Kalistani Major History

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Kalistan to Close Ananto Straits on January 1Militia LAFA fleet Increases to 45 Boats
Kaliburg, Ananto District
November 23, 4407

The Minister of Defense, Philando Santamaria, today announced that, in preparation of the passage of the Abrogation of the Laws of the Sea in Kalistan, the United Republic of Kalistan will close the Ananto Straits, or the strip of water between Kalistan and Ananto for Security reasons, beginning on January 1, 4408.

"When our sovereignty is no longer restricted by that treaty, we will finally be in a position to promote peace in the world.  For far too long, we have watched the navies of the great powers sail freely through our territorial waters, taking advantage of our hospitality and threatening our own shores with their ridiculous wars.  The provocations from Lourenne are just the last straw in a long series of abuses on the Anantonese Ocean.  We want to reiterate, we are not closing the entire Ocean to foreign traffic, though we could.  Instead, we will be focusing on the area that is of greatest strategic importance to us.  Kalistan's allies shall retain the right of passage through Kalistan's territorial waters.  But non-allied transit constitues a strict violation of Kalistani Sovereignty, and represents an immediate Casus Belli for Kalistan.

"Nor will we hinder peaceful civilian traffic through our waters.  Kalistan is open for trade and our borders are open to all immigrants.  However:  We will require that all civilian fleets sailing through the Anantonese Straits call at either Port Devon, in Ananto, Port Sweedes in Vrassa, or Port Elga in Suldanor before proceeding.  Kalistan will issue all traffic through the straits a writ of passage which will be good for one year.  Those found to be transiting the area without the Writ will be escorted to one of these ports and a writ will be issued.  Those who refuse will be boarded and searched for contraband, and those refusing to heed Kalistan's interdiction will be fired upon.  Refusing to acknowledge our territorial waters will be viewed as an act of War against the United Republic of Kalistan."

The Ananto Straits will be closed to all Military traffic, and Civilian commerce will need to acquire a Writ of Passage through the Straits

To enforce the closure of the Straits, Kalistan has completed the first wave of its LAFA Fleets in the Straits, whose job is to interdict violators of the new Policy.  The Light Armored, Fast Attack (LAFA) craft, which have historically been utilized by pirates sailing from Kalistan are capable of swarming and incapacitating most civilian vessels.  LAFAs usually consist of a crew of 12 Partisans, including a boarding crew of 10, a main gunner and a pilot.  As soon as Kalistan's Navy comes online beginning in 4408, Kalistani Naval vessels will assist the interdiction efforts. 

The Defense Minister was quick to point out that shipping lanes around the eastern side of Ananto do not fall under the territorial waters of Kalistan outside of Kalistan's 100 km Exclusive zone.  Therefore, they will remain opened as before, and Kalistan will patrol the international waters without bothering military or civilian craft.

"This closure is to be temporary,"  The Defense Minister stated.  "Kalistan is in a position of weakness now, due to generations of neglect, and until the balance of relative power between Kalistan and her neighbors has been restored to its correct order, we will keep the Straits free of foreign military traffic.