Post by Kannex on Sept 24, 2011 17:22:39 GMT -5
Rare Glimpse Into Post-War Kannex
May 29th, 2017 By Anthony Tressorea
Being a Bobean journalist of Kannexian ancestry (my father was a Kannexian immigrant to the Federation of Bob) has its perks, especially when it comes to covering news occurring in Kannex, now ruled by the Fatherland Party with an iron fist. For example, while many foreign news services - particularly those of LUSS nations - were unable to send journalists to cover the recent coronation of Emperor Gyotai, there I was, in the great city of Hwaiteu Gyomuen last week, on May 21st, 2017. That was the fateful day which the second Emperor of the Furesuthu Dynasty's coronation was broadcast live to the population.
Much has changed since the Fatherland Party took control of the country in June 2016 after a nationwide crisis now referred to as the 2016 imperial crisis. Partially due to the growing corruption in the government and the immense financial cost of the Koenigfaste Defense War, the Agagisan Coalition Government collapsed after losing a crucial confidence vote. Chaos followed, with the Parliament Building being blown to bits by a bomb. Shortly afterward, the Fatherland Party took control with what some say was the reluctant approval of the now deceased Emperor Dovira. The Fatherland Party immediately began several new policies - elimination of corruption in all three (national, provincial, and local) levels of government, the strengthening of the military, the restriction of the freedom of speech and expression, and the beginning of an 'East Ajian Co-Prosperity Sphere'. Emperor Dovira was reportedly 'kidnapped' by disillusioned government and military members and then-Archduke Gyotai, brother of Dovira, took the throne after approval from the Fatherland Party-dominated Parliament.
In case you were living in a remote cave for the last several months, here is what happened: the new Imperial Government, along with its allies in Imperium and Deiyerjye, invaded Malecia in what is now referred to as the North Medius Conflict. Western Malecia fell easily; a shock to all nations of the world. Boltor and Takaram intervened, saving the large island nation from complete Kannexian conquest. Fighting ended near the end of 2016 and an armistice was signed. Axis troops withdrew from Malecia.
Emperor Dovira's body was found in the Kannexian Embassy in Shiloh during the invasion. His Majesty had died of natural causes. The Kannexian embassy staff - deemed 'traitors to the Empire' and 'regicide suspects' - were nowhere to be found.
Thus, Archduke Gyotai came to be formally known as Emperor Gyotai - alternately called the Ming-Tao Emperor - on New Year's Day, 2017. The Imperial Government delayed his coronation until May for unknown reasons, although official documents had already started using 'Ming-Tao' as the era name since the beginning of 2017.
With all this in mind, I arrived in Hwaiteu International Airport on the afternoon of Friday, May 19th; two days before the coronation date. Already, preparations were being made for the grand ceremony. Cherry blossoms where in full bloom as Kannexian children cheerfully walked home from school, preparing for a three-day weekend. Sneezing Kannexian adults shouted "ain-bai aivu!" as they passed each other on the streets, which were illuminated by strings of lanterns hung from one side of the street to the other. People returning from work or school filled subway trains and public buses, chattering enthusiastically amongst themselves. Life went on, as usual.
However, there seemed to be another side of the city that the Imperial Government didn't want visiting foreigners to notice. Beggars were nowhere to be found. Even the dirtiest, poorest parts of the city were suspiciously empty of shady fellows that usually hang around alleyways. Police seemed to be at every corner, intersection, bridge, and tunnel, stopping vehicles and demanding identification. A significant amount of Imperial Armed Police was also present. Images and posters of famous Kannexian pop singers and action stars - once an important portion of Kannexian society - had long been taken down, replaced by propaganda posters reporting on the virtues of His Majesty Emperor Gyotai. The ruins of the destroyed Parliament Building was off-limits to everybody except for workers and officials. I was not an exception.
That night, I stayed in the Friendship Hotel with other foreign reporters. We were kept under guard almost at all times and were unable to access the Internet, though we were allowed to make phone calls. Despite the guards and the shortage of contact with the outside world, my stay was not as bad as I expected. We were given potato fries with ketchup and fried chicken on rice for dinner - it was absolutely free of charge; paid for us by the Imperial Government.
The next day, we were allowed to visit some landmarks of the city. My colleagues and I traveled to the Imperial City, where many of Kannex's top nobles and bureaucrats resided in a fantasy-like dreamworld consisting solely of old-fashioned Kannexian buildings and absolutely no automobiles. The romantic feeling of it, however, stopped when we reached the East Sun Gate, the primary entrance to the Imperial Palace. It was guarded by no less than one hundred guards. To avoid trouble, we made a turn and visited the Monument to the Empire, Temple of Heaven, Diplomacy Hall, and other interesting landmarks of the Imperial City.
