While I will imminently quote from many prior statements that I have made on this subject, I would first like to begin my opening statement with words that are not my own, but rather the work of several authors; among them Chiefs of State Mon Mothma and Leia Organa, Admiral Ackbar, and General Bel Iblis. I'm sure you're all familiar with the document to which I refer, published just last year and titled with the question it endeavors to answer, Why Do We Fight the Empire?

Councilors, the fact that the forces of Brentaal (and Neimoidia, and the IMC) are currently, indeed, fighting the Empire, and the fact that Acherin is, in all apparent respects, an Imperial world, are two points that I will return to momentarily. But first, I want to posit a question; considering the offenses so eloquently stated in this document―Why Do We Fight the Empire?―might not all of these very offenses be applied to Acherin, and its government? Senator Forte certainly seemed to think so when he proposed to the Senate the use of force against that planet, on the grounds of "Acherin's brutal repression of its civilian population," "Acherin's capability and willingness to use brutal tactics against innocents," "Acherin's numerous violations of [Republic] law," and "Acherin's unwillingness to account for its human rights violations."

The Chief of State himself spoke of "mass, targeted killings of dissidents and public officials on the planet," and accused Acherin of having "strangled and censored the holonet there in violation of Republic law and intellectual accords." To quote Senator Forte once again, from his proposal, "to allow these atrocities to continue, is a failure of everything we, the galactic government, stand for. Too much has been allowed, and this world should stand among the most oppressive and brutal of Remnant worlds. We can not turn a blind eye to this."

I agree with these remarks now as I did then, when I stated that "there has been much talk recently about defending the defenseless on the Outer Rim, and opposing the unopposed dictators who suppress their own people. Well, let there now be action, not just talk. Let us stand up to this regime on Acherin which, Imperial or not, is purportedly one of the worst tyrannies in the galaxy. Let us stand up against public executions, beheadings, the torture of women and children, metaphorical and literal murder of dissent, and all of the evils committed by regimes such as this one. Let this New Republic now say no! This we will not abide." Indeed, Councilors, this I did not abide, and nor did Neimoidia or the IMC, when we thus proceeded to blockade the planet. We did exactly what we said we would, and exactly what Senator Forte proposed; to use force against Acherin's regime.

Simply put, we fight Acherin's government (very much an Imperial government) for the same reasons that we fight the Empire itself, in the words of the Declaration of a New Republic: "[to] establish justice, provide for common peace and prosperity, and to secure liberty for all beings." It just so happens that we are also saving the lives of innocent civilians, and New Republic crews and soldiers, in the process―as I will explain shortly.

But as I begin my opening statement, I would like to digress for a moment to first clarify some of the misconceptions about the resolution that Senator Forte proposed, titled "Authorization for Use of Military Force Against the Acherin Government." It has been claimed by certain Senators that there was a "diplomacy first" provision to this resolution, but Councilors, this claim is a fiction (or a "phantom," if you prefer, insofar as no such provision can be seen in the actual proposal, which never once mentions diplomacy). It is true that some Senators chose to vote for diplomacy, but since all votes must be either "Yes" or "No," and since the resolution proposed, unambiguously, the use of force against Acherin, any votes that were not "Yes" must necessarily have been counted as "No."

None of this is of any consequence, however, since the resolution did pass and thus, the use of force was authorized. But I do think it is important to understand that there is no "diplomacy first" provision, and any claim to the contrary is misinformed.

I will deal further with the subject of diplomacy a bit later in this statement, however, since we are on the subject of Senator Forte's resolution, I would be remiss if I did not explain, for the Council's records, how exactly that resolution justifies our specific blockade of the planet Acherin (which has also been a matter of some, manufactured controversy). I quote myself, from a Senate debate of some weeks ago, in which I said of the resolution that "as the title suggests, it is an authorization for the New Republic to use force against the Acherin government, for the reasons quite well stated... Are Brentaal and Neimoidia not New Republic worlds? Is the IMC not a member of the New Republic? And are we not threatened as much as the entirety of the New Republic by the Acherin menace? To quote the Chief of State from just last month, with regard to the Dantooine assault: 'When any one of our worlds suffer, we all suffer. When any one planet is attacked, it is a threat upon us all.'

