The Morovian Telegraph

Royal Succession Act Controversy

Briesk – When there was no news from the Winter Palace during summer, the Kingdom of Morovia returned to its lowest ebb. Many reasons were put forward to explain the decline, among them, a dissolved Royal Assembly and the loss of InfoMorovia. However, few can argue that the main reason was that the King was nowhere to be found.

When the King returned to Briesk, his subjects cried for deep-reaching reforms including electoral reforms, royal succession reforms, and some even went on to press for constitutional reforms. The citizens of Morovia were delighted that the King, too, agreed that such reforms were needed. Elections were promptly held and the electorate put a couple of new faces into the Royal Assembly, in line with the desire for sweeping reforms.

The Royal Assembly quickly drafted several radical bills to be voted upon. Among these bills was the Royal Succession Act (RSA), an act meant to provide for succession to the throne in case of the permanent absence of the Sovereign or any of the Royal Family to succeed the Sovereign, or the Abdication of a Sovereign without a designated or willing heir.

In essence, this bill was to empower the Royal Assembly to appoint a Regent should the King, or another member of the Royal family, not post to the forums or communicate with the Cabinet or the Royal Assembly within one month of the King’s previous communication (if the King did not designate a Regent). If the Regent completed his/her three-month term and the King had still not returned, the bill enabled the Royal Assembly to appoint a Successor to the King. This document received much support throughout the country and was passed by the Royal Assembly.

Then came the surprise. His Majesty King Vincent III published a Statement Regarding the Royal Succession Act, which, in effect, vetoed the Royal Succession Act. This was the first time in 6 years that the King has exercised his prerogatives to refuse assent to any legislation passed by the representatives of the people. Robert Gresham, easily the most prominent critic of the Crown, lambasted His Majesty’s statement as a poor decision, stating that he actually wish it [the RSA] went further in its provisions qualifying further to mean three strikes, you’re out reform.

The King’s veto rocked the Royal Assembly, and the whole of Morovia, with mixed responses. The Hon. Bill Bekkenhuis, who voted Yea for the RSA, promptly asked the Royal Assembly not to override the King’s veto although the Assembly had the votes and power to do so, but to give the Winter Palace some time (seven days) to devise a compromise.

The Hon. David Oatney, who proposed the RSA, said that he [did not] believe a Compromise from His Majesty’s Chambers is forthcoming, adding that ...it is a sad day when the principle of Parliamentary Supremacy, which is a basic principle of democratic Constitutional Monarchy, must be asserted in a legislative showdown with the King we are sworn to Liege. The Hon. Bekkenhuis and the Hon. Oatney are both caught in a very strange position. The Hon. Bekkenhuis has always appeared to subscribe to liberalism yet was the first to come to the King’s "rescue". The Hon. Oatney, on the other hand, is the leader of the Conservative Party.

James Murphy, the Minister of Foreign Affairs, while maintaining that it is the King’s prerogatives to veto legislations as such rights are guaranteed by the Constitution, entered into a difficult and intense debate with the Hon. Bekkenhuis for changing his vote to Nay, beginning with a question, "Why must the king always be amused?"

The Assembly is the people’s legislature. We the people expect our legislators to represent US, not the Winter Palace. We expect our representatives to be strong, to be courageous and to be able to act without fear, argued Murphy. …Legislation cannot be stopped just because the executive branch dislikes it. That’s just obnoxious.

The Hon. Bekkenhuis replied, Is there any reason to dismiss a solution agreeable to both King and Assembly other than as a show of force on the part of the Assembly? This debate carried on with both parties adding to the already very delicate issue, with Murphy calling Bekkenhuis’ formula as Happy King = good legislation.

Murphy ended the thread summarizing his contention that the Assembly exists for a reason. There is a three branch system of checks and balances. When one of those branches renounces its prerogatives in favor of those of another, the balance is upset and this can lead to an unhealthy situation.

Nobody is sure where this issue will lead Morovia. It is unlikely that Vincent III will ever be succeeded in accordance with the RSA. However, this episode (still unfinished) set, or may set, more than one controversial precedence: the people legislating the powers of the King; the King exercising his rights to veto legislations; the people overriding a King’s veto.

Steven Foong
Editor, Movovian News
The Morovian Telegraph

Royal Succession Act Controversy

Briesk – When there was no news from the Winter Palace during summer, the Kingdom of Morovia returned to its lowest ebb. Many reasons were put forward to explain the decline, among them, a dissolved Royal Assembly and the loss of InfoMorovia. However, few can argue that the main reason was that the King was nowhere to be found.

