NationStates Jolt Archive

Yanitarian News Wire

Parliamentary Update

After almost 4 years since the November Revolution, Parliament has declared the official ban on religion over. The ban, although legally binding, was only enforced the year after the tyrannical religious regime that the Secular Resistance Movement of Yanitaria overthrew. Since then, the anti-religion attitude has relaxed to the point, that earlier this month an all protestant embassy staff was chosen to establish an embassy in the puritanical NTC.

This "benchmark", if it can really be called such, does not, however, eliminate the taxes churches must pay. They will continue to be taxed heavily, just as any other profitable business.

In other news, Parliament has also expanded the "Free College Tuition" resolution to cover students studying abroad, as part of negotiations with the United Socialist States of New Brittonia. The expansion of the bill was met with a standing ovation, lasting a full 15 minutes.

And finally, Yanitaria has been seeking trade and alliances with several countries. It seems that negotiations with Alfegos are coming to a close, while all others are still pending. Any nation wishing to trade must contact Citizen Herb Northstorm, Secretary of Foreign Affairs, at the Yanitarian Foreign Ministry (located in the embassy thread).

Stoklomolvi congratulates Yanitaria for lifting the ban on religion, as Stoklomolvi itself has done many years ago. We are glad that yet another nation has decided to act wisely and allow the free practise of religion. However, we are a tad concerned with your heavy taxation of religious facilities. In Stoklomolvi, they are forced to pay a light tax for the land, but not for the building. We suggest that you do the same.

We thank Stoklomolvi for their congratulations, but the tax will stand. However it is not as bad as you think. Of course in a socialist state business is taxed and controlled heavily, but churches are not taxed any more than other businesses.

Even during the ban, churches were taxed just as much as any other profitable venture. The only thing that might be considered unfair is that the clergy are expected to live up to their own standards, and to that end are punished to the full extent of the law when ever they are convicted of any crime.

Ministry of State

We thank the nation of Yanitaria for lifting its restrictions on religion. This will allow Vetalian citizens to practice their beliefs freely, a fact which will immensely benefit your economy in the future. As business and trade are spiritual as well as material practices for our citizens, this will lead to economic rejuvenation as our citizens aid your companies and government in managing its economic enterprises.

Regards,
Proconsul Eveginy Alabayev

To Proconsul Eveginy Alabayev

The USSY laws restricting "light" personal freedoms such as religion have never applied to foreigners. And again, even if they had, for the last 3 years nobody really would have cared enough to persecute them. You must understand that Yanitaria went through a violent revolution based mainly on social issues like religion, and once the largely atheist nation had it's freedom, it got carried away in exacting revenge on the small 1-2% minority of those who do practice such things.

We assure you however that no arrests were made or lives taken. The ban on religion simply called for a fine of no less than $100 Denarii.