It is a powerful statement that the New Republic stands as the sum of its parts, all working together both for our self interests, and our common interests. But if this statement is true at all, it must also be true in reverse; that the New Republic stands for the parts that constitute it, to represent the interests of each world as well as the common interest. Surely, that harmonious union is why we are all here; to contribute the bounty of our worlds to the Republic, and to have the Republic reciprocate and contribute its bounties upon its members. And what is true of its bounties, must also be true of its powers and responsibilities.

And so, when the Senate passes a resolution authorizing the New Republic to use force, and calls for its 'quick enforcement,' it is an authorization, nay, [an] obligation of memberworlds to consider whether their own security or interests are at risk, and if so, whether they indeed have a responsibility to use force themselves. Because a threat upon the Republic is a threat upon us all, and this, surely we can agree, we must not abide.

So what is the threat, you might ask, that Acherin poses to Brentaal specifically, or Neimoidia or the IMC that requires us to act in our self defense? There is, of course, the security threat; that planet and its regime simply cannot be allowed to continue stockpiling weapons that might well be used against the very New Republic soldiers (volunteers from every world, including ours)... But Acherin has also, as you [Chief of State Fitzgerald] have noted, censored its Holonet and limited free trade through its borders. Surely, crimes against communications and crimes against commerce are crimes committed upon the whole galaxy! We are all affected, and we are all threatened.

I do hope this explains why we have a responsibility to blockade Acherin, until such time as the planet and its poor, beleaguered people have been liberated. Of course, we welcome and encourage New Republic forces to do just that... But in the meantime, our blockade is legal, it is humane, and it is our obligation as concerned and responsible free worlds and corporations, who are as threatened as anyone by the threat that Acherin poses upon us all." These words, Councilors, are as true now as they were then, and it is my hope that this explanation will put to rest any confusion over the resolution, and the reasons―that is, the legal reasons―for our blockade.

I will next address in more detail the character of Acherin's regime, in what respects it is, in fact, an Imperial regime, and will elaborate on the current battle that Brentaal is engaged in with Imperial forces. But in order to address these, I must first address the conduct and the execution of the blockade, and in order to address that, I am compelled to clarify, for the record, many of the distortions, rumors, insults and lies that have been spread by certain persons, in apparent attempts to discredit the blockade.

First, to return briefly to diplomacy, it has been said that our blockade is an act of war that has destroyed any chance of diplomacy. This is false. We recognize, as the Chief of State has said, that "the policy of the New Republic is still to pursue its diplomatic options with the planet Acherin," and our blockade does not at all conflict with this sentiment. The presence of a blockade of Acherin does not mean that the New Republic cannot negotiate with Acherin (if anything, it encourages negotiation, since the lifting of the blockade could be one of the terms to be discussed).

Next, I must dispense with the accusation that has been made, that "a blockade" is somehow, itself, an inappropriate or improper action. In fact, a blockade is a completely legitimate act of protest that one sovereign world may enact upon another sovereign world, in opposition to that world's policies, statements or actions. There are too many historical examples to count, but I would cite one that the Council might be familiar with; the Trade Federation's blockade, in 32 BBY, of the planet Naboo. This was a legal protest not even against Naboo, but against the Republic's taxation policies of that period, and there was never any doubt that the Trade Federation had the right, in the words of both the Old Republic's constitution and the New Republic's common charter, "to petition the Government for a redress of grievances." I simply will not permit anyone to question the legitimacy of "a blockade," as they have also questioned the legitimacy of our particular blockade on many other, unfounded premises and accusations.