When the King returned to Briesk, his subjects cried for deep-reaching reforms including electoral reforms, royal succession reforms, and some even went on to press for constitutional reforms. The citizens of Morovia were delighted that the King, too, agreed that such reforms were needed. Elections were promptly held and the electorate put a couple of new faces into the Royal Assembly, in line with the desire for sweeping reforms.

The Royal Assembly quickly drafted several radical bills to be voted upon. Among these bills was the Royal Succession Act (RSA), an act meant to provide for succession to the throne in case of the permanent absence of the Sovereign or any of the Royal Family to succeed the Sovereign, or the Abdication of a Sovereign without a designated or willing heir.

In essence, this bill was to empower the Royal Assembly to appoint a Regent should the King, or another member of the Royal family, not post to the forums or communicate with the Cabinet or the Royal Assembly within one month of the King’s previous communication (if the King did not designate a Regent). If the Regent completed his/her three-month term and the King had still not returned, the bill enabled the Royal Assembly to appoint a Successor to the King. This document received much support throughout the country and was passed by the Royal Assembly.

Then came the surprise. His Majesty King Vincent III published a Statement Regarding the Royal Succession Act, which, in effect, vetoed the Royal Succession Act. This was the first time in 6 years that the King has exercised his prerogatives to refuse assent to any legislation passed by the representatives of the people. Robert Gresham, easily the most prominent critic of the Crown, lambasted His Majesty’s statement as a poor decision, stating that he actually wish it [the RSA] went further in its provisions qualifying further to mean three strikes, you’re out reform.

The King’s veto rocked the Royal Assembly, and the whole of Morovia, with mixed responses. The Hon. Bill Bekkenhuis, who voted Yea for the RSA, promptly asked the Royal Assembly not to override the King’s veto although the Assembly had the votes and power to do so, but to give the Winter Palace some time (seven days) to devise a compromise.

The Hon. David Oatney, who proposed the RSA, said that he [did not] believe a Compromise from His Majesty’s Chambers is forthcoming, adding that ...it is a sad day when the principle of Parliamentary Supremacy, which is a basic principle of democratic Constitutional Monarchy, must be asserted in a legislative showdown with the King we are sworn to Liege. The Hon. Bekkenhuis and the Hon. Oatney are both caught in a very strange position. The Hon. Bekkenhuis has always appeared to subscribe to liberalism yet was the first to come to the King’s "rescue". The Hon. Oatney, on the other hand, is the leader of the Conservative Party.

James Murphy, the Minister of Foreign Affairs, while maintaining that it is the King’s prerogatives to veto legislations as such rights are guaranteed by the Constitution, entered into a difficult and intense debate with the Hon. Bekkenhuis for changing his vote to Nay, beginning with a question, "Why must the king always be amused?"

The Assembly is the people’s legislature. We the people expect our legislators to represent US, not the Winter Palace. We expect our representatives to be strong, to be courageous and to be able to act without fear, argued Murphy. …Legislation cannot be stopped just because the executive branch dislikes it. That’s just obnoxious.

The Hon. Bekkenhuis replied, Is there any reason to dismiss a solution agreeable to both King and Assembly other than as a show of force on the part of the Assembly? This debate carried on with both parties adding to the already very delicate issue, with Murphy calling Bekkenhuis’ formula as Happy King = good legislation.

Murphy ended the thread summarizing his contention that the Assembly exists for a reason. There is a three branch system of checks and balances. When one of those branches renounces its prerogatives in favor of those of another, the balance is upset and this can lead to an unhealthy situation.

Nobody is sure where this issue will lead Morovia. It is unlikely that Vincent III will ever be succeeded in accordance with the RSA. However, this episode (still unfinished) set, or may set, more than one controversial precedence: the people legislating the powers of the King; the King exercising his rights to veto legislations; the people overriding a King’s veto.

Steven Foong
Editor, Movovian News
The Morovian Telegraph

Oh God, you're dying.

---

The Diocese of Southern Morovia

Dear Friends:

Some months ago Jay Murphy and I went with friends to see a local production of "Jesus Christ Superstar" [Correct to "Godspell" - Editor]. I remember that the Cardinal, who often becomes emotionally moved by profound ideas and scenarios, cried twice during the performance.

The first time he cried was when Christ began to celebrate the Last Supper.

