Antiwar Protests Lead to Police Death
People Protest ZP Intervention
ISLE OF JOY, KINGDOM OF LISTENEISSE -- Vehement protests erupted today against the nation's involvement in Zodno-Pomorskie and also the MILEX VL '05 military exercises, in which a Vice Admiral of the fleet defended itself with a fictitious nuclear weapons exchange. Clashes with police led to one death of a police officer in a peace protest turned violent.
The Isle of Joy is known for its conservative, insular attitudes towards international engagement. It has also been an area where multiculturalism found in the rest of the nation has been met with stiff opposition from local leaders.
Protesters had demanded access to the royal residence at the Castle of the Isle of Joy. No one from the Royal Family was present, but the issue was a heated one. The Royal Constabulary and even Grail Templar military guards of the residency had ordered the crowd to stand down. Chaos ensued and a police officer was beaten to death after disbursing tear gas and pepper spray to disburse the protesters.
"I cannot believe they call themselves 'peace' protesters," said Captain Gar de la Monte of the Royal Constabulary. "Rocks and missiles were hurled at my men who were simply standing to ensure no trespassers or hooligans got into the Royal Estate. Yes, we understand their greivance, but there is no need to resort to this level of barbarism. None. I had to speak to his wife today. I consider her a war widow, and will be taking the case to the appropriate authorities to see if we can get her due benefits."
Official statements by groups who organized the peace demonstration condemned the deadly beating, which was apparently in response to the police discharge of tear gas to disburse the increasingly unruly crowd.
Unofficially, conspiracy theories abound that the government must have sent in agents provocateur to stir the crowd. Such suggestions were roundly denounced by the Captain as the "obvious delusions by those seeking to escape responsibility for today's actions."
Police cameras clearly show the incident unfolding from various angles. The vast majority of the crowd remained back and simply chanted as they had done all morning. But members of the crowd moved forward and tried to push their way through the police line, issuing threats and spitting. The police line failed to part. Due to the increasing hostility, the crowd was finally ordered to disburse, according to members of the Constabulary.
When it failed to do so, tear gas cannisters began to land, and individual officers used their pepper spray to drive away unruly protesters. One officer instead drew his club and hit a protester after being physically shoved. A number of protesters then rushed the officer, who had moved forth from the ranks, and began to beat him. In approximately 38 seconds, they had wrestled his helmet off and hit him on the head repeatedly with his own police baton until he fell. As the crowd disbursed because of the gas, Constabulary officers surged forward and arrested many of those responsible for the beating, while others fled. The officer was pronounced dead at hospital.
Funeral Services and Pro-Government Rally Scheduled
The slain police officer was Sergeant Jonathan Garel, a twenty-four year veteran. Private funeral services for the slain officer will be held Wednesday, open only to members of the Royal Constabulary, family and friends.
Pro-government supporters are planning a march that day to support the people of Listeneisse who have been committed to the Zodno-Pomorskie UN peacekeeping and humanitarian missions and to commemorate the lives of all those who have been unjustly lost to the fighting.
Raised Taxes Lead to Raised Voices
The protesters were also complaining about the rising taxes to pay for government services. The present tax rate at 52% was not due to any direct calls for increased military expenditures. The 5% rise (from the prior 47% tax rate) was imposed because of the three main reasons. First, closing of loopholes and incentives which had been maintained for women due to the new equal rights provision. Second, programmes to ensure women's rights are upheld nationwide. And third, the requisite pay raise for women working throughout government at all levels.
Yet it has been seen as a "war tax," which frustrated those who had thought the nation was once on its way to disarmament. The military's percentage of spending has not increased, but the rise in general tax rate also has meant a rise in defense spending. Where once the nation had defense spending as low as 0.71% of GDP, presently 3.39% of GDP is now committed to national defense.
Concern Over Nuclear Wargames
"It is an outrage that we, the Grail Kingdom, were so ready to pretend to use nuclear weapons in a military wargame!" voiced Hanrietta Lyon, leader of People Espousing Advanced Civilized Ethics (PEACE).
A military spokesman assured it was simply a military exercise. It was in response to a simulated attack against the fleet and civilian vessels of over a kiloton of munitions. No one was hurt, and rules of engagement for future exercises were being developed.
Still, the issue was a chilling one. In response to the defensive use of nuclear weapons, there were threats by other war game participants to change the situation to one of general thermonuclear exchange to decimate the Kingdom of Listeneisse.
