Kimlien

[Zanz]

http://forum.particracy.net/viewtopic.php?f=17&t=7736

[Alaskancrabpuffs21]

National Assembly to approve new Constitution, giving the Kimlien President more power

May 2nd 5624

The Republic of Kimlien has been in a state of change for months and years now. President Tôn Chí Khang is now serving his 22nd year as the President of Kimlien, winning 5 straight elections. His party called the "Focus on the Fatherland" has been dominantly holding power in Kimlien for all this time. The new constitution looks to curb growing instability and infighting among the factions of the Khang Government, who are torn on the current powers for this new constitution.

Those inside the Federal Assembly have called for limits on the powers of the President, with many saying that he has become more a "dictator" than a president. There have been several liberal opposition leaders that have been calling for more transparency in the government, something that originally this constitution was supposed to ensure

President Tôn Chí Khang with the new constitution if enacted, will not be able to be prosecuted for anything while he is in the office of President, as a means of ensuring national security, as well as he will be able to bypass the Federal Assembly, and restore order, and arrest those looking to overthrow the Government. Some inside of the liberal opposition have voiced concerns that this is tyrannical, however most inside of the "Focus on the Fatherland" party have shown that they are willing to follow Mr. Tôn completely.

Tôn Chí Khang called the new constitution a "rebirth of Kimlien" and made a short public address saying the following

Tonight friends and colleagues this chamber will vote on a plan that will revolutionize our country in many ways. For too long we have had things stall from inaction, but we will be putting more power to those who can do things! In this case, we will be able to provide for the people through bringing out necessary reforms that the people need!

I know your needs, we need agriculture reform, we need better qualities of life, better education, better healthcare, but we can get none of this with a inept National Assembly! By giving power to the executive we can provide for your needs immediately! For the betterment of the Fatherland!

With Kimlien's economy and society in the gutter, and people looking for answers, maybe a shift in Government and a new constitution will change things? However it is clear that things must take place quickly to ensure that order and stability are maintained in Kimlien

[Alaskancrabpuffs21]

January 6th 5626

Kimilien's students took the the streets today, the movement began in the universities, and has moved to primary and secondary schools. Youth of all ages took to the streets protesting the Government's recent move to give more and more power to the executive, and even despite pouring rain in Đông Kinh over 10,000 youth stood next to the Presidential palace, with megaphones in hand, saying that the President needed to give more power back to the Federal Assembly.

There were limited clashes with police, when some older students tried to get too close to the gate of the Presidential Palace, however there were no arrests and the protestors were peaceful. Protests occurred in 6 other cities across the country, as youth battled the rain to stand in solidarity for Democracy. The opposition parties took this as a chance to snipe at President Tôn Chí Khang with political leaders in the Liberal party saying that "The youth of Kimlien have much more sense than the current President"

On the street we interviewed many of the youth that were marching and they were mostly all deeply concerned by the actions of the President in recent months. One young man who will be graduating this year said that "We live in a Democracy, a Republic. I do not want to see the institutions of our country torn apart by a government that wants to maintain order, at the expense of the voice of the people". A group of young ladies protesting in the march added to this by bluntly saying that "President Tôn Chí Khang is acting more like a dictator than a President. I hope when he hears us, he gets a change of heart and realizes what he is doing, is not good for this country".

An estimated 50,000 students were at the protests in the capital Đông Kinh alone, with reports of more across the country. More protests are planned in the future if the Government continues down its current course.

This marks the first widespread movement of protest against this government in several years, and marks Kimlien's largest protest in decades. It is clear, discontent is growing, and it is starting with Kimlien's youth...

[Kubrick]

20 March 5636, Động Kinh, Royal Republic of Kim Lien

Chaos in Động Kinh as military arrests President Tôn Chí Khang

Police, army, and militia units in the capital attempted to maintain order during the chaotic early morning as gunfire erupted in the government sector.

