The Government of the Republic of Istkalen
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From the Council of Justice
The Council of Justice has deliberated on a petition brought to it by a citizen of the Republic against the Kingdom of Reitzmag and the Archrepublic of Vayinaod, regarding the seizing mines without due cause or compensation for the profit of their respective nations, and has come to a judgement.
The complete judgement has been made available in the Journal of the Republic of Istkalen; a summary, written in the vernacular, is provided below.
The Council of Justice of the Republic of Istkalen has found the actions of the Kingdom of Reitzmag, in its seizure of privately owned mines without compensation or reason, to be illegal by European law, contravening Section XVI of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, which forms a part of the European Constitution. It, as such, has ruled that the seized mines must be returned to their original owners, and that compensation must be given to them for extraction conducted during the period under Reitzmic control. An appeal by the Kingdom of Reitzmag may be made to the European Court of Justice on this issue. The Archrepublic of Vayinaod, upon investigation, however, does not appear to have seized any mines during this period, and thus has not been found guilty.
Évirates Melitissmar
Elder of the Council of Justice -
From the Head of State
In my position as Head of State, and thus as the President of the National Front, I have made the decision to expel a number of parties and organizations, as they have not been conducive to governance and have on many occasions contributed to the incitation of violence. Ministers in government belonging to these parties and organizations were replaced yesterday; a list of these organizations is provided below:
- the Union Party
- the Istkalener Solidarity Party
- the Green Party
- the National Cultural Association of Istkalen
- the Arian Association
These organizations are thus prohibited from participating in national politics or engaging in any activities of any nature whatsoever, although they may continue to exist.
The composition of the National Front is thus as follows:
- the Communist Party of Istkalen
- the Istkalener Agrarian Union
- the National Republican Party of Istkalen
- the Radical Democratic Party of Istkalen
- the Patriotic League of Istkalen
- the Federation of Istkalener Trade Unions
- the Federation of Istkalener Craft Unions
- the Federation of Istkalener Professional Groups
- the Farmers' Association of Istkalen
- the Women's Association of Istkalen
- the Cultural Association of Istkalen
- the Artists' Association of Istkalen
- the Cooperative Association of Istkalen
- the Free Democratic Youth
Vistek Rikkalek
Head of State of the Republic of Istkalen -
From the Council of Ministers of the Republic of Istkalen
The Council of Ministers of the Republic of Istkalen has, in order to ensure stability and democracy, ordained a constitution for the Republic in the name of the people.
The text of the Constitution will be made available in the Journal of the Republic of Istkalen.
Vistek Rikkalek
Head of State of the Republic of Istkalen -
From the Head of State
The Journal of the Republic unfortunately published a proposed draft of the Constitution, proposed by the RDP, rather than the constitution agreed upon by the Council of Ministers. I apologize for this inconvenience; it will be rectified as soon as possible.
Vistek Rikkalek
Head of State of the Republic of Istkalen -
From the Council of Ministers
Due to concerns over the changes to society that the sudden imposition of a constitution could cause, and especially over their potential effects, the Council of Ministers has resolved to institute the Constitution in a gradual manner. Indirect elections will first be held, on the 10th, on a non-partisan basis, to the newly created workers' associations. An interim National Assembly consisting of 800 members, 50 per currently registered workers' association, will then be elected according to a separate protocol. Candidates must belong to the class approved for candidacy designated by the Council of Examination. This National Assembly, upon election, will primarily have the role of assisting the Head of State and the Council of Ministers in implementing the Constitution and ensuring the maintenance of public order, security, and safety.
After the implementation of the Constitution is complete, the interim National Assembly will be dissolved and its powers transferred to the official constitutional organs.
Vistek Rikkalek
Head of State of the Republic of Istkalen -
From the Council of Ministers
The failure of the situation in the Strait of Adventuranza to resolve peacefully has forced us to act.
