NationStates Jolt Archive

International Human Rights Watch News Release
Mer Des Ennuis: HIV/AIDs Victims forcibly moved to Prison Camp
(Prison Camp 35a, February 26, 2006) - Security forces of the Armed Republic of Mer Des Ennuis have moved to arrest and imprisoned victims of HIV/AIDs in a state mandated attempt to quarantine the virus. Victims were forcibly removed from their homes and transferred to a military prison encompassing roughly 400 acres. Over the course of the past week, it is estimated that 100,000 civilians in all stages of the virus were apprehended and jailed in a newly constructed military prison without fair trail. One report indicates that inmates are kept in place by an electrified fence patrolled by heavily armed guards, and are being assigned to forced labor groups. Allegations of abuse are being reported. International human rights watch is condemning the unjust actions of the government, and suggesting the practice be abolished.


Office of the Arch Arsonist, For Immediate Release
In response to the growing epidemic of HIV/AIDs, The Armed Republic of Mer Des Ennuis was forced to initiate immediate quarantine methods to halt the transmission of HIV/AIDs. Realizing that the vile disease is capable of infecting emergency response workers as well as sexual partners and drug users, the state was forced to these emergency members. All inmates have access to medical care, and monitored contact with family members. The facility they are housed in is a state of the art, medium/close security detention facility, segregated according to inmate’s potential for violence. All attempts are being made to allow inmates to live in close proximity to infected-family members and friends within the camp.

To pay for the cost of habitation and available treatment, skilled inmates are charged, to the best of their ability, to carry out work for the state as close as possible to their original occupation. Unskilled inmates are assigned to labor work that they are capable of doing. In addition, a hospital has been constructed to deal with inmate health issues. Once our citizens who are infected die off, we hope to use the facility for other non-treatable contagious diseases, or general prison use. We are not in the business of executing our own citizens except for cases outlined in the Mer Des Ennuis Uniform Code of Justice. In order to ensure successful containment, any instances of insurrection or rioting will be met with lethal force.

Office of the Arch Arsonist, For Immediate Release
It is the sad duty of the government of Mer des Ennuis to announce that inmates in the highest security section of the recently established HIV/AIDs prision facility entered into a state of cowardly open rebellion. Two Guards were held hostage and killed. As per standard policy for insurrection, after warnings over loud speakers, the inmates of the blocks were declared enemies of the state, and 200 shock troopers of the 415th Military Police Division were dispatched to quell the rebellion. 15 soldiers were injured, and 450 of the 460 prisoners were killed. Lethal force was mandated as per the Mer Des Ennuis Uniform Code of Justice, as shots were fired at Uniformed Soldiers. The survivors will be treated mediacally, and tried in a closed military tribunal. The dead will be left in the open for 5 days, to ensure compliance. In addition, 100 commissars will be assigned to the prision to further prevent the cowardice associated with rebellion.

To: Foreign Minister of Mer des Ennuis
From: Alexander Peters, Minister of Foreign Affairs, Northern Colonies
Sub: AIDS

The Northern Colonies Government condemns this actions of your government, as according to medical research, the sufferers do not appear to be able to spread the virus to anyone else around them unless they engage in unprotected sexual intercourse or other cases where blood is transfered from one person to another. It is the view of the Northern Colonies Government, that is would be more efficent to educate the men as to the risk they face as carriers of the disease. The Northern Colonies Government URGES Mer des Ennuis to stop imprisoning people with AIDS, or there will be other consequences.

Yours Sincerly,
Alexander Peters
Minister of Foreign Affairs
Northern Colonies.

To: Alexander Peters, Minister of Foreign Affairs, Northern Colonies
From: Office of the Arch Arsonist, Foreign Affairs
Sub: AIDS

Our government has feels that, in the long run, it is cheaper and more effective to segregate the carriers of the disease from the general population to prevent additional spread of the virus. As part of our national ID program, we are instituting compulsuary HIV/AIDs screening. If we were to abandon these efforts, the virus would just become harder to contain. The quarantine, coupled with the productivity we are realizing from the prision provides benefits that more than outweigh the harm of a few hundred deaths.

