Kalistani Major History

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President Jones Reacts to unrest in Vrassa City
Calls violence "unconscionable"
Vrassa City
February 4, 4086


President Michal Jones-Terrance, delivering remarks following visit to site of Vrassan violence last week

The President of the Republic, Michal Jones-Torence toured the scene of violent terrorist in Vrassa City.  Charred marks remained on the pavement as the President was briefed by local security units in the area.  Following his tour of the site, the President removed to a local auditorium and delivered these remarks:

"We accept the results of the investigation being conducted as a result of this senseless violence which has struck one of our great Northern Cities.  The loss of life, and less significantly the destruction of property, are unconscionable.  We bear their memories in our heart, and grieve as a nation for their deaths.  We will not, however, allow such acts of violence to go unanswered.  We have asked the Vrassan District Government to devote additional funds to terror mitigation and request the cooperation of all government Parties in this District in stepping up efforts to prevent domestic terrorists from launching such attacks on peaceful and political targets.

"We said, just then, that the perpetrators of this violence were domestic.  We have taken the investigators' summary under advisement and we agree with them that the culprits themselves were local actors, who possibly felt they were being marginalized out of the Conservative Party.  While our commitment remains to the free practice of liberty in Kalistan, for some reason or another, these individuals felt that they were not being heard.  This feeling leads naturally to desperation and radicalization.  What mitigation within the CP looks like is fully up to them, but I would assert that succumbing to the radical right is not a solution which We would endorse specifically.  The Government of Kalistan should commit, instead to offering the CP whatever support their require to rooting out these fascists within their ranks and making it so they can cause no more destruction to the Party or to the people of this Nation.

"We should be unwilling to settle for a situation where such people may strike with impunity.  Nor should we accept an increased security state.  I am confident that the Government of Kalistan will take necessary steps without limiting the liberty of free people."

The President's message was followed by a short question and answer session, though he refused to respond to questions not germane to the Vrassan episode. 

Public Response to President Jones:

Many in attendance felt that the President's fist major address lacked much sentiment or emotion, but he seemed to answer questions directly and completely.  Said one listener:  "He seemed like he was an academic, a lot smarter than all of us, but at the expense of the sort of warmth we were expecting.  He struck me as a technocrat..."

Said another, "His Vrassan accent was nice to hear in a President, but he just sounded like an elite academic, like a philosopher.  I would have preferred to hear from (former Premier) Omar (Al-Khali) or the Premier now..."

And a woman in attendance stated:  "It was alright, I guess...  kind of flat, I suppose...  He seems like a nice enough chap..."

One child said simply:  "Meh-  I have heard better speeches from my father.  That guy was the President, you say?  I bet my father could beat him up..."