The Federation expands, changes name

[Antarctic Altanar]

Federation adds new state to its members

NATASCORA - In a major political breakthrough, a breakaway state comprised of former rebels against the Altanari government has agreed to join the Federation.

The announcement that the former Free Republic of Antavre has decided to join the Federation came after secret negotiations between Altani and Antavrean officials conducted in Natascora. Altani President Alana Kasimira said that the reunion of the two states "is a chance for us to put the past aside and welcome our fellow Altani home".

The new addition to the Federation is the second Altani outpost in the Antarctic Oasis, joining former Altanari colony Antarctic Altanar. The Federation also has holdings in the Malibu Islands.

Antavre's former President, Oraz Magjan, will be the new Prime Minister of the constituent state. "We feel that there are ties of common kinship that make this the right decision for us to make. We also feel that we can prosper much more under the Federation," Magjan said. Antavre's government had been struggling with a lack of funding and difficulties providing services to its citizens since its creation, and the Federation is expected to absorb the government's debts.

With the new addition to the Federation, the government announced today that the nation's name will be changing as well. While the official name will still be the Federation of the Altan Steppes, officials said that the name "Altani Federation" will now be used exclusively, replacing the old name "Trilateral Federation" in government usage. "The new name reflects our expanding outlook. We're a growing nation that isn't just bound to the Altan, and we incorporate many peoples who are all considered Altani. The new name is also less cumbersome," President Kasimira said.

The new measures still need to be approved by Congress, but that is expected to be a formality.

[Antarctic Altanar]

Antavre protests continue

NEWHOME - Antavreans opposed to their recent annexation by the Altani Federation continued to protest today, accusing Prime Minister Oraz Magjan of requesting the annexation illegally.

"Magjan never consulted the Antavrean Peoples' Assembly or the people directly. Instead, he went to Kasimira privately, then shut down the Assembly before it could veto his plan. This is an illegal annexation and occupation, and we have no choice but to oppose it," Dilnara Hojanias, an opposition party member, said today.

In addition to protests, Antavrean opposition activists are also mounting a challenge to the annexation in Federation courts, saying that Federation law banning the creation of colonies makes the Antavrean annexation illegal. Federation officials have said that the annexation is legal, saying that Antavre is a constituent state with equal status to the other states, not a colony.

Antavrean and Federation security forces have kept a tight lid on most protests, restricting them to "designated protest areas" and specific times.

Former Altanari colonies may get CS status

AEL KHALAS - Altanar's King Aelkyn is considering allowing the former Altanari colonies of Poivre Atoll and Antarctic Altanar to seek constituent state status, rather than remain part of Altanar.

The former colonies rebelled against Altanar before the Federation was formed, and were made counties of Altanar as a compromise to end the rebellion. The compromise has never made the former colonials entirely happy, however, and giving them constituent state status has been requested by President Kasimira.

The King was initially opposed to such a plan, fearing it would diminish Altanar's economy and prestige, but has shifted his thinking, royal spokesperson Sukhina Tileukhan said. "We really don't get a lot economy-wise from the former colonies, and it would resolve a lot of the issues left over from the colonial rebellion and provide a final sense of closure to that unfortunate episode in our history," Tileukhan said.

If the King decided to allow the former colonies to do so, he would need to convince the Altanari State Assembly to do so as well, but Tileukhan said that the Assembly would probably go along with the King.

The county governnments of both Antarctic Altanar and Poivre Atoll issued a joint statement last week requesting that the King allow them to seek constituent state status as a joint entity. "Poivre Atoll is too small to exist on its own, but a joint constituent state of both former colonies would thrive, and would make a fine partner to the Federation," Tileukhan said.

The Federation government is considering a plan to recompensate Altanar for the loss of territory, in order to encourage the plan to move forward.

[Antarctic Altanar]

Former Altanari colonies finally break away

NATASCORA - The former Altanari colonies of Antarctic Altanar and Poivre Atoll will become the newest constituent state of the Altani Federation, after the Altanari Peoples' Assembly narrowly passed legislation allowing them to separate from Altanar. The new constituent state will be formally known as the "Southern Commonwealth of the Altani Federation", or TSCAF.