We will not, and will never, tolerate any form of unilateral annexation. It is our firm belief that all changes in territorial bounds must occur only with the consent of all involved, with the exception of cases of national liberation, which this quite obviously does not fall under.
We tolerate even less proxy wars. The Kingdom of Reitzmag and Empire of Inimicus have long held enmity towards each other; the present escalation in the Strait of Adventuranza, and the increasingly hypocritical and violent statements released by both sides, appears to be pointing towards conflict between the two in the Strait, despite neither having any direct stake in its future. We see the Strait merely as an excuse for these two powers to beat the drums of war.
We appear to be entering, as such, an era of neo-imperialism, in which certain nations are treated not as nations but as battlegrounds for greater powers, or terra nullius to be conquered, or even merely as a source of natural and human resources. It is our strong desire to put this to an end at its beginning.
The issue here, above all, is a pan-European one. It involves many conflicts, many nations, all of which have an equal role in beginning this conflict. The action that we take, as such, is necessarily pan-European in its effects.
Until there is reached a satisfactory resolution to the issue of the Strait of Adventuranza, which does not involve proxy war, annexation, or any other form of imperialism or imperialistic behavior, the Republic of Istkalen is to halt all exports of cobalt, uranium, tungsten, magnesium, and any and all rare earth metals, as described by Decree No. 1074 of the Council of MInisters, published in the Journal of the Republic of Istkalen. Commercial and trade operations originating in Istkalen will also be advised to avoid the Strait of Adventuranza due to the extreme danger posed by the fragile situation.
In doing so, we would like to remind the remainder of the Union that Istkalen is effectively Europe's sole source of cobalt, and holds a significant percentage of its uranium, tungsten, and rare earth metals. We fully understand that this will damage our economy; however, it is necessary in order to prevent and put an end to this almost childish and dangerous behavior. The sovereignty and independence of every nation must be recognized; they are not political shibboleths, nor are they places to be conquered. They are nations and nations alone.
Vistek RIkkalek
Head of State of the Republic of Istkalen -
From the Council of Ministers
In order to assist with the implementation of the Constitution and the maintenance of public order, security, and safety, the decision has been made to merge the constituent organizations and parties of the National Front into a single People's Association of Istkalen, which will be non-partisan in nature and seek to integrate all the politically active in Istkalen towards the construction of independence and of the Republic. It will serve also to connect the Council of Examination and potential candidates for the interim National Assembly to the people, as to ensure that they do not grow out of touch, as has occurred in so many other places.
No repression will take place within the People's Association; all viewpoints will be accepted, so long as they are supportive of democracy.
Registered parties outside of the People's Association will again be allowed to engage in political activity, but will not be allowed to enter the government or the interim National Assembly, due to concerns over certain anti-democratic viewpoints expressed by some of them.
Vistek Rikkalek
Head of State of the Republic of Istkalen -
From the Council of Ministers
We are overjoyed to see that the situation in the Strait of Adventuranza has calmed; however, the export of minerals from Istkalen will not begin again until the demands - that of a peaceful, equal, and non-imperialistic resolution to the dispute - listed by Decree No. 1074 are met.
Vistek Rikkalek
Head of State of the Republic of Istkalen -
From the Council of Ministers
On the proposal of the MInisters of Foreign Affairs, Public Distribution, and Development, the Republic has decided to extend prohibitions on exportation to coal, lignite, iron, steel, lumber, and glass, as designated by the amended Decree No. 1074, both to protect domestic industries as well as to add further impetus as for the ending of the issue in the Strait of Adventuranza.
Vistek RIkkalek
Head of State of the Republic of Istkalen -
From the Council of Ministers
The Republic of Istkalen shall, from now on, refer to the “Strait of Adventuranza” as the “Red Strait,” as this is an earlier name without imperialist origins, as well as one not being used to justify imperialism.
It would also like to announce that state-directed export of embargoed minerals will begin again, to nations which communicate to the Republic their intent to purchase minerals and derivative products in whole or in part sourced from Istkalen, and legally affirm that these minerals, as well as any goods derived or made from or using them, in part or in whole, are not to be resold to the Kingdom of Spain, or to any actor who has not made the same legal affirmation to the Republic.
