Kalistani Major History

[Doc]

Kyo Opposition Leader sets up base in Port Swedes as Park Je-Sang sets up Dankuk Government In Exile
Kalistani Government restates explicit protections for Migrants and Refugees
Port Swedes, Vrassa
August 12, 5200


New medium density Housing in and around Port Swedes dramatically increases capacity for Migrant permanence in Empire

In the nearly 2 years since the subrosa arrival of Kyo Opposition Leader Park Je-Sang, several things have developed in the Port Swedes area that make the community a hotspot for international attention in Northern Selaya. The usually sleepy port city, home of the Grit music trend, strong coffee and heroin addiction, has within the last two years become the site of the Dankuk Government in Exile. The Government has been working for two years with the Opposition Leader, the remaining member of the deposed democratic Shin Government in Dankuk, to assist with attracting Kyo and Dranio bureaucrats who are fleeing from the fascists, as well as their families and other dissidents, refugees and migrants from the Northern Dovani Nation. Since his arrival, Park has set up the Dankuk Government in Exile, and has been working on fundraising around the world to acquire safe passage and other necessities for those who wish to flee Dankuk.

The Government of Kalistan has been officially silent on the Dankuk affair, except to mention their commitment to refugees and legitimacy in Government affairs. Kalistan has not generally joined the calls of other nations for sanctions or intervention in Dankuk, and because of its neutral status, a shift in policy is unlikely. But permitting government's in exile on Kalistani Soil is a tradition which included a Lourennais Government in Exile at Eveari more than 100 years ago. In addition, Kalistan's culture has always been welcoming to new Arrivals and will continue to do so regardless of their country of origin.

As Kyo refugees first began arriving, the infrastructure of Port Swedes was initially overwhelmed. Refugee centers were quickly dedicated, and Kyo migrants, who enjoy all legal protections under Kalistani Law, the same as domestic workers, began accepting work in whatever field they could find. Initially these jobs were low paying, low skilled jobs. But within six months, the newly arriving migrant population was organizing and working with local trade associations and unions, including the Swedeport General Contractors' Association, and the National Service Program, and were put to work at the National Wage, in building a new suburb for Kyo families who are arriving. The building trades pitched in labor and materials to provide new families clean, spacious apartments and town houses with modern Kalistani amenities, and convenient links to Kalistani Infrastructure. There was no job left unfilled as even non-skilled laborers were given jobs on construction crews. The results were astounding--Over two years since the first Kyo and Dranio refugees began arriving, work crews made up largely of migrant workers, constructed more than 10,000 housing units, each suitable for families of 4, in and around Port Swedes, as well as 2,500 units suitable for families up to 6.

The Kalistani Government, in accord with the law, also provided families and individuals subsidies to help them integrate into Kalistan. Education was commenced, and while teachers from the population itself were hired to teach students in their native language, free Vrassan Language classes were also offered to help encourage the new arrivals to learn Vrassan as well, and obtain enough of our language to be able to function within the larger Kalistani society. Communication errors aside, now two years in, more than 40% of the Kyo arrivals who had no command of Vrassan upon arrival, have at least functioning literacy and semi-competent spoken communication skills, with 67% of those achieving fluency in the written and spoken language. This commitment to learning Vrassan, as well as other subjects like Kalistani History and culture, demonstrates a commitment to integrate into the Kalistani society for the medium to long term.

The Kalistani Government has reiterated its policy recently. "We want to make sure," said Interior Minister Josephine Herrera, whose office is overseeing the migration and transition, "that ALL migrants, refugees and foreign dissidents are welcomed to make Kalistan their new home. Hopefully they will be willing to share with us the things that make their culture so great, but even so, they receive the full protection of Kalistani Law when they arrive in our country. For all practical purposes they are identical to Natural Born citizens, and the efforts these people have made to contribute to the economy and society that they are now a full part of is admirable. For that, we will continue to host them and shelter them as long as they wish to stay. If they wish to stay forever, they will be welcome to do so as Kalistani citizens. If they wish to return home when the crisis is abated, they will be free to do that when they feel the time is right. But for now, the people of Dankuk are here, and they are welcome."

Kyo families are now beginning to move out of the Port Swedes area to other cities on the Mainland, as the influx of migrants, mostly by way of Lourenne and Dolgava, continues. More newly constructed housing units are coming online every day, and the Interior Minister believes she cannot hazard a guess as to how many Kyo refugees will arrive, but as the crisis continues to deepen in both Dankuk and North Dovani, it is likely that the flow will continue unabated for the foreseeable future. As for the Dankuk government in Exile, an official attache, James Donnelly, of the Institutionalist Party, has been assigned to act as liasion between the GiE and the Empire. Donnelly is not a fully installed ambassador, but works to provide assistance and support for the Government in ways that protect Kalistani neutrality, but also otherwise helps to further the activities of Park's administration. Park has taken residence in Port Swedes, as have his ministers, and security is provided both by Kalistani regulars and Kyo security forces recruited from among Park's political allies.