The bill only passed by ten votes, and it took a speech by King Aelkyn on the floor of the Assembly to convince legislators to pass the legislation. Nevertheless, the former colonies will now merge into a single constituent state, and begin the transition to what former colonial leader Merena Kerilaka called "our independence at last".

Kerilaka, a former colonial governor who led a rebellion against the Altanari government before the Federation was formed, praised the Federation government and particularly President Alana Kasimira.

"More than anyone else, President Kasimira has consistently pressed our fight for freedom, and made it a reality. She will always be regarded as a hero in the former colonies," Kerilaka said.

Kasimira had pressured the Altanari constituent state government for several years to allow the former colonies to separate, and finally managed to achieve it by offering Altanar unspecified "financial compensation and incentives" to seal the deal.

[Antarctic Altanar]

New trade, cultural initiatives launched

NATASCORA - The Federation government announced a series of initiatives today aimed at improving the nation's trade and cultural exchange with the international community.

The International Trade Mission actively solicits trade deals and investment with other nations. The Cultural Exchange Program offers an exchange of cultural and educational facilities, as well as media exchange, with interested nations.

"These new initiatives are going to be the spearhead of a revitalized and aggressive effort by the Federation to expand our connections with the wider world," Secretary of State Kerim Sofian said. "We've learned from our connections with nations such as Greenland, Snefaldia, Urgench and the Antarctic Oasis nations that you can never have too many allies or friends in this world. We're going to build on those successful efforts and expand on them, to the benefit and prosperity of the Federation," Sofian said.

[Antarctic Altanar]

From a blog post on aims.tfas.com:

With the annexation of what was once the Holy Enclave of Altana Hol - and that is exactly what it is, an annexation - one can't help but wonder at the direction the Federation is heading.

The "new" High Priest, Elnar, supposedly asked for us to absorb the Holy Enclave because it was bankrupt, and because people of ethnic Altani heritage should be united in "brotherhood". Conveniently, he was able to force out the former High Priest, Isthana, and gain the power to make that happen.

Soon after that, Federation soldiers enter Altana Hol, storm the Monastery of the Mountain, and forcibly deport Isthana and his supporters. Supposedly, the opponents of Altana Hol's annexation were a small minority. Why, then, did it take an entire brigade of Federation Army soldiers to remove them? Why, then, is that brigade still in Altana Hol, "securing" it? Why has the media been barred from the former Holy Enclave?

It's not like this is the first time that this has happened.

The leader of Antavre, Oraz Magjan, asked the Federation to annex his state because it was bankrupt, and because people of ethnic Altani heritage should be united in "brotherhood". Sound familiar?

Federation troops had to occupy Antavre, remove opponents of the annexation, and "secure" the state. Sound familiar?

Those soldiers are still there, and the media isn't being allowed into Antavre. Sound familiar?

For states that willingly joined the Federation, Antavre and Altana Hol sure have a lot of soldiers in them and an awfully loud media silence.

And it's hard to say if the similarities between Antavre and Altana Hol are more alarming, or something else is. With the annexations, the Federation flag was changed; colored diamonds on the flag represent each constituent state in the Federation.

An observant eye tells you that there's space on that flag for a whole lot more of those little colored diamonds. Are there more Antavres and Altana Hols on the horizon? Only the Kasimira administration knows for sure.

The blog entry in question is deleted by the site moderators an hour after it is posted; archived copies are circulated throughout the Altani internet.

[Antarctic Altanar]

NATASCORA - The Altani Federal Legislature approved plans for the formation of a new Federal Territory today, in a previously undeveloped area.

By a vote of 64-6 in the Chamber, and a vote of 155-5-1 in the Assembly, the new territory of Altani Athica was approved. A group of Federation settlers, escorted by the destroyer Zarina, has already been dispatched to the new holding in the Ocean of Capricorn.

"With the acquisition of a new territory, the dream of the Federation will shine its light on a new land," President Alana Kasimira said today. "The Altani ideal of equality and representative democracy will set root on new shores, to the benefit and prosperity of all involved," the President said. The territory will be given the chance to become a full-fledged constituent state as soon as certain benchmarks are met for stability and viability, the President said. If everything goes as planned, Altani Athica will become the Federation's ninth constituent state, and the sixth one added in two years.

Most Altani politicians are enthusiastic about the expansion, although a few have questioned the cost involved.