"Yes, this is always possible," spoke retired Brigadier Chester T. F. Pounder, retired ordnance chief for the Royal Army of Listeneisse. "Nuclear weapons are in the arsenal of most of the over 100,000 nations in the world. The question is being explored by the military: how do you stop that threat? Because it is real, and it has decimated other nations before. In the wargame, they had little choice to keep tens of thousands of sailors alive but to use nuclear weapons to intercept an incoming barrage of conventional missiles. Think then what might be needed to defend against a barrage of incoming ICBMs, and you see the peril that the military is taking steps to address through simulations and exercises, rather than discovering this in what they colloquially call 'a shooting war.'"
"Apparently they are practicing in Van Luxemburg to gain experience that will help them in Zodno-Pomorskie," spoke Ms. Lyon. "Which brings into question the military's competency in getting involved in the first place. It's all in preparation for a long series of 'peacekeeping' operations which are not keeping the peace. People are dying. Yes, it is a tragedy what is occurring in Zodno-Pomorskie. But we need to find a better means of diplomacy to achieve our national goals. We have larger regional allies which could have put a stop to this immediately. Where are they? Where is the rest of the United Nations?"
King Upholds Limited Rights of Protesters
The King was said to be grieved upon hearing the news and reported to have retired early. Sources close to the Royal Family report the soveriegn had hoped the Kingdom's people would see the necessity to defend a nation that was just beginning to move into the world, as he himself had sheparded the nation safely onto the world stage.
This morning, a spokesperson for His Majesty's government affirmed the people's ancient right to bring their grievances to the monarch. Yet it was also reminded to all parties that lawlessness and civility must be ensured for those rights to not turn into abuses of the government, its staff, or general society. Future protests are permitted so long as proper permitting procedures are followed, organizers restrict their expression to a safe area which could contain the crowds, and so long as they remained peaceful.
The spokesperson also has said the King has decided to meet with the leaders of various peace groups in private audience. In the King's own words, the spokesperson quoted: "It was vital that the nation keep allegience to its principles, and the legacy of the defenders of the Holy Grail -- to heal those that were wounded, and to defend that which was innocent and threated."
People Protest ZP Intervention
ISLE OF JOY, KINGDOM OF LISTENEISSE -- Vehement protests erupted today against the nation's involvement in Zodno-Pomorskie and also the MILEX VL '05 military exercises, in which a Vice Admiral of the fleet defended itself with a fictitious nuclear weapons exchange. Clashes with police led to one death of a police officer in a peace protest turned violent.
The Isle of Joy is known for its conservative, insular attitudes towards international engagement. It has also been an area where multiculturalism found in the rest of the nation has been met with stiff opposition from local leaders.
Protesters had demanded access to the royal residence at the Castle of the Isle of Joy. No one from the Royal Family was present, but the issue was a heated one. The Royal Constabulary and even Grail Templar military guards of the residency had ordered the crowd to stand down. Chaos ensued and a police officer was beaten to death after disbursing tear gas and pepper spray to disburse the protesters.
"I cannot believe they call themselves 'peace' protesters," said Captain Gar de la Monte of the Royal Constabulary. "Rocks and missiles were hurled at my men who were simply standing to ensure no trespassers or hooligans got into the Royal Estate. Yes, we understand their greivance, but there is no need to resort to this level of barbarism. None. I had to speak to his wife today. I consider her a war widow, and will be taking the case to the appropriate authorities to see if we can get her due benefits."
Official statements by groups who organized the peace demonstration condemned the deadly beating, which was apparently in response to the police discharge of tear gas to disburse the increasingly unruly crowd.
Unofficially, conspiracy theories abound that the government must have sent in agents provocateur to stir the crowd. Such suggestions were roundly denounced by the Captain as the "obvious delusions by those seeking to escape responsibility for today's actions."
Police cameras clearly show the incident unfolding from various angles. The vast majority of the crowd remained back and simply chanted as they had done all morning. But members of the crowd moved forward and tried to push their way through the police line, issuing threats and spitting. The police line failed to part. Due to the increasing hostility, the crowd was finally ordered to disburse, according to members of the Constabulary.