On 23 March, Senator Forte twice insinuated that "there are rumors that persist of the involved forces looting the planet," without any evidence to support this slanderous claim. Apparently these "rumors" only "persist" in his head, where they are invented. On 25 March, he accused us of "illegal, aggressive military action," once again without basis in fact. On 16 April, an interviewer for TriNebulon News made similar―and similarly false―accusations of "rather questionable actions," and "questionable missions," which the Chief of State during the interview apparently assumed to mean "plundering." On 29 April, Senator Forte was at it again, this time insulting the planetary defense forces (PDF's) of Brentaal and Neimoidia as mere "militias" (a militia being defined as an army composed of ordinary citizens rather than professional soldiers, and thus an insult when referring to professionally trained crews and troops, many of them veterans of the Rebel Alliance).

On 30 April, Senator Forte made his most derogatory, and most outrageous lie to date, when he stated that "we have a problem. There are militias in the Republic that are out of control, and their commanding government doesn't take any accountability for their actions. We have oversight, but no regulation. All we can do at this time, is watch, and point our finger, and watch some more. This has caused several problems throughout the past year, and has increased the threat of attack against countless Republic worlds," and then admitting that "Brentaal, as well as Neimoidia, would be an example."

There is absolutely no truth anywhere in this claim, and it is unbecoming of a Senator and especially a Council Chairman to make such defamatory, baseless remarks and cause a panic over a threat that does not exist. Brentaal's PDF is not a "militia." It is not "out of control." The government of Brentaal takes full "accountability for their actions," and is proud of them. This has not "caused several problems throughout the past year," and has not "increased the threat of attack against countless Republic worlds." One would think that a Senator who has shown such a persistent, unfounded bias against the blockade of Acherin should recuse himself from investigating it, or should at least apologize to the governments and soldiers he has slandered, repeatedly.

The truth of the matter, Councilors, is that there is no "looting" or "plunder" taking place at Acherin. This is a slander. Our blockade has been conducted in a humane, professional manner, by professional crews well-trained in interdiction. We have confiscated only armaments, metals and luxury goods, not food or medical supplies. Quoting some of my previous remarks once again (and I apologize for any redundancy, but the point is an important one), "We are engaged at Acherin in a noble and legal blockade against an oppressive regime that murders its innocent, its dissenters, and its own civil servants, and imports weapons for use against the very New Republic soldiers now en route to the planet."

If my colleague, Senator Kruus, will excuse me, I would like also to quote from some of his statements on this matter because he is often more erudite than I; "The New Republic's armed forces are spread thin, and every day we allow the trade in arms and illicit precious metals to go back and forth between Acherin and the Pentastar Alignment is another day the regime grows stronger. [It] is another day that our enemies are allowed to tighten their grip on this world." Our intention, he has explained, is "cutting off the illegal trade in arms for metals that runs. It is the duty of the New Republic itself to fight the Empire and its puppet government for this world, we only act to defend the people of Acherin and their right to freedom."

"Every day this world is not blockaded," the Senator continued, "another thousand blasters can be brought to that world, another cargo of proton torpedoes, of turbolaser components... every day weapons are brought there, not [only to] be used on their own people, but to be used on our own people." He stated the point once again, in a comment that I believe demonstrates succinctly that our mission, in part, is "to cut off the source of blasters and munitions before even more are allowed to slip into the hands of those who would without the slightest second thought empty the clip of that blaster at a New Republic infanteer." And this is not just talk, Councilors; the Neimoidian forces alone have captured an Imperial vessel containing 50 proton torpedoes and 2 surface launchers (sufficient to destroy a New Republic frigate with a crew of 4,882 persons). They have also captured a score of Imperial officers, among them a Secretary for "Independent Imperial Worlds," the Deputy-Governor of the planet Borosk, and a Major-General in command of Borosk's defenses. These are wanted men, now in custody.

