Kalistan

[Doc]

Kalistani News in Brief:  Emperor addresses Commission protests
Government signals tentative support for new IO; "Stranded" is number 1 new show of season
Kaliburg, Grand Duchy of Ananto
June 14, 5625


Emperor's official Spokesperson Allison Stuart delivers statement of Emperor

Emperor Addresses Commission Protests
As the Independent Truth Commission begins to prepare for the release of its final report later this summer, protests against the Commission have sparked across the Empire.  "How dare you!" chanted several hundred protestors at a small rally in Vrassa City last week, while much larger protests have been held in the Capital, in Eshar, and in Port Swedes, all sites of attacks by chemical weaponry in 5612.

"How can the Emperor ask these men and women to put on a uniform, and then go command them to fight and die in a war, and then question how they do it?" asked one woman at a Sulari protest last week.  "Its like we're expecting our soldiers to fight with one hand tied behind their back.  It's intolerable, and makes their sacrifice decreased."

His Imperial Majesty, Emperor Fredrick III Ananto addressed these protests, via a statement by his spokeswoman, Alison Stuart.  "His Imperial Majesty has expressed his full support for the work of the Independent Truth Commission.  It is designed to bring to light the truth behind allegations of depredations in the Likatonian War.  His Imperial Majesty believes that there is justice even in warfare, and it is his intention to ensure that when Kalistan finds itself in the horrible situation where it has to fight a war, it is not our side who acts like savages and animals toward the opponent.  They will do that to us, but we must conduct all our affairs, even to the defense of our Empire, ethically and correctly.  Those who have violated the ethical code of justice in war will be held to account, so that a precedent for the entire world can be set to show that there are some acts which cannot be tolerated, even in a violent situation.  The other side will not ever hold their own accountable for the crimes they have committed against our people.  But His Imperial Majesty believes that we are better than that.  As a people."

The Commission is expected to issue its final report in September.

Government signals tentative support for proposed Terran League
Kalistan's long held position of standing outside a world congress of sorts may be one step closer to ending.  Chancellor of the Empire Sir David Levine stated that the Empire would be willing to join an international forum and body for adjudicating international crises, "were one to be presented to the International Community with specific attention to national sovereignty."

The Chancellor stated that one of Kalistan's primary objections to the World Congress in the past was their domination by Large Powers, who seemed to want to use the body specifically to push their own particular state interests.  "Kalistan was not one of the Large Powers at the time.  Things have changed.  But there were certain states in the world that actually fought over control of the Security Council because they believed they should be able to use it to force smaller states who had no say in the decision, to comply with their dictates.  Now that the shoe is on the other foot and Kalistan is a major international actor, we would still nonetheless oppose a system that became an 'great powers club' with the mendaciously obvious façade of popular representation by the less powerful states of the world, the way the old and thankfully dead World Congress was, and the way that some states still wish it to be."

The Chancellor said the Government would support an international body who could coordinate action to maintain world peace.  "If the world finds it within them to stand against fascism, and can use some such body to better empower them to hold nations accountable for violating international peace, this seems like something Kalistan could also support.  We would balk at required military contributions such as exists in most collective security treaties, but we would be open to participate in peacekeeping efforts world wide.  But there are only talks right now.  So, we'd have to see any final proposals before we commit one way or another."

KRTVN's "Stranded" the network's Most Watched Show
The Adventure Mystery "Stranded" 's first season wrapped up this week after a full 24 episodes on a major cliffhanger.  If you haven't seen it yet, we won't spoil it here.  But it remained the network's most watched show for a fifth week in a row. 

The adventure series which debuted in January, was widely anticipated by television viewers and the three part pilot set a record for viewers of a pilot in Kalistan.  "We were amazed that this show, which had more mystery surrounding the pilot than I think we anticipated, did so well," said the show's producer Devin Hollingsworth.  "Of course people loved the cast, but the real treat was to watch them talk about the show to their friends in real time on social media as they were watching the show.  People organically set up private chat servers to discuss the show without spoiling it, and throughout the season we saw a number of fan theories developing, which people spent the week discussing as they awaited the next episode.  It was very exciting, this meta commentary."

Maxwell Ellis, the show's main lead said the response he got was phenomenal.  "The character I play is this real rugged type guy, good with knives, can do land navigation, and everything.  When the show became real popular this year, people started recognizing me in the streets, and asking me to like teach them things.  I had to tell them, Look, I am a classically trained stage actor.  If you went to the National Mall with me and asked me to help you find your way out, I might be able to do it with a tourist map...  Many go away disappointed.  I guess its true what they say:  you should never meet your heroes."

The show will return for a new season in January of next year.  Principle shooting begins in Gaduridos in September.

@TheRepublic