NationStates Jolt Archive


The Fist of Popular Anger (attn Praetonia)

The Gupta Dynasty
23-12-2006, 20:14
The following are excerpts from The Ajerite Sun, international edition.

Anti-Praetonian Protests Rock Yafor 2

AJER, YAFOR 2 AND KINGSTON, PRAETONIA - Normally, old allies tend to get along. Normally, it is these old allies who unite when faced with an international threat. Normally, nations who were once part of a powerful international alliance stay together even when the alliance has been broken up. But there are those times when alliances break and old friends part as enemies. Sometimes, those who were once friends become the worst enemies of all. It is these nations who have the bloodiest battles and whose people suffer the most. The relationship between Yafor 2 and Praetonia is neither.

This was a relationship that took a severe hit yesterday. In cities across Yafor 2, but in Ajer especially, shouting protesters filled the streets. These were not ordinary people and these were not ordinary protesters. In Ajer alone, close to 100 million people were outside in the cold, bitter winter weather for at least three hours, ignoring negative temperatures to express their displeasure with the Praetonian government. In all, estimates indicate that across the country, close to 750 million people spent at least five hours protesting, while estimates abound that at any one point, over two billion people were in the streets.

There are nearly twenty-one and one half million Yaforites living in Praetonia, with the great majority living in Kingston. Despite this number, protesters were conspicuously absent from the streets of the Praetonian capital. However, it was clear that the great majority of Yaforites living in the Yafor 2 were expressing their anger in a great way. In other foreign countries, there were few protests as well, though minor protests had evidently been planned for Pacitalia, Space Union, and others. Whether these protests even occurred or failed to match expectations is another story.

But why were so many people so disgusted with the government in Kingston? The answer lies in the interpretation of a comment (http://forums.jolt.co.uk/showpost.php?p=12109085&postcount=3)by Praetonian Prime Minister Sir Tiberius Polax. In his speech, he said a great many things about the ideological differences between the free nations of the Sovereign League and the nations of Gholgoth - in particular Automagfreek. These comments are supported by the great majority of Yaforites, says is the Imperial Yaforite Polling Service (IYPS). However it was s single comment in the latter part of his speech that provoked these protests:

"Whereas the Sovereign League and Gholgoth are polar opposites, the Sovereign League and CAD are only half-opposites...A Doomingslandi may not be able to vote for his government, but he may keep and spend the produce of his labour freely. It makes sense, therefore, for us to work together to promote liberal economics through ACTO."

It was this comment, later repeated in a letter to The Parliamentarian by Sir Polax that made Yaforites so angry. Many Yaforites, misreading the original words of Sir Polax, took that to mean that an alliance with CAD was right, and that nothing would be done to stop the government in Doomingsland, as well at the other governments of CAD. The Yaforite-CAD relationship is well known and such justification, particularly from a nation such as Praetonia, of open alliance with those nations, was enough to open the already-simmering volcano of Yaforite anger.

Yaforite-Praetonian relations have always been something of mystery. Many Praetonians regard the Yaforites as socialists and oppressors. Many Yaforites (close to 67%, according to the IYPS) feel that the Praetonians are "irresponsible businessmen". During the days of the Woodstock Pact and the Woodstock Pact Free Trade Area, their alliance and closeness (as well as the influence of the Sarzonians) managed to keep this relationship with control, but now, with the world as it is, the relationship has exploded and must be quickly kept in check.

Whether either side will give in is the question. According to the IYPS, close to 73% of Yaforites supported the protests and a massive majority participated. The only question is whether the will damage the Yaforite-Praetonian relationship irreparably and forever.