Politics | In the early morning of the 20th of March the Royal Republic awoke in shock as chaos erupted in the capital city of Động Kinh. Around 7 AM military units started to set up roadblocks outside the capital's government sector. Trucks and cars of soldiers sped through the city and arrived at buildings of the state TV channel, parliament, the presidential palace, different offices of the ministries of the state, and so forth. Around the presidential palace several shots rang out as guards attempted to defy the orders of the soldiers to stand down and surrender. At 7:49 AM a hastily set up news broadcast was aired on the state channel showing several high-ranking military officers announcing the arrest of President Tôn Chí Khang, the suspension of parliament, and the enactment of martial law. Amongst the officers present was the Commander of the Capital District Lieutenant General Ân Oanh, the Deputy Chief of Staff General Mạc Văn Khắc, Colonel Nhiếp Xuân Tung, the commander of Châu An Air Base, and other local commanders including the deputy commissioner of the police force. They declared that the 34 years of 'Tôn Chí Khang's tyranny' were over.

President Tôn Chí Khang was first democratically chosen in the 5602 elections, eventually winning five elections in a row to reaffirm his position as President of Kim Lien. Over the years observers and critics disputed the validity of the elections that empowered Tôn Chí Khang's regime, with reports of voter intimidation, fraud, discarded ballots for opposition candidates, disappearances of opposition figures casting a dark shadow over Kimlien's once flourishing democracy. In 5624 a new constitution was approved that basically gave Tôn Chí Khang unlimited powers within the republic. In the decade since then the army underneath the President has mercilessly put down any protest that threatened to get out of hand. Many remember the student protests of 5626 that were eventually put down, with martial law being enacted as well. Afterwards academic institutions were purged by the Tôn regime. The ageing authoritarian is currently under arrest in an undisclosed location.

As more information was released throughout the day it became apparent that General Mạc Văn Khắc was the leader and organiser of the coup. The Deputy Chief of Staff has a reputation of complete political apathy, loyal to the regime but mostly to 'his boys' on the ground. Over the last few years General Mạc has pushed for military reform extensively. Though none would ever have picked him as a political reformer, in 5626 he was quoted calling student protestors "vagrant dogs" that "need a good lashing". His reputation as an apolitical military man with a disdain for democratic protestors has many of the opposition holding their hearts. In the next few months it will be seen if the new military junta will enact even tighter control over Kimlien or whether democracy will return. Some are hopeful, as the junta has already lifted several press sanctions. Others cite the reputation of General Mạc Văn Khắc. For now all the brave Đinh can do is patiently wait.

Báo Tiền Phong (Vanguard) is a left-leaning news outlet originally founded as an underground communist newspaper.

[Kubrick]

5 May 5636, Động Kinh, Royal Republic of Kim Lien

Dust settles in Kimlien as truth behind junta is revealed

During a press event with the entire junta of Kimlien, the leader of the nation General Mạc Văn Khắc points at the first draft of the upcoming new constitution.

Politics | On the 20th of March chaos erupted in Kim Lien as a conspiring group of high-ranking military officers enacted a coup to oust the authoritarian President Tôn Chí Khang. The military conspiracy was led by two generals, Major General Ân Oanh and General Mạc Văn Khắc. While General Mạc is the senior officer of the two, Major General Ân was the direct military commander of the capital city of Động Kinh and the former mentor of Mạc Văn Khắc. As the weeks have progressed it seems that the younger Mạc, also called Ông Mạc Lớn (Big Mạc) by his troops for his intimidating presence, is the new leader of Kim Lien. The elder Ân Oanh has mostly stepped into the background while General Mạc governs the Royal Republic. In this role the Big Mạc has assembled the educated members of the opposition, including bringing back the exiled intelligentsia, to form a special committee for 'restructuring the Royal Republic'. For the first two weeks after the coup the junta remained vague on what this means, but it has now become apparent that they intend to reintroduce democracy. The committee has already presented its first draft, which was 'inspected' by General Mạc Văn Khắc and the junta during a special session for the press. So far the junta has refused to comment on what specifically will be changed with the new constitution. This has angered some critics of the regime, who are calling for the pre-5624 constitution to be re-enacted. General Mạc has personally rejected this idea, calling the old constitution "outdated, vulnerable, and incomplete."