Vistek Rikkalek
Head of State of the Republic of Istkalen -
From the Council of Ministers
The Ministers of Development, Public Distribution, and Foreign Affairs today forced a vote, through petition, on the issue of Decree No. 1074, which they argued was likely to hurt Istkalen's economic position over time, as well as significantly stagnate efforts to solve present shortages of foodstuffs and medicine as a result of continued sanctions by the Republic of Nofoaga and the Empire of Inimicus.
Decree No. 1074 was thus repealed, and superceded by Decree No. 1100, which merely prohibits the trade of cobalt, uranium, tungsten, magnesium, coal, iron, and steel with the Kingdom of Spain, and lifts all other barriers, while also ordaining a new, state monopoly on export, as to counteract issues with smuggling and general corruption which have previously plagued the Republic.
This same session also, over concerns regarding public unrest, as well as potential instability, particulalry in regards to the constitution of the Government, resulted in the promulgation of Decree No. 1101, which delays the planned elections to the interim National Assembly to next March and re-instates the Draft Constitutional Act of 26th May as a the "State Reorganization Act for the Implementation of the Constitution," which would merely put in legal terms the present system in Istkalen and exist only until the elections to the interim National Assembly.
Vistek Rikkalek
Head of State of the Republic of Istkalen -
From the Council of Ministers
On the Workers' Societies and On Property
The Council of Ministers has resolved to pass new legislation on the subject of the workers' societies, and has established, in place of the present form, three new forms which such a society can take:
- the association, in which the society holds no property and is organized democratically
- the collective, in which the members of the society hold property in common
- the organization, in which a society has a governing body, organized according to law, which holds its property on behalf of its members
The act regarding this subject, the "Act on the Reorganization of the Workers' Societies," is published in the Journal of the Republic of Istkalen. An additional "Act Regarding the Organization of Society-Governing Committees" has also been published.
New legislation has also been passed on the subject of property. Productive property may now be transferred between individuals, to an extent, as well as into the common ownership of a collective or enterprise. Citizens remain the only actors, however, able to hold property; there are also imposed limits on the amount of property one can own. Periodic redistributions of land will also occur, once every five years or when the state deems it necessary to preserve the common welfare. Citizens remain, however, entitled to the ownership of productive property, as is laid out in the previous "Act on Laborers' Independence" of 2003.
The mentioned act, the "Act on the Status and Transfer of Property," has been published in the Journal of the Republic of Istkalen.
The state remains committed to its path of non-aligned socialism.
Vistek Rikkalek
Head of State of the Republic of Istkalen -
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From the Head of State
On the National Assembly
Contrary to the public opinion, I am in support of the events which have transpired. Under the present government, due to the poor condition of the state apparatus as a direct result of the occupation, there exists little method of redress, nor any real form of accountability. The actions of the workers' associations, as such, while in theory illegal, were effectively the only way to genuinely address the concerns of the citizens and rectify, rapidly, the numerous mistakes my government and I have committed.
This action, if anything, has given me greater confidence in the ability of the Istkaleners to govern themselves, to make rational decisions and to execute them peacefully. No one turned to violence here; this was perhaps the first peaceful change in government since the transition in 2002 - between Kerel to Ikomar several death threats had to be made to coerce Kerel into stepping down; a bloody uprising of ultranationalists caused the transfer of power from Ikomar to me. All the previous decisions I have made were primarily based on the experience with the Imperial Realm and the Northern Radio - that the Istkaleners were not yet ready for democracy due to the instability that had plagued our country; with the recent action, however, my fears are assuaged. The people of Istkalen are clearly a stable one, determined but, as I stated, rational.
