1719–1720 Hurmu civil conflict

The 1719 Hurmu government crisis began almost immediately after the socialist–Umraist cabinet of Annika Raudsepp entered office on new year's day. The crisis was characterised by a series of events that unfolded rapidly over a few months. The first event was the cabinet's refusal to attend a banquet hosted by the Senate, as per tradition. In the first cabinet meeting, the newly appointed Minister for Constitutional and Democratic Reform, Filip Krmpotić, proposed the drafting of a new and fully codified foundational law with its roots in the sovereignty of the masses.

Another significant event was the Minister for Policing and Security, Ramzan Q̇adar Khan Abakhtari's declaration that the Hurmu Constabulary was an illegal corporate and Humanist militia operating under the guise of a police force. At the minister's direction, the trade union movement was authorised to deputise their members as auxiliary constables and take possession of all buildings, infrastructure, and equipment under the nominal possession of the Hurmu Constabulary. Members of the Constabulary were to surrender their armaments and warrant badges and withdraw from all involvement in public life.

The Senate debated how to respond to the events in the Hurmu Constabulary, with the Ayreonist-Traditionalist stance initially being one of measured calm. In the end, the United and Humanist Factions agreed to support a motion of condemnation of the Minister's acting, which would have no binding effect. The Finance Minister's announcement of the government budget bill was another significant event. The bill included the nationalisation of several companies and a corporate tax on company profits.

The Secretary of State for the Bank, Mint and Press of Hurmu stated that the government budget would be unacceptable, and the Bank would not pay out any funds to support it unless authorised by the Senate. The Senate sent Chancellor Li Naomiai to negotiate with the cabinet. During the cabinet-Senate negotiations, discussions touched on matters of political reform. In the end, the Senate proposed a compromise for a government of national unity, which the Cabinet rejected.

Within a month of the nationalisation plan being announced, 2,520 employees of the ESB-Jagdverbände, travelling on Constancian passports, arrived in the Lake District via Huyenkula International Airport and Kaupang International Airport. Airfreight containers, under the diplomatic seal of the Benacian Union, were observed to have been delivered to the Hurmu Peace Corps cantonments at Kaupang International Airport, where the Jagdverbände personnel were reported to have billeted.

Timeline

I.1719

• 1.I.1719: Annika Raudsepp assumes the position of Prime Minister of Hurmu and announces her cabinet. The cabinet is invited for a banquet hosted by the Senate as per tradition but declines a banquet.
• I.I.1719: Newly appointed Minister for Constitutional and Democratic Reform, Filip Krmpotić (CWP) says in the first cabinet meeting: "The Senate has set forth no constitutional document that justifies its jealous monopolisation of the right to interpret and amend the constitution. Instead, it is time to convoke a people's assembly in order to begin the work of drafting a new and fully codified foundational law with its roots in the sovereignty of the masses." (See Constitutional reform movement in Hurmu)

III.1719

• 11.III.1719: Minister for Policing and Security, Ramzan Q̇adar Khan Abakhtari, declared that the Hurmu Constabulary, as it was then constituted, was an illegal corporate and Humanist militia operating under the guise of a police force. At the minister's direction, the trade union movement, as an emergency measure, received ministerial authorisation to deputise their members as auxiliary constables with orders to peacefully take possession of all buildings, infrastructure, and equipment under the nominal possession of the Hurmu Constabulary and to assume responsibility for the maintenance of civic peace and good order in the districts and states of Hurmu. The minister further directed that members of the Constabulary were to surrender their armaments and warrant badges and withdraw from all involvement in public life, pending interview by appointed investigators for links to extremist groups and corporate militias. Members of the constabulary exonerated from any such associations would subsequently be rehired following a period of retraining in critical legal theory and social awareness. For the duration of the evaluation process, members of the constabulary were to remain at their recorded places of primary residence, during which time they were to be considered suspended from duty and on half pay.
• 12–20.III.1719. The Senate begins debating how to respond to the events in the Hurmu Constabulary. The Ayreonist–Traditionalist stance was initially one of measured calm, which media summarized as "just enrol the officers in the HPC and pay them that way", whilst the CDH felt this approach would be impracticable if the funding of the now unionised Constabulary was not concurrently halted. In the end, the United and Humanist Factions agreed to support a motion of condemnation of the Minister's acting, which would have no binding effect.

