Questers
17-11-2007, 17:32
1st May, Questers
This afternoon, crowds gathered in Jesselton, the new capital of Questers, to protest a government announcement: massive defence cuts. As the Secretary for Defence announced slashes in the military budget by almost £13 trillion ($45 trillion), riots erupted over the country in major cities, with violence beginning in Jesselton at 12 Noon, in Beaufort at 1 PM, and Salisbury at 1:30 PM. In Jesselton, crowds numbering thousands marched down Empire Street with placards protesting the cuts in defence, which would leave Quester's military at an all time low with funding at approximately £5.7 trillion ($20 trillion). They were met by riot police and only minutes after, shots were fired and after a bitter struggle, Riot Police charged the crowd, arresting hundreds of political dissidents and breaking the riots.
But in Beaufort the situation worsened as the protestors routed the Riot Police, engaging in a running gun battle down Sunderland Street before helicopters and armed response teams brought the situation under control. Eleven are feared dead and hundreds more wounded. In all major cities across the country martial law has been declared, with widespread military and police delpoyments to keep law and order. Officially the Government has said the situation has come under control, but many local residents fear the riots may resume either when darkness falls or tommorow morning. Widespread civil unrest has been the hallmark of the King's totalitarian Government so far.
Hundreds have been wounded in other parts of the country and over nine thousand arrests were made this afternoon by both police and intelligence services who declared they suspected a large number of the riots to be instigated by "Communist rebels". In areas where rioting got out of contol Government officials and police have been beaten to death by large crowds. The response has been mass arrests, but it is yet to be seen what political dissidents and militant libertarians will be charged for.
Opposition groups to the Government say this move will significantly weaken not only the power of the Questarian military, but its prestige overseas and its ability to defend its colonial empire. However, Government officials are saying that the Questarian military is already large and the booming in spending in recent years must be countered, especially if widespread social reforms such as the planned comprehensive state education are to be enacted. An estimated 120 million personnel currently serve in the Questarian Armed Forces, with an estimated 250,000 aircraft and 18,000 ships. It is unknown how much, or what of this will be sold off or scrapped in tandem with the budget cuts.
The Head of the ex-Liberal Party of Questers spoke and said that political protests will be continued throughout at least the rest of the week and the Government must allow them to continue. Government Officials have said made no comment on whether further political protests will be allowed to continue. As it stands, this is a political standoff between Liberal and Libertarian activists and Government Forces. While the King most certainly will not loosen his grip on power, the Liberals will not surrender their freedoms either.
http://i221.photobucket.com/albums/dd172/Hoodtan/rc.jpg
Riot Police Prepare to Halt Riots, Jesselton
AP Reuters
This afternoon, crowds gathered in Jesselton, the new capital of Questers, to protest a government announcement: massive defence cuts. As the Secretary for Defence announced slashes in the military budget by almost £13 trillion ($45 trillion), riots erupted over the country in major cities, with violence beginning in Jesselton at 12 Noon, in Beaufort at 1 PM, and Salisbury at 1:30 PM. In Jesselton, crowds numbering thousands marched down Empire Street with placards protesting the cuts in defence, which would leave Quester's military at an all time low with funding at approximately £5.7 trillion ($20 trillion). They were met by riot police and only minutes after, shots were fired and after a bitter struggle, Riot Police charged the crowd, arresting hundreds of political dissidents and breaking the riots.
But in Beaufort the situation worsened as the protestors routed the Riot Police, engaging in a running gun battle down Sunderland Street before helicopters and armed response teams brought the situation under control. Eleven are feared dead and hundreds more wounded. In all major cities across the country martial law has been declared, with widespread military and police delpoyments to keep law and order. Officially the Government has said the situation has come under control, but many local residents fear the riots may resume either when darkness falls or tommorow morning. Widespread civil unrest has been the hallmark of the King's totalitarian Government so far.
Hundreds have been wounded in other parts of the country and over nine thousand arrests were made this afternoon by both police and intelligence services who declared they suspected a large number of the riots to be instigated by "Communist rebels". In areas where rioting got out of contol Government officials and police have been beaten to death by large crowds. The response has been mass arrests, but it is yet to be seen what political dissidents and militant libertarians will be charged for.
Opposition groups to the Government say this move will significantly weaken not only the power of the Questarian military, but its prestige overseas and its ability to defend its colonial empire. However, Government officials are saying that the Questarian military is already large and the booming in spending in recent years must be countered, especially if widespread social reforms such as the planned comprehensive state education are to be enacted. An estimated 120 million personnel currently serve in the Questarian Armed Forces, with an estimated 250,000 aircraft and 18,000 ships. It is unknown how much, or what of this will be sold off or scrapped in tandem with the budget cuts.
The Head of the ex-Liberal Party of Questers spoke and said that political protests will be continued throughout at least the rest of the week and the Government must allow them to continue. Government Officials have said made no comment on whether further political protests will be allowed to continue. As it stands, this is a political standoff between Liberal and Libertarian activists and Government Forces. While the King most certainly will not loosen his grip on power, the Liberals will not surrender their freedoms either.
http://i221.photobucket.com/albums/dd172/Hoodtan/rc.jpg
Riot Police Prepare to Halt Riots, Jesselton
AP Reuters