Kalistan

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Her Imperial Majesty makes visit to Migrant Processing Center in Lucid
Takes unscheduled tour and speaks with elected Camp Mayor
Lucid Valley, Duchy of Suldanor
July 1, 5582


Her Imperial Majesty meets with Señora Francesca Olivera near Lucid

Her Imperial Majesty, Empress Carolina I Ananto made an unscheduled visit to the newly opened Migrant Processing Center outside of Lucid Valley in the Duchy of Suldanor.  Her goal in the visit was to ensure that migrants were being treated well.  The Empress made some brief comments where she addressed some of the issues that migrants are facing as they enter the Empire from Baltusia, and shared some of her hopes for the future.

"We want to join the chorus of Kalistanis who welcome you to our land.  We understand it is not an easy decision to leave one's home, and we know you wouldn't have done it if you were not more concerned about your safety and wellbeing, and that of your family, if you had stayed in Baltusia than if you packed up what you could carry and made the journey into Kalistan.  But here, we may assure you, you are safe and you are welcomed.  We are currently expecting many more of you to follow you into Kalistan, and so we ask that you cooperate with our officials as they get you processed into the country, and begin to move you to more permanent housing further on into the Empire.  There is plenty of land here in Kalistan, and we are revitalizing our cities and opening up new housing units everyday.  We look to fully integrate you within our population until such time as you are ready, if ever, to return to your homes.  And until that day arrives, we can feed you, we can house you comfortably, and we can ensure work for all those who wish to work, in the service of your community.  Once more, we welcome you to Kalistan, and please know that you are our first and last concern until you are resettled."

To date, more than 9,000 Baltusian refugees, fleeing from the returning Communists in their homeland, have arrived in Kalistan.  The National Assembly has called for a new outlay of money in an Athosian Resettlement Fund, aimed at providing Baltusians who arrive in Kalistan with a home adequate for their family, access to the Kalistani National Foodbanks, and basic social services that Kalsitani citizens have access to.  The bill will also provide worker protection for Baltusian migrants while they remain in Kalistan so private sector employers cannot take advantage of the new arrivals, and access to public transportation and infrastructure.

"The measures we are considering are aimed at protecting the Athosians as they arrive in Kalistan, and ensuring that they have as easy a time in transition as possible," said Chancellor of the Empire Sir Bradley Downs.  "The crisis is likely to grow more accute as time goes on, and it seems that mutual dislike for the relaunched United Workers Union in Baltusia is one thing that the Orthodox and the Nationalist Wings of our Party seem to have in common, so the measures, when placed on the Floor, should have no trouble sailing through the National Assembly.

Meanwhile, the Empress met with the Lucid Migrant Processing Center's elected spokeswoman and Camp Mayor, Señora Francesca Olivera, who gave her a tour of the camp.  The houses there are two room small houses, built quickly by NSP Conscripts the last time there was a migrant influx from Baltusia and have been rehabilitated and have been serving as an expeditionary camp for NSP conscripts who were working on the Lucid River train bridge.  The camp can house more than 1500 comfortably, but currently more than 2000 Baltusians are awaiting processing in the camp.

"The camp, it is becoming overcrowded," said Sra. Olivera.  "The houses are meant to hold a family temporarily, I suppose.  But you see, some of them have two or three families in them now.  The processing is steady, but is not fast enough, and we hope that Her Imperial Majesty will see fit to either expand our camp or open a new one near by to relieve the pressure."  Sra. Olivera also said Baltusians are not used to the communal dining facilities in the camp, and lots of them are complaining about not being able to cook in their own homes.  "I think this is something they will get used to, but Baltusians like their food a certain way, and well, this is simply not possible when you cook to feed two thousand, rather than just your own small family."  Portable stove tops are forbidden in the camp, but some residents have built makeshift grills outside the homes to be able to prepare supplemental meals.

"We have enough to eat, the medical and sanitation facilities are adequate and you may even say good," said Sra Olivera.  "I think that Suldanor has really worked hard to make this place as clean, safe, and efficient as possible.  But, these are habits of Baltusians, especially those fleeing from Communists.  We don't tend to think in terms of communal arrangements, though the Union Party tried very hard to drill this into our skull.  It didn't take and we have spent much of the last decade undoing what they had done.  So it's a little hard to go back to it, like we have to here.  We look forward to moving further into the country to our permanent homes and getting back to a semblance of a normal life."

Sra. Olivera, who has been appointed Camp Mayor, said that the Yoshimi Migrant Processing Center is very similar in terms of quality and overcrowding.  "The Weather is more tolerable here, I think," said Sra Olivera, who notes that in the Lucid Morass, temperatures are higher on account of it being at a lower altitude, and the morass is a swamp.  "We are luckier than they are."  When asked about the fact that some Kalistanis are referring to Baltusian migrants as Athosians, Sra. Olivera was noncommittal.  "Well, if this is what Kalistani's want to call us, we are guests in their home.  Who am I to tell them no on this matter?  It certainly doesn't hurt us any, and we are being welcomed here.  We do not live in fear of totalitarian dictatorship in Kalistan, and look, see?  I spoke with the Empress today and showed her around the camp.  I feel better heard and treated like a human being here in Suldanor than I would had I stayed home.  I've heard they held snap elections, and so, there is no stopping them now.  If my new home wants to call me Athosian, to me, that is saying Sister.  I welcome the name."

Her Imperial Majesty asked Sra. Olivera to convene a camp committee to begin addressing local security, the needs of the residents of the Processing Center, and any issues that may come up.  The Empress assured Sra Olivera that she will have everything she and her committee needs from the Duchy of Suldanor to maintain good order, sanitation, and health and morale of the residents.  She also committed to bringing processing time down from 4 weeks to 2 at the most, and will focus otherwise on building new transitional housing across the Empire for those who wish to move north after processing.  Sra Olivera thanked Her Imperial Majesty for her government's attentiveness to the plight of Baltusian Migrants.

Following her trip to Lucid, the Empress returned to Sulari to fly to Gaduridos, where she intends to consult with Her Government in Ciudad Gaduri about administrative changes relating to the establishment of a new Office of Viceroy to Gaduridos and replacing the Governor General with a proper Prime Minister.  Upon recommendation of Her Imperial Majesty's Government in Gaduridos, the Empress is expected to confirm Magdalena Sarmiento as the first Viceroy Extraordinary and Plenipotential of the Kingdom of Gaduridos.  Her Excellency Lady Sarmiento will take up Viceroyalty duties as the direct Representative of Her Imperial Majesty in Gaduridos, allowing for the Congreso del Reino de Gaduridos to create the role of Prime Minister, who will then govern Gaduridos in Her Imperial Majesty's Name and under the direction of Lady Sarmiento. Her Excellency will reside permanently in Gaduridos, and will remain in post for life, or until she is removed by Her Imperial Majesty.