IV.1719

• 1.IV.1719: Finance Minister Ürimbay Bayböri (SDP) announces the government budget bill to the Assembly of Representatives. In short the most controversial aspects of the bill, in the near-unanimous view of the Senate, included:
  • Nationalization of Fabrika Vozila Ravna, Hurmudanka Engineering Company, Köping Tea Company, Lontinska Papir, and Hurmu Tresamlag
  • An added corporate tax on company profits amounting to 50% of the profits, to be reinvested in the workers of the same company (pension funds, sickness funds, funds for further education, re-training, etc)

V.1719

• 2.V.1719: A spokesman for the Secretary of State for the Bank, Mint and Press of Hurmu, Rosamund al-Osman Primo de Aguilar, stated that the government budget would be in whole unacceptable and that the Bank would not pay out any funds to support it, unless by authorization of the budget by the Senate, the prospect of which the spokesman said was "laughable at best". The position from the Bank was met with collective cabinet fury. The Senate sent Chancellor Li Naomiai to negotiate with the cabinet.
• 20.V.1719. During the cabinet–Senate negotiations, led by Annika Raudsepp for the cabinet and Li Naomiai for the Senate, discussions touched on matters of political reform. In the end, Li Naomiai had proposed the following compromise for a government of national unity:
  • Representation from all political parties in Hurmu
  • A government budget that allows for more funding of health and social care and work retraining, a portion of profits (circa 10%) to be reinvested in workers each year, and full funding for the Hurmu Constabulary.
  • Greater role and protection of trade unions across the country
  • No nationalization of any companies
  • A committee, consisting of 36 people, of which half would come from the Senate and half from the Assembly, would be tasked to draw up a written constitution for Hurmu, to be ratified by the people of Hurmu in two referenda, one by the Electors of the Holy Lakes and one by the citizen population of Hurmu.
• 24.V.1719:
  • The compromise offered by the Senate was deemed unacceptable by the Cabinet, which rejected it in a cabinet decision on this date.
  • Within the space of a month, 2,520 employees of the ESB-Jagdverbände, travelling on Constancian passports, have arrived in the Lake District via Huyenkula International Airport and Kaupang International Airport. Airfreight containers, under the diplomatic seal of the Benacian Union, were observed to have been delivered to the HPC cantonments at Kaupang International Airport, where the Jagdverbände personnel were reported to have billeted. Unionised personnel, deputised to perform the duties of the Hurmu Constabulary at the airport reported that efforts to conduct routine cargo inspections, as part of their assumed duties at these two airports, were routinely interfered with by HPC personnel and apprentices of the Honourable Company employed in the terminal buildings.

VI.1719

• 1.VI.1719. In a private meeting with the Prime Minister, Chancellor Li Naomiai, accompanied by Commander Ichirō, warned the prime minister that unless her cabinet is willing to compromise on the role of the Senate and the Order in the constitution of Hurmu, on nationalization and economic matters, and on policing and security issues, the would lose the confidence in the Senate.
• 5.VI.1719: Prime Minister Annika Raudsepp announces a draft resolution that rejects the supremacy of the Senate of the Lakes and affirms the supremacy of the democratic mandate afforded the Assembly of Representatives. Li Naomiai and Ichiro continue to pay the prime minister visits urging her to reconsider.
• 6.VI.1719: Zurvanudin Miran al-Osman, accompanied by his daughter Pardis al-Osman and an eight-man security detail, was observed to have arrived in Ghawlama via the Hurmu Gate Network. Accompanying this party was one Temüjin al-Osman, noted as wearing manacles. The arriving delegation, presumed to have originated from Chryse was met by representatives of the Benacian Union mission in Eastern Apollonia and the 5th Vanguard Division. A motorcade conveyed all of the aforementioned persons out of the city towards an unknown location in the interior of Lontinien.
• 8.VI.1719: Hurmu Air Service suspended cooperation with the Hurmu Constabulary, effectively ending the operation of the Air Support (Volunteer) Unit which had relied upon HAS aircraft in order to operate its civil air patrols.
• 9.VI.1719: Minister of Transport, Hojanias Alibek, issued a radio appeal, relayed onto the data networks, for citizens to organise a Civil Motor Corps and a Civil Aviation Corps in order to ensure that the Hurmu Constabulary ("now serving the people at the people's behest") receives the support it requires in order to perform its routine patrol details. The speech denounced the efforts of the Senate to "obstruct and defund the people's government". The appeal is generally construed as a request for private and commercially owned vehicles, light aircraft, and helicopters, to be made available for use in the public benefit, at the direction of the Assembly-backed government.
• 10.VI.1719:
  • Tensions rose as the HPC commenced work on raising earthworks and the construction of a gun platform for six M1584 80 mm Field Guns overlooking the tidal inlet leading to the port of Fiskarvik.
  • Minister of Finance and Economic Affairs, Ürimbay Bayböri, addressing the Assembly at Parlerment House: "The sovereign right of the democratically elected government to levy taxes and to raise credit cannot, indeed must not, be denied. To that end I have authorised the establishment of the Hurmu Credit Union, to finance the operations of the government at this difficult time through the sale of bonds via public subscription. Citizens, as well as comrades internationally, who invest in Hurmudan bonds will be investing in a progressive and inclusive future that guarantees a fair and sustainable rate of return for all who contribute to the struggle."
  • Felled trees reported to have blocked the railway tracks leading to the borders with North Lyrica (Nouvelle Alexandrie). Culprits unknown, with no declarations of responsibility forthcoming.
• 11.VI.1719: Mondo announces plans to restructure Samhold Investments' subsidiary businesses on a semi-cooperative basis. Under the plans- seen as an attempt to undercut the government's pro-union platform- the holding company will retain a controlling interest, with the remaining shares held in trust for the benefit of the employees.
  • Mondo: "This was never about making money for Mondo. Mondo already has money! This is about using Mondo's money to make better lives for the people of Hurmu."