Meanwhile it has become apparent that General Mạc's former superior officer, Chief of Staff Grand General Tào Đức Xuân Vũ has also been placed under arrest. It had been announced previously that hundreds of military officers, militia commanders and police chiefs loyal to the Tôn regime had been arrested but the position of Grand General Tào remained unclear, during the coup he was placed under house arrest. The old general is known as a fierce loyalist of President Tôn Chí Khang but also as someone that holds significant influence within the Royal Republican Kim Lien Army. After his arrest the junta announced that he will stand trial alongside the ousted dictator Tôn for "crimes against mankind." They will not stand trial alone, dozens of military officers, policemen, former government officials, and members of the Focus on the Fatherland movement will join them. The junta has made it clear that all those that committed serious crimes as part of the Tôn regime will be at the receiving end of "fierce and uncompromising justice." What this will entail remains to be seen, though the military junta is taking great steps to wash away the authoritarian stains of the ousted President. As a part of further liberalisation efforts sanctions on the press have been fully lifted, though pro-Tôn publications and news outlets classified as "far-right, anti-state and fascist" have been fully banned. Publications critical of the reforms are quick to be added to the latter categories, a move that has worried observers but the junta has reassured international organisations that battling misinformation and promoting stability is a priority and these sanctions are temporary.

With the dust settled the puzzle of Kim Lien's coup has been put together as well. The Big Mạc gave an extensive interview on state television explaining his background, motivations, and ambitions. While known as an apolitical officer loyal to the regime it turns out that General Mạc Văn Khắc has been a convinced socialist since his youth. As a young ambitious officer he kept his political beliefs private, something which his first senior officer complimented him on. This senior officer was Major General Ân Oanh, then still a Lieutenant Colonel, who was a card-carrying member of the Đảng Xã hội (Socialist Party) in his younger years - the social-democratic party that was eventually outlawed by President Tôn. His previous leftist alignment has been a commonly cited reason for his lack of promotions throughout his career, and why his pupil eventually overtook him within the ranks of the RRKLA. Instead Mạc Văn Khắc remained staunchly apolitical during his army career focusing on modernisation efforts, better working conditions for 'his boys', and further military expansion. As a part of this initiative the Big Mạc set up a special class for promising officers in 5628. It has now become clear this was a guise to recruit leftist officers for the Cách mạng 20-3-36 (20 March 5636 Revolution). While the details of the new constitution remain unclear the expectations are that it will be significantly left-leaning, with some socialists hoping for the birth of a proper socialist republic.

Báo Tiền Phong (Vanguard) is a left-leaning news outlet originally founded as an underground communist newspaper.

[Kubrick]

Economy and budget greatest challengers of junta

15 July, 5636 - 18:13
Market slump caused by coup cause of "great concern" within budget committee.

ĐÔNG KINH — The 20 March Coup of General Mạc Văn Khắc has not been good for the economy of Kim Liên as markets have still not recovered from the initial chaos. The nation's currency, the Kimlienese đồng, has crashed in value but seems to be recovering slightly in recent weeks. Recent expenditures by the military junta have allegedly put the budget committee in a difficult position. In late June they were assembled from financial experts across the different ministries and tasked by General Mạc to compose a budget by the end of July. With the deadline nearing and the junta spending more and more money the alarm has been sounded in the highest offices of the Republic. The tipping point was the financial compensation and forced wage increases for minorities across Kim Liên. In early July several mass graves were found in the border regions of the Republic. It was well-known that the Tôn regime imprisoned political opponents and that it discriminated against the ethnic minorities of the nation. The deceased in the mass graves however confirmed that the vast majority of them were an ethnic minority. General Mạc Văn Khắc released these findings promptly, adding that their cause of death was not disease or accidents. Afterwards he also announced that all families of the deceased would be financially compensated. Special teams are hard at work identifying the bodies, which may number into the thousands according to some rumours. Together with this a new project was also set up that would forcibly increase the wages of ethnic minorities with 20%. Currently they are trailing far behind the native Đinh, sometimes making up to 70% less a year.