TO BE CONTINUED...
(OOC: Please don't post until I finish the article.)
May 29th, 2017 By Anthony Tressorea
Being a Bobean journalist of Kannexian ancestry (my father was a Kannexian immigrant to the Federation of Bob) has its perks, especially when it comes to covering news occurring in Kannex, now ruled by the Fatherland Party with an iron fist. For example, while many foreign news services - particularly those of LUSS nations - were unable to send journalists to cover the recent coronation of Emperor Gyotai, there I was, in the great city of Hwaiteu Gyomuen last week, on May 21st, 2017. That was the fateful day which the second Emperor of the Furesuthu Dynasty's coronation was broadcast live to the population.
Much has changed since the Fatherland Party took control of the country in June 2016 after a nationwide crisis now referred to as the 2016 imperial crisis. Partially due to the growing corruption in the government and the immense financial cost of the Koenigfaste Defense War, the Agagisan Coalition Government collapsed after losing a crucial confidence vote. Chaos followed, with the Parliament Building being blown to bits by a bomb. Shortly afterward, the Fatherland Party took control with what some say was the reluctant approval of the now deceased Emperor Dovira. The Fatherland Party immediately began several new policies - elimination of corruption in all three (national, provincial, and local) levels of government, the strengthening of the military, the restriction of the freedom of speech and expression, and the beginning of an 'East Ajian Co-Prosperity Sphere'. Emperor Dovira was reportedly 'kidnapped' by disillusioned government and military members and then-Archduke Gyotai, brother of Dovira, took the throne after approval from the Fatherland Party-dominated Parliament.
In case you were living in a remote cave for the last several months, here is what happened: the new Imperial Government, along with its allies in Imperium and Deiyerjye, invaded Malecia in what is now referred to as the North Medius Conflict. Western Malecia fell easily; a shock to all nations of the world. Boltor and Takaram intervened, saving the large island nation from complete Kannexian conquest. Fighting ended near the end of 2016 and an armistice was signed. Axis troops withdrew from Malecia.
Emperor Dovira's body was found in the Kannexian Embassy in Shiloh during the invasion. His Majesty had died of natural causes. The Kannexian embassy staff - deemed 'traitors to the Empire' and 'regicide suspects' - were nowhere to be found.
Thus, Archduke Gyotai came to be formally known as Emperor Gyotai - alternately called the Ming-Tao Emperor - on New Year's Day, 2017. The Imperial Government delayed his coronation until May for unknown reasons, although official documents had already started using 'Ming-Tao' as the era name since the beginning of 2017.
With all this in mind, I arrived in Hwaiteu International Airport on the afternoon of Friday, May 19th; two days before the coronation date. Already, preparations were being made for the grand ceremony. Cherry blossoms where in full bloom as Kannexian children cheerfully walked home from school, preparing for a three-day weekend. Sneezing Kannexian adults shouted "ain-bai aivu!" as they passed each other on the streets, which were illuminated by strings of lanterns hung from one side of the street to the other. People returning from work or school filled subway trains and public buses, chattering enthusiastically amongst themselves. Life went on, as usual.
However, there seemed to be another side of the city that the Imperial Government didn't want visiting foreigners to notice. Beggars were nowhere to be found. Even the dirtiest, poorest parts of the city were suspiciously empty of shady fellows that usually hang around alleyways. Police seemed to be at every corner, intersection, bridge, and tunnel, stopping vehicles and demanding identification. A significant amount of Imperial Armed Police was also present. Images and posters of famous Kannexian pop singers and action stars - once an important portion of Kannexian society - had long been taken down, replaced by propaganda posters reporting on the virtues of His Majesty Emperor Gyotai. The ruins of the destroyed Parliament Building was off-limits to everybody except for workers and officials. I was not an exception.
That night, I stayed in the Friendship Hotel with other foreign reporters. We were kept under guard almost at all times and were unable to access the Internet, though we were allowed to make phone calls. Despite the guards and the shortage of contact with the outside world, my stay was not as bad as I expected. We were given potato fries with ketchup and fried chicken on rice for dinner - it was absolutely free of charge; paid for us by the Imperial Government.
The next day, we were allowed to visit some landmarks of the city. My colleagues and I traveled to the Imperial City, where many of Kannex's top nobles and bureaucrats resided in a fantasy-like dreamworld consisting solely of old-fashioned Kannexian buildings and absolutely no automobiles. The romantic feeling of it, however, stopped when we reached the East Sun Gate, the primary entrance to the Imperial Palace. It was guarded by no less than one hundred guards. To avoid trouble, we made a turn and visited the Monument to the Empire, Temple of Heaven, Diplomacy Hall, and other interesting landmarks of the Imperial City.
TO BE CONTINUED...
(OOC: Please don't post until I finish the article.)