VII.1719

• 6.VII.1719: The formation of the Humanist Yachting Association of Hurmu is met with scepticism and hostility by the Assembly and its partisans. The Trade Unions Congress of Hurmu called upon boatbuilders to refuse to accept any commissions from the new yachting association and for workers at those companies to immediately ballot for strike action should any company refuse to participate in the voluntary boycott.

VIII.1719

• 8.VIII.1719: Nada Lesjak, the Minister for the States and Districts of Apollonia commenced with efforts to assert the statutory authority of the government in Transprinitica. In particular, the cabinet-loyalists were obliged to contend with the practice of appointing "superintendents" with civic authority over municipalities in the district by the HPC. This, the government held, was a clear instance of the HPC acting beyond its authority. The Cabinet further demanded that the Secretary of State for Peace and the Secretary of State for External Affairs attend to their duties and arrange for the expulsion of the illegal Benacian garrison maintained in the district.
• 9.VIII.1719: A small truce between the Senate and the Assembly majorities is made when two Senators, Li Naomiai and Mondo (Chancellor and Secretary of State for External Relations respectively), and one assemblyman and minister, Mukarram Zubeir, leave for a state visit to Sankt Ludwigshafen.
• 15.VIII.1719: State visit ended, delegates returned.

IX.1719

• 24.IX.1719:
  • The tentative period of truce initiated by the state visit to Sankt Ludwigshafen is abruptly ended by the publication of the Tiegang Papers, exposing the extent of covert efforts by the Cabinet to acquire armaments for its partisans from Sanama.
  • Green Turbans responded within four hours to the breaking news by staging attacks on HPC cantonments throughout Transprinitica, catching the pro-Senate forces off-balance with the scale, ferocity, and coordination of the assaults. Tyrador quickly turned into an epicentre for the fighting.
  • The Trade Unions Congress of Hurmu called upon its membership and affiliates to commence an immediate general strike in the Lake District, Apollonian Hurmu, and Keltian Hurmu.

