NationStates Jolt Archive

BREAKING NEWS
Prime Minister Danahue assassinated by unknown gunmen; state of emergency declared

Orean, LIVENTIA (NewsSat)— The Prime Minister of Liventia, Patrick Danahue, has been assassinated at his semi-official residence in CCL, according to the Broadcasting Corporation of Liventia.

Mr Danahue, who was due to step down ahead of elections later this year, was sleeping in his room when a number of unknown gunmen opened fire through the open window, police say. The motive of the attack is still unknown.

The Speaker of Parliament, Alex Cardoza, has declared a nationwide state of emergency. Foreign Minister Jeremy Firston, Danahue's immediate predecessor as prime minister, will become the interim Prime Minister until the elections.

Suspicion has landed immediately on the former Liventian territory of Ad’ihan. The Ad’ihani government has had strained ties with Orean since independence over accusations that it is harbouring former separatists within its government, and its prime minister Alex Canning and president Josh Randall have both had less-than-cordial relations with Mr Danahue.

Suspicion is also rife that the former separatists, a minority of whom refused to join the peace process as the Nationalist Party, could be behind the attacks over the recent execution in Liventia of their former leader Matthew Badonner.

Mr Cardoza has declared a week-long national state of mourning, with the state of emergency set to last at least a month. The state of emergency imposes a mandatory dusk-to-dawn curfew in all major cities of the country, and a 4 pm-to-7 am curfew in the rest of the nation.

There has not yet been any response from Ad’ihan on the accusations.

Firston accuses Ad’ihan over killing

Ad’ihan, AD’IHAN (BCL News)— Interim Liventian Prime Minister Jeremy Firston has publicly pointed the finger at the Ad’ihani government and secret service over the assassination of Prime Minister Patrick Danahue.

In an official statement confirming he had taken over as Prime Minister, Mr Firston labelled the Ad’ihani government as "terrorists" and accused its secret service, the SNI, of being behind the assassination, but refused to provide evidence for his claim.

"The government of Liventia regrets the death of Prime Minister Patrick Danahue and has reason to believe the terrorists in government in Ad’ihan and the Ad’ihani SNI committed this grave offence," the statement read.

"Preliminary investigations show that this was a well-planned, professional assassination, with the latest technology involved, something we do not believe achievable by a common gang. This lays the suspicion squarely on a governmental secret service, such as the SNI."

However, the Prime Minister's Office in Ad’ihan has issued a statement denying the accusations. It said that Prime Minister Alex Canning "expresses the shock and regret of all Ad’ihanais at the senseless killing of Mr Danahue", and condemned the assassination, but rejected any blame.

"The government of Ad’ihan does not condone killing, nor does it engage in extraterritorial or extrajudicial acts. Our thoughts are with the Liventian people and Mr Danahue's family but we flatly reject any accusations of involvement and these only serve to drive a further wedge between our two countries with our shared history in this difficult time."

Excerpts from a Hwarang Intelligence Survey immediately following the Assassination of PM Danahue

Imperial Security - Classification: DO NOT ACKNOWLEDGE
Intelligence Confidence - LOW

The recent assassination of Liventian Prime Minister Patrick Danahue has been recently
declared by Liventian media and public sources. Motive and Intent of Assassination for
Incident remain undetermined. Imperial Inquiry requires a thorough review for
possibility of Mujeongbu intervention in the incident; this review concludes that no
reasonable motive exists for the assassination of the PM.

(1) Liventia and the Empire do not have standing formal relations, beyond minor contacts.
Attacking the political organization of a minor state would not be conducive to drawing
support for the Mujeongbu, neither would it inspire individuals to conspire against the
Empire or its aligned states;

(2) The immediate political impetus to attack a foreign head of state/government remains
unknown, and the suspected political stability of the state will remain resilient to
withstand the incident. To induce political tension between Liventia and separatists
might be sufficient motive, but the separatists have not yet demonstrated anarchist
tendencies; perhaps hijacking a political mission.

(3) Execution of incident is not characteristic of Mujeongbu habits, to instill fear
among individuals within the state by attacking people in their ordinary circumstances.
While assassination was conducted at the private residence of the victim, assassination
of a foreign leader is also uncharacteristic of the Mujeongbu, who prefer insignificant
individuals as targets, as opposed to esteemed persons. Furthermore, explosives were
not featured prominently; gunfire was the primary method of execution, uncharacteristic
still of the Mujeongbu.