The financial compensations were lauded by the people, but within the budget committee they caused a major problem. The millions of đồng required for this are simply not there according to insider sources. Before the announcement the committee was close to finishing the budget with an "acceptable deficit" according to one source. Now that deficit has nearly tripled. On Wednesday General Mạc also announced he would oversee the acquisitions of new military hardware before the implementation of the new constitution. This announcement came as an even greater surprise for the budget committee, with chairman Tư Mã Xương attempting to resign though the General eventually convinced him to stay. For now the budget has stalled while expenditures increase, together with the market slump it is becoming apparent that without proper intervention Kim Liên is heading towards a recession. Several economists have written an open letter addressed to Mạc Văn Khắc and the military junta requesting them to halt some of the unnecessary investments that were 'hard requirements' in the budget. Instead they ask for a lower income tax, new tax exemptions, offer subsidies for businesses to expand and set up job projects. They added that ethnic minorities could receive preferential treatment on these projects to compensate for the delayed financial compensation. For now the junta and committee seem deadlocked, but many expect General Mạc to slash the proverbial knot in the coming days.

Đinh News Network (ĐNN) is a centre-right news network aimed at expats and foreign based people of Đinh descent.

[Kubrick]

10 August 5638, Động Kinh, State of Kim Lien

New constitution enacted as Kim Lien prepares for free elections

Crowds gathered across Kim Lien's cities during the speech of General Mạc Văn Khắc that was shown on screens in public areas announcing the new constitution.

Politics | At exactly 9:30 PM on the 10th of August the televisions across Kimlien all jumped to the same broadcast. A stern looking General Mạc Văn Khắc silently eyed the viewer before starting a well-rehearsed speech. In it the current leader of the nation announced the upcoming changes and the new constitution that would go into effect on 1 September. People were rejoiced to hear that elections would be happening in the autumn of this year and that, after a government was formed, the military junta (as the Transitional Council) would disband itself. A few months would be taken for this however, as the Big Mạc wanted to give the people time to register parties, to campaign and to peacefully form a civilian government. On that same day martial law will be lifted, with the military only remaining in place to back up police forces during unruly times. The General even smiled at the broadcast as he also proudly announced the end to the so-called 'budget crisis', as Kimlien has been officially approved for a grant from the Romulo Fund. The rebuilding of Kimlien in the wake of its coup and after decades of authoritarian rule has been marked as reason enough to receive such funds.

During the broadcast several clips were shown where parts of the new constitution were explained to viewers. The entire constitution is free to read online or to grab as a copy from most stores and public buildings. Through animations the Transitional Council attempted to more clearly explain the goals of the new constitution and what the new State of Kimlien will look like for its inhabitants. The four pillars of Kimlien's new government were explained in detail, showing that Kimlien would move on from the previous two pillars of President and Prime Minister. The Chairman of Kimlien's legislature would also be given a position of influence, with the legislature itself being renamed to the National Assembly Council. A permanent spot for the military was added to safeguard democracy, with the role of Marshal of Kimlien always being filled by a senior member of the military. This person will be a part of all decision-making processes within the new State of Kimlien. Furthermore, parties that wished to register for elections would need to adhere to a very strict list of requirements and demands. In essence all parties are required to be for the people, of a social signature, willing to join a coalition of national unity, and other demands to safeguard the new state. Some have criticised the changes, claiming that the position of Marshal will simply make the junta a permanent thing, others are claiming the requirements for political parties are so strict only left-leaning pro-junta parties will be accepted. The Transitional Council has denied these allegations.

Báo Tiền Phong (Vanguard) is a left-leaning news outlet originally founded as an underground communist newspaper.