The second I noticed him wiping a tear from his eyes was when the disciples sang "Oh God, you're dying," as Christ hung upon the cross.

Yesterday, tears fell from my eyes and I cried "Oh, God...you're dying" when the Cardinal broke the news to me that he had been diagnosed with a terminal illness and that it was unclear how much longer he'd be with us.

I'm at his home today, taking care of a few things for him. He's gone out of town to be alone with himself and to clear his mind of the chaos and torture which he must be experiencing now. He called me today and asked, among other things, if I wouldn't mind breaking the news to his friends--he used the word "friends"--in Morovia. I'm carrying out his wishes.

I cannot say whether or not you'll be hearing from him again. It may be that he'll want to remain involved. Perhaps he'll only want to offer one last goodbye. That will be his decision, of course.

I remember reading that when Pope John Paul I died suddenly after only a few weeks in office, an American Cardinal was quoted as saying that God had placed him in the shepherd's chair just to show everyone his smile for a moment. Perhaps that's why he brought Jay to you for a short while.

I would like to ask each of you to kindly remember him in your thoughts and prayers. I'm sure any messages of goodwill emailed to him would be appreciated.

Peace and God's blessings.

+Angelo Cicatello

"I am with you a little while, a little while and then I am gone."


Edited by: Bishop Angelo Cicatello at: 10/4/02 5:59:52 pm

Reprinted from the Morovian Salon by Bill Bekkenhuis

The King's Fool

Provocative, no-holds-barred commentary and satire on the state of the Kingdom provided by a guest commentator.

...being in the doghouse with His Majesty on certain rare occasions happens to be good for democracy, it doesn't mean you are disloyal to the Crown.

David Oatney,
Citizen of Morovia

The Balatro Letter
(with apologies to C. S. Lewis)

From the High Imperial Office of the Exalted Proconsul
October 15th, 2002

Dear Emperor Jacobus:

Your attempts to overthrow the lawful government of Morovia and install yourself as my governor have failed. And though you are but my paper doll, a regrettable symptom from one too many glasses of an indifferent Scotch, I thought I would take this opportunity to clarify your / my thinking on some strategic matters.

Your faulty evaluation of the enemy's strengths and weaknesses has caused you to divert far too much of your limited posting time to trivialities while missing the main obstacles to our progress.

First of all, stop your whining about Robert Gresham. In the realm of micronational terrorism, Gresham is the greatest thing since the invention of the Coup d'Etat.

Gresham has single-handedly made you, Emperor Jacobus, what you are in Morovia. If it wasn't for Gresham's increasingly shrill warnings about the deadly threat you pose to the government, you'd be drowning fries at the Briesk McDonalds alongside Comrade "Chef" Titov.

Gresham certainly respects your awesome power to post naughty things to the Salon more than the rest of Morovia.

Nor is Gresham's royal invertebrate, His Majesty King Vincent III any significant threat.

Vincent comes and Vincent goes. He squelches. And he doesn't answer mail.

The only citizens he likes are those who either do nothing or, even better, show up like Haley's Comet from time to time to vote Gresham out of office.

The King is obstructionist regarding innovation and intolerant regarding dissent in all areas of Morovian life.

Cardinal Murphy attempted some innovations. Some half-baked notion about local affairs in Briesk being managed by its own citizens. Can you imagine the foolishness?!

Anyway, we all know what happened to him, don't we?

He was 'squelched' (and all over His Majesty's new deep pile rug, too. Good thing it was purple anyway. El Yucko!).

Yes, yes, I know. Later on His Majesty made a big deal about reconciling with him and they patched up everything.

Even had His Eminence up for a glass of Port the night before the Religion in Morovia Day dedication.

And, yes, the next morning King Vincent dedicated a new, bronze statue of the Cardinal which will immortalize him forever in its somewhat secluded display in that little hollow behind the Royal Barn (near the landfill).

But surely I was not the only one to puzzle at the anguished look on the statue's face - and to notice that the non-bronzed Murphy has not been seen since...

Yes, I know, I know. A recent poll shows nineteen out of twenty citizens interviewed at a location chosen at random saying that His Majesty is kind, generous, quick to forgive and open to both sides of an issue.

Turns out the "random location" was the Royal Scaffold (Unfortunately, the late Mr. Longenecker was mute, God rest his soul.)

Speaking of which, some have said that His Majesty's use of the gallows (in preference to the former Royal Firing Squad) indicates a new-found appreciation of innovation.

