NationStates Jolt Archive

Omzian State Satellite News
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HOGAN-VAKARZ NAVAL STATION, Hogan Point (OSSN) - Controversy exploded around the Omzian nation as the Omzian Navy and independent sources today reported the sinking of an Omzian-registered Greenpeace vessel near restricted waters of the Hogan-Vakarz Naval Station at south Omz today. It is believed that the sinking, which took place around 1:50 PM Omzian Western Time, happened as a result of the vessel's entrance into areas near restricted waters of the large naval base, while ignoring several warnings sent by the Omzian Coast Guard and the Omzian Navy. It is speculated that around 11 crew members died aboard the 3500 ton trawler Mariaz Logan when it was hit by a salvo of gunfire from an Omzian Navy destroyer, though a rescue operation afterwards picked up three survivors of the attack.

Though there are still much controversy surrounding the incident, it is believed that the powered trawler, which was "fitted with loudspeakers and electronic equipment of various types" according to the Omzian Navy, entered the restricted waters of the naval base amid several previous warnings sent by the Omzian Coast Guard. According to the Omzian Greenpeace Association, the trawler was in the location to protest the aftermath of a series of active sonar testings in the area, which resulted in the beachings of nine whales last month. However, according to the Omzian Coast Guard and Navy, the vessel displayed "a total disregard for boundaries and restrictions".

As the vessel sailed near the restricted waters boundaries, various sources has confirmed that it was being chased by fast patrol boats of the Omzian Coast Guard, along with nearby helicopters, broadcasting warnings from loudspeakers and among the radio waves. According to Omzian Greenpeace members, the crew of the vessel "never received the warnings", while the Omzian Coast Guard argued that the patrol cutters were less than "a few hundreds meters away" when it made the warning. Though the Omzian Coast Guard prepared its own action by preparing a boarding party, it also transmitted a report of the situation to the headquarters of the naval station. As the vessel began to sail "dangerously close to the restricted zone itself", Coast Guard cutters opened fire with warning shots from machine guns and automatic cannons, to no effect as the vessel took "evasive movements" and moved forward. Minutes later, a nearby destroyer, the ONCS Southfield (DDGN-582), opened fire with its eight inch guns, against the trawler. Visual sightings confirmed that the vessel sank, after being hit in the bow and consequently resulting in a fire onboard.

While a large group of protestors gathered outside the Omzian Ministry of National Defence headquarters in the capital city of Osaria, military authorities confirmed that the captain of the vessel, Commander J. N. Harthford, will not be subjected to possible punishment. Instead, it is also announced that the Commander will be receiving a medal, the Red Star with Gold Leaves 3rd Class, which is the third Red Star medal that the Commander has received since the Yasmarean campaign, for "selfless actions exhibited in the face of a grave threat."

As the controversy grows and as feelings between the Omzian forces and the members of the Omzain Greenpeace Association turns to anger, we will continue our coverage of this explosive incident.

Statement by the Menelmacari Prefecture of State:

"The Eternal Noldorin Empire of Menelmacar supports wholeheartedly the Omzian actions in this matter. While the loss of life is of course regrettable, our satellite records confirm the Omzian Navy's account of the situation. And while nobody would deny Greenpeace their right to protest, that right does not permit them to ignore the rule of law."

Official Statement from The Silver Sky
http://www.nationstates.net/images/flags/uploads/the_silver_sky.jpg
Although we in The Silver Sky are deeply saddened at the loss of life in this incident, we believe that although Greenpeace has the right to protest any thing that their messed up minds want to, they too are held to abide by laws set by the governments they operate in, in this incident we believe that they were in violation of many laws set by the Omzian Government. We also believe that the Captain of the destroyer acted according to procedures, we operate our naval vessels with near the same rules of engagment.

-President Jason Garner

Bureau of Foreign Naval Intelligence, Bonstocknian Special Services
Port Yuko, Bonstock

From behind his desk, Special Agent William McGregor hurled down a dossier about the Greenpeace sinkings. In front of his desk was another agent. McGregor roared, "God dammit Wilkowski, I don't give a shit about some stupid Green-shit sinking. Why the hell should I care if Omz blows those hippie bastards to Davy Jones' Locker? The world needs less hippie-crap."

"Sir, if I may venture an opinion," pointed out Wilkowski, sounding oddly like a British butler, "Some of these men were working for us."

"What fuckin' nutcase would employ any of those long-haired flower lovers here? Those unpatriotic, ungrateful swines!"

"Sir, this is what I'm talking about." He handed McGregor another dossier, but then recoiled back, frightened by McGregor's vehement attitude.

McGregor read it. "Project Greeneye? Green-shit I say! What the hell does this have to do with hippies?"

"Sir," Wilkowski responded, quivering, "Four months ago, the BSS arrested two Greenpeace workers on charges of subversion."