(4) The opportunity for a Mujeongbu-inspired attack was nonetheless extremely high. In
recent days, Han citizens visited the country a part of following the national sports;
ethnic Han individuals affiliated with the Mujeongbu may have entered the country as
part of the exodus. Liventia is also preparing for new elections; transfer of political
power has been the primary point by which Mujeongbu specialists tend to focus
their attacks. See reports on the C&M May 12th attack for further details.

(5) Regardless, it is the firm opinion of this reviewing body that the Mujeongbu are not
responsible for the incident and that any further attention should be devoted to
monitoring the situation rather than intervening. The Hwarang Intelligence Services
are further advised to continue surveying the situation, in the event that elements
related to the Mujeongbu emerge in the aftermath. Otherwise, we have no business to
pursue this. Any official response should direct condolences to the bereaved Liventian
people, in the hopes that they may see justice served to the villains responsible.


::: Official Response :::

Do not acknowledge incident; do not pursue.

-END REPORT-

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Mr. Jeremy Firston
Interim Prime Minister
Republic of Liventia

Dear sir,

It was with shock that I received the news of the tragic death of the Prime Minister, Mr. Patrick Danahue, today. Please accept my sincerest condolences on behalf of the people of Kelssek.

Kelssek values its relationship with the Republic of Liventia. I have full confidence that you will be able to lead your nation through this difficult period. Please know that Kelssek stands with Liventia and shares your nation's grief and condemns this terrible act.

It is my hope that peace and goodwill shall prevail from these difficult and uncertain circumstances.

Sincerely,

Peter Coakson
Prime Minister of Kelssek

NATIONAL INTELLIGENCE SERVICE
SERVICE NATIONAL DE RENSEIGNEMENTS
AD’IHAN

The Ad’ihani National Intelligence Service (SNI) categorically rejects the claims made by Jeremy Firston with regards to SNI involvement in the senseless murder of the late Prime Minister of Liventia Patrick Danahue.

The SNI would like to make it clear that it had no involvement in the attack whatsoever, and any further accusations as such on this matter are simply baseless and will only weaken the co-operation between the SNI and the Liventian security forces.

The SNI only deals with threats to and threats facing Ad’ihan, and neither does it carry out assassinations on anyone, much less a foreign leader. Mr Firston has refused to back his claims up with solid evidence and it is disappointing he has chosen not to do so.

All intelligence collected by the SNI on this matter will be forwarded to the relevant Liventian authorities under our co-operative framework as soon as possible, despite Mr Firston's remarks.

James Dean-Ashworth
Director
National Intelligence Service

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Prime Minister's Office
12 Central Square
Ad’ihan, City of Ad’ihan
CA1 COA

Jeremy Firston
Interim Prime Minister
5 Orean County Rd
Orean, Liventia

Dear Jeremy,
Please accept my sincerest personal condolences on the assassination of Prime Minister Danahue. However, I am deeply concerned by your rhetoric in the wake of the PM's senseless killing.

Having worked with you when you were Chief of State and I was Chief Minister, I was rather taken aback by the comments made in your press statement issued shortly after you re-took office. I once again strongly deny any Ad’ihani governmental or secret service involvement in Mr Danahue's death.

While I fully understand your concerns over the Nationalist Party, the people in the party have fully renounced violence and are by no means terrorists. The fact that they were once separatists is no longer relevant. They have laid down their arms and no longer have an anti-Liventia stance.

I trust your leadership skills in the wake of this atrocity, having seen them for myself first hand. I am sure you will be able to guide Liventia through this difficult period.

Yours in condolence,
Alex Canning
Prime Minister
United Islands of Ad’ihan

The Albrecht Herald Online>Breaking News
Morton claims “shock and dismay” after Danaue slaying
By Roy Greenwood

Abiodun, Candelaria, [Monday] - President Robyn Morton has this afternoon condemned the “despicable, cowardly and deeply tragic” assassination of Liventian PM Patrick Danahue, and promised that her government would play “any tangible part necessary in bringing [his] killers to justice.”

Speaking at a meeting of Christian leaders in the town, Morton told a press conference that it was “with the deepest shock and dismay that I heard of this heinous affront against democracy and the people of Liventia, and must express my profound sympathy with Mr Danahue’s loved ones and colleagues, and the Candelariasian solidarity with the sadness of the Liventian populace at this time.

“We in Candelaria And Marquez require few opportunities such as these to be reminded of the unending threat posed by those vicious criminals who would hide behind the façade of a political struggle in order to carry out their foul assaults against those who would work for peace. Nor can we forget and cease to admire the strength of mind and body shown by ordinary men and women at times such as these as they stand up against the terrorists’ desires for chaos, violence, and the spilling of innocent blood.

