I have spoken to Senator Karath in the previous days, and relations have broken down between the two of us, unfortunately I am going to have to request the Senate removes Senator Karath.

There is presently an ongoing and horrendously bloody conflict at the Twin Worlds, which is likely to in the near future involve New Republic forces in a peacekeeping capacity, as well as to secure the legitimacy of any referendum Ballot. #

As such Mr Karath cannot be expected to act on the behalf of the Corellian Government's interests and also the Defense Force's best interests (when they may not be exactly similar) as such I requested Mr Karath temporarily step down from his position.

Rather than a dignified and temporary resignation Mr Karath has deemed it right to act in a manner I personally find unbecoming (making public my request and return corespondance) and has forced me to petition the Ruling Council for his removal.

In the interim Senator Behn-Kihl-Nahm would be appointed to the Defense Council's Chair, for a period of 3 months or til the end of the Twin Worlds affair, whichever is longer. Mr Behn-Kihl-Nahm has an abundance of experience, having sat as Chair of the Senate and Chair of Defense in the past. At the end of this 3 month period an election will be held to select a new Chairman.

I would also highlight to the Senate that the Corruption Panel has found him guilty of negligence resulting in the release of State Secrets and fined him, and originally I was told this was not being challenged in court, but Mr Karath has now been indicating otherwise. I also suggest that I would prefer Mr Karath to clear his name, as well as Represent Corellia rather than attempt to juggle these three grave and serious tasks.

Added (04 Nov 2009, 8:26 Am)
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Orion Karath is with a majority of the Ruling Council stripped of his position as Chair of the Defense Council.

Senator Behn-Kihl-Nahm is appointed Interim Chairman of the Defense Council.

In order to avoid any accusations of anti-Corellian bias (which have been slanderously circulated as rumour), I have agreed with General Wedge Antilles a 3 month return from retirement, and he will serve as a special advisor to the Defense Council and to Senator Behn-Kihl-Nahm in particular.

Mr Karath's removal is no reflection on Corellia, simply a removal of an otherwise capable man to avoid a conflict of interest. I will also use this speech to highlight that the Corellian-Twin Worlds Resolution recently passed is neither an attack on Corellia nor the Twin Worlds, instead it is a call to sanity and diplomacy over continuing a 500 year old bloody military conflict.