Utter nonsense. It's simple expediancy. Because, along with the Cabinet and the Assembly, most of His Majesty's appointees to the firing squad disappeared as soon as they were named.

And it created quite a difficulty for the judicatory when only one out of the ten members of the Squad, on average, showed up for an execution.

Especially when the Good Attendance Award went to the guy with the blank in his rifle for three years running.

The rest of the government organizations pose no difficulty to your mission either.

Because it is the non-active 60% of the government that run the show, get the fancy titles and enjoy the favor of the King. Really puts a new twist on The Silent Majority, eh?

And the active politicos?

All bluster, no substance.

William Bekkenhuis is a typical example. He has been useless since his release from the psychiatric hospital (Gresham would say he wasn't much use before). His Majesty covered it up pretty well, but Bekkenhuis was hospitalized after he was of two minds on a particular political issue and tried to book a meeting room at the Ramada Inn, Briesk to mediate a compromise.

The Royal Assembly will also cause us no delay.

Everyone was in High Dungeon because the King might disappear again AT ANY MOMENT so we must have emergency powers legislation RIGHT NOW.

But when Bekkenhuis fought to uphold the King's veto and draft an alternate, compromise bill (The Amazing Disappearing King Act of 2002 I believe it's called), it could barely be passed because the Royal Assembly launched a preemptive strike against the King and disappeared FIRST this time.

Let's face it. Citizen involvement in Morovia follows three historical patterns:

Pattern One (happens most often): The people agitate for something. Vincent is about as personable and responsive as the Great Sphinx. The people lose interest and go away.

Pattern Two (happens next most often): The people agitate for something. Vincent squelches it (LOVE that word!). The people lose interest and go away.

Pattern Three (happens least often): The people agitate for something. Vincent enthusiastically supports their efforts. The people lose interest and go away ANYWAY.

Maybe Vincent should put an ad in the Telegraph to recruit more citizens.

Citizens Wanted!: Unapproachable, Obstructionist Monarch Seeking Silent or Sycophantic Subjects

At any rate, all those reasons explain why Morovia's government functions like a cemetery in which the groundskeepers do nothing until they're received their orders from the dead.

No, Emperor Jacobus, you have quite failed to perceive and take action against your true obstacle to progress in Morovia.

And what might that be, you ask?

Three words: Oatney, Cutterham and Foong.

Why?

They post regularly to the board. They have good ideas. They respect the ideas and contributions of others. They negotiate with the King and with others to get things done. And they follow through on what they start and on the commitments they make.

Makes me sick...

You had better hope, Emperor Jacobus, that you can prevent His Majesty from finding a few more like them - or I'll have your butt in a jar of formaldehyde on my bookshelf.

Yours in Micronational Terrorism,
Gulielmus Balatro
Proconsul of Yet Another Pointless, Short-Lived, One-Person Micronation
...and this month's special correspondent to The Morovian Telegraph

{Return to November2002}

For the Good of the Realm: Royal Succession Deserves Royal Assent

Apparently, the Winter Palace has learned little from last summer's fiasco. His Majesty fears, I believe, that the Assembly is being insubordinate. The Assembly's duty is to uphold the CROWN, as well as uphold democracy in this Kingdom. Suffice it to say, we love His Majesty. As far as we are concerned, we hope he reigns as long as the nation exists.

It is our belief, however, that both the nation and the CROWN are bigger than merely a single man. The CROWN is the State, which means if something should happen, God forbid, to His Majesty, to disable him in any manner from reigning over this Kingdom, the CROWN must go on, because the Morovian people have chosen a Constitutional Monarchy as our means of governance.

Twice now, the Royal Assembly has sent His Majesty measures that would effectively deal with the Succession Question and avert a crisis. The first time such a measure was sent to the Palace, His Majesty refused the Royal Assent, saying that the Assembly (to whom he must answer in a Parliamentary democracy) had no right to tell a Sovereign when he must communicate with it or the nation. The Assembly has tried to deal with the King's concerns as best it can, it even refused to over-ride his veto in hopes that a compromise could be reached. The Assembly has sent His Majesty a second Bill that it hopes adequately addresses his concerns. We believe it would be wise of him to grant the Assent, yielding to the democratic will of the people, and avoiding a conflict between the Palace and the House of Law that neither side, we are sure, is at all desirous of having.

