[Academy Submission] Recent News Updates on Rising Tensions in the South

[Eskeocha]

Recent articles on the rising tensions in the southern boroughs

Newest Proposal Passes Coalition

19 July 2020

Aven Cordaka

A decision has been made today regarding the national status of the Eskeok National Rainforest located in southern Eskeocha.

For the past year, a debate has arisen regarding the rights of locals to use trees from the rainforest as a source of local lumber. The harvesting of Eskeok Rainforest trees began last November, when natives of the borough Mastikan began cutting down trees in the eastern sections of the rainforest. This upset many natives and environmental rights supporters, prompting action by the Mastikan borough board. A decision was made in a split vote, 12-10, to allow the use of lumber from the rainforest as a local lumber source, passing in January of this year. South Eskeocha and Cranarie Passage South, two other boroughs that share portions of the rainforest, disputed this decision by Mastikan, claiming Mastikan has no right to make the decision without consultation with the other boroughs since they also share territory. Mastikan disagreed with this claim, stating that each borough is responsible for their own region of the forest.

With no eminent solution to the rainforest dispute, as it has grown to be called, South Eskeocha submitted a proposal to the Frontier Coalition, Eskeocha’s national governing body, to declare the rainforest a national monument of heritage. Proposals on this level are infrequent, with only approximately twelve sent to the coalition annually, as Eskeocha’s main governance is delegated to the boroughs. This proposal remained on the floor for six months, lasting from February to July, when, at 4:46pm today, a law was officially passed recognizing the Eskeok National Rainforest as a Monument of Heritage, joining the ranks of the Ontok Glacier and Mt. Caskada.

Updates on the story, including details of the proposal and information on Monuments of Heritage will be found on our website, nationalpost.esk .

 

Violence Rises in the Southern Boroughs

 

20 July 2020

Aven Cordaka

 

Rioting broke out in the city of Jenifer in early hours this morning by employees of the Jenifer Lumber Supply Co. and Eskeocha Timber. Three people were killed in the event, a rare occurrence for Eskeocha. The disturbance is believed to be in direct response to the Frontier Coalition’s passing of the proposal to declare the Eskeok National Rainforest a national monument of heritage, preventing it from being used as a source for timber by lumber supply companies. The two companies whose employees were greatly involved in the riot are significantly impacted by this new law, as the borough board of Mastikan had dispensed permits to multiple companies including these two to begin cutting down wood in the forest in October of last year.

Borough Captain Tomas Carapacho of Mastikan released a statement on the riot from the Borough seat in Mastikan city, declaring, “The events of this morning are very unfortunate. Here at the borough seat, the hearts of the board go out to the families of those who passed. We do not condone riots or senseless violence in Mastikan, yet we must also recognize the cause for which these men and women are speaking up. This decision by the Frontier Coalition to prevent our borough from harvesting timber is an infringement on our rights as a borough. Our nation’s charter of confederacy gives explicit rights to the boroughs to govern their land, and this right has been violated. We will not rest until we have been returned our right to collect our lumber where we choose.”

South Eskeocha Borough Captain Elder Morokok responded, condemning the statements of Carapacho, calling them “Uninformed” and “Promoting violence and unrest in our nation.” Borough Captain Edder Ediani of Cranarie Passage South and Eskeocha Frontier Captain Milo Yuskwag have yet to respond.

Updates on the story, including arrest information and the identities of the three deceased will be found on our website, nationalpost.esk.

 

Fighting Breaks Out in the South

21 July 2020

Aven Cordaka

Tensions have begun to rise today in southern Eskeocha as fighting has begun between the boroughs of Mastikan and South Eskeocha. On the border of the two boroughs and of the Eskeok National Rainforest, many citizens of the two nations began brawling violently, leaving twenty-two people severely injured. No one was killed in the fighting. The fighting lasted for almost an hour and a half, as police were hesitant to break anyone up using firearms, as they feared it could lead to citizens beginning to use their hunting weapons for this cause in the future. This is not the first incident of violence as a result of the new lumber laws, as riots broke out in Jenifer a short time ago.

Furious over the recent matters involving the restriction of harvesting lumber in the Eskeok National Rainforest, the two boroughs have been targeting each other for the past two weeks politically and in the media, and to this point, the issue has expanded further, becoming a matter of government involvement in the boroughs. Several boroughs including Cranarie Passage South, Passage’s End, and Abasol Bay have declared their support for South Eskeocha, believing the government should play a larger role in national politics, while Harinak, White Tip, and Tokoway have shown support for Mastikan and believe that governing power should remain primarily in the hands of the boroughs. This has increased a political divide in the nation, causing many to fear that the country may introduce political parties for the first time in its 55 year history.

Frontier Captain Milo Yuskwag spoke publicly on the matter, stating, “We in the capital condemn the violence we have seen from our brothers and sisters. This is an irresponsible reaction to our lawmaking and shines a bad light on our nation in the eyes of world leaders. We ask that this fighting stops, and that you reconsider how you chose to protest, perhaps by choosing more peaceful means. We do pray for the healing of those who were injured. As well, when the frontier board intervenes, we do it with reason. I believe heartily in the power being relegated to the boroughs, but sometimes national response is necessary.” Citizens of Mastikan appeared unhappy with the response and have begun to claim the Frontier Captain and his board are usurping their power.

As the story continues, we will come to you with more information. The timeline of events of the Rainforest Riots can be found on our website, nationalpost.esk .

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Aven Cordaka is a senior reporter for the Eskeocha National Post.  He was raised in Abasol, and attended Cranarie University where he received his degree in Communications.  Aven has been writing for the National Post for 4 years.  His previous works can be seen at nationalpost.esk/avencordaka/articles .