[Kubrick]

State of Kim Liên: a new one-party state

21 August, 5638 - 10:59
New constitution will see Kim Liên continue to be under yoke of junta with fake elections.

ĐÔNG KINH — The new system of four pillars and tight restrictions on registrations of political parties makes it abundantly clear where Kim Liên is going: back to its authoritarian past. With the ousting of President Tôn Chí Khang many expected the junta to rule discreetly for a few years before restoring democracy. Sceptics warned the people when the coup was enacted that more often than not the military refuses to hand back control to the democratic powers. When a new constitution was announced these sceptics were silenced, until the leader of the military junta, Mạc Văn Khắc, started reading out parts of it. The military is here to stay in the new State of Kim Liên: the roles of Marshal and Chairman of the legislature have been added as part of the highest leadership of the nation. The role of Marshal will only be filled by a member of the military, which will undoubtedly be the acting President General Mạc Văn Khắc. A role officially designated as one to safeguard democracy, but in reality simply a way for the military to veto democratic proposals.

Registering a party under the new constitution will be even more difficult than under the 5624 constitution, a piece of text so controversial it sparked a violent student uprising. In 5638 this all seems forgotten as the streets are not filled with protestors but cheering crowds. Hundreds of thousands lined the streets of the cities, unaware they were applauding the final nail in the coffin of Kimlienese democracy. For many it is simply an end to a turbulent chapter in history, they are glad it is over. The arrests, the trials, the martial law, it has taken its toil on the population. There is only one great trial left: that of former President Tôn Chí Khang, who will be glad to hear that under the new constitution he too will be eligible for the death penalty as the immunity of the role of President has been scrapped.

Đinh News Network (ĐNN) is a centre-right news network aimed at expats and foreign based people of Đinh descent.

[Kubrick]

People's Party biggest winner in first election, Marshal Mạc congratulates PP-leader Châu

22:18, 10 December 5638, Động Kinh, State of Kimlien

The verified election results as confirmed by the Supreme Committee of the State at exactly 22:02 local time.

Động Kinh — From 7:00 this morning until 19:30 tonight the citizens of the State of Kimlien were able to vote in the first free elections since Marshal Mạc Văn Khắc overthrew the authoritarian dictator Tôn Chí Khang. In 5624 he took away elections from the Kimlienese people, but the Transitional Committee brought them back for the people. Several months after the implementation of the 5638 constitution were required to arrange everything, to campaign, and to register the parties. Eleven eventually made the cut, of which eight managed to gain enough votes for the election threshold. Several independent candidates ran on their own name and program, four of them were elected. Three of them are former members of the Transitional Committee and veterans of the great overthrowing of the dictator Tôn Chí Khang. The big winner of the elections was the People's Party led by former officer Châu Ngọc Trí. He was personally congratulated by Marshal Mạc Văn Khắc who was present to oversee the confirmation of the election results. The marshal called it "a most impressive achievement" as the People's Party attained a staggering 313 out of 500 seats.

The People's Party (Đảng Nhân dân) is a big tent political party with a socialist and left-wing character, it does not shy away from populism which it calls "the will of the people." The party is closely associated with key members from the Transitional Committee as well as its sub-committees that composed the budget and new constitution. Several high-ranking individuals endorsed the People's Party and its leader, Colonel Châu Ngọc Trí, campaigned extensively with his personal involvement in overthrowing the corrupt Royal Republic. Due to its staggering victory the party has received the official endorsement of the Supreme Committee of the State and has been designated as the leading party of the National Unity Coalition. The National Unity Coalition is the state-endorsed party group that will deliver the ministers of the cabinet, the chairman of the National Assembly Council, the prime minister and the president. The Socialist Party of Kimlien (Đảng Xã hội Kim Liên), with its 78 seats, is a democratic socialist party led by former opposition activist Huỳnh Kiều Thu - a proud feminist socialist. The National Unity Coalition is also joined by the Rice Farmers Association (Hội Nông dân lúa gạo), a populist agrarian movement with socially conservative views and 28 seats that mainly fights for the many rice farmers in Kimlien. The fiercely militarist Kimlien Patriotic Party (Đảng yêu nước Kim Liên), a nationalist militarist movement founded by coup veterans loyal to Mạc Văn Khắc, has also joined with its 9 seats. Lastly the 4 independent assembly members pledged their support for the coalition.