David Oatney,
Opinion Editor
The Morovian Telegraph

Tymaria: The Last Weeks

On the 8^th of September 2002, one of the greatest and most ambitious projects in our microworld, the United Republic of Tymaria, was officially dissolved. In truth, it had already been dead of fragmentation and apathy – while its shell was populated by its most loyal citizens – for some time. The best way to sum up these last weeks is in the words of its existence is in the words of its denizens:

"Tymaria needs activity.
I need snuggles.

So, all you have to do is post snuggling me in this thread, and everybody wins!" – Sirithil

"What, fish? I don't care about fish. Marine mammals are always cooler… 5 / 33.3%

What, fish? I don't care about fish. Squids are always cooler… 3 / 20.0%

Jaws is nice... And has nice Jaws... Which, by the way, has nice Jaws... 0 / 0.0%

Myself onto a perch, my enemies to pikes - that's the way to go… 3 / 20.0%

Generic/banana/YAC annexation/Oscar Wilde Witticism/Ari-ism/Hasan is wise in all things… 4 / 26.7%" – The Fish Poll

"Mastication is an important part of our society.

I freely admit I masticate several times a day" – Mattlore Devious

"As a random comment that arose from looking at those pictures: You know, sometimes I wish Opera had a "Toilet paper" choice under the "Use image as" menu..." – Ari Rahikkala, on Winston Marlboro’s ezboard signature.

"Recently an individual on another board suggested that I should "got to Hell and rule there", or something of the sort. I told him that Hell alraeady had a competent administrator, so I was unable to fulfill his request." – "Emperor" Jacobus

"Actually, Hell is now an extended part of the Imperium of Menelmacar." WarVoid

"The Kingdom of Babkha laments the inactivity of once great Tymaria and wishes to bring new life into it. Therefore we invite Tymaria to join the Kingdom. Tymaria would benefit greatly the activity Babkha has. The way in which Tymaria would join would be negotiated thouroughly of course.

P.S. This is not our Evil Plan to Rule the World, this is just our Actually Pretty Nice Plan to Rule the World..." - Tahmaseb Farshbaf

"Join Menelmacar : 1 / 4.0%

Join Babkha : 3 / 12.0%

Join whatever nation Jacobus runs : 4 / 16.0%

Stay independent : 2 / 8.0%

Close and disband : 15 / 60.0%" – A better choices poll

"I am re-ascending the throne of my ancestors, and restoring the Imperium. Since there has been so many changes in Tymaria, I doubt if anyone will object.

"Choice four would actually be pretty cool, although I couldn't object to the whole bottom-of-the-sea thing." – Scott Siskind, on the original "Choices" poll. Option four was "Vincent III of Morovia crowned King of Tymaria".

"You forgot the option where Jacobus goes home and the grown ups decide among themselves." Ardashir Shah, on the original "Choices" poll.

I waive my warped, half baked attempt at a sovereignty here.

Peace be with you all!" – "Emperor" Jacobus

"Tymaria's time has come and gone, it's time for it to fold. It's been an interesting ride, it's been around for a year, but there is no longer enough dedication to this wasteland to make it work." – Scott Noseworthy

"As the envoy from Treesia, I urge you to...

DIE, JUST PLEASE....DIE!

This farce has gone on long enough. Please!!" – Eoin Dornan

"So, the United Republic of Tymaria, that hope and dream from last year, a result of our belief that this nation, this nation created from our deepest hopes, would be different from all the others, has finally ended. I, as the Prime Executive, hereby dissolve this nation. Alas, all nations fall. And thus so." – Tony Au

"Huzzah! *blows party whistle*" – Eoin Dornan

"Lettsee... ah!

^ Gather a clone army and invade some nation
^ Build an actual airship
^ See Tymaria actually die

*crosses off 3rd item*" – Jason Harvey Steffke

"Rest in peace." – Philip Locke

Compiled by Thomas Cutterham
Micronational News Editor
The Morovian Telegraph

A Brief History of the Baracão-Menelmacar Conflict

The tensions between the People's Republic of Baracão and the Imperium of Menelmacar that have come to be a central feature of the post-Tymarian micro-world would appear top be drawing to a close. Despite the overwhelming failure of Menelmacari defector and Freenesian leader Philip Locke's "Peace is the Leftist Way Bill" (http://pub173.ezboard.com/fbaracaofrm18.showMessage?topicID=49 .topic), which called for a formal peace summit between the two states, the cross-border exchange of scathing remarks that characterised the conflict seems to have come to an almost anticlimactic halt.

