The Santoria Appeal

Flag of the Free State of Santoria; 1745 AN.

Map of the Free State of Santoria, marked in yellow; 1745 AN.

The Santoria Appeal (Alexandrian: Appel de Santorie) was a historic diplomatic document issued on 23.V.1745 AN by the leadership of the Free State of Santoria, requesting international protection from potential retaliation by the National Salvation Council regime. Authored jointly by Dr. Alexandra Dimitriou, Interim Mayor of the Free State, and Colonel Marie-Claire Rousseau, Military Commander, the appeal was addressed to the Raspur Pact powers, particularly Natopia, Nouvelle Alexandrie, and Constancia.

The document represented the first formal diplomatic contact between the Oportian resistance movement and the international coalition that had recently devastated NSC forces in the Battle of the Île des Ombres through orbital bombardment. The appeal's explicitly requested protection from similar devastating attacks.

Background

The Santoria Appeal emerged from the unique circumstances facing the newly established Free State of Santoria in the aftermath of its liberation from National Salvation Council control. The Liberation of Santoria, conducted from 18-22.V.1745 AN, had resulted in the establishment of the first permanent liberated territory since the 1744 Oportian coup d'état, creating a functioning democratic alternative to the authoritarian NSC regime.

However, the Free State's leadership was acutely aware of the military vulnerabilities facing their territory. The recent Battle of the Île des Ombres in IV.1745 AN had demonstrated the devastating capabilities of Raspur Pact orbital bombardment platforms, which had completely destroyed NSC military installations and killed over 1,200 Oportian military personnel in a matter of hours. While this demonstration of overwhelming technological superiority had severely damaged the NSC regime's credibility, it also raised concerns about potential civilian casualties if similar weapons were employed against territories with significant civilian populations.

The Free State's leadership faced a delicate diplomatic challenge: how to request protection from the very powers whose military capabilities posed a potential threat to civilian populations, while simultaneously offering cooperation against the common enemy of the NSC regime.

Content and key provisions

The Santoria Appeal consisted of four main sections: an introduction establishing the Free State's legitimacy, a description of the threat posed by potential NSC retaliation, specific requests for international protection, and offers of cooperation with Raspur Pact military operations.

Establishment of legitimacy

The opening section of the appeal established the Free State's claim to legitimacy and its right to request international protection. The document emphasized the democratic nature of the provisional government, its popular support, and its commitment to international law and human rights.

Threat assessment

The appeal's second section provided a detailed assessment of the threat posed by potential NSC retaliation, making explicit reference to the recent Battle of the Île des Ombres and its implications for civilian populations. This section demonstrated the Free State leadership's sophisticated understanding of the strategic situation and their awareness of the capabilities demonstrated by Raspur Pact forces.

Protection requests

The document's most significant provisions concerned specific requests for international protection. These requests were carefully crafted to address both immediate security concerns and broader issues of civilian immunity in warfare.

Cooperation offers

The final section of the appeal outlined the Free State's willingness to cooperate with Raspur Pact military operations against NSC targets, while requesting advance notification of operations that might affect civilian areas under democratic control.

Full text

APPEAL FOR INTERNATIONAL PROTECTION OF THE FREE TERRITORY OF SANTORIA

To the Distinguished Leaders of the Raspur Pact Powers, particularly the Governments of Natopia, Nouvelle Alexandrie, and Constancia:

We write to you as representatives of the first free territory in Oportia since the military coup of 1744. Through the courage of our liberation forces and the will of our people, the Free State of Santoria has emerged as a beacon of democratic governance and an alternative to the tyrannical rule of the National Salvation Council regime.

While we celebrate the decisive action taken at Île des Ombres to demonstrate the consequences of aggression, we fear that our civilian population may face similar devastating retaliation from the desperate National Salvation Council regime. The orbital bombardment capabilities demonstrated in that engagement, while effective against legitimate military targets, pose unprecedented risks to civilian populations should they be employed against territories where military and civilian areas are necessarily intermingled.

We therefore respectfully request that Raspur Pact forces distinguish between legitimate military targets of the criminal NSC regime and the innocent civilians who have chosen freedom. We call for protective guarantees that would prevent orbital bombardment or similar devastating attacks against our civilian population. The Free State of Santoria represents the legitimate voice of the Oportian people and serves as proof that democratic alternatives to tyranny remain viable.

