Kalistan

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Kalistani News in Brief:  Protests continue as More than 35 Officers, 650 Enlisted Veterans Indicted
Kalistan to send observers to Valruzia for elections; Cult Kill makes appearance on Charts
Sulari, Duchy of Suldanor
November 19, 5625


Anti-Commission Protestors face off against Police in Sulari

Protests continue as More than 35 Officers, 650 Enlisted Veterans Indicted
Political protests continued this month as the first indictments were handed out by His Imperial Majesty's Justice Ministry.  In the first round of indictments, 35 Officers and 653 formerly enlisted men and women who were active in the Kalistani Regular Forces during the Likatonian War were officially indicted on charges ranging from arson and destruction of public property to extrajudicial killing and torture of Prisoners of war.  The charges stem from credible evidence that alleges that war crimes were committed during the Likatonian Conflict.  To date, 23 Officers indicted and 256 enlisted members have either surrendered to police willingly or have been arrested, with more arraignments being scheduled in the coming weeks.

Protests spread throughout most of Kalistan's major cities, including Kaliburg and Sulari, where more than 600 protestors stood off against armed riot police for more than an hour before being dispersed by tear gas.  "Its really ironic that we are out here peacefully protesting Government Injustice and these pigs are gassing us for it," said one 17 year old Sulari native who's father is a veteran of the conflict.  "They shouldn't treat veterans like this," said another.

The protests were, on the whole peaceful, and few resulted in confrontations between citizens and the police.  In Kaliburg, a large protest of more than 5,000 citizens marched on the National Assembly, and held a pro-Veteran rally on the National Mall, while in Eshar, protestors staged a vigil at a spot locally known as "Ground Zero" where one of the chemical weapon laden rockets that hit Kalistan in 5612 destroyed more than a block of civilian homes, sparking off a fire and smoke storm that left much of the northwest side of the city uninhabitable.  "While I don't personally support war crimes," said Martha Johnson of Eshar, "when you see pictures of the destruction of this city by chemical weaponry, you kind of understand why they might have decided to pay Likatonia back."

The first trials are expected to begin in January in the newly commissioned Special Court, overseen by the Justice Ministry.

Kalistan to send election observers to Valruzia
As the Seleyan Nation of Valruzia prepares for its first dictatorship election, Kalistan has offered to send election monitors to the republic to help oversee the election.  The Election is the first test of the new Organization for Stability and Cooperation in Democratization (OSCD) which was founded at the recent Conference of Altea and was based on a proposal from South Dovani.

"At the Conference, Kalistan committed to supporting the Organization," said Dr Keith Dawkins, professor of Political Science and Institutions at Kalistan Imperial University in Kaliburg. "While we are not a democracy ourselves, the Emperor believes that stable, institutionalized democracies are important in the battle against totalitarian and tyranical government. A stable democracy in West Seleya will serve as a front line of defense in Seleya against the encroachment of fascistic movements on our Continent, and can serve as an example to other mixed regimes who are debating whether to go to a people-centered government or one that is susceptible to totalitarian beliefs."

According to the Professor, Kalistan's status as an absolutist state gives it a unique advantage. "We have no stake in the outcome, but are committed to the process," said Dawkins, who will lead a team of 14 election monitors to the Valruzian capital in January to join South Dovani in monitoring the election. "We will work very closely with Valruzian officials and civil society actors to ensure that we fully understand their election system in the weeks leading up to the election, and then will join with other monitors and government officials to ensure that the people can have confidence that their election was carried out fairly and transparently, and that the results of the election reflect the genuine will of the voting population, whatever those results happen to be. This will help Valruzians have confidence in their new government and ensure that there will be popular support of the results."

The Election Monitors are expected to be in country for a total of three weeks, and meanwhile, are conducting intensive training and education on Valruzian institutions in Kaliburg.

Kill Cult releases "La Musica del Diablo, Volume 12" on LCR
As Wanderlust is still dominating album sales with their ultra-smooth sophistipop Time and Again, Last Chance Records has released something that sounds totally different. Sample heavy, sludgy, groovy, and very danceable metal music from Springfield, Odufaray's favorite horrorfans in the band Cult Kill. Their latest release, the ambitiously titled La Musica del Diablo, Volume 12 is their first major label release, but is actually their third full LP, the other two released on GhoulTunes, the bands own independent label. And given the national mood, it is doing surprisingly well: La Musica has reached number 35 on the Album Charts in Kaliburg.

"Well, our previous stuff is kind of like, we wanted to you know do electronic club music with, kind of influenced by the goths, and kind of really featuring, you know, clips from these old stupid horror and sci fi movies and stuff, from the music we were into," said vocalist and group frontman Ed Dracul (not his real name). "But, I think, you know, that was a pretty far out concept, and we kinda gotta eat." Bassist Martina von Westphalia (not her real name), said "I think the key was getting a drummer (Bat Ivanovich [not his real name]) that knew how to play drums. It allowed us to abandon the stupid ass drum machines, and actually jam." The quartet is filled out by rhythm guitarist "David" Lethal Injection (also, not his real name).

The new release then, abandons the old electronic sound, and adopts really heavy riffs, tons of old horror and grindehouse movie samples, the crunchiest bass the Empire has heard since the demise of Noise Alternative, and an irresistible groove. "Yeah, its still dance music, for real, like, that's where our heart is. But it is also in making people's ears bleed," said Dracul. "We may have moved from electronica to mosh music, but I think whatever we're doing, we want to make sure that people can still do the twist to this s--t."

"I mean, none of us are technically what you might call, uh, like I mean, um none of us are technical or even really all that good," said von Westphalia. "Or sophisticated, or anything like that. But I figure if we play loud enough and hit people hard enough, nobody is really gonna care. Plus. We got a, f--kin, chick bassist, I mean, you know? What's not to love?"

Check out Cult Kill's first single, "Reynoldia Speed Deth" from their LCR release La Musica del Diablo, Volume 12." And then ask where the first 11 volumes of Devil Music are.

[Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8izPzFRDYPQ]

@TheRepublic