The initial cause of the so-called Cold War was apparently the immigration of the infamous* Thomas Hubert (now known as El Dorni) to Baracão, and the revelation, caused by the loss of ezboard Gold Status and therefore the discovery of "hidden forums" in Menelmacar, that Menelmacari military officials had been holding secret discussions involving opposition to Hubert. The Hubert débâcle saw the collapse of the micronation of Varja into a province of Baracão and resulted in a splinter group forming the Imperium of Menelmacar. This also brought into the arena one of the most outspoken exponents of Menelmacari-Baracãoan peace, relatively new micronationalist and both Menelmacari and Baracãoan citizen Zarathustra Erutirn.

Thus, the tensions can be traced to the very formation of the Imperium. It could perhaps be said that Menelmacar is a semi deliberate antithesis of Baracão, created simply to oppose the Hubertist "socialist revolution" in Varja. Of course, since its foundation Menelmacar has developed a much more solid raison d'etre, primarily as a refuge for culturalist elements in micronationalism, namely the founders of "Apolloism" Harvey (formerly Jason) Steffke and Bill Dusch. This will bring me to my next point, which seeks the reasons for the continued and even increasingly vehement conflict even after the issue with Hubert had cooled.

This reason lies in what is arguably one of the most important debates in micronationalism - indeed, it defines the very nature of micronationalism itself. The question is this: is micronationalism primarily a political exercise, or a cultural one? The first camp, which believes micronationalism is essentially a grand political experiment, and that macronational issues and politics do have a place within micronationalism, is championed by Baracão. The second, which believes in a reduction of politics in micronationalism in place of increasing focus on "cultural" activities and that macronational issues are unacceptable within the hobby, by Menelmacar.

This argument has probably been around since the first fictional micronational history was written, but within the context of the Baracão-Menelmacar conflict it stems from argument regarding the macronational ideologies of each of the countries, and accusations made in a macronational context.

The fact is that the Communism practised in Baracão is almost singularly ideological - with no properly functioning economy as yet, there is really no way to practise what is preached. Similarly, accusations of totalitarianism and oppression of the citizenry have been made by both countries against each other and yet, as the Menelmacari leader herself asserts, micronation oppression is impossible because the power of the state over the citizen is entirely based on that citizen's consent.

In the interests of objectivism, I will not go into my own opinion regarding the culture vs. politics debate, but I will direct you to the Apollo Skyline (http://www.geocities.com/giantsquid1_1999/Skyline/), issues 34 and 35, for editorial articles on this subject by Thomas Hubert (El Dorni), Sirithil nos Fëanor, and myself. In relation to the Baracão-Menelmacar conflict, it is enough to know that this is the primary issue around which their mutual opposition is based.

The Alliance of Free States and the International Brigade

Arguably the most effective manoeuvre of the entire Cold War period was the removal, through absolutely legitimate and peaceful legislative means, of the Micronation of Pacary from the Alliance of Free States. The Micronation of Pacary, first of all, is an important military ally for any nation that will consider the possibility of electronic forum-based "intermicronational war". The Alliance of Free States was a micronational Comintern of which Baracão, of course, was a member. Sirithil nos Fëanor, Elentari (Star Queen) of Menelmacar, being a member of Pacary, was able to strip Baracão of this important ally by simply getting a Bill passed in the Pacarian direct-democracy People's Congress.

Despite the outrage of Pacary's founder and military technologist Sander Dieleman and Scott Noseworthy, another Pacarian militarist, Elentari nos Fëanor had struck both a military and political blow which not only meant that Pacary could no longer officially operate alongside Baracão militarily but also made an example to the rest of the microworld that even one of Baracão's staunchest allies would democratically elect to forsake them.

Baracão, though, were able to strike a blow with a similar degree of political effect in creating the International Brigade. This "foreign legion" enabled them to almost double the size of their army, as well as re-involving Sander Dieleman in the Baracãoan military, as well as prove their support from individuals in the microworld. Baracão had effectively neutralised the impact of the Pacary Incident, and indeed had used the international outrage propagated by well known micronationalists such as Dieleman and Noseworthy to turn the affair to their own advantage. Thus, having achieved a balance of power, the conflict began to slow.