With Regards,
Castra Moore
Foreign Liaison
Mer Des Ennuis

To: Foreign Minister of Mer des Ennuis
From: Alexander Peters, Minister of Foreign Affairs, Northern Colonies
Sub: AIDS

The Northern Colonies government, considers that a HIV quarantine is not neccessary and is a violation of human rights. It is therfore imperative, thats the Mer des Ennuis Government abondon this program, or as stated, consequences will happem.

Yours Sincerly,
Alexander Peters
Minister of Foreign Affairs
Northern Colonies.

Official Announcement of the United States Department of State

As we realize that The Armed Republic of Mer des Ennuis has not developed to the level of workable AIDS cocktails or much less a cure for the disease, we recommend hotly that they deliver the patients in question into the United States of Allanea, where they will be granted asylum.

We need to remind you that the United States of Allanea is far more economically advanced then the Armed Republic (we are able, for example, to field an armed force of 10 million men, probably larger then the adult population of Mer des Ennuis). As such, you understand that we will be able to properly care for your ill.

It is thus hotly recommended that you consider our suggestion.
Sincerely yours,

J. K. Arvin, United States Secretary of State

To: Alexander Peters
From: Office of the Arch Arsonist, Department of Prisons
Sub: Camp 35a

As previously stated, Mer Des Ennuis sees the quarantine program as a necessary step for the greater good of our country. It is imperative to realize that we are not persecuting our countrymen in sub-human conditions. The security systems at Camp 35a are necessary to prevent the escape of violent criminals, as standard in the rest of the Mer Des Ennuis prison system. We cannot stress enough that these inmates are segregated according to previous criminal activities. We are currently putting systems in place that would allow almost unrestricted access to the outside world, such as earning of a wage and private possession of property, from within the confines of the camp. Let us know if we can answer any more of your questions.

Elias Matthews
Department of Prisons, Public Relations
Mer Des Ennuis

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To: J.K. Arvin
From: Office of the Arch Arsonist, Foriegn Affairs
Sub: Camp 35a

I will refer your concerns directly to the Arch Arsonist, but allow me to do all I can to correct your fears.

First and foremost: Mer Des Ennuis will not forcibly remove its citizens, and will not do so under threat of force.

While there currently is no cure for the disease, our Health and Welfare division reports that they are doing everything possible to relieve the pain for those who are in the terminal stages of the disease. While force will only result in more loss of life, we would most likely accept with open arms freely given medicine.

Our commissars report that there has been no need for capital punishment since the riots, and, with few exceptions, there is very little crime within the confines of the prison itself, and consequently little punishment. As such, we do not feel that these victims are being persecuted, and have nothing to be granted asylum from.

Do not hesitate to contact my office with future questions.

Mark Conway
Foreign Liaison
Mer Des Ennuis

OOC: interesting idea.

OOC: interesting idea.

OOC: Thanks. I had wondered, purely as a hypothetical, "what if we sent all the people with AIDs to a nice tropical island where they could live their lives without spreading the virus, much like a leper colony." I also have thought that, in the US, welfare would make so much more sense if the people on it worked HAD to contribute back to the government using their skills (ultimatly, with the purpose of bringing them back on their feet). So why not?

OOC: There are people today that have been diagnosed as HIV positive and then been later ‘cleaned’ of the virus, I think it’s reasonable to expect a cure in an NS MT/PMT tech society.

IC:

Official Response of the United States Department of State

If the lack of a medicine/cure is the only problem, we are ready to provide you with such medicine, as produced by Allanean Pharmaceuticals, Inc. Two cargo aircraft carrying this cure will be sent in as soon as you confirm the receipt of this message.

Sincerely yours,

J.K. Arvin, United States Dept. of State

OOC: Its my understanding that AIDS has only been "cured" in a vast minority of cases. That being said:

To: J.K. Arvin
From: Office of the Arch Arsonist
Sub: AIDS Medicine

Are we to presume that this is another type of antiretroviral drug? We have no knowledge of any such cure, and do not expect a vaccine until rougly 2010. However, we will take any medication you are willing to give, and, once it is screened and analyzed by our scientists, we will administer it and, in due time, release the inmates.

Carpathia
Arch Arsonist
Mer Des Ennuis

OOC: Those HIV cases could be false positives. I would be fine for an AIDS cure in PMT, but definately not MT. And not all HIV ends up turning into AIDS