NationStates Jolt Archive

(Thread for the Merano Regency (http://ns.goobergunch.net/wiki/index.php/Merano_Regency)'s interview with former Ariddian Prime Secretary Aj Ud (http://ns.goobergunch.net/wiki/index.php/Aj_Ud). Not quite sure how this will work, or even where it is: I'm guessing an interviewer will come to Ariddia.)

(OOC: If you like, yes. Aj Ud, being old, lives with family - specifically, with his sister's grandson and the latter's wife and children - in a fairly modest flat in Rêvane. He can be interviewed there, perhaps. I'll let you start the interview, since your character is the interviewer.)

Interviewer Kimberly Wren: Hello...how may I address you?

Aj Ud: "Good afternoon, Ms. Wren. You may call me whatever you like. But the official form of address would be 'Prime Secretary'."

Wren: Thank you. I suppose on that note we'll begin with your name: it's clearly a Wymgani (she struggles over pronunciation but forces her way through) one: could you tell us about that ethnicity and their importance in Ariddia?

Ud: "Wymgani names are typically in two parts, each one either monosyllabic or bisyllabic. Of course, not all Wymgani have got traditional Wymgani names. Our current leader, Prime Secretary Nuriyah Khadhim, is Wymgani too.

We - the Wymgani - are the Indigenous people of Ariddia. We've been here for over three thousand years, which means that most of Ariddia's history is Wymgani history. Other ethnic and cultural groups, starting with Europeans, only arrived in the seventeenth century.

Our history was recorded orally for centuries. Great names from the pre-colonial era are remembered today as part of Ariddian history. O Tau (http://ns.goobergunch.net/wiki/index.php/O_Tau), Wa We (http://ns.goobergunch.net/wiki/index.php/Wa_We), Sho Ea (http://ns.goobergunch.net/wiki/index.php/Sho_Ea)... Some of our ancestors have remained famous as great explorers, discovering distant, foreign lands. But it's important to understand that our society was, and is, about communities rather than individuals.

Wymgani values - solidarity, community, environmental sustainability - have had a huge impact on Ariddian society as a whole. Today, we're about 30% of the population. Some of us are urban; some live traditional lifestyles in the forests. But for most of us our culture is still very important. As is our language, which is one of the official languages of Ariddia, and spoken by many non-Wymgani too.

There are specific, traditional laws for Wymgani, too. There's an Indigenous Parliament, the Wehela Iolih. Wymgani are Ariddian citizens, of course, but to some extent we also have self-government.

There are many things to be said about Wymgani, of course. We have a rich history, culture, values...

I should add, though, that I was the Prime Secretary of all Ariddians, not just Indigenous ones. And that's true of my successor, too."

Wren: You emphasize the importance of the community over the individual: how does that mindset impact the country?

Ud: "Could you speak up a little, young lady? My hearing isn't what it once was... Community? Well... Traditionally, in Wymgani society, there's a strong emphasis on mutual caring, on helping other members of the community in any way you can, knowing that you can rely on them to help you, too. Food is shared freely, for example. Work is done communally. Initially, before our ancestors encountered foreigners, this was just 'the way it was'. Now it's become a conscious value.

Colonisers took an interest in Wymgani ways of life, so our focus on community life was always there as a possible model, but it wasn't until the twentieth century that it really became influential. Non-Indigenous socialists were inspired, in part, by Wymgani ideals. Our Social Republic was founded on socialist principles, but also, to some extent, on Wymgani traditions. Ariddian community values on the whole, today, are very similar to traditional Wymgani values that have existed for thousands of years."

Wren (more loudly): Rather "conservative" for a traditionally liberal country? (laugh) More seriously, how has Ariddia reacted to criticism of its ideals? I understand there have been multiple secessions, forming West (http://ns.goobergunch.net/wiki/index.php/West_Ariddia) and North-West Ariddia (http://ns.goobergunch.net/wiki/index.php/North-West_Ariddia).

Ud: "Not exactly. Just one secession - West Ariddia. And that was a very long time ago. North-West Ariddia seceded from West Ariddia, not from the PDSRA. It's a little complicated...

Our relations with West Ariddia have normalised now, although at first they were very tense. The issue of reunification is a difficult one. The West Ariddian government remains opposed to reunification, because it would be, for them, a loss of sovereignty. By contrast, we want to see all Ariddians re-united as part of a same nation. This division between our islands is a painful one. Poor people in West Ariddia suffer from atrociously bad living conditions, and, because they are poor, cannot emigrate. Throughout my time in office I've tried to ensure that progress was made on this issue, but it's still far from settled. We've given concrete help to poor West Ariddians so that they can move to Ariddia. But it's a vast problem.

