Kalistan

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Kalistani News in Brief:  Chancellor Levine Formally Launches Truth Commission
Travel Advisory Issued for Valruzia; 4th Fleet finishes Redeployment
Kaliburg, Grand Duchy of Ananto
February 3, 5624


Chancellor of the Empire Sir David Levine speaking in National Assembly

Chancellor Levine Formally Launches Truth Commission about War Crimes in Likatonia
The Chancellor of the Empire, Sir David Levine, read a written statement from His Imperial Majesty, Emperor Fredrick III Ananto, formally endorsing the vote taken last year concerning a new Commission aimed at investigating allegations of Kalistani War Crimes related to combat operations in Likatonia in 5613.  The Order read:

"This Assembly will comply with all efforts of the newly inaugurated War Crimes Truth Commission, to include full funding and support for the efforts of the independent investigators.  The Imperial Mandate of the Commission is to independently investigate allegations of war crimes in Likatonia during the period of time from 12 January 5613 until the last Kalistani Troops were withdrawn from Likatonian Soil on the afternoon of 30 September 5613.  War Crimes undermine the ethical standing of those who commit them, they diminish the morale of the fighting men and women of the Armed Forces, and they undermine the mission of the Kalistani Regular Forces.  If there is credible evidence that suggests that war crimes or other illegal depredations have been committed, those responsible will be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law, and at that point we shall take steps to try to correct any wrongs done, and inoculate the Regular Forces from the temptation to ever do anything like this again."

The fiat looked like it would have smooth sailing through the National Assembly when it was read aloud in Session, but a member of the Nationalist Caucus rose to object.  The Chancellor moved to end debate, but the parliamentarian stepped in and permitted the Deputy,  Mark Webber to speak against the motion.  When the Chancellor reminded Deputy Webber that the Assembly did not have the authority to countermand an Imperial Command, the Deputy proposed an amendment that would insulate the Emperor from any responsibility for the actions of the Regular Forces.  The motion nearly passed by a vote of 38-41, before the Chancellor was able to call the question, and his original motion authorizing the creation of the independent commission and mandating it to fully investigate all accusations of war crimes and depredations passed by a vote of 65-14.  The Commission has two years to file charges, and will be overseen by an independent body of representatives of several Gaduri human rights civil society organizations.

Travel Advisory Issued for Valruzia
Kalistani Consular Staff began processing visas for those wishing to leave Valruzia in light of fresh civil disorder and the Foreign Ministry has issued a travel advisory for the Western Seleyan State.  "Can we not have a generation of peace on this blasted continent?" asked Michael Wachovski, a Kalistani National doing business in Valruzia.

The violence has erupted in response to the killing of a college student who was protesting the Valruzian Dictatorship which has been in place for more than 30 years. Since he was killed, there have been several bloody protests and at least one bombing in the nation, which raises the spector of yet another civil war, this one closer to home.  "It feels like Terra is spasming," said Foreign Ministry undersecretary for Northern Seleyan Affairs Bill Talbot.  "However, our obligation is to not intervene, but to get our people out of harm's way, and make sure our consular staff are alright in the process." 

The Foreign Ministry has said that the travel advisory is both temporary and voluntary, and Kalistanis in the country are advised to contact the Consulate in Nowogard and let them know both about their location as well as their plans to evacuate should the need arise, as soon as possible.  The Foreign Ministry also said Kalistan would be open to accepting civilians from the nation who are seeking to flee from the violence, and house them for the medium term safely in Kalistan.

Reconstructed 4th Fleet finally finishes redeployment in Karzon Strait
The last Ontiveros Class Submarine of the reconstructed 4th Fleet was launched last week and is making its way toward Port Swedes where it will be armed and receive its permanent crew.  This marks the end of the rebuilding effort for the 4th Fleet, which has received all new vessels and has restored its traditional compliment. 

Regular Navy Chief spokeswoman Commander Imelda Blanca said "The rebuilding of the IV Fleet took us a decade, and is now fully deployed into the Karzon Strait between Lodamun and Dolgava, where is it quickly returning to its primary mission of vanguard recon and observation.  In addition, IV Fleet has been tasked to ensure that peaceful international traffic comes to no harm during its transit in and out of the Anantonese Ocean, and that the sea lanes remain clear."  This mission is different from its prewar posture where it served as the forward Blue Water Force for the Anantonese Empire in the Mad Dog.  In its new mission, the main body of surface ships will remain in the Strait, while the two submarine detachments will deploy forward and patrol the entrances to both the Karzon Strait and the Hodari Straits.  "The subsurface detachments will be assisted by overflights from magnetic misplacement detecting rotary wing and AWACS so IV Fleet Commanders will always know what is coming for them well in advance."

There is currently no prohibition on sailing foreign military craft in the international waters of the Anantonese Ocean, so IV Fleet is charged to detect, identify and track, but not engage.  "There are a handful of nations that possess a blue water fleet and may end up in the Anantonese Ocean," said Commander Blanca.  "But it is also important for Kalistan to have eyes on those naval units at all times, to the extent it is possible, so we know what they are up to.  Some nations like to send ships through with the explicit aim of provoking Kalistan:  this has historically been the case.  But we are more provoked by the fact that they aim to try to surprise us, just to show us they can.  Our aim is to deny them that surprise, whether they like it or not, even if we can't stop them."  The Strategic mission of the Regular Navy is to "Man the Gates" according to the Commander.

The 4th Fleet, based at Port Swedes Vrassa, is supported by the 1st Fleet, which is based at Bozo River CAGTC, who primarily patrols the Northern Limit.  The Second Fleet, based at Yoshimi Station patrols the Central Anantonese and the Southern Limit, and the 3rd Fleet, based at Bentasur Gaduridos, patrols the Gulf of Aldegar and the Vorona Sea north of Inrdrala.

@TheRepublic