And these are only Neimoidia's accomplishments. As of the latest figures available to me, Brentaal has seized 23 vessels found with Imperial currency aboard, 41 with weapons, an additional 19 with both Imperial currency and weapons, 57 with substances and components necessary to assemble improvised explosives, detonators or targeting equipment, and finally 59 vessels with minerals potentially destined for the Pentastar Alignment, among these; trinium, kelerium, corundum, and crystalline vertex (to name only a few). I cannot speak for the IMC, as I do not have their figures, but one can only assume they have done even better. All of this is what I mean when I say, as I have said before, that I am proud of the good work we are doing at Acherin, to put a stop to this illicit, Imperial trade network with a regime that is famously oppressive of its own people. This is not some cavalier, capitalist soirée; the Intergalactic Banking Clan―which is supervising the entire blockade―can confirm the numbers I have given you, and can also confirm that our own costs to operate the blockade are quite high.

We have undertaken exactly 2 "missions" on the surface of Acherin, and contrary to the opinion of the certain, aforementioned TriNebulon News interviewer, they were not "questionable" in any respect. The first was an attempt on the part of the Neimoidians to send a party to negotiate with Acherin's government, regarding its policies and the terms of the blockade. Senator Kruus's own shuttle was equipped with proper, diplomatic transponders but was nonetheless shot down, at the cost of the Senator's one billion credit shuttle, and also his son, who was aboard. The second operation was undertaken by Brentaalan forces, namely the CR90 corvette Cormond, and her compliment of marines, to intercept a 3,000 ton shipment of crystalline vertex bound for Sood (the capital of Acherin) via armored repulsortrain. There were no civilian casualties.

These two operations, and particularly the first, bring me to the next point I wish to make; that the character of Acherin's regime is not only an unscrupulous one (as I'm sure we all agree), but it is in fact an Imperial one. Our blockade has proven not only that Acherin is a participant in an Imperial "arms-for-minerals" trade network with the Pentastar Alignment, but also that the Moff Council―either by prior arrangement with Acherin's government, or as an overture―was willing to supply the planet with weapons and expertise for the specific purpose of destroying New Republic forces that are, as we speak, en route there.

But also, and even more disturbingly, we are now receiving reports that a Pentastar Alignment fleet has arrived at Acherin and is attempting to land troops and walkers onto the surface, clearly to reinforce the planet and ambush the New Republic. There is no doubt that Acherin's government is complicit in this; it is housing and accommodating these Imperial forces, and using them to fortify their cities and compounds. We have also observed propaganda posters, encouraging recruitment into Acherin's militia, and depicting New Republic soldiers presiding over concentration camps. I have submitted copies of this despicable poster to the Defense Council's records (and also to New Republic Intelligence), if you should want to view it. Councilors, the implication is obvious: Acherin has been cooperating with the Imperial Remnant and preparing for war against the Republic, even as it has invited the Republic to "negotiate"!

But this, Councilors, we would not abide. If our blockade was simply a capitalist venture, any "cost/benefit analysis" would have told us to flee when the Pentastar Alignment arrived at Acherin, in numbers and firepower superior to our own. But we did not flee; we stayed, and we fought, and we continue to fight as we speak, to defend the people of Acherin from this well known brand of tyranny that we have all fought for so many years, for the reasons that have been so eloquently stated in the document I cited earlier, Why Do We Fight the Empire? As of this moment, our reports are optimistic that we are pressing the Imperial fleet into retreat, inflicting significant casualties and causing it to abandon much of its invasion. If this is deserving of criticism, derision and slander, gentlemen, I do not see how.

Thus, I conclude my opening statement and welcome either the statement of Senator Kruus, or the questions of the Council.

Therefore, we don't have any operable intelligence assets (OIA's) at Acherin to this day, and don't have a clear understanding of what's happening there at the present time other than the reporting of Senator Kruus, Senator Cambrist, Representative Bo'var, and the officials of their respective governments and corporation. To their credit, these officials have been cooperative with NRI, and although we cannot at this time verify the information that they're providing us, we have no reason to believe that it isn't accurate.