North-West Ariddia... was created by people who rejected West Ariddia's capitalist model. Initially, North-West Ariddia was to become a part of Ariddia again. Things didn't quite turn out that way. North-West Ariddians have developed their own sense of national identity, and their own socialist model, different from ours. Again, though, I have hopes for re-unification, even if it takes a while."

Wren: Ah.

Can you tell us about your term, or terms, as it were? What achievements are you most proud of?

Ud: "Let's see... Towards the end of my last term, I tried to ensure that Ariddia would have a strong voice within the Uhuhland Union (http://ns.goobergunch.net/wiki/index.php/Uhuhland_Union), and that our policies and ideals could be strongly influential throughout the continent. I think we - not just me, of course - have been successful in that. Our social model, transposed to the supra-national stage, has made positive changes to the lives of people in neighbouring countries.

Similarly, I worked hard to mend relations with West Ariddia, and those relations are cordial now.

On the wider international scene, my priority was to establish diplomatic relations with a greater number of countries, and to give Ariddia a more influential voice in the world... notably through being active in the United Nations, and through increasing the activity of our embassies, and increasing the number of Ariddian cultural centres abroad.

Within Ariddia itself... My aim was mostly to preserve what my predecessors have built. We have a society which suits our needs, based on strong, positive values, and I wanted to make sure all Ariddians would benefit from that.

You should drink your tea, my dear, before it gets cold. And do help yourself to biscuits."

Wren: (sipping her tea, keeping the cup up a bit longer than necessary so she can hide a grin until it subsides) I understand Ariddia's activity in the United Nations is...Well, could you simply elaborate on that?

Ud: "Of course. Technically, Ariddia is not a member; the Extraterritorial Sovereign Ariddian Territory (http://ns.goobergunch.net/wiki/index.php/ESAT) is. In practice, everyone knows ESAT is just our mouthpiece. It's not even an open secret; it's not a secret at all. Having ESAT as our representation in the United Nations enables us to have a voice in the UN without having to conform to any UN legislation we disagree with. It's a fairly standard way of avoiding mandatory compliance." (smiles)

"Now... Ours is an active voice in the General Assembly. We're very present in most debates. Ariddia is a member of the United Nations Old Guard and the Green Think Tank, and we're observers at the United International Congress and the National Sovereignty Organisation, all of them organisations which are centred on United Nations activity. So Ariddia is seen as quite active.

As for policy... In general, our policy has been not to have an explicit, rigid policy. We're definitely not seen as 'sovereignists'." (laughs slightly) "By that, I mean that we don't defend 'national sovereignty' just for the sake of it. We look at proposals on a case by case basis. In general terms, we support proposals which we see as progressive, in terms of human rights for example, including social rights.

As you may know, Ariddia recently submitted a proposal of its own, to give concrete help to climate refugees (http://ns.goobergunch.net/wiki/index.php/Climate_Refugee_Commission). I was very disappointed when it was defeated." (shakes his head sadly) "Very disappointed. In many ways, member countries of the United Nations can be very selfish and immature.

But Ambassador Zyryanov (http://ns.goobergunch.net/wiki/index.php/Christelle_Zyryanov) is doing a wonderful job as our ambassador in the United Nations. I admire her energy and dedication. Especially since she's raising a young child at the same time."

Wren: (finishing off a biscuit) Wonderful...I understand Ariddia is strictly vegetarian? What prompted this decision, or has it always been the natural way of life?

Ud: "It seems natural to us now, but it hasn't always been that way. The decision was made several generations ago, before any of us were born. Legislation was adopted by referendum. All the most important laws are submitted to referendum, you see. Like any genuinely socialist country, Ariddia is profoundly democratic.

That law has remained in place ever since. But it was simply the enacting of beliefs, values, a state of mind most of our ancestors shared, and which has been passed down to us today. So yes, to us now it does seem the natural way of things."

Wren: Beliefs and values, obviously, being important in every culture...Could you go into some more detail about what fundamental ideals shape Ariddia-religious or, for most of it, otherwise?

Ud: "Religion... doesn't play a very important role in our society. Of course, some Ariddians have religious beliefs and practices, and their freedom of belief and worship is protected by law. There's a beautiful church in Espérence, and a magnificent mosque here in Rêvane. But most Ariddians are atheists. Our country is secular, with complete seperation of Church and State.