The opposition will be led by the Social Democratic Front (Mặt trận Dân chủ Xã hội) under veteran politician Kham Công Trung. The centre-left social democrats managed to garner an impressive 41 seats. They are joined by the Liberal Alliance '38 (Liên minh Tự do 5638), a progressive, centrist and social liberal party with 16 seats, the communist and rural Peasant and Workers Party (Đảng Nông dân và Công nhân) with 6 seats and the green-progressive New State Party (Đảng bang mới) with 5 seats. The opposition parties all rejoiced over their attained seats, calling it a hard-fought but fair election. Even though they were not welcomed within the National Unity Coalition the parties all declared they would do their utmost to help the new State of Kimlien grow after this election. SDF leader Kham even complimented the PP on a "brilliant campaign" shortly after the results were confirmed. "The People's Party and their close allies have the mandate, we can only applaud that. We the Social Democrats are incredibly happy with these results and the process, to me it truly feels like we are entering a golden age." State observers declared the election was completed cleanly, only twelve disturbances were reported across the nation. In Nam Thành a woman entered the voting booth naked, before being removed and reprimanded by police. In the border town of Bạch Đằng a gang tried to intimidate voters into spoiling their ballots while shouting provocative slogans against Marshal Mạc Văn Khắc. They were detained by police. Two of the five agitators were foreign nationals, they are to be deported in the coming days. Overall though the observers of the Transtional Committee were pleased with the election cycle. A spokesperson remarked: "With only minor violent incidents and a turnout of almost 85% we have achieved something far beyond our dreams, I think we can say that democracy is truly back for Kimlien."

KimLienNet (KLN) is an online publication published by the Ministry of Communication, it is pro-government and left-wing.

[Kubrick]

9 January 5639, Động Kinh, State of Kim Lien

Three year trial ends: former President Tôn Chí Khang sentenced to death

The Supreme Court of the State of Kimlien preparing to read out the sentence to ousted leader Tôn Chí Khang on 4 January 5639, concluding the long trial.

Politics | Kimlien's trial of the century is over. The Supreme Court has convicted former President and Front of the Fatherland leader Tôn Chí Khang of crimes against humanity and genocide. The punishment for these crimes are, in extreme cases, the death penalty. In the sentence it became clear that the Supreme Court has opted to utilise this for the ousted dictator. Tôn Chí Khang loudly protested his sentence, erupting in a tirade of slurs against the judge reading out his statement. The 81-year old previously attempted to use his age and frail health to enforce a lower punishment, but during his tirade seemed as healthy and strong as several years ago.

The trial, which started in November 5636, is the first high profile case of the new State of Kimlien and the first time that the Kimlienese have convicted a former leader, especially one that was initially democratically elected. The latter fact was used extensively by the defence attorneys assigned to mr. Tôn, as in between 5602 and 5624 he won five subsequent elections. The prosecution claimed that only two of those elections were won fairly and that voter intimidation and fraud were common practice by the Front of the Fatherland regime. The defence also vehemently denied all allegations of genocide, even during the controversial session of 19 August 5638 when pictures of the mass graves were presented to the court. A stern and emotionless Tôn Chí Khang simply shook his head and muttered they were fabrications.

Key witnesses, several of which were former high-ranking members of the Tôn regime, turned against the ousted dictator. Their stories painted the picture of a merciless regime where everything was done to keep the Front of the Fatherland party in power. Two key witnesses even attested that it was Tôn Chí Khang who was behind the assassination of Nguyễn Công Bao, the opposition politician that was to run for President in 5617 but vanished mere weeks before the elections. During the entire trial Tôn Chí Khang showed no regret and during the few occasions he did speak he only emphasised his democratic mandate, that any bad things that happened were done without his knowledge, and that he was mostly a ceremonial leader. The judges of the Supreme Court were unconvinced. On January 4th he was sentenced to death, his hanging happened in private on January 9th. Tôn Chí Khang will be buried in an undisclosed location.

Báo Tiền Phong (Vanguard) is a left-leaning news outlet originally founded as an underground communist newspaper.