| Coruscant_Journal | Date: Monday, 12 Dec 2011, 11:04 PM | Message # 1 |
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Group: Administrators
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Vanden Urges Disarmament on Monor II
Monor II, Doldur Sector — Representative Artemis Vanden of the Naboo has called for a popular movement to decommission warships in a speech on Monor II, following a meeting with the planet's ruler, Agapos IX, in which Vanden is reported to have proposed that Monor II begin this movement with the disarmament of its modest fleet. "If you prepare for war, there will be war," Vanden said in the speech broadcast throughout the Doldur Sector. "If you prepare for peace, there will be peace," he added, noting that despite the end of the Clone Wars the potential for war remains, as evidenced by a recent dispute between Monor II and its neighbor, Druckenwell, that resulted in a confrontation of a dozen warships from as many worlds—an event that is vivid in the memory of Monorians.
Representative Vanden has been an opponent in the Senate of what he has referred to as Druckenwell's "insatiable and unending desire to bolster the lethality of its fleet," and has clashed with Druckenwell's senator, Lomen Ryuun, who denies the charge. Mr. Vanden's visit to Monor II is perceived as a move to bring pressure on Senator Ryuun to reduce his planet's fleet by appealing to Monor II, Druckenwell's neighbor and now it's ally, to lead a movement of disarmament.
Representative Vanden also raised the tensions that once existed between Druckenwell and Monor II, declaring that "the presence of warships from Druckenwell over Monor II under a supposed flag of friendship is, ultimately, no different from the presence of its warships some months ago. Now, as then, Monor II has no control of these ships." Agapos IX had no comment on the speech or his meetings with Representative Vanden, but one of his emissaries, Bishop Pteppic, told The Coruscant Journal that Monor II does desire more control of the ships in its space, promised by Druckenwell to Monor II but currently commanded and crewed by Druckenwell, not Monor II.
Senator Ryuun was unavailable for comment as of press time, but has characterized his world's relationship with Monor II and its other neighbors in the Doldur Sector as a positive one. "It is a bid for the greater security of the Doldur Sector," Ryuun said in a recent Senate debate, "a means to better the people by offering jobs in a myriad of fields and to assist and support the Imperial Starfleet members who fall under the command of our sector Moff." The Senator has called the past tensions with Monor II "incorrect," and in addition to its peace with Monor II, according to Mr. Ryuun, "Druckenwell is in the process of making overtures towards other worlds within the Doldur Sector."
This is unlikely to satisfy Representative Vanden who, in his speech, declared that the Empire had not delivered on its promise of peace and called upon it, too, to reduce the number of warships in the Imperial Fleet. Skeptics find the possibility of a popular disarmament movement unlikely, as few planets are willing to give up their means of self defense, or, as the Representative clarified in his speech, "to be the first to do so."
"But," Vanden argued, "Ultimately if there are fewer warships there will be fewer wars and... [as a result], a planet's security will be considered sacrosanct and mutually inviolable." Critics accuse the Representative of, in the words of Senator Cambrist (Brentaal), "gambling innocent lives on generalizations and platitudes." What impact the speech will have in the Doldur Sector, however, remains to be seen. The Coruscant Journal will follow the story as it develops.
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