Our provisional government has moved swiftly to demonstrate effective democratic governance. Within forty-eight hours of liberation, we have restored all essential services, reopened schools and hospitals under civilian control, and established a provisional police force. We have abolished the regime's forced labor requirements, restored private property rights, and reopened our port to transparent international trade. Regular public assemblies ensure direct citizen participation in governance, while the restoration of press freedom and civil liberties demonstrates our unwavering commitment to democratic values.

In the spirit of international cooperation against tyranny, we offer full cooperation with Raspur Pact military operations against NSC targets. However, we respectfully request advance notification of any military operations that might affect civilian areas under democratic control. This coordination would ensure the protection of innocent lives while maximizing the effectiveness of operations against the illegitimate regime.

The Free State of Santoria stands ready to serve as proof that stable democratic governance can flourish even under the most challenging circumstances. We have demonstrated that resistance forces can transition successfully from military operations to civilian governance, providing effective administration that commands popular legitimacy. Our territory controls vital economic resources, including major Alexandrium export facilities, which we are prepared to operate transparently for the benefit of the international community.

We understand the gravity of this unprecedented situation and the complexity of the decisions facing your governments. However, we believe that the protection of civilian populations in liberated territories represents a fundamental principle that transcends immediate military considerations. The Free State of Santoria offers an opportunity to demonstrate that international intervention can protect democratic movements without compromising humanitarian principles.

We respectfully await your consideration of this appeal and stand ready to provide any additional information or assurances that may be required. The survival of our democratic experiment depends not only on our own efforts but on the support and protection of the international community that shares our commitment to freedom, democracy, and human dignity.

Issued this twenty-third day of the fifth month, in the year of our liberation 1745 AN, in the Free State of Santoria.

Dr. Alexandra Dimitriou
Interim Mayor, Free State of Santoria

Colonel Marie-Claire Rousseau
Military Commander, Free State of Santoria

Distribution and international response

The Santoria Appeal was distributed through multiple channels to ensure maximum international exposure and diplomatic impact. The document was simultaneously broadcast via the Free State's captured radio facilities, transmitted through diplomatic channels to Raspur Pact governments, and distributed to international media organizations.

Initial distribution

The appeal was first broadcast on Radio Santoria at 14:00 local time on 23.V.1745 AN, with simultaneous transmission to international shortwave frequencies. Copies were delivered to Nouvelle Alexandrie and Natopian diplomatic facilities through intermediaries, while the document was also transmitted via encrypted communications to resistance networks throughout Oportia.

International news organizations, including NBC Newsfeed and other major outlets, received copies of the appeal within hours of its issuance. The rapid international distribution ensured that the document received immediate global attention and put pressure on Raspur Pact governments to respond to the Free State's requests.

International reactions

•  Nouvelle Alexandrie: Nouvelle Alexandrie became the first nation to establish informal diplomatic contact with the Free State, with Ambassador Carlos Mendez arriving in Santoria on 28.V.1745 AN for "humanitarian consultation." While stopping short of formal recognition, Nouvelle Alexandrie's engagement provided crucial international legitimacy and opened channels for humanitarian aid and economic support.
•  Natopia: Natopia followed with its own diplomatic initiative, establishing a "Trade and Humanitarian Liaison Office" in Santoria on 2.VI.1745 AN. The office became a de facto embassy that facilitated international support for the Free State's operations and provided a channel for coordination with Raspur Pact military operations.
•  Floria: Floria established unofficial relations with the Free State with the intention of restoring democracy to Oportia.
•  Mondosphere: Greater Sangun and East Zimia and the Wallis Islands both offered political and military support to the Free State in VI.1745 AN.
•  Constancia: The Imperial Constancian Government established full diplomatic recognition via the regular news release on 24.V.1745 AN, further announcing that official development assistance in the form of an initial 100 million Imperial stater, currently on deposit in the Basileusan Bank, had been credited to the Free State of Santoria, as well as an additional credit line of 100 million Imperial stater. Constancian nationals within the territory of the Free State of Santoria as of 24.V.1745 AN were likewise mobilized and directed to report to Colonel Marie-Claire Rousseau to aid in the defense of the Free State or as otherwise detailed. An Imperial Constancian Ambassador was forthcoming, pending appointment.

See also

• Free State of Santoria
• Liberation of Santoria
• Battle of the Île des Ombres
• 1744 Oportian coup d'état
• National Salvation Council
• Democratic Restoration Committee
• Oportian Defense Consortium
• Fourth Euran War