and will form the core of the new Recruit Training Regiment stationed in Odufaray, who will train all Recruits to the Militia.  The remainder of the Milita recruits will either be cashiered, or form the nucleus of further Militia recruitment efforts.


Unable to right the deliberately capsized fast attack ship, LAFA militia completes first capsized ship challenge by swimming ship into port instead

Also stood up was a small squadron of 12 Militia Fastboats, normally used for interdiction on the high seas, but which have been re-purposed for coastal patrols around Ananto and the Mainland Ports.  These fast boats are lightly armored, and are fit for stinger attacks, rather than large scale engagement.  Each of them have been armed with a fifty caliber machine gun and two crew served .243 machine guns acquired from the privatized small arms dealers in Kalistan.  The Fastboats will be deployed immediately, in a series of naval wargames designed to teach fastboat "Wolf Pack" techniques.  As new fastboats join the militia, the training will be repeated over and over again.  As part of the training, a dummy fastboat will be capsized a mile offshore and crews must right the ship or swim it back to shore.  If they abandon the ship at sea, they will repeat the drill until they accomplish the task.  Crews will be on standby to ensure that nobody drowns, but only excellent swimmers are chosen for the crews in the first place, so drowning in the waters off Kaliburg is unlikely.

The Ananto Straights, between Ananto and Mainland Kalistan will be the primary theater of operations for the fast attack crews.  Kalistan has recently proposed a withdrawal from the Laws of the Sea with an assertion of full sovereignty over all waters surrounding Ananto and between Ananto and the Mainland.  The fast attack crews will soon begin enforcing Kalistani Law in those straights.

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Foreign Minister Backhands Lourenne over Talks
Calls Carnilaise state "expansionist" and "aggressive"
Kaliburg Ananto District
July 1, 4407


Foreign Minister Williams appears on Ananto Tonight to discuss Lourenne dustup

Appearing with journalist Delores Furstenburg, Foreign Minister Orenthal Williams responded to recent comments from the Foreign Minister of Lourenne.  Below is a segment of the interview, where the Foreign Minister explained Kalistan's position, and backhands Lourenne in high diplomatic fashion:

D(elores) F(urstenburg):  It's become clear that the Governments of Kalistan and Lourenne are moving towards a showdown in the Anantonese Ocean.  Is the new Socialist Majority ready for this international conflict so early in the administration?

(Foreign Minister) O(renthal) W(illiams):  Well, ready how?  I mean, is there ever a time for international conflicts?

DF:  I mean, does the Socialist Government think that Kalistan is ready?  Afterall, the Premier has launched an incredibly ambitious first year agenda.  Nationalization of nearly half of the economy, rebuilding navy ports and capital ships...  How is there time to tweak the nose of a powerful and aggressive neighbor?

OW:  There, Comrade, you said it.  Lourenne is a 'powerful and aggressive neighbor.'  They are buying stealth cruisers with the capability of firing rockets on our capital from international waters.  They say they intend to KEEP buying them, and they just concluded a deal with several of their own tech companies, including a secret tech firm who nobody knows anything about, to build and outfit MORE dangerous weapons.  Who knows what they could be working on?

DF:  But Lourenne has claimed that their development of these weapons of war is purely peaceful. 

OW:  Well, I mean...  come on.... you tell me!  Peaceful?  Their stated aim is to continue to expand their armed forces as they like.  They have no interest in sitting down with us and talking about why this causes us problems.  The foreign minister claimed that was the plan but it was shut down by their President.  Perhaps talking to Kalistan would make them appear weak?  I don't know.  What I do know, however is that their expansion is driving our own expansion.

DF:  How's this?

OW:  We get some heat from the Brethren for building these weapons of war.  They claim it is not what they signed up for when they helped us re-form the Party.  They want peace and so forth.  But we are confronted by an aggressive and expansionist neighbor, backed by a hegemonic alliance, who has explicitly stated that their intent is to expand their power.  We are right next door to them, Delores.  Do you realize that?  They're right across the channel.  And they are developing advanced weaponry with help from a shadowy, unnamed tech consortium.  Where are they going to use it?  They say they want to expand.  Where are they going to expand to?  You tell me.