In order to give legality to the recent events, as well as to ensure the international community that this was not a coup, nor anything approaching a coup, I have passed a number of decrees approving the actions of the workers' associations, empowering their National Assembly - effectively putting into place the new system they have created. I also officially dismiss the present cabinet and appoint, in their place, the new one, including the new Prime Minister Kaisa Malk, who is to be recognized as the sole and official head of government, as desired by the National Assembly.
I am, however, not as willing to fully recind the recent state of emergency declared. The ability of the Social Democrats to amass so many so quickly is worrying, and definitive evidence that they continue to have a foothold in our country; while I am sure that the population is able to deal with them, it is necessary that institutions such as the Administration of State, Public, and Internal Security remain, as to monitor and control the threat; this will, however, be left to the incoming government and the new Interim National Assembly to decide.
Vistek Rikkalek
Head of State of the Republic of Istkalen -
From the Council of Ministers
The Council of Ministers, in recognition of the perilous situation within the "Arian Apostolic Church," as it is legally recognized, as well as its potential spread to all other religious institutions in Istkalen due to the instability it has created, has resolved to create a Ministry of Religious Affairs. All religious organizations in Istkalen will be under the purview of the Ministry of Religious Affairs. In accordance, the following actions will be taken
- all property held by religious organization in Istkalen will be nationalized. It is prohibited for religious organizations to hold property within Istkalen from this point forwards.
- the clergy are to be regulated by the state, and are required to register with the Administration of State, Public, and Internal Security, as well as the Ministry of Religious Affairs
- all clergy, in accordance with this, are to be appointed by the Ministry of Religious Affairs, and must meet requirements set by the Council of Examination
- seminaries and their equivalents shall be nationalized and be under the full control of the Ministry of Religious Affairs in conjunction with the Council of Examination
- the content of religious services and events must be approved by the Ministry of Religious Affairs prior to the holding of said services or events
- all religious services and events must be registered with the Ministry of Religious Affairs, which may prohibit them from taking place if it deems them a danger to public order and/or morality
- all religious youth activities and religious education are prohibited. An exception is made for minors who attend regular religious service, or an equivalent; there must be no differentiation between adults and minors in such services.
- all religious texts will be scrutinized by the Ministry of Religious Affairs, which reserves the right to censor or prohibit their publication if the content is deemed a danger to public order and/or morality
- a special visa, lasting 10 days and not renewable, shall be created for foreigners intending to conduct religious activities in Istkalen. Foreigners conducting religious activities without this visa within the territory of Istkalen are to be deported immediately; those presently within the country conducting such activity are exempted for the next thirty days, at which point this regulation shall apply to them.
Kaisa Malk
Prime MInister of the Republic of IstkalenVistek Rikkalek
Head of State of the Republic of Istkalen -
From the Council of Ministers
The Council of Justice has determined that it was illegal for this government not to enforce the 18th of April edict of Ilest Kerel. The state will thus enforce it from this date forwards.
Kaisa Malk
Prime Minister of the Republic of IstkalenVistek Rikkalek
Head of State of the Republic of Istkalen -
From the Ministry of Religious Affairs
The Ministry of Religious Affairs releases the following guidance regarding the appointment of clergy:
- associations for all recognized religions in the territory of Istkalen are to be created by the Ministry
- associations will be governed by an elected council, half of the members of which are to be elected by the whole of the members of the religion and the other half by members of the clergy
- these associations will govern their respective religion
- actions of the associations may be vetoed by the Ministry of Religious Affairs
- control of seminaries, as well as over requirements necessary to enter the clergy, are to be given to the Council of Examination entirely
- appointments will be tolerated in religious sects which require the appointment of clergy by external forces, but must be approved by the Ministry of Religious Affairs and the corresponding religious association
Kūseli Virejane
Minister of Religious Affairs -
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From the Council of Ministers
Agreement Establishing the 6th government of the Republic of Istkalen
In the interests of transparency, the Council of Ministers has moved as to publish the original agreement in regards to policy aims which formed the current Malk government, the 6th government of the Republic of Istkalen.
