Kalistan

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Democracy Forum meets in Kaliburg
Noted Scholars Debate Concept of Democracy
Kaliburg, Grand Duchy of Ananto
June 24, 5656


Panelists at a rowdy Kaliburg Democracy Forum discuss concepts of Democracy during one of the forum's calmer moments

The Democracy Forum Movement has to date been primarily a Mainland trend. Starting in major coastal cities like Sulari and Gendaris, the movement has so far accomplished major changes in getting the Single Party provisions of the Anti-Fascist Bill repealed and holding a free competitive election nationwide for National Assembly. So Democracy Forum activists in the Nation's capital came into the first major Democracy Forum event in Kaliburg with a certain amount of confidence and hoped to move the needle in Ananto more toward democracy as well.

Instead, what occurred was a debate which highlighted a major tension within the pro-democracy movement in Kalistan: The question that predominated the conference early on, and remained the source of most debates and ultimately disagreement, was the question of "What kind of democracy?" The answer, such as it was, certainly disappointed those who believe Kalistan should be fighting for a strong, robust, multi-party liberal democracy and threatens to undermine the entire Democracy Forum movement, given that the disagreement is fundamental at its root, and will certainly divide those who previously found unity in the generic cause of "democracy in Kalistan."

The Forum, a three day conference that brought together various Deputies from all four main parties with scholars, Citizens and activists, was intended to talk about next steps and spreading the pro-democracy movement in the notoriously pro-Empire Grand Duchy of Ananto. Organizers were bolstered by numerous successes, including electing a non-Institutionalist Majority City Council in Sulari for the first time in over 100 years. The unstated aim was to discuss election strategy in the next regular National Assembly elections in 5659.

The conference went sideways during the first panel, which was just intended as an opening panel to discuss democratic theory. One presenter was the radical theorist Martin Grunwald, from the University of Sulari, who posited that Kalistanis can not be happy with either the pace or the scope of reform so far. "We know, for example, that in some academic circles, there are individuals who want to abolish the monarchy already, right now. And Democracy Forum is only a few years old. In its place they would like to build a direct democracy, where the people are sovereign. There are already individuals talking about it, and frankly this is something we should be looking at as well, whether something like this is possible in the current context."

The statement drew several howls from the audience while a couple individuals cautiously and anonymously clapped. One audience member shouted "That's illegal!" to which many other audience members booed, while a lot of individuals clapped. But Grunwald said from the stage "Yeah, its illegal. To even call for reform. What kind of democracy is that?" The crowd immediately broke into heated conversation, with occasionally a shout of "sedition" heard followed by a call from the other side of the auditorium of "Let the man speak!" and "Shutup!" heard soon afterward. The Moderator needed to step in to call for peace, and it took the audience several minutes to calm down.

Grunwald finished his speech relatively uninterrupted, but the speaker who followed him, Dr Alice Martel of Kaliburg Imperial, re-ignited the crowd for different reasons. She began her speech with "Dr. Grunwald asked what kind of democracy is it illegal to call for revolution? I have that same question. The collogues of Mr. Grunwald who are having secret conversations that are reported anonymously like this are more or less calling for overthrow of the regime if they actually are demanding what he says they are..." More boos from the audience, along with more claps from her position's supporters. "What kind of democracy do we have? We don't live in a democracy. We can practice democracy, but this system is not ruled by the people. As we can see here... huh... look here... as we can see here, a crowd even one as small as this can't seem to agree on anything. And that sort of disagreement brings civil disorder. How can we possibly govern ourselves as a nation when we can't even get past the first speech at Democracy Forum without fighting one another?" She received mixed applause for her statement.

The panels thus broke down like this: Over the three days that followed, several sessions were split on topics ranging from electoral strategy and strategic voting to simply defining terms. Given that the event was held in Kaliburg, there were far more people in support for a very limited and moderate reform, if any, but several more radical individuals from the mainland put up a staunch defense for a more direct sort of democracy for the nation. Many of the discussions were heated with ample audience participation. At one point one presenter, Dr. Jamal Mason, of Eveari, reminded everyone that the pro-democracy movement in Kalistan is still a specific minority: Institutional Party support within the Government is still at super majority, and the Institutional Party still holds the majority in all city councils across the Empire except Sulari, where is holds 48% of the seats while a coalition of all the other parties combined are sitting at 52%.