Our ideals... We are very community-minded. We have a strong sense of... well, responsability and solidarity towards one another. It's one of the fundamental bases of our society. We are all part of society, and it is normal for us to help one another as much as we can. Other than that... Ariddia has an excellent education system, and education is highly valued. The United Nations recognises Ariddians as being particularly well educated and intelligent. Our education system encourages critical thinking, and that's something we value very much as well.

That, and making sure we manage our natural environment in a sustainable way. The major part of Ariddia consists in unspoiled forests, and we're trying to keep it that way. Wymgani have practiced environmentally sustainable lifestyles for centuries - millenia, even - and that's something we've all inherited, as a nation. A deep concern for protecting our natural environment."

Wren:I suppose that would tie in with the Climate Refugee proposal. But how do you put those beliefs into legislation?

Ud: "Legislation tends to follow the evolution in people's behaviour, rather than the other way round. It would be difficult to force people to adopt a communal lifestyle and an essentially communist economy, if they weren't ready and willing. Our economic policies, for example, were enshrined in law once the people of Ariddia were ready for them. The quality of our education system helps. A highly educated population is more receptive to progressive legislation.

So to a significant extent, legislation reflects the people's beliefs, rather than the other way round. Or, you could say, it goes both ways."

Wren: How is legislation passed-what's the general governmental process?

Ud: "Ah. Well, it's reasonably simple. Our legislative branch is the People’s Prime Parliament (Ariddian_government_and_judiciary#The_People.E2.80.99s_Prime_Parliament), which is democratically elected. The Council of Secretaries - government ministers - can reject a proposed law, but if they don't, Parliament debates and votes on it. If the law is particularly important, it's submitted to citizens by referendum.

There's also an Indigenous Parliament, as I mentioned. It has the right to review any legislation enacted by Parliament, and to modify the way in which any law will be applied for Indigenous Ariddians. This is not ensure that no national law violates or contradicts customary Wymgani law."

Wren: Tradition and history are obviously very important.

Ud: "Yes, indeed." (smiles) "I'm glad you think so. And not just for Indigenous Ariddians. Our country as a whole has a rich and fascinating history. Our traditions come from that history, and our education system ensures that all Ariddians are knowledgeable about our past, to make sure we all understand our present, and are able to look at it intelligently, critically."

Wren: Could you summarize that history for us? (After the slightest pause, a bit concerned that it might be too late) ...Briefly?

Ud: "Of course." (smiles) "It all started many years ago..." (watches Wren's expression, and laughs) "More seriously, then. Ariddia's first inhabitants arrived over three thousand years ago. They had brown skin, were similar in many ways to Polynesians, and had a culture which would eventually evolve into our unique Wymgani culture. The leader of the first settlement is thought to have been a man called O Tau, although historians disagree on whether he truly existed.

These first people spread, over the centuries, thoughout the twenty Ariddian Isles. Their population increased, but they were skilled conservationists, never over-exploiting the natural ressources available. After having discovered and settled all the Ariddian Isles, they went on exploring, sailing the far seas.

This brings us to one of the most fascinating periods in Ariddian history. Wymgani explorers were incredibly skilled, and are considered to have been some of the greatest navigators of all times. They set out into the unknown across vast distances. Going from here in the South Pacific, they explored the Pacific Ocean, but also reached foreign shores as distant as Africa, Europe and the Arctic. Still today, Ariddia has territories in the Arctic which were discovered in the fifteenth century by Wymgani. Well... Wymgani weren't the first to get there, of course. There were indigenous inhabitants and earlier settlers. But that would take us into a long and complex chapter of history...

Where was I?" (pauses) "Ah, yes. One of our greatest explorers, whom you may have heard of, was Wa We (http://ns.goobergunch.net/wiki/index.php/Wa_We), in the fourteenth century. She was a navigator, a diplomat, a linguist... a scholar in the traditional, oral, Indigenous sense.

If we fast-forward to the seventeenth century, we reach the first foreign waves of settlement in Ariddia. The Ariddian Isles were colonised by Europeans. Relations between the Wymgani and European settlers were... complex. Often very tense. Wymgani were driven off their lands. There was violence, injustice and resentment. A lot of misunderstanding, too. The cultures and values were so very different, at first... But it could also have been a lot worse.

Ariddia came under control of francophone and anglophone Europeans, governing it jointly, while large parts of the country remained, effectively, under Wymgani control. The settlers built towns, which became cities, and set up a colonial society, importing new ideas and values.