I. The central aim of the incoming government shall be to establish a modern and progressive state in Istkalen. In doing so, the government shall be committed to:
a) Reconstructing the bureaucracy of Istkalen, primarily by pardoning former members previously convicted of collaborating with the Social Democratic government who were not directly involved in the perpetuation of crimes against humanity, as well as by re-opening and revitalizing the education and examination system for bureaucrats in the interests of modernization
b) Encouraging the economic development of Istkalen by revitalizing vocational forms of education, directly funding significant technical and agricultural endeavors for the modernization of industry and agriculture, and encouraging informal forms of cooperation, within traditional bounds, between economic actors within Istkalen, but not necessarily limited to these actions
c) Encouraging reconstruction by encouraging and democratizing infrastructure authorities throughout Istkalen, particularly focusing on the repair and expansion of transportation and agricultural infrastructure
d) Placing regulations on and limiting the influence of extremist religious sects in the territory of Istkalen which have encouraged superstition, irrationality, and violence within the people of Istkalen
e) Removing religious influence from education in the territory of Istkalen and instituting a secular and, to the extent that it is feasible, democratic form of education.
f) Encouraging the development of the art of individual nationalities within the territory of Istkalen in a national context, while also through financial and other forms of encouragement seeking to foster a unified national art
g) Encouraging the further secularization of art and culture in Istkalen through regulation on religious organizations as well as through the expansion of secular arts educational institutions within the territory of Istkalen
h) Expanding access to primary education for Istkaleners, particularly those in Arian-majority territories
i) Expanding the tertiary and vocational education systems further as to be able to accomodate the increased number entering the system from the Arian-majority territories
j) Expanding and strenghtening the healthcare system in Istkalen by making key investments in regards to further education of medical professionals, the purchase of medication and medical equipment, and the modernization of hospitals and other physical medical infrastructure in the countryII. The government shall foster forms of participatory and direct democracy in Istkalen. In doing so, the government shall be committed to:
a) Encouraging the creation of decentralized mass organizations through which citizens may participate
b) Discouraging and limiting the influence of political parties, which occupy a hegemonic position preventing genuine people's rule in Istkalen
c) Investigating the feasibility of complete prohibition of political parties in their present form
d) Reducing the size of the bureaucracy and transferring bureaucratic authority to democratically-based institutions in Istkalen, particularly the workers' associations and people's committees
e) Encouraging the further development of the people's committees and workers' associations as to allow for increased accountability of representatives and increased decentralization of powers to ward-level assemblies
f) Encouraging the further development of the women's committees in the Arian-majority regions, as well as their expansion throughout the territory of Istkalen
g) Encouraging the further development and institutionalization of the system of community and traditional courts on a secular and rational basis
h) Introducing a national initiative in Istkalen
i) Introducing instant recall of eleted representatives in IstkalenIII. The government shall seek to ensure discipline in regards to governance in Istkalen. In doing so, the government shall be committed to:
a) Prohibiting the mentally unbalanced from participating in politics
b) Limiting mass demonstrations conducted on the basis of superstition or irrationality
c) Partially or fully restoring Kerel-era policies requiring mass public political activity to be conducted through the workers' associations, people's committees, and state-recognized mass organizations
d) Encouraging reasoned criticism of state policy as a duty through established state or state-recognized institutions.