"What we fail to realize, is that this country is still incredibly conservative, and perhaps as many as 40% of Kalistanis in recent polls remain outright hostile toward democracy of any kind," said Mason. "We can't think of our movement like we are in the majority. The Empress tolerates some reform, but she certainly isn't helping us. As a matter of fact, part of this 'getting out to the people' campaign she is on actually is undermining what we are trying to do by presenting the monarchy as responsive to popular interests when we are trying to paint democracy as the alternative to the Monarchy to get people interested in ppushing for more self-government. The people meet the Empress, they generally like her, they don't turn to democratic elements in the society for solutions but instead put their trust back into her and her Party. And she has infinite freedom to do this, while the democracy movement remains in a box." The comment drew some applause, but even another member of Mason's Panel disagreed.

"I actually think that the Empress going out to the people shows that we are having an effect," said Dr. Dave Carter, of Vrassa Duchy University. "We've shown her that the support of the people is important, and it's something she should strive to cultivate. No more can she sit in her Jewel Encrusted Throne Pagoda and just think everything will carry on as it always has. We've got her out of the capital, we've got her to Sulari. She is doing book signings now, for god sake. She is showing herself to be an ordinary woman. And that can't be anything bad for our Democracy Movement."

The Conference was cut short on Day Three when a group of Liberal Party Members attempted to storm the stage and take the microphone. The Moderator of the panel they tried to interrupt, the Socialist Deputy Manuel Guttierez, of Yoshimi, said he would give them an opportunity to speak but then they had to sit down and let the panelists finish their presentations. The leader of the group, Jana Kenworth from Springfield Odufrary, said "You people call this Democracy? All I hear is should we have more or less freedom. When are we going to finally talk about building democracy, real democracy, liberal democracy, with expanded legislatures that truly reflect the make up of the country, common and universal elections, and strong protections for both private property and the right, and yes, I said RIGHTS of the minority?" An unidentified audience member yelled "SIT DOWN!" from the audience, and what followed was a profanity laced screed from Ms. Kenworth that led to heated emotions boiling over. The forum descended into a brawl and the Capital Police were called in to restore order.

Several audience member were arrested for assaulting members of the police force as they were attempting to break up the melee, but only minor injuries were reported and treated at Kaliburg Hospital. The forum did not resume after the brawl, as much of the furniture, including the panelists' table was destroyed. Democracy Forum issued a brief statement to the Citizens of Kaliburg apologizing for the near riot, reaffirming the good work and peaceful nature of Democracy Forum, and admitting that holding Democracy Forum in Kaliburg may have been a mistake.

"We wish to continue to engage with these ideas, and will likely continue to have to do so whether we wanted to or not, but this is a time for reflection on where we are as a movement, and even whether we can stay committed to the general idea of democracy for Kalistan, or if the divisions exposed here will be too great a hurdle to overcome. While Democracy Forum hopes there is a way forward, we clearly need to do some examination of ourselves to find that way forward," said the Statement.

Her Imperial Majesty's office issued comment from Wood Hall, where she and the Royal Family are in residence for the summer, that the Empress is pleased that nobody was seriously injured in the "unfortunate events" surrounding the end of Democracy Forum, and advising that the Justice Ministry will be looking into whether Deputies of the National Assembly were among those involved in the melee, or in the calls for the end of the Monarchy. "If so, this is a serious violation of the law, and the members of Our National Assembly should be more cognizant of the example they are setting for others, along with the standard they are held to with regard to their public conduct," said Her Imperial Majesty in her Office's Statement. "We can, to some small degree tolerate some measure of rowdy and outspoken behavior in our Citizens, but members of our Legislature should be aware that the eyes of this Empire are upon them at all times, and if there is a violation of the law at the very top, that sends a signal that it is ok to violate the law among everyone, and that is certainly intolerable." So far, no Deputies have been charged in association with the Democracy Forum or the brawl.

@TheRepublic