McGregor smiled coldly. "Did we shoot the bastards?"

Trying to maintain his composure, Wilkowski responded, "No, sir. We released them, on the agreement that they go about the world and gather intelligence on other nations' secret facilities."

McGregor flamed over. "We did what, Wilkowski? I say we should've shot the bastards!"

Wilkowski sunk back into his chair, and his eyes widened. "But, sir! We needed intelligence! Please, it wasn't my fault! Don't fire me!"

McGregor leaned forward, and fumed, "Wilkowski, get the hell to the point. Why the hell do I have to give a damn?"

"Because, sir," he paused, thinking of how to put it in a way he wouldn't be fired. "The vessel they were on, it was sunk by the Omzian Navy. They may have been captured."

"May have been what?" bellowed a ferocious McGregor. "You'd better find out for sure, or it will be your job!"

"Y...yes, sir," replied Wilkowski timidly. He turned around, and scurried out the room.

The Empire frowns upon the aggressive action taken upon the Omzian Navy in sinking a civilian ship. While we agree that sinking an armed ship in restricted waters is justifiable, sinking an unarmed ship of protesters is, in our opinion, distastful and a waste of life. Their could of been numerous other ways to end the situation peacefully rather than sinking the ship.

However, we wish to let the Omzian Government know that while we do not approve of your aggressive actions we recognize your peaceful attempts to end the situation.

Respectfully Yours,
Emperor Alec Takenski

The Foreign Ministry of Rojo Cubana applauds the Omzians' actions. Such environmentalist extremism must not be tolerated, and sinking a Greenpeace ship is one way to stop it.

Omzian State Satellite News
Fleet Admiral Logan: "We Could Care Less... Ecoterrorists".

OSSN - As the population and government faction leaders of the Omzian nation is still in conflict with each other in regards to the justification of the sinking, an equal division among those who supports the action and those who vehemently opposes to it is more than just being evident. As debates rings across the Omzian nation however, the Omzian Navy's Southern Fleet High Command hosted an emergency news conference, detailing the circumstances of the sinking. Present at the conference were a group of military and political leaders, including the skipper of the destroyer that was responsible for the sinking himself, photographed in his black naval uniform with a cheerful face.

However, though mixed feelings were evident among the civilian leaders, the naval figures were firm on their stance of the incident. "While we do share our condolences for the loss of lives involved in this incident, it is also the consequence of gross irresponsibility and utter ignorance for domestic laws and rules," Fleet Admiral Logan, the supreme commander of the Southern Fleet said in the press conference. "In the end, we could care less about under what pretenses the crew of the vessel was acting under, but we feel that our action is justified in that it backs our determination to ensure the security of our nation and of our armed forces." Despite this, he has also confirmed rumours regarding an upcoming investigation in regards to the matter, saying that "despite the efforts of the ecoterrorists to destabilize our nation, we will be sure to run an investigation within our navy to ensure that no party or faction has done anything not according to the rulebook during this incident."

Thousands of kilometers away in Osaria however, as protests by Greenpeace activists are mounting outside of the government though, factions of the government itself are threatening "further action". During an emergency session in the Parliament for the preparation for a series of hearings in regards to the incident, the Minister of National Defence from the New Democratic Party was confronted by Dr. Kolan Hagras, a member of parliament belonging to the Progressive Coalition, who called the action "a modern-day massare". In a separate press conference, the Omzian Greenpeace Association has threatened legal actions against the Omzian Navy, stating that "legal actions will be taken against the parties responsible for this irresponsible killing."

As the situation progresses on, even though the military is standing firm on their stance, the rest of the nation is now deeply divided on the current issue at land.

DAURMONT, Isselmere - His Majesty's Government is strangely tight-lipped about the recent incident in the Omzian Democratic Republic. The Prime Minister declared that the Cabinet was reviewing the matter.

In the House of Assembly, the Opposition Labour Party announced its disgust with the Omzian navy's response to protesters. The Liberal Democratic Party argued that whilst the loss of life and property was regrettable, the protesters had been warned.

This has been Sarah Plehvin for INBC 1 News.

Omzian State Satellite News
Majority Government Under Fire From Opposition; Fleet Admiral Logan Blasted by Coalition of Opposition Leaders; Omzian Greenpeace Association Sues the Omzian Navy

OSSN - As the situation continues to spread out through the Omzian government, the Omzian military received further fire from an united government opposition front as the leadership figures of the military came under intense fire. While the majority New Democratic Party, along with the Minister of National Defence within the cabinet, had been altogether quiet about the incident, opposition leaders has demanded the majority to "officially announce its actual views of the incident". Further, though the Omzian Navy's investigation was said to be "going well, with no apparant signs of wrongdoings" according to an anonymous Omzian naval officer, the governmental opposition also blasted as "a child's play on the stage." Though the situation is still hotly debated on both sides, it is already very clear that the issue now threatens to tear the nation apart.

