NationStates Jolt Archive

The Bardarian Royal Government held a closed Cabinet meeting in the new Government Building. Prime Minister Asmolach II had called the meeting to discuss a sensitive topic; Slavery!

"Even though slavery is dead in the cities we all know it exist in the countryside. As a member of the World Assembly it would be quite embarassing if foreign nations thought we aren't doing anything to prevent it", the Prime Minister said.
"Slavery is illegal according to Bardarian law", the Attorney General Izakh Berdin added.
"We are not talking about laws now, but tradition", the Minister of Agriculture and Growth; Lasila Sarekh informed, "in the cities abolishing slavery was easy, since it hasn't existed in urban areas in 400 years, however on the countryside it's still normal."
"What's the normal reason for falling into slavery??" Carderes Zum, the Minister of Education and Public Enlightment asked.
"Povetry, debts, orphans", Lasila Sarekh murmured, "and of course many are born into slavery".
"Also some darned Oppressor civilians were ensalved after the war", the Minister of Social Affairs; General Kessel Berdin informed.
"So, what should we do about it"? the Prime Minister asked.
"We better work with the Clans", Izakh Berdin answered, "remember when we tried to remove witchcraft as a criminal offence, it went soo well".
"We must involve the Clans and the Church a little more in the decision making process", the Prime Minister agreed.
"So, we should aim for emancipation", Lasila added, "could we ask the Clans to assist all those who remember their Clan affiliation?"
"Probably",Matheres Sarekh, the Minister of Industry and Labor nodded, "but what about those who were enslaved as small children or have been slaves for generations? There are probably no records of which Clan they should belong to."
"Perhaps they should be emancipated in their master's Clan", general Berdin speculated, "I can't really find any other solution."
"At least I know what to do with those stinking northerners", General Pridos Konstant, the Minister of Defence murmured, "we just transport them up to the Oppressor border and let them take care of their own".
"I agree, they are not our problem", the Prime Minister said, "Izakh, you work with the Clans on this. We shouldn't involve the local Police, I think, they have deep roots in their communities. Could the Secret Police investigate further and register slaves?"
"Certainly", the Minister of Interior Affairs and Security, Zethira Alvaras smiled, "I'll have them handle it."
"Good", the Prime Minister concluded, "meeting adjourned".

"This is Radio Baradech! The one true and only source of good and trustworthy information in our great captal! Our beloved Prime Minister and Patriarch; His Holiness Asmolach II has promised to finally deal with the slavery in the countryside. Our great Prime Minister reminded that slavery is illegal and that if anyone is held as a slave that person has the rights to their freedom. He also stated that the government is working with the Clans for an emancipation plan. Long Live The Prime Minister! Long Live the Nation! Long Live the Queen!"

"This is Radio Baradech!

The one good and trustworthy source of information in our great captal! The Prime Minister continue his great battle against slavery. Rumors have it that our great government will have made an end to this archaic and barbaric practice in three years. Today the government will speak with some distinguished Clan Elders, to discuss emancipation of slaves and the end of uncivilized behaviour on the countruside. Long Live Bardar! Long Live the Queen!"

Zethira Alvaras walked up to Jidhir Trielas' dark office in bunker under the new headquarters of the Secret Police. Since the "chaos" the Secret Police had decided that the Chief's office must be safe from any disaster threatening the headquarters.
"So, what have our youn Prime Minister got in his head this time?" the Chief asked.
"Oh, he want to use the Secret Police to register all slaves in the countryside, nothing more serious", Zathira Alvaras smiled. Jidhir looke at her and thought how much she resembled her motherl, the legendary Carelia Alvaras.
"You like the new office, even though it must resemble your old home", Zethira continued to tease him.
"I don't want to be reminded of my years in hell", Jidhir Trielas answered, "my men have better things to do than spy on peasants, but I will do what's required of me."
"Good", Zethira smiled, "I may not yet hold as much power and influenced as mother did, but I am the matriarch of the Alvaras family and the Minister of Interior and Security, you better start to give me the respect I deserve, father". With these words Zethira Alvaras left Jidhir Trielas office.

Slavery persist in our modern days;

In the deep mountains of Bardar, in small peasant villages slavery is still very much a practice. Richer peasants buy the chlidren of the poor as their slaves. Sometimes whole families are enslaved due to debts they can't repay. In town halls sometimes slaves are sold openly, as they were nothing but animals.

Slavery is illegal according to Bardarian law. The Royal Government has tried to deal with this problem, and have launched an offensive the last few weeks. The government are talking about fines for every slaveowner who don't release his slaves at the nearest government office, for registration and emancipation. However the government need to work together with the Clans, if the slaves are going to be really emancipated, they need to be taken in by the Clans, so they can be considered Bardarian citizens. But the Clan leaders are conservatives, and negotiations might take months, if not years. Meanwhile slavery exist openly in the countryside.

Hans Steiner,
The Times

This is Radio Baradech!!

The glorious Royal Government has busted some dirty foerign slaves from the Oppressors. These evil foreigners were effectively driven to the border, where they were given to the fiendish Oppressor authorities. All foreigners will be driven out of our gloriou country by our Great Government!!
Long Live Bardar! Long Live the Queen!!

Trucks transport "non- Bardarians" to the northern border;

A part of the Bardarian campaign against slavery has been expelling "foreign slaves" to their Marxist neighbor the PFF. The Stalinist remnant in the north has almost collapsed int last few years, still persons that was caught and enslaved during the Bardarian Liberation War and their children are now transported north to an uncertain future. When I asked a Bardarian Official about the issue his answer was blunt; "They are not Bardarians, and not our problem".

Hans Steiner,
The Times