View from Benacia/Issue 34: RCC Protectorate Status in Question
This imported article was originally posted at http://viewfrombenacia.blogspot.com/2004/11/issue-34-rcc-protectorate-status-in.html at 11/23/04.
What some had hoped was an end to the Cyberian conflict seems to have exploded once more into controversy. After the previous issue of the View reported on the possible Protectorate being established over the RCC (Restored Commonwealth of Ciberia, headed by Jacobus), citizens of its opposite number, the VCC (Virtual Commonwealth of Cyberia) lodged protests in several locations (see this one in General and another in Off Topic, though discussion has been officially moved to the forum of the Ministry of the Exterior).
A not-unimpressive turnout was seen for condemnations of Jacobus and his micronational record. Citizens of the VCC accused him of infringing on their copyright of Cyberia and the names of its provinces, arguing that they had not been changed enough (or at all) to prevent confusion between the RCC and VCC. Alan Grieve said that his government "will be making an official statement on this issue shortly. I do not expect our government to be delighted at the prospect of Shireroth legitimizing an empire that consists entirely of one individual whose recent efforts include an attempt to overthrow the Atteran monarchy.
Mr Sherwin, under various names, has made endless offers of peace with Cyberia. He has kept none of the undertakings associated with those offers. His record gives no reason to believe he will honour his undertakings to Shireroth either. "
Mr. Grieve also pointed to the beginnings of the Cyberian conflict as a sign of Jacobus' untrustworthiness:
"Jacobus was a Cyberian for no more than 6 weeks and he was granted citizenship on an explicit promise of abandoning his claim to be emperor. I granted him citizenship in 2000 because I was silly enough to believe he would keep his word.
He broke that agreement, as in due course he will break his agreement with Shireroth. In any case, each time Jacobus has joined another micronation he has ended up breaking his agreement and seceding. Perhaps when he declares himself kaiser of Shyreroth in a few months you will appreciate that sounding off and sounding alike are different beasts."
The Cyberian foreign minister Jack Santucci added that his country was willing to use the intermicronational systems set in place at the Raspur Conference to take action.
The voices of the outraged were joined by Ras Noseworthy of Attera, who reported (albeit not in a government capacity) that
"Jacobus was confirmed by IP trace to be the entity behind the attempt to overthrow the Atteran monarchy and declare the United Sovereignties of Attera recently. I personally find it hard to believe that a responsible government, such as that of Shireroth's, would even consider the legitimization of a person who, by all accounts, is a micronational terrorist and has, up to just a matter of months ago, attempted coups in nations that have bilateral agreements with Shireroth."
Ardashir Khan Osmani of Babkha, a close ally of Shireroth, also chimed in:
"Jacobus has been linked to attempts to besmirche Attera's intermicronational reputation as well as efforts to annex Morovia and Tymaria at their respective low points.
...On the otherhand, what intermicronational controversies, involving legitimate micronations, can be blamed squarely upon the VCC? Zip. From this in itself we ought to be able to derive which of the two parties ought to be accorded more respect by the Intermicronational community and whose rights and interests ought to be heeded."
As the bounds of the discussion seem now to have been restricted to the Ministry of the Exterior forum, it may be that the disussion will calm down. But even there, related developments proceed apace. The VCC also presented a draft treaty to MiniEx Scott, in what may be a bid to convince Shireroth to keep a lid on Jacobus. Attempts to woo the Imperial Government may even be reaching the level of direct communications with the Kaiser, with Jacobus asking His Majesty to consider MiniEx Scott's "pro-VCC" position in any resolution of the conflict.
The renewal seems also to have spurred the possible beginnings of an effort to form an intermicronational front against Jacobus.
New MoRE Appointed No, not all our news is about Cyberia/Ciberia today. Kaiser Raynor XI appointed Baron Ari of Straylight to the Ministry of Research and Education in Imperial Decree #144. As it is believed that Ari may have plans to revitalize that relatively inactive Ministry, we at the View wish him well in the tasks ahead.
Bills in the Landsraad
The bills currently on the Landsraad floor are as follows:
-The Treaty with Lemuria finally looks as if it will pass. The count currently stands at Y-34 to N-7, with 8 nobles voting. DAMN, I'm glad that's over with.
-Spherical World Declaration, Take II: A, proposed by Duke Gryphon of Kildare on the 21st. The Duke of Kildare, after the failure of his first Spherical World Declaration, seems to have taken a different tack to MCS-related stances this time around. This resolution, the first of three separate bills meant to tackle the issue, is a friendlier version of the original; rather than opposing those expansions of the map that have already taken place, this bill focuses on limiting future expansion of the map.
-Spherical World Declaration, Take II: B, also by the Duke of Kildare on the 21st. This one is one of the odder map-related proposals that's been seen lately, in that it proposes that further changes to the MCS map take place in the form of tectonic upheavals announced by the MCS, although not too frequently as to be unrealistic. The Duke of Kildare cheerfully commented,
"I admit, this is partially because I'm tired of seeing the same old landmarks on the physical map, and partially because I'm disappointed about not being able to have Kitanus Pool put on the map. But I think the system would be interesting to say the least, and confusing to say the most : p" -Spherical World Declaration, Take II: C, also by you-know-who at you-know-when. This editor, being a great fan and advocate of space travel, will hereby unabashedly endorse this bill:
"Whereas: Face it, Micras is crowded: the MCS has done all it can to expand the world and still it seems there just isn't enough land. Also, it has been the steadfast position of Shireroth for aeons that we shall not give up land. As discovered by JASO Astronomy, the system consists of three (or is it four?) M-Class (that means habitable, for all you heathens who don't know your Star Trek) planets in the solar system.
Resolved: The feudal body of Shireroth would support a national or international project to advance in space exploration with the ultimate goal of colonization. Such a project is indeed difficult and strenuous, and therefore should not be recognized by a simple post of "I am now on Monkey" by some fool n00b.
Resolved: If indeed Micras does break out into a space race, the feudal body of Shireroth shall recognize no more claim than one continent by the first nation to land on an extramicronial world, afterwhich further claims should be negotiated by all member states of the MCS.
Resolved: The feudal body of Shireroth shall grant priority of recognization to any maps created by the preassigned JASO reporters, i.e. Indigo->Bill, Monkey->dStryker."
Despite the author's expectations that the bill would be controversial, it seems to be gaining early support. The Kaiser expressed concerns over the implementation of such a policy, and stressed the importance of working with the MCS, or at least creating a governable framework, in managing new planets. The Duke of Kildare, however, asserted that the declaration covered these points adequately.
The Duke also noted that such a project could go hand-in-hand with the old JASO research projects. In the preface to the bill:
"I do not expect it to pass, but I really want to get the issue out there again. We've been too long without science teams such as JASO, MiniTech, or ASTRO, and our own DoRC focuses mainly on tactical weaponry and not much on progressive research." And, in a later post: "The issue of anti-role-players should be a minimal issue, if we are actually to conduct research in a fashion similar to that of former JASO, using actual data and research to formulate hypotheses and the values of various other scientific terms I dare not befuddle you with now." Space Race Ahoy!
...Qua? Reportedly, Arminy has officially annexed the Empire of Alexandria (formerly Madland) and occupied its forums. After the Prime Minister of Alexandria left his quarters after the appointed curfew hours, Arminian soldiers apparently shot him. Or so says the Arminsbur3 News. Due to the flippant nature of the invaders, we at the View are uncertain as to the seriousness of this invasion, but apparently they were planning such a move a few days ago, apparently spoiling for a fight.
Oh well.