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“I personally have the greatest of faith in Prime Minister Firston and his government, and trust in their wisdom to seek justice for their people in a manner than retains the greatest of respect for the sanctity of human life and the cause of regional peace and stability.”

Mrs Morton’s comments were largely reiterated by Foreign Secretary Tate Sayfritz in parliament, while also stressing the C&M government’s “trust in the [Adi’hani administration] to play their full and constructive part in working for peace in the Liventian territories and Outer Islands” – a deliberate warning towards the government of PM Alex Canning, a noted international ally of Morton’s despite their self-evident ideological differences. Sayfritz also warned Candelariasian nationals and expatriates in Liventia and Ad’ihan to stay in close watch of local, international and Candelariasian media sources, and that the C&M Embassy in Ad’ihan City would be working at all times to ensure the safety of its citizens in the Heartland.

Opposition parties in C&M were also quick to add their condemnation, with Eric White, the acting Unionist leader during the spyosfae* period, expressing his shock and anger during an interview with TV1 – and, more controversially, expressing his opposition to the “two-state solution in the former Liverpool England” and regret of the “inevitability of such actions when violent separatists are given their pseudo-nation handed to them on a plate.”

Unionist head office were quick to distance the part from this unique denunciation of the very state of Ad’ihan, stressing in a statement the party’s “support for the Ad’ihani administration and continuing close relations between our peoples” and the lack of direct parallels between the experiences of separatism in the Candelarias and those between Liventia and Ad’ihan.

Spokespeople for the SD&GP and Marquez Nationalists added their condemnation of the assassination, and – in the case of MNP foreign spokesman Luis Carlos Patiño – called upon the Liventian administration to “show the greatest of patience and restraint in their relations with the sovereign nation of Ad’ihan”. Señor Patiño added that his party remained “in the closest commonality with Francis Boston and the Nationalists at this difficult time”.


*Somewhat pointless year-or-so following an election. Ahh, the joys of the Candelariasian political system.

The international news channels were full of the assassination of the Liventian PM's assassination and had, thankfully, not got enough space on their collective news ticker, constantly at the bottom of the screen, to feature Starblaydia taking over Nova Britannicus in a bloodless and protest-less coup.

"Did we...?" Tiberius looked across at his Venator bodyguard. They were the Secret Service and Special Forces rolled into one, and anything as black as the assassinations of foreign heads of state would have been conducted by them - he hoped. if anyone else in the Starblaydi command structure was doing it, then he'd be in trouble.

The bodyguard, Major Jaehaerys Fyreskar, was clued in to all sorts of black operations and, in his role as principal bodyguard to the Lord-Protector, generally knew more about the running of a country than anyone else. He caught the tone of Tiberius' voice, knowing what question he was actually asking, without really asking it.

"No, my Lord," he replied, with a straight face that would have made a poker player proud, "we don't do that." Any more, he didn't say.

"Oh", Tiberius said, "that's good to know. How unfortunate for Mister, um-"

"Danahue." Jaehaerys said.

"Yes, exactly," Tiberius agreed, "him, the Liverpool Eng-"

"Liventia."

"Yes, them," he said, suitably chastised, "so many nations in the world, so little time to check up on them all. Did you know that I only just found out who Jay Tyler was?"

"Yes, Sir, I did," Jaehaerys said, he was there at the time after all.

"Oh, of course." Tiberius sighed. He was getting far too old for this.

Cabinet Office
5 Orean County Road
Orean, Liventia
Peter Coakson
Hon. Prime Minister of Kelssek
Parliament House
Baker Park Hill
Neorvins

Your Excellency,
I thank you for your recent letter of condolence regarding the unfortunate and untimely passing of Prime Minister Patrick Danahue. As you can imagine, we were very taken aback by the news. Of course, we have our best agents and experts on the case.

The Republic of Liventia remains grateful to Kelssek for its help last year during the Outer Islands insurgency, and we treasure our relationship with your country.

I thank you for your well wishes.

Sincerely,
Jeremy Firston
Interim Prime Minister, Liventia

———————————————————————————————————————

Cabinet Office
5 Orean County Road
Orean, Liventia
John Baines
Hon. Deputy Prime Minister of Ad’ihan
13 Central Square
Ad’ihan, City of Ad’ihan
CA1 COA

Dear Mr Baines,
I am writing in response to a condolence letter I received from Prime Minister Alex Canning. Please inform him his trying to tell me what to believe and what not to believe was totally inappropriate for the current situation. I do not believe there is a need for further contact at this level between our countries at this time. Any further communication should be directed through your Department of Foreign Affairs to our Foreign Ministry or to our Ambassador, Simon Collins.