DF:  Comrade Minister, there have been no indications that their expansionist tendencies are aimed at Kalistan.  Don't you think this is a tad alarmist?

OW:  Look...  what this bellicosity from the Lourennaise adds up to is an arms race on the Anantonese Ocean.  We can't possibly be secure while they are altering the relative balance of power.  Our military was neglected for generations, understand, Delores.  Generations.  There have been some things that our military commanders have forgotten, which are basic war skills.  We have to relearn that.  We have to rebuild from the ground up.  And yet, they feel the need to launch a fully modern, and stealth, I might add, navy upon the waters just off our shores.  Now, I'll be the first to tell you, I have no problem with military weaponry.  But we reserve the right to respond to threats by foreign hegemonic alliances like the Northern Council with deterrence.  Kalistan is putting a navy out at sea now so that Lourenne will at least not be able to attack us with impunity.  If some itchy trigger finger 'lunatique' in Louenne decides to sneak attack us in the middle of the night, we will be ready to return some pain.

DF:  Given the long history of neutral relations between Kalistan and Lourenne, some would say your government is being a touch paranoid.

OW:  Some would say...  I'll tell you.  I have communiques from Lourenne that suggests that our paranoia is to some degree justified.  We've printed our full correspondence, and they have added an additional letter in their own Press on the matter.  The people can see for themselves whether our attempting to balance Lourenne's power on the sea is justified.  It's not like we are going to invade them.  In the nearly 2000 years of the Socialist Party's History, we have never sent regular military forces into another country.  It will remain that way.  But we have been invaded before. If your house is less than 300 years old, it was built upon the old foundations of a leveled capital city.  Some of us don't forget history, not so easily.  It would certainly help if the rest of us remembered this too.

DF:  If you could speak with the foreign minister of Lourenne, would you have any kind words to say, or would you adopt a more hawkish tone?

OW:  Oh, of course, kind words.  Yes.  I would say to the Foreign Minister that it is impressive that such a backwater country like Lourenne was able to acquire powerful friends who dumped modern weapons on it, and let it do their bidding in our neighborhood like a bon petit chien.  That was a master stroke of diplomacy not matched, to my understanding in the history of Lourenne to date.  So good work, and congratulations:  you've finally arrived, after all this time.  But as the Foreign Minister has outright refused to say any further words to Kalistan, except to give us advice on how to conduct our own security affairs in a way which benefits Lourenne's expansionist ambitions, we will never get the chance.  Instead we will have to meet them, power for power, and wish them luck.

DF:  ...eh... Moving on...

The interview veered onto other matters after this.

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Kalistan to Close Ananto Straits on January 1Militia LAFA fleet Increases to 45 Boats
Kaliburg, Ananto District
November 23, 4407

The Minister of Defense, Philando Santamaria, today announced that, in preparation of the passage of the Abrogation of the Laws of the Sea in Kalistan, the United Republic of Kalistan will close the Ananto Straits, or the strip of water between Kalistan and Ananto for Security reasons, beginning on January 1, 4408.

"When our sovereignty is no longer restricted by that treaty, we will finally be in a position to promote peace in the world.  For far too long, we have watched the navies of the great powers sail freely through our territorial waters, taking advantage of our hospitality and threatening our own shores with their ridiculous wars.  The provocations from Lourenne are just the last straw in a long series of abuses on the Anantonese Ocean.  We want to reiterate, we are not closing the entire Ocean to foreign traffic, though we could.  Instead, we will be focusing on the area that is of greatest strategic importance to us.  Kalistan's allies shall retain the right of passage through Kalistan's territorial waters.  But non-allied transit constitues a strict violation of Kalistani Sovereignty, and represents an immediate Casus Belli for Kalistan.

"Nor will we hinder peaceful civilian traffic through our waters.  Kalistan is open for trade and our borders are open to all immigrants.  However:  We will require that all civilian fleets sailing through the Anantonese Straits call at either Port Devon, in Ananto, Port Sweedes in Vrassa, or Port Elga in Suldanor before proceeding.  Kalistan will issue all traffic through the straits a writ of passage which will be good for one year.  Those found to be transiting the area without the Writ will be escorted to one of these ports and a writ will be issued.  Those who refuse will be boarded and searched for contraband, and those refusing to heed Kalistan's interdiction will be fired upon.  Refusing to acknowledge our territorial waters will be viewed as an act of War against the United Republic of Kalistan."