"it's simply outrageous that such massacre of eleven people are tolerated by the Omzian People's National Defence Forces," Dr. Hagras of the opposition coalition blasted Fleet Admiral Logan in an emergency hearing on Saturday, as a governmental investigation led by the Ministry of National Security has been finally initated under pressure from opposition leaders. "It is paradoxically outrageous, as an armed forces which bears the word 'People' in its name are killing them [the people] instead." Dr. Hagras, the great-grandson of the legendary Admiral Hagras of the First Omzian Republic, also accused the majority government of being "deceptive about the incident, while refusing to address this situation to save their own rear ends."

For the Omzian Greenpeace Association themselves however, the organization has officially submitted the application to sue the Omzian Navy on Friday, seeking a total of $1 billion dollars for property damage and compensation for the victims' families. While the Omzian Navy has refused to officially comment on the situation, an anonymous naval officer was quoted to be saying, "the Omzian Navy will defend its cause and its position in this incident, and will not submit to the conspiracy orchestrated by the ecoterrorists." Further, it is also rumoured that the Omzian Ministry of National Security, the branch responsible for the Coast Guard, will also conduct their own inquiry and investigation, in parallel with the Omzian Navy's investigation. However, the Omzian Ministry of National Security has officially refused to comment

As of right now however, the prospect of having the situation calmed down is appearing more and more grim, with possible reprecussions and consequences in the future that may destabilize and affect the standing of the New Democratic Party's 10-year-old dominance of the Omzian government, along with the leadership of the Omzian Navy itself.

I would like to extend my nations and my support to your nations military at this time for their actions in this incident. My nation and the military fully support and back the decision of the destroyer's commander's decision. In following the military and naval commands directives concerning off-limits posts and areas, I find that the commander was completly justified in his actions.

The military of a nation must not be held responsible for the unlawful and negligant actions of the Greenpeace members.

Office of the Prime Minister, the Citadel
Imperium, Republic of New Britain

“Sir, the situation in Omz. According to Ms. Deveraux, the Omzian media is reporting a growing problem within their legislative body and –“

Alistair Tetley sighed, he had just woken up from a mid-afternoon nap on an otherwise slow day to find yet another instance of a friend with domestic problems that Foreign Affairs felt necessitated an official response. Which meant he had to form an opinion when he honestly couldn’t care one bloody iota.

“Synopsis again, please.”

“Greenpeace got too close to restricted waters and an Omzian warship blew the Greenpeace boat out of the water, last count 11 fatalities.”

“Bloody hell, nations of over a billion people and the press gets worked up about eleven bloody protestors.” Tetley rubbed his eyes. Sometimes, open and transparent democracies simply caused more problems than they were worth – and having media coverage of what seemed to be a legitimate action, albeit somewhat heavy-handed, casting that action in a negative light –

The Prime Minister’s chief aide simply stood next to the long couch with a small folder, which he promptly handed over to his boss when he finally managed to sit himself up. “Here at home, sir, Mr. Collins is already making claims that your government is in bed with state-sponsored terrorism.”

“That fool doesn’t know when to shut his mouth.” Tetley shook his head, political opponents could always be counted on to force his hand. “I suppose that we need a statement rather soon, then?”

“That would be the advice of Ms. Deveraux, sir.”

“And how is this shaping up in our own media?”

“Opinion polls show the public seemingly galvanized against the Omzian state after the ‘barbaric’ actions taken by their destroyer.”

“Barbaric?”

“The words of Mr. Collins, sir.”

Tetley sighed once more; Collins was nothing short of a pain in his ass. But he couldn’t blame him – several months from now he’d be competing for this very job. It was his duty, so-to-speak, to make strong colourful statements. But now he’d have to temper the mob that was the UK while riding the sea of popularity. Another problem of democratic societies.

Official Statement from the Office of the Prime Minister

The United Kingdom wholeheartedly stands behind its good friends and allies despite any individual actions that may reflect negatively upon said friends. While it is the position of this government that the actions undertaken by the Omzian Navy were undoubtedly severe, heavy-handed, and perhaps uncalled for, the United Kingdom recognizes the sovereignty of the Omzian state in dealing with serious violations of its national security as presented by the Greenpeace vessel which so brazenly violated the restricted waters after numerous warnings to change course.

And so while the UK must look skeptically upon the actions taken by the Omzian destroyer, we will not waver in our firm friendship with the Omzian people for no true friendship can survive without the occasional disagreement.

Official Imperial Response

The Empire hole-heartadly appluads any action taken by the Omzian government against these rebellious hippies. Keep up the good work!

OOC: Expect additional news reports and perhaps even some character RPs in the next few days. It's all part of a bigger plot, I suppose, if anyone's interested. Also, Bonstock, I wouldn't mind if the sub-plot about the three captured "agents" would continue.