Yours,
Jeremy Firston
Interim Prime Minister, Liventia

Danahue security "too lax", investigations show

Orean, LIVENTIA— The security at 15 Imperial Street in CCL, the prime minister's semi-official residence, was too lax for a building that important, according to secret documents.

The building, which until the formation of the First Liventian Republic was the prime minister's office and official residence, had too inadequate a security detail given the prime minister's presence, says a classified preliminary report leaked to the media.

According to the report, there were no guards or armed police protecting the exterior of the building between 2:43 pm and 3:21 pm, which would have allowed any gunmen to get into position in the vicinity and conceal themselves for the attack on Prime Minister Patrick Danahue.

The building's security staff also failed to ensure that the bulletproof windows that are installed in the office and living quarters were down, as they are required to be whenever the prime minister or visiting dignitary is in the building.

Mr Danahue's security detail was singled out as being particularly weak. While there was a guard outside his room standing by his door, none of his other guards were present in the wing of the building he was in. Furthermore, after the shots had been fired, the guard outside the room somehow did not think it necessary to check on the PM, instead wandering off to find out where the shots had come from.

The report goes on to state Mr Danahue would have likely survived if he had been tended to immediately. It also adds that the gunman or gunmen were able to get away as the area around the residence was not immediately cordoned off.

There were also no bullet slugs found in the vicinity, although the bullets that struck Mr Danahue have been sent for testing.

Interim Prime Minister Jeremy Firston has so far refused to comment on the contents of the report.

In a separate development, the prime minister of Ad’ihan, Alex Canning, has written to Mr Firston over the incident. Mr Firston, which has accused the Canning government of involvement in the assassination, was said to have dismissed the letter.

The Cabinet Office confirmed Mr Firston wrote a "short and terse" letter to the Ad’ihani deputy prime minister, John Baines, regarding Mr Canning's letter, saying he did not believe correspondence at the highest level between the two countries was necessary over the matter.

To: Liventian Prime Minister Jeremy Firston.

We, the nation of Qazox, while not having any offical ties with Liventia, comiserate with you and your nation in this time of domestic turmoil. We too have experienced such events, not too far in our recent past, and wish to send any assistance requested to help bring those responsible for this act of cowardice to justice.

Just recently, at the most recent World Baseball Classic, hosted by Liventia; I did have a small oppertunity to speak with the late Prime Minister, during some down-time before I began my Presidential campaign. We shared a passion for baseball, amongst other things, and I was due to return to your nation within the next year, in a summit to bring our two nations closer together in hopes of re-establishing Qazox' goodwill with other nations around the world. Please accept my personal condolences, those of my family, and of my nation.

Signed,
Pauline Singh, President of Qazox

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To:
His Excellency Jeremy Fiston
Interim Prime Minister, Liventia

From:
His Excellency Ren Dirh
Lord High Chancellor of the States-Federation of Snefaldia

By the Motions;

With great sadness I received the news of the shocking death of Prime Minister Danahue; and it is with that sadness that I offer the condolences of the government and people of Snefaldia. Such wanton disregard for law and decency is not the hallmark of democratic peoples; and it is my hope that the perpetrators of the act are brought to swift justice.

Though our two countries lack a close relationship outside the normal diplomatic channels, I offer you any assistance your government might find acceptable in discovering the meaning and cause for the death of honorable Prime Minister. May these unfortunate circumstances see our two countries become closer, and see the prevalence of justice and harmony.

It is my fervent hope that you are now;
and remain forever,
blessed by the Motions,
Ren Dirh

His Excellency the First Minister of Foreign Affairs
Ren Dirh shakaj

Dear Sir,

It is with great shock that I received the news of the tragic death of the Prime Minister, Mr. Patrick Danahue, today. Please accept my sincerest condolences on behalf of the population from the continent of Astholm.

We share your nation's grief and condemn this terrible act as an act of terrorism and violence.

It is my hope that peace and goodwill shall prevail from these difficult and uncertain circumstances.

Yours sincerely,
the ruler of Astholm, AS

Danahue accorded state funeral

Orean, LIVENTIA— Assassinated Liventian prime minister Patrick Danahue has been buried in Orean following a full state funeral attended by hundreds of thousands of people and foreign dignitaries. His body had been lying in state for the past week at the Orean Cathedral.

Proceedings began at 8:30 am and were broadcast nationwide on all television and radio stations. Mr Danahue's casket was loaded onto an armoured carriage and escorted through the streets of Orean by police before arriving at Parliament, where all MPs and dignitaries had assembled for a service.