All we have been able to verify thus far is that the number of vessels that Brentaal and Neimoidia have reported are most likely accurate. The planetary defense forces (PDF's) in question were indeed observed departing Brentaal and Neimoidia, respectively, and the signatures on transmissions from Acherin that Senator Cambrist and Senator Kruus have provided us are consistent with these vessels. We also believe that the number of Imperial vessels is also correct, as NRI has observed substantial fleet movements within the Pentastar Alignment over the last 36 hours.

Of note, however, NRI cannot verify the number of IMC vessels present at Acherin, because the IMC does not regularly, adequately report its fleet movements, and they can be difficult to track. But to reiterate, at this point in time NRI does not have reason to disbelieve the IMC's current, self-reported fleet strength. The other point of contention that we have been able to verify is that the Intergalactic Banking Clan (IGBC) is indeed, evidently, presiding over the blockade according to its own statements and resolutions of the IGBC's Board of Directors. It is possible, and in fact likely, that in the hours after the blockade is lifted, the Banking Clan might, upon request, provide records and information that can corroborate other points of contention, such as the number of vessels, confiscated assets, etc.

There's one other point on which NRI might be of use to your investigation, which is the question of Acherin's current affiliations. For some time since the Battle of Endor, Acherin continued to be superficially an Imperial Remnant world, although it gradually drifted more toward independence, and many of its industries seemed interested in integrating the world into the new, larger New Republic market. The drift toward independence came to an end, however, roughly 11 to 12 months ago, when the current government of Mr. Tu'Rot came to power amid sudden and severe domestic unrest.

Acherin has since maintained, again, a superficially neutral stance, but NRI has acquired information that implicates the government of Mr. Tu'Rot has been complicit, since its formation, with the Pentastar Alignment, and that it has always been its intention to join the Alignment officially at the soonest opportunity. The claims that Senator Kruus and Senator Cambrist make in this regard appear to be correct (although, whether or not the invitation for the Republic to negotiate with Acherin was, in fact, a trap, we cannot yet be sure, though at this point it certainly appears that way).

Now, briefly, to inform you of what steps the New Republic and specifically NRI is taking currently with regard to Acherin; at the Senate's and the Chief of State's request to conduct an investigation of Acherin's government, and the rumors that surround it, and also its accusations against Senator Kruus, we have dispatched a team to the planet that is currently traveling with the Republic's battle group that is now en route. Once it has arrived, and once Imperial forces have been cleared, NRI will no doubt have more information for this Council.

General Airen Cracken
New Republic Intelligence

"Senator Cambrist welcomed the Defense Council's invitation to vindicate the blockade of Acherin at this morning's session, and put to rest the misconceptions, rumors, distortions and lies that have been perpetrated upon his name, and upon the courageous men and women of Brentaal's defense forces. The Senator was glad that his statement was entered into the record, but also profoundly disappointed that Cul'uutan Forte, the Chairman of the Council, wasted the time of everyone present, inviting Senators Cambrist and Kruus to testify and then not asking them a single question."

"Senator Cambrist condemns Senator Forte's use of the prestigious Defense Council to continue his slanderous, personal crusade against the New Republic's noble efforts at Acherin, which is saving the lives of Republic crews and soldiers on an hourly basis. Senator Cambrist was also saddened to see the sloppy, disorganized manner in which Chairman Forte conducted the hearing, which mostly involved 'hearing' silence as the Chairman browsed his notes, or 'hearing' his persistently biased, immutable opinions. Senator Cambrist understands that Mr. Forte is inexperienced in his position, and hopes that he will allow himself more time to prepare, and more wisdom, for his next hearing."

His statement finished, Cambrist sat back in the comfortable upholstery of his limo, now on its way to the Arcology. Once there, he would drink so much wine that he actually agreed to attend Kruus' opera; a non-human performance, but a bearable one (despite the presence of the uncultured brutes that his exuberant colleague had invited).