Republic Departs Baltimn Without Incident
Murmamn City, Baltimn — The last New Republic peacekeeping forces departed from the recently wartorn planet of Baltimn today, returning power to the interim government of Baltimn's Labor Party and its chairman, Vladimir Ulyanov. The Republic's diplomatic envoy to the planet, King Mercutio of Naboo, said that the Republic was "proud to leave the people of Baltimn in peace, with a functional government and civil service and a democratic political process." The peacekeeping forces—assembled from a number of New Republic worlds including Naboo, Neimoidia, and the Tapani Sector—were deployed to Baltimn two months ago as a revolution led by Mr. Ulyanov ousted the planet's unpopular government, which had been blamed for enabling economic exploitation of the planet and not condemning the complicity of Duke Drasek Cale in the killing of several demonstrators by the automated defense system on the Duke's personal estate. The event became known as the "Murmamn City Massacre," and galvanized public support behind Mr. Ulyanov.
As the former government evacuated Murmamn City, Mr. Ulyanov's Labor Party came to power in their absense. New Republic forces then arrived to maintain order and distribute relief supplies. In the months that followed, the Republic and its envoy, King Mercutio, were seen as instrumental in negotiating the disarmament of the remaining Baltimn government forces, organizing support for Mr. Ulyanov's interim government, and securing agreements with Ulyanov, business interests, and the civil service on a new constitution and a democratic election that is scheduled for next month.
The last of the New Republic forces departed Baltimn on the medical cruiser Epicurus without incident, following a brief ceremony in Murmamn City this morning. The Director of the New Republic Diplomatic Corps, Aleema Zaklaes'ili, praised the Republic's mission on Baltimn as "a resounding success," and King Mercutio has been nominated by Chief of State Ponc Gavrisom to serve as his Minister of State, largely because of the events at Baltimn, it is believed.
But Baltimn remains tenuous. Two military bases and their respective commanders, General Preston and General Hood, remain opposed to Mr. Ulyanov's interim government and declined the Republic's request to lay down arms and participate in the upcoming election. Clashes between these bases and the revolutionary military forces of Mr. Ulyanov, who have surrounded the bases, are seen as inevitable. Business interests have also accused Mr. Ulyanov of attempting to "hijack" the upcoming election by insisting on a block vote for unions, who constitute Mr. Ulyanov's firmest supporters. Observers fear that the outcome of the election might precipitate further clashes on the planet.
There was also a purported sighting, earlier this week, of three "dark Jedi" on Baltimn. The New Republic has denied knowledge of this, and stated that it would not affect their schedule for departure. Mr. Ulyanov's government, while conceding that an assassination attempt did occur at the capital building in Murmamn City and that suspects in the incident remain at large, denied that any of them were "dark Jedi," or that they were affiliated with Duke Drasek Cale who was, himself, a former Jedi.
Cale, meanwhile, also remains at large, wanted to stand trial on Baltimn for his role in the Murmamn City Massacre. A holo purporting to show the Duke being executed by pirates was later determined to have been faked. Jeph Stomwell, the former Senator of Baltimn, remains in Neimoidian custody, having been sentenced to repay debts that his government owed to Neimoidia. He is expected to be extradited to Baltimn, where he, too, is wanted to stand trial for stealing much of Baltimn's mineral wealth during the former government's evacuation of Baltimn. It was later destroyed in the evacuation, leaving Baltimn largely impoverished.
Mr. Ulyanov, however, has ruled out emergency loans from the New Republic Bank, stating that "Baltimn will be indebted to no one." Business interests on the planet favor the loans. The New Republic has stated that it will respect Baltimn's wishes and will recognize whoever prevails in its election. Mr. Ulyanov presently leads in most opinion polls.