When it failed to do so, tear gas cannisters began to land, and individual officers used their pepper spray to drive away unruly protesters. One officer instead drew his club and hit a protester after being physically shoved. A number of protesters then rushed the officer, who had moved forth from the ranks, and began to beat him. In approximately 38 seconds, they had wrestled his helmet off and hit him on the head repeatedly with his own police baton until he fell. As the crowd disbursed because of the gas, Constabulary officers surged forward and arrested many of those responsible for the beating, while others fled. The officer was pronounced dead at hospital.
Funeral Services and Pro-Government Rally Scheduled
The slain police officer was Sergeant Jonathan Garel, a twenty-four year veteran. Private funeral services for the slain officer will be held Wednesday, open only to members of the Royal Constabulary, family and friends.
Pro-government supporters are planning a march that day to support the people of Listeneisse who have been committed to the Zodno-Pomorskie UN peacekeeping and humanitarian missions and to commemorate the lives of all those who have been unjustly lost to the fighting.
Raised Taxes Lead to Raised Voices
The protesters were also complaining about the rising taxes to pay for government services. The present tax rate at 52% was not due to any direct calls for increased military expenditures. The 5% rise (from the prior 47% tax rate) was imposed because of the three main reasons. First, closing of loopholes and incentives which had been maintained for women due to the new equal rights provision. Second, programmes to ensure women's rights are upheld nationwide. And third, the requisite pay raise for women working throughout government at all levels.
Yet it has been seen as a "war tax," which frustrated those who had thought the nation was once on its way to disarmament. The military's percentage of spending has not increased, but the rise in general tax rate also has meant a rise in defense spending. Where once the nation had defense spending as low as 0.71% of GDP, presently 3.39% of GDP is now committed to national defense.
Concern Over Nuclear Wargames
"It is an outrage that we, the Grail Kingdom, were so ready to pretend to use nuclear weapons in a military wargame!" voiced Hanrietta Lyon, leader of People Espousing Advanced Civilized Ethics (PEACE).
A military spokesman assured it was simply a military exercise. It was in response to a simulated attack against the fleet and civilian vessels of over a kiloton of munitions. No one was hurt, and rules of engagement for future exercises were being developed.
Still, the issue was a chilling one. In response to the defensive use of nuclear weapons, there were threats by other war game participants to change the situation to one of general thermonuclear exchange to decimate the Kingdom of Listeneisse.
"Yes, this is always possible," spoke retired Brigadier Chester T. F. Pounder, retired ordnance chief for the Royal Army of Listeneisse. "Nuclear weapons are in the arsenal of most of the over 100,000 nations in the world. The question is being explored by the military: how do you stop that threat? Because it is real, and it has decimated other nations before. In the wargame, they had little choice to keep tens of thousands of sailors alive but to use nuclear weapons to intercept an incoming barrage of conventional missiles. Think then what might be needed to defend against a barrage of incoming ICBMs, and you see the peril that the military is taking steps to address through simulations and exercises, rather than discovering this in what they colloquially call 'a shooting war.'"
"Apparently they are practicing in Van Luxemburg to gain experience that will help them in Zodno-Pomorskie," spoke Ms. Lyon. "Which brings into question the military's competency in getting involved in the first place. It's all in preparation for a long series of 'peacekeeping' operations which are not keeping the peace. People are dying. Yes, it is a tragedy what is occurring in Zodno-Pomorskie. But we need to find a better means of diplomacy to achieve our national goals. We have larger regional allies which could have put a stop to this immediately. Where are they? Where is the rest of the United Nations?"
King Upholds Limited Rights of Protesters
The King was said to be grieved upon hearing the news and reported to have retired early. Sources close to the Royal Family report the soveriegn had hoped the Kingdom's people would see the necessity to defend a nation that was just beginning to move into the world, as he himself had sheparded the nation safely onto the world stage.
This morning, a spokesperson for His Majesty's government affirmed the people's ancient right to bring their grievances to the monarch. Yet it was also reminded to all parties that lawlessness and civility must be ensured for those rights to not turn into abuses of the government, its staff, or general society. Future protests are permitted so long as proper permitting procedures are followed, organizers restrict their expression to a safe area which could contain the crowds, and so long as they remained peaceful.
The spokesperson also has said the King has decided to meet with the leaders of various peace groups in private audience. In the King's own words, the spokesperson quoted: "It was vital that the nation keep allegience to its principles, and the legacy of the defenders of the Holy Grail -- to heal those that were wounded, and to defend that which was innocent and threated."
posted by Unknown at 7:28 pm
0 Comments:
Post a Comment
<< Home