The Ananto Straits will be closed to all Military traffic, and Civilian commerce will need to acquire a Writ of Passage through the Straits

To enforce the closure of the Straits, Kalistan has completed the first wave of its LAFA Fleets in the Straits, whose job is to interdict violators of the new Policy.  The Light Armored, Fast Attack (LAFA) craft, which have historically been utilized by pirates sailing from Kalistan are capable of swarming and incapacitating most civilian vessels.  LAFAs usually consist of a crew of 12 Partisans, including a boarding crew of 10, a main gunner and a pilot.  As soon as Kalistan's Navy comes online beginning in 4408, Kalistani Naval vessels will assist the interdiction efforts. 

The Defense Minister was quick to point out that shipping lanes around the eastern side of Ananto do not fall under the territorial waters of Kalistan outside of Kalistan's 100 km Exclusive zone.  Therefore, they will remain opened as before, and Kalistan will patrol the international waters without bothering military or civilian craft.

"This closure is to be temporary,"  The Defense Minister stated.  "Kalistan is in a position of weakness now, due to generations of neglect, and until the balance of relative power between Kalistan and her neighbors has been restored to its correct order, we will keep the Straits free of foreign military traffic.

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Premier of the Republic Hails Nationalization
First Steel from KALNAFERCO rolls off the Line
Eshar Odufaray District
December 2, 4407

In the most dramatic reforms in recent Kalistani History, KALNAPECO, KALNAFERCO, The Republican Bank, The National Service Program, The National Food Bank and The Organization of Drug Exporting Nations came online at precisely 12:00:01 am this Morning.  The Premier of the Republic and overseer of the reform, Dianne Carrangus delivered a speech commemorating the event from Kaliburg.


Premier Dianne Carrangus delivers a speech to a small crowd of 600 outside the Socialist Party Headquarters in Kaliburg, announcing the fact of Nationalization.

"In the course of Kalistani events, few moments have been as monumental as this one particular instant.  Many centuries ago, our forefathers and mothers fought to build and protect the institutions we have seen return to Kalistan this morning.  Socialists protected these institutions for countless centuries.  And then the defenders of our National Institutions disappeared, and with them, the Institutions they had fought to protect.  But now, Kalistan returns to our historic orientation.  As if by the switch of a light, the Dual Economy regains its life.  We are gathered here to commemorate the passing away of the aberrant, and the return of the normal.  So long as we fight to defend our Institutions, Kalistan will have life.  When she lets those institutions rust, she rusts with it.  It is our hope that this never happens again."

Within minutes, the National foundry had lit its fires as the first crew of National Workers filed into the plant.  Within an hour, raw iron ore delivered from Neveras by Train was being smelted into Iron, which, in its molten form, was being refined into steel, to be rolled into sheet metal of varying lengths.  By the end of the day, the Foundary had produced nearly 2000 tons of steel in 96 Coils.  All 96 coils were loaded onto one container ship and sent directly to Kaliburg Naval Ship Yard to be pounded into the hull of a new Ananto-Class Destroyer.


The first coils from the National KALNAFERCO Foundry are loaded onto a container ship bound for Ananto

In other News, initial Public Offerings were made on shares in KALNAPECO, KALNAFERCO, and The National Bank.  The prices per share opened, after a period of speculation at:

1.21 KRB per share in KALNAPECO
1.17 KRB per share in KALNAFERCO
and 1.17 KRB per share in the Republican Bank

The Kalistani Government purchased 20.4 Billion shares of KPO, leaving 19.6 shares outstanding for purchase by private investors, 15.3 Billion shares of KFO, leaving 14.7 Billion shares outstanding for purchase by Private Investors, and 2.55 Billion Shares of RNB, leaving 2.45 Billion shares outstanding to be purchased by private Investors.  The sum total amount paid by the Republican Government for the Nationalized Industries was 45,568,500,000 KRB, well under the budgeted amount for the full nationalization of these three industries.  Additional funds will be made available for buy backs of stock pending lack of investor interest.  Stock sale revenues will be held in escrow at the Republican Bank, and previous Kalistani investors will receive bonds for compensation, redeemable in 6 months from the escrow account.