To the surprise of many analysts and onlookers, Ad’ihani president Josh Randall and Deputy Prime Minister John Baines were in attendance at the memorial service, despite accusations that Ad’ihan is behind Mr Danahue's death. Also in attendance were a number of Heartland ambassadors, interim Prime Minister Jeremy Firston, and former prime minister Michael Harley.

After a two-hour service, the casket was accompanied by Mr Danahue's family, Mr Harley and Mr Firston to the Cemetery of the Fallen, where the body was interred with full state honours.

Speaker of Parliament Alex Cardoza will swear Mr Firston in as prime minister early next week, after which he will serve until elections later this year. Mr Danahue's seat in Parliament will be left unfilled until those elections as a mark of respect.
—Wires

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Firston concedes Ad’ihan govt "not behind" Danahue killing

AD’IHAN (BCL News)— The Cabinet Office has confirmed that interim Prime Minister Jeremy Firston has made a surprise visit to the Outer Islands, the first time a Liventian or Liverpool England leader has visited the islands in three years.

Mr Firston flew into Ad’ihan with Ad’ihani president Josh Randall and deputy prime minister John Baines late last night following the state funeral of the assassinated prime minister Patrick Danahue.

Upon arrival, he gave a short news conference, during which he admitted police intelligence had cleared the Ad’ihani government of wrongdoing in Mr Danahue's death.

"I am here in Ad’ihan on invitation from president Randall and Mr Baines," he told a visibly surprised press contingent.

"I will be having talks with the prime minister Mr Canning while I am here. The reason for my visit today is to discuss my concerns with Mr Canning personally."

When a Radio Ad’ihan International journalist asked about the assassination, Mr Firston was quick to brush it aside.

"Further intelligence has showed that the Ad’ihani government, as far as we know, was not behind the assassination, so I am here to personally convey apologies to Mr Canning over that issue."

The Ad’ihani Prime Minister's Office confirmed Mr Baines had extended an invitation to Mr Firston to visit Ad’ihan, but expressed surprise that Mr Firston had flown in immediately.

"The Deputy Prime Minister earlier today extended an invitation on behalf of Prime Minister Canning to Mr Firston to visit Ad’ihan for talks," a statement read.

"However, the Prime Minister was not expecting Mr Firston to visit immediately. Prime Minister Canning will entertain Mr Firston at Parliament in Protectorate Way tomorrow."

Back in Liventia, the Speaker of Parliament, Alex Cardoza, said he was "disappointed" Mr Firston had decided to take the trip even before being sworn in as full-time prime minister, but promised it would not affect the PM's relations with Parliament.

Wires
Firston sworn in as PM
Orean, LIVENTIA— Jeremy Firston has been officially sworn in as the prime minister of the First Liventian Republic, replacing the assassinated Patrick Danahue.

Mr Firston, who becomes prime minister of the country for a second time having been Mr Danahue's immediate predecessor as Liverpool England PM, was sworn in by Speaker of Parliament Alex Cardoza at the Prime Minister's official residence.

Mr Firston will make his first official trip as prime minister to Ad’ihan, the second time he will have visited that country in a matter of a week.

GIIF deny responsibility
City of Ad’ihan, AD’IHAN— The former Liverpool England separatist movement, the Grand Island Independence Front, has denied being behind the killing of the assassinated Liventian prime minister Patrick Danahue.

Since the split of the Outer Islands from Liverpool England to form Ad’ihan, the GIIF has similarly fractured, with a vast majority of its members forming the Nationalist Party, which holds nine out of 232 seats in the islands' Parliament.

While the remaining faction of the GIIF has not yet officially laid down arms, there have been no attacks since Ad’ihan's independence, and a spokesperson for the faction has for the first time publicly denied having any knowledge of or being behind Mr Danahue's murder.

Suspicion falls on hitherto-unknown group
City Centre, LIVENTIA— Liventian police have confirmed details of a leaked report saying a hitherto-unknown group could have been behind the assassination of prime minister Patrick Danahue.

The Jahawid Movement, which calls for the creation of an independent enclave called Jahawid that would take up most of Liventia's Western Territory, could have perpetrated the attacks to draw attention to their cause, according to experts.

While details are sketchy, it is known that the Jahawid Movement claims inspiration from the Grand Island Independence Front's successful attempts to gain independence from Liventia. However, it is not a widely-supported group.

Police have refused to disclose further details, citing the need for confidentiality and due process.

It is with deep sadness that such a tragic event occurred. Although having no official ties with Liventia on behalf of The People's Republic of Garlano, I personally send my deepest condolences. If there is anything me or my country can do in such a dark time, please feel free to contact me.

Sincerely, Daniel Leinad

President of The People's Republic of Garlano