Empire Imposes "Punitive Measures" on Carratos
Carratos — Acting under an Imperial Senate resolution authorizing "punitive measures" upon the planet Carratos for its failure to detain and transfer to Imperial custody fugitive members of the Fallanassi religious order, believed to have taken refuge on the planet, the Imperial Ruling Council has announced it is enlarging the Imperial garrison on the planet and imposing permanent curfews and steep fees for departing flights. The Imperial Senate, last month, passed an ultimatum requiring Carratos to hand over the Fallanassi fugitives to the Empire within thirty days, after which the Empire would be authorized to use "any and all measures" to do so. The Carratosian government under Prime Minister Forb maintained that it had no legal basis to arrest the Fallanassi, a controversial religious order regarded by the Empire as dangerous and subversive. Representative Vanden (Naboo) held diplomatic negotiations with the Prime Minister, but was unsuccessful in persuading his government to do more to apprehend the fugitives.
Vanden's diplomatic party was later assailed by pirates while departing Carratos last month, in an incident that is not believed to have been related to the negotiations there.
Following the expiration of the Senate's deadline, Imperial forces descended on Carratos this month to capture the Fallanassi, but were largely unsuccessful. An anonymous Imperial source did not comment on how many Fallanassi were captured in the operations, but told The Coruscant Journal that it was not as many as were believed to have been hiding on the planet. This has led to speculation on Imperial Center that the Carratosian government had been complicit in hiding the fugitives, or smuggling them offworld in defiance of an Imperial blockade. Prime Minister Forb and his government have since been arrested on suspicion of this, and an Imperial governor has been appointed in the Prime Minister's place.
Meanwhile, concerns have been raised over the Empire's allegedly "heavy handed" treatment of Carratos, its government, and its people. The town of Chofin, where many Fallanassi are believed to have taken refuge, has reportedly been demolished by Imperial forces. However, Sate Pestage, the Grand Vizier of the Empire, has told The Coruscant Journal that "the Empire has acted according to the law, and according to the powers the Senate specifically delegated to it for this purpose." He lamented, however, that "certain tactics were necessary that some may regard as 'heavy handed,' but should be regarded, above all, as necessary."
