Kalistan

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Suldanor seeing more Athosian Refugees following return of Communists
"We thought we were safe from them" says families
Lucid Valley, Duchy of Suldanor
June 2, 5582


Migrants take to crossing Lucid River to avoid Communist attempts to prevent them from leaving

Representatives from the Duchy of Suldanor have noted that they are seeing a dramatic uptick of immigration coming from Athosia following the reorganization of the United Labor Party of Baltusia.  Since April, more than 6,000 migrants have been met in and around Lucid Valley from Baltusia.  Almost all of them say that they are looking for asylum in Kalistan, because they fear what the reactivation of official Syndicalist Political Organizations will mean for them.

"We have gotten used to life without the communists," said Henrietta Gonzales, of Campana in Athosia.  "The last time they had any role in government was in 5575, and then they all just went away.  We lived in abject fear of their oppression, and then were free.  For seven whole years.  We thought the nightmare was over.  We began locally ignoring their oppressive laws, and trying to recover from the constant oppression.  And when two of those Parties reformed in the Capital, we knew it was time to leave.  It will be three years until the next elections, but we decided to get out while we still could, before they start stepping on us again."

Most migrants coming into Kalistan tell similar stories.  One group of migrants mentioned that there was a sense of growing hope earlier this year, when Her Imperial Majesty mentioned that Kalistan might be looking for ways to finally reacquire Athosia.  "People of Santiago look at how good things are in Suldanor and how good they are becoming in Gaduridos," said David Allen, of San Luis, "and we compare that to how Baltusia has forced us all to become international pariahs, in a country that trades a high quality of life for some strange ideological concept that has nothing to do with the reality of people or workers in our state, and we find that we would prefer to be a part of the Empire.  When the Empress started talking about us, it sparked a little hope.  That hope was completely dashed by the inexplicable reformation of the United Workers Union.  So my family, and a lot of families, decided that it was time to leave."

A lot of families also made their way into northern Gaduridos, including primarily Egelian speakers.  One family, led by Guillermo Diaz, said "Mucha gente de nuestra ciudad de San Fierro se va a Gaduridos. Aquí podemos ser libres, podemos participar en nuestro gobierno. Y la vida es buena en Ciudad Oriente: hay mucho trabajo aquí en la fábrica MoCo y en las acerías. No como en Nueva Egelion, donde los comunistas arruinaron la economía y luego nos abandonaron. No tengo ningún interés en volver a Baltusia, y puedo decir que cientos de personas en mi ciudad también piensan lo mismo. Los comunistas son malas, independientemente de lo que digan."

The Duchy of Suldanor so far has welcomed the arriving migrants and are working on resettlement in the Empire.  His Grace Duke Ignacio de Silva, Duke of Suldanor, said that homes and jobs are being found for the arriving Baltusians, and the Bank of Suldanor has extended about ₭15 Million in credit so far to Gaduridos to feed, shelter and integrate arriving Baltusians.  "Most of the resources we have used so far is in providing temporary housing until more permanent housing can be found for these individuals.  We are expecting a lot more to come, and we are expecting there to be retaliation from Baltusia sooner rather than later, so we want to make sure that as many people as want to come to the Empire, whether it be to Suldanor, or to Cuernatecas, we want to make sure that those governments have enough resources to welcome our new residents, whether they want to stay temporarily and then return sometime, or to stay permanently.  All Althosians are welcomed in the Anantonese Empire, and we will also welcome all Baltusians fleeing communist oppression in Baltusia."

As the migrant flows will likely increase over the next three years, the NSP has sprung into action to begin to develop Migrant welcoming centers in both Lucid and in Yoshimi Free City, Kalistan's two main border towns.  The Migrant Welcoming Centers contain temporary housing for up to 1500 families total, and Ducal Government representatives to begin processing migrants for either long term visas or for naturalization depending on the preferences of the families.  Following in-processing, permanent housing and work is located across the rest of the Empire.

"We welcome all to Kalistan and the Anantonese Empire," said Duke de Silva.  "Especially for those longing to be free from returning and unwelcomed communist oppression in our southern neighbor."