The Fidel Nico Declaration of War

"There will be no war. Ever. Period." - Harvey (Jason) Steffke

On the 22^nd of September 2002, the Imperium of Menelmacar didn't declare war on the People's Republic of Baracão. In fact, Fidel Nico, dissident Menelmacari socialist and Baracãoan citizen did, under the ezboard identity of "SirithiI" (this was, in fact, a prank that had already been played within the microworld on one Earl Andrew Washburn, wherein an "l" is replaced by a capital "i", which look the same in ezBoard's Verdana font).

In fact, this incident probably did more to bring the Baracãoans and Menelmacari together peacefully than any attempt at official peace talks. It forced the combatants to admit that in reality there was no chance of any kind of war, for both political and practical reasons.

Unfortunately, the Cold War was not allowed to end there. On the 24^th, an article appeared on the Micronational News Network, written by none other than Elentari nos Fëanor herself, boldly claiming that "Baracão Harbo[u]rs Terrorist!" Despite claiming that "the Menelmacari themselves seem to care relatively little about the entire affair" the Elentari seemed intent on making an issue of it. Had this not been the case, it is more likely that I would have been able to stop here.

Freenesia and the Philip Locke Defection: The End

Philip Locke is a micronationalist whose name will always be tarnished with the legacy of the 11^th April malicious deletion of Tymaria's forums. Since then, he had created the nation of Freenesia, which was seen by many to have had the sole purpose of making further on Tymaria. Following the collapse of independent Freenesia, after a Freenesian citizen made an attempt to attack the forums once more, the country was made a province by the then-up-and-coming Imperium of Menelmacar, eager to pursue their expansionist ambitions.

I will not go into Locke's history in Menelmacar, but move on in the interests of relevance: Locke later wanted to secede from Menelmacar and give the territory to Baracão. Such things have happened many times in micronationalism. They are part of the micronational process, and in order for that process to run properly it is assumed that micronationalists - especially leaders - will have a degree of courtesy and fairness in dealing with these matters. However, the Menelmacari government decided that it would refuse to grant the secession, despite the fact that Locke was the only person who was both Menelmacari and Freenesian.

Frankly, there isn't much to say about Freenesia's arduous road to becoming a Baracãoan province. Menelmacar's government continually claimed that the secession was illegitimate because Locke had emigrated from Menelmacar before a vote was cast at the direct-democracy Conclave of Equals in Menelmacar. The government of Baracão were reserved in getting involved in the affair, at one point Chairman Daffyd Young saying that "half a country is like half a bicycle." In the end, Elentari nos Fëanor gave in - perhaps mindful of intermicronational exasperation at what seemed to many to be a pointless and unfriendly display of imperialism - and declared that "Locke could have what he wants."

In summary, and in the words of Elentari nos Fëanor herself: "this entire Freenesia issue is getting pathetic, stupid, and childish." Perhaps that was the result of a new micronationalist failing to understand the micronational social-political tradition.

Thomas Cutterham,
Micronational News Editor
The Morovian Telegraph

Working to continue Tom Cutterham's journalistic contribution, The Morovian Telegraph does indeed ride again.

This month's issue is launched during a time of grave concern on the part of the citizens of Morovia (as well as many others in the micronational community) regarding the real world health and well-being of James Cardinal Murphy (see Morovian News, Oh God, you're dying).

And so, as you peruse the various articles regarding the serious (and not so serious) goings on in Morovia and abroad, we urge you to remember that behind the characters, the facades and the avatars with whom we interact are real world human beings with real life-sized problems.

Peace.

Bill Bekkenhuis
Editor-in-Chief
The Morovian Telegraph

With a minimum of fuss and fanfare (couldn't afford the band and the refershments), The Morovian Telegraph is up and running again in its new blog format.

Check to the links on the left for articles in the older incarnation of the Telegraph hosted and founded by Thomas Cutterham. Also on the left is a link to a page that, in turn, links to four ancient news sources of Morovia (two links are bad, I'll let you discover which ones).

The first articles you'll see posted will be from MY editor-in-chief stint back in October, November and December of 2002. As the original web ite went away during the Second Regency period, the articles posted are from my hard drive which may or may not have any passing resemblance to what was originally posted. Similarly, the posted dates are rought approximations.

Anyone wishing to post their opinions on any of the pieces is welcome: new article submissions can be mailed to bekkenhuis@fast.net with "MOROVIA" (and preferably MOROVIA TELEGRAPH) in the subject line.

So, enjoy!

Bill Bekkenhuis
Editor-in-Chief
The Morovian Telegraph
July 21, 2004