At the beginning of the 19th century, Ariddia became an independent republic, still under the rule of white settlers. White male settlers, I should add. But Wymgani slowly found a place in the settler society, including in its politics. Some Wymgani assimilated into Ariddia's non-Indigenous society. Until the 20th century, politics were controlled by conservative, right-wing political parties. In the twentieth century, socialist, environmentalist and pro-Indigenous movements and parties rose together to bring new ideas into politics, new ideas for society.

Of course, historians would say I'm simplifying the issues, and I'd be glad to tell you more about any specific period, but to cut a long story short, in 1985, a snap election in an atmosphere of crisis brought in a new Prime Minister, Xavier Gris (http://ns.goobergunch.net/wiki/index.php/Xavier_Gris), of the Democratic Communist Party. He implemented sweeping reforms. That was the beginning of our Social Republic, which we've maintained and consolidated ever since.

I don't mean to say there were no socialist ideas before the 20th century, of course. If you want to understand that, I recommend the novels and poetry of Annabelle Laurier (http://ns.goobergunch.net/wiki/index.php/Annabelle_Laurier) - a 19th century socialist writer. I can lend you one of her books, if you like. Most Ariddians, I think, have read them all. They're part of our shared culture and history, too."

Wren: ...Ah...Thank you. Very...Well, I suppose there's a lot to summarize, isn't there? (laugh)

How do you think future historians will evaluate your terms?

Ud: "Oh, goodness! I really don't know. Positively, I hope." (laughs) "More seriously, I don't think Ive made any significant mistakes, and Ariddians enjoy a good lifestyle, within a safe society, founded on solidarity. I was elected nine times in a row, so I do hope that means my fellow citizens were reasonably satisfied." (smiles slightly)

Wren: (smiling reassuringly) Anything else you want to share?

Ud: "I don't know. I'm sure there must be something, if I can just remember it... My memory wasn't always a mess, you know." (smiles) "Well, anyway, if your viewers want to know more about Ariddia, there's a lot of ways they can do that. You can go to our online virtual embassy, which has a lot of information. Or go to ariddia dot ari. Or do things the old-fashioned way: we have cultural centres in many countries, where you can meet Ariddians who will be happy to answer any questions you have about our country.

I think... Well, was there anything else you wanted to ask, Ms. Wren?"

Wren: Our viewers...um...(not wanting to offend him) I'm sure your offer will be accepted. Anything jog your memory?

Ud: "No, not really. Other than what I've just said. Whatever that was." (grins) "I don't know whether your paper is available around here, but if you publish this interview online, too, I will take a look. Oh... I suppose I could have talked about the Uhuhland Union. That was my... pet project, in a way. And when you mentioned my 'legacy'... Anyway, I'm not sure that would interest your readers." (smiles) "Do take some more cookies when you leave, won't you?"

Wren: Feel free to talk more about the Uhuhland Union: I'm not sure you made your importance in it clear.

Ud: "Well, the Uhuhland Union is a formal... alliance, supranational gathering of seven countries in this region. It was, in part, my idea, so I had high hopes about it. Working with the other governments of southern Uhuhland - the Ariddian Isles, the Ropa-Topian States and San Adriano -, we were able to create the Union. We have an international Council, empowered to make binding resolutions on all member countries. Ariddia has tried to have a strong voice in that Council, and to pass progressive legislation to benefit the lives of people in all member countries.

By pure chance, I was randomly selected as the first ever President of Uhuhland. An essentially honourary position, but it did mean I was able to direct the flow of debates a little, and Ariddia was able to... how shall I put it... set the tone of what the Union's future functions would be.

That was at the very end of my last term in office, as Ariddian Prime Secretary. The Uhuhland Union has continued to function well ever since. My successor, Prime Secretary Khadhim, has done an admirable job within the Union."

Wren: And what has the Union's function been?

Ud: "To promote understanding and cooperation between member countries, for one thing. Cultural exchanges, including student exchanges, as well as facilitated mutual humanitarian assistance, for example. It's also a mutual defence pact, but that's not as important, in my view. And, of course, it's an ideal means for... well, discussing the situation of our shared continent."

Wren: "Situation"?

Ud: "No, no, I mean whatever the situation may be, in general. Our part of the world is very peaceful."

Wren: Ah, that's good.

Well, thank you very much for your time, it was a pleasure to meet you. (rising, taking a couple cookies)

Ud: "Likewise. Thank you for coming."