e) Holding events of mass political participation, in the form of public speeches and debates made by reasonable and mentally balanced members of the public, open to the general public for reasoned and sane viewing and participation, as to encourage moderation and rationality
f) Encouraging the medium of the written word as an alternative, legitimate, and unrestricted form of political activism, with an exception made for libel and for the purposeful dissemination of falsehoods under the appearance of truth
g) Limiting the powers that state institutions, particularly the people's committees and workers' associations, have in order to prevent abuse.IV. The government shall seek to conserve the Istkalener economic system and welfare state, but seeks to make necessary adjustments in the interests of both the workers and economic justice. In doing so, the government shall be committed to:
a) Prohibiting the formation of formal companies, cooperatives, or associations, but allowing and encouraging informal collectives
b) Pursuing policies of socialization in regards to the mining and energy industries, in addition to public transportation, due to their importance to the continued survival of the state
c) Contining the permitting of the practice of contracting
d) Merging the workers' societies into ward-level workers' associations
e) Lowering of taxation on labor-partnerships and free workers
f) Simplification of regulation on labor-partnerships and free workers
g) Ending policies of corvée
h) Prohibiting the imposition of labor as a duty by the workers' association; replacement of this system with one based on the collection of financial dues
i) Decentralization of welfare policy to the workers' associations on model similar to that existing during the Social Democratic era
j) Restoration of the Social Democratic system of vocational and professional education, particularly the paying of stipends to students and their employment by the state in the case of apprenticeship or internship programs rather than by individuals
k) Restoration of the Social Democratic-era universal living stipendV. The government shall seek in particular to protect and develop agriculture and craft industry in Istkalen. In doing so, the government shall be committed to:
a) Continuing Social Democratic-era agriculture subsidies, but allowing the Council of Censors to take a greater role in investigating and preventing corruption
b) Reserving specific percentages of produce for that of smallholders and craftspeople
c) Encouraging the modernization of traditional agriculture along sustainable lines without altering present distributions of ownership through the granting of subsidies for the investigation of new technologies, as well as, in the case that they are found feasible, their adoption.
d) Encouraging the modernization of craft industry without altering organization within said industry or detracting from the independence of individual craftspeople through the granting of subsidies for the investigation of new technologies, as well as, in the case that they are found feasible, their adoption.
e) Preventing the entrance of foreign products and ventures into the market that might disrupt the position of smallholders and craftspeople in IstkalenVI. The government shall place forwards social policy protecting minorities in Istkalen. In doing so, the government shall be committed to:
a) the official recognition of all nationalities forming more than 2% of the population, with those recognized as native not needing to form more than 0,5% of the population to be counted as an official nationality
b) making available all government publications automatically in Kitets, Estonian, Helts, German, and Turkish, as well as available upon special request in any recognized language of the recognized nationalities of Istkalen
c) the creation of different school curriculae in regards to language and cultural instruction, although not specialized schools in themselves, for each of the recognized nationalities of Istkalen, but ensuring that a neutral language of instruction is taught to all.
d) the equal support of artists of all nationalities of Istkalen, with no favor afforded to any specific nationality
e) Continuing the maintenance of different social laws, particularly regarding the family, adapted for and applying to nationalities with a significantly different culture than from the majority in Istkalen
f) A prohibition on discrimination regarding significant work-related affairs, housing, and public accomodations as a result of personal characteristics, particularly nationality.
g) Establishing a neutral national language of Istkalen for use as a lingua franca.VII. The government shall promote a peaceful and non-aligned foreign policy with aims of protecting the country's independence. In doing so, the government shall be committed to:
a) Maintaining cordial relations with all existent states to the extent that is possible
b) Constructing, or helping in the construction of, an economic or financial alliance between states without significant power.
c) Contructing, or helping in the construction of, a political alliance between non-aligned, but not necessarily neutral, states
d) Preventing the formation of any precedent that could allow for the annexation or subjugation of Istkalener territory by any means.
e) Preventing the formation of any precedent that could force Istkalen to surrender its economic sovereignty to another power by any means
f) Constructing alliances with other sovereign states as to bolster the poor international reputation of Istkalen and to ensure that subjugation of any type by any power is made difficult
Kaisa Malk
Prime Minister of the Republic of Istkalen -
From the Council of Ministers
The Council of Ministers of the Republic of Istkalen responds with shock and horror at the allegations of widescale police brutality against members of the clergy. As criminal as many of these individuals may have been, such treatment, if true, is illegal and an evident violation of human rights. A full investigation is to be launched into this issue.
Kaisa Malk
Prime Minister of the Republic of IstkalenVistek RIkkalek
Head of State of the Republic of Istkalen
