Senators Spar over Peace Treaty

Senate Rotunda, Couscant — Chief of State Ponc Gavrisom was confronted in the Senate this week with fierce opposition to the recent Bastion Accords (known informally as the "Pellaeon/Gavrisom Treaty"), which ended the war with the Imperial Remnant. Polls have consistently shown a decisive majority of the New Republic favors peace, but a number of outspoken Senators have remained opposed.

"Above all else," said Senator Eli Fitzgerald (Ralltiir) in remarks earlier in the week, "[The treaty] means that those who now suffer under tyranny are left to do so without even the small comfort of knowing that someone, somewhere, is standing up for them, speaking for them, fighting for them. Their hopelessness," he continued, "is absolute, because with the muted scratch of a writing stylus the New Republic has turned its back on them and agreed to a treaty in ink that will be paid in their blood." Fitzgerald also referred to the treaty as "the most disgraceful document imaginable," and concluded that "the galaxy is now gripped in a peace even more frightening than war."

Chief of State Gavrisom took exception to Fitzgerald's speech, noting it was "not productive, nor is it helpful," and adding that "victory attained by violence is tantamount to defeat, for it is momentary."

"Returning violence for violence multiplies violence," the Chief of State went on, "Hate multiplies hate, violence multiplies violence, and toughness multiplies toughness in a descending spiral of destruction. The chain reaction of evil--hate begetting hate, wars producing more wars--must be broken, or we shall be plunged into the dark abyss of annihilation. War does not make men," he noted, "war destroys them. It is through peace that true men are made."

Gavrisom was supported by Senator Artemis Vanden (Naboo). "The Chief of State is right that even a disadvantageous peace is better than war, which is advantageous to no one," Vanden said, "If there is a more sane way to bring about change for oppressed peoples, as the Chief of State has said, we should try it. We've tried war now for three decades. But I wish that Senator Fitzgerald would see the treaty not as a betrayal of the New Republic's ideals, but rather as only a different means to the same ends."

Senator Sir Reuke Cambrist (Brentaal) and Senator Luuneray Kruus (Neimoidia) also defended the treaty, the latter of which commenting that "here we have another voice of the old guard, the right, rambling on about a lust for war. I thank the stars that the war hawks are not in power, that peace has been secured." Cambrist agreed, and added that "the people want peace, it is good for this galaxy, let us accept this and move on." He also accused Senator Fitzgerald of being "obsessed with death."

Fitzgerald was supported, however, by Senator Gustav Emerest (Coruscant), who referred to Gavrisom as "a traitor to this Republic," accused Cambrist of "cocky arrogance," and maintained that "[the Remnant] will change politics again and this treaty will become someone's toilet paper roll. More death will occur, more violence and even harder so. The Empire was fading from existence, its ideals were crumbling, but until they fall we cannot stop pressing them to do so."

The debate was further inflamed on Natunda, when the Chief of State announced an expansion of his "Peace First" agenda, suggesting "a unilateral reduction in fleet numbers," and a joint tribunal with the Imperial Remnant to prosecute breaches of the treaty—two proposals that Senator Fitzgerald has already denounced as "absolutely unacceptable," and which are sure to be strongly opposed when they're brought to the floor.

With this week's debate, the Pellaeon/Gavrisom Treaty has seemingly become the subject of a small, but prominent opposition in the Senate despite the fact that 77% of the New Republic in recent polls are in favor of peace. While Gavrisom's approval rating has inched up, polls have also shown that Senators who oppose the treaty have become increasingly vulnerable on their own worlds—Senator Fitzgerald, who is up for reelection on Ralltiir in the coming weeks, is virtually tied with opponent Ab'el Bogen, leading by only two percentage points (within the margin of error).

Senator Emerest, who has represented Coruscant in three Senates over three decades, has also seen a sudden, sharp decline in his approval ratings. Other Senators considered "at risk" in their reelection bids include Cul'utaan Forte (Ryloth) and Jory Carson (Kuat), both of whom oppose the treaty. Senator Carson, who just returned to the Senate following a leave of absense, offered perhaps the strongest condemnation of the treaty yet in remarks this afternoon.

"How long have I been gone that we have fallen into such utter disgrace?" Carson asked, rhetorically. "How far have we yet to fall before we should all be called to order for such a blatant disregard for any semblance of government?" The Senator added, referring to the Senate, that "where once stood hundreds of free sentients pushing for the furthering of freedom throughout the galaxy, I find hundreds of sniveling worms burying themselves under layers of bureaucracy so as to hide their eyes from the accusing stares of those they condemn to death."

The Coruscant Journal will continue to follow this debate, and the various reelection campaigns, as they develop.