Nationalization is now a fact, and Kalistani Markets are fluctuating. Companies who have invested in the energy, heavy industry and defense sectors are mixed:  More than one CEO has announced plans to contact the Republican Government about outright purchase of corporate assets, while other CEOs have expressed worries about profits when competing with the National equivalent.  Said Boris Davidson, of Vrassa's "Selenarium Consortion" who had previous held a lucrative defense contract:  "I simply don't see how we will profit beyond the fourth quarter of next year.  I have 7,500 workers who I've employed.  I will have to start laying them off so I can maintain the margins my Board have set for this company.  Without those government contracts, I don't know how we can possibly continue to pay our workers even the barest minimum."  Selenarium was one of 73 private Kalistani firms that used contracts to reap mountainous profits.  Under the private contracting system, cash on hand for these 73 companies alone neared 500 Billion, and goods and services sold by these companies were often ten and twenty times the cost of the same items sold in the private retail Market.  Those contracts have all now been cancelled, and the work has been shifted to the new National Service Program, with many of the former employees of these firms leaving to take higher paying jobs with the Republic.

The Nationalization is sure to send shockwaves throughout Selaya and Majatra.  Damage to other national economies is expected, however to be limited to those who had previously been looting Kalistan's private sector.

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Kalistan Refits 2 Ananto Class DestroyersAncient Ships "patched and seaworthy" according to Naval Inspectors
Kaliburg, Ananto District
March 25, 4408


Two ancient Ananto Destroyers, seen here at port last September, have been completely refurbished.

In light of recent bellicose provocations by Kazulia and their minions in Lourenne, Kalistan has refit and relaunched two Ananto-Class destroyers, first built in 4082.  The recent internal audit of Kalistani Military assets gave these two ships "passing marks" while all other remnants of Kalistan's ancient navy have been stripped and scrapped.  These two ships, KRS-54 and 57, or "Kracken" and "Balrog" respectively, were completely refit for sea, engine mechanism replaced, and the guns changed out. The crew cabin was updated, and the Bridge had the latest electronics installed to better help the ships sail in the often tricky seas in Kalistan's territorial waters in the Ananto Straits.  They will soon be joined on Ananto Strait duty by KRS-61, of the same design, the newly commissioned vessel which has been underweigh since the first day of Nationalization nearly 5 months ago.  The KRS-61 is expected to be launched before June and will join the two older ships on the line.

These ships have been launched to support the LAFA fleet, now consisting of 60 fast boats operated currently by the Militia.  With two major expansionist forces leveling threats at Kalistan, the ships can't have come quicker.  Captain Felicia Blythe, commander of the "Kracken" said, "Our operational orders are to hold the line against foreign shipping who decide to condescendingly disregard Kalistan's interests within the borders of our own country.  I can imagine that if the shoe was on the other foot and Kalistan lectured Kazulia or that podunk nouveau-riche Lourenne how they were supposed to behave in their country's territory, and then threatened them in the name of some law that they didn't recognize with force if they didn't do things the way we wanted, their response would be similar, I suppose.  While there are just three of us out here, we also have deployed spotter craft to make sure that our waters borders are enforced against any sort of illegal incursion.  The national Government was clear about this issue.  We published the policy in the paper.  The other countries have acknowledged it by responses of their own.  We are here to hold the line.  And we are ordered to not retreat."

The foreign provocations have encouraged Kalistan to look for help abroad.  Kalistan has allocated 750 billion KRB this year alone for procurement, and the Minister of Finance has predicted that the allocations schedule is expected to continue for 9 more years.  While there is nothing confirmed at the moment, Kalistan is certainly in the market for naval, land, and air assets.  Kalistan will entertain all offers, except those which come with political strings.  Meanwhile, the Kalistan Straits look to be the site of the next attacks on Kalistani Sovereignty.