X.1719

• 1.X.1719:
  • Chancellor Li Naomiai visits Prime Minister Annika Raudsepp to discuss the latest events. Each woman urges the other to stand down.
  • Zyl Avon-El, the recently appointed Hurmu ambassador to Sanama is recalled to Huyenkula for consultations with the Senate.
• 2.X.1719: Ghawetkiin Enkhjargal, the only member in the Senate with a good rapport with the leader of Hizb ul-ʿUmrāti ul-Hurmu (HUHU), Ramzan Q̇adar Khan Abakhtari, invites him over for tea to discuss the escalating situation in Transprinitica. The leader declines the invitation in an opinion piece in the Times of Huyenkula. "Despite the respect I had for your late husband (may he rest in peace), and what little left there is for you under these trying circumstances, I cannot meet you," he wrote, followed by, "My duty before the law, for my government, for my country, for my people, for my Umra, and for my God compels me to focus my attention on the Senate's illegal usurpation of powers in Transprinitica and elsewhere." Later the same day, HUHU campaigners, supported by the youth wings of the other government parties, protested outside the Palace of the Elenaran, shouting "Lock them up!" in reference to the senators.
• 5.X.1719: In the Senate, Verionist senator Aliande of Laegel introduces a motion of no confidence in the Prime Minister.
  • Asmila Avon-El, for the Ayreonist–Traditionalists (U) opposes the motion, saying "now is not the time to create more upheaval in our society", adding that "there is no other credible way for a cabinet to be formed other than by a majority of the Assembly; and the Assembly has no other majority. There is little to suggest that new elections would give a different majority. The people have spoken, and we should honour that. Instead, this Senate should probably try to see how it may accommodate the government a bit more. Perhaps it is time we discuss constitutional reform."
• 7.X.1719: Jingbei, Lanmen, and Luzhong reported to be in the hands of the Green Turbans following minimal resistance. Fighting continued in Tyrador.
  • Internal briefing prepared for the Senate by the Secretary of State for Peace, indicates that events in Transprinitica and the failure to issue clear orders to act against the Green Turbans has had a demoralising effect upon the rank and file of the HPC.
• 8.X.1719: Fighting in Transprinitica spread to Grøßenburg, where the 149th (Paderborn) Armoured Regiment reported an attack by suspected insurgents upon its vehicle repair workshop. A Bytestridsvagn, held in the workshop awaiting the replacement of a cracked gear shaft, was destroyed after an, as of yet unidentified, anti-tank missile was fired into the building.
• 10.X.1719: Ramzan Q̇adar Khan Abakhtari convened a press conference, streamed over all domestic and international data networks, as well as broadcast live on national radio. A remarkable scene unfurls as Ramzan, flanked by two masked doctors, addressed a select group of sympathetic journalists, making sensational claims regarding an attempt by agents of the Benacian Union to poison him. According to the Minister, poison was slipped into his tea during an off the books meeting with the Benacian Legate in Ghawlama, ostensibly aimed at ending the violence in Tyrador. He then handed over to one of the doctors who proceeded to explain how the suspected toxin had been identified as ricin. Physical symptoms had manifested rapidly, obliging the minister to seek urgent medical treatment. The doctor speculated that the Benacians had likely misjudged the dosage otherwise Ramzan, even after having his stomach pumped, would have been unlikely to survive.
  • A spokesman for the Secretary of State for Peace described the allegations as "claims are sensationalist and unverified. There is no need to lend undue credence to what is transparently an attempt to split the Senate from its international partners."
• 13.X.1719: Heavy shelling of administrative buildings, dockyards, warehousing, and residential areas on the southern approaches to Tyrador, began with the dawn. BUDF suspected as the sole force in the region possessed of an artillery arm.
  • Videos uploaded onto domestic data networks show the minaret tower of an Umraid masjid, purportedly in Tyrador, being repeatedly struck by shellfire before finally toppling in subsequent unverified clips.
  • Terrified civilians fearing to venture onto the streets, seek shelter wherever they are able, hoping to ride out the bombardment. In spite of appeals from the Green Turbans for the populace to rise up in defence of their homes, few seem inclined to take the risk.
• 20.X.1719: A pair of microlight aircraft passed over the Benacian Union legation building in Ghawlama, dropping flares, smoke cannisters, and paint bombs, and in return drew extended bursts of gunfire from unidentified parties on the ground. An extensive manhunt ensued for the pilots of these two small craft, conducted by contingents of the HPC garrison in the city and the 5th Vanguard Division. In spite of these efforts, which included spotter aircraft, the culprits were able to escape and only the abandoned microlights were recovered. Efforts to cross-reference the serial numbers of the craft with the civil aviation registry were subsequently rebuffed by the Ministry of Transport.
• 21.X.1719: Samhold's EMMP-led municipal council announces that it is temporarily assuming control of all public services in the district. "The central government is rapidly losing control of the situation and nobody wants to see the frightening scenes in Transprinitica repeated here," explained a spokesperson.
  • Within an hour of the announcement, the Samhold Fyrd occupies key sites across New Hempton, including the council building, power station, main communication exchange and harbourmaster's office.
• 22.X.1719: Annika Raudsepp and the Minister for the Keltian Districts, Mårten Kvalsted, (being the responsible minister for Samhold) denounce the decisions of the EMMP as "traitorous" and "illegal". Kvalsted issues a decree that removes Mondo Etzeterra from the position of Commissioner over Samhold and dissolves the local government in Samhold.
  • The commanders of the Samhold Garrison, totalling 14,426 HPC personnel, meanwhile issued a declaration that they would under no circumstances be induced to attack the established civil power [Mondo] without authorisation from the proper constitutionally mandated chain of command. This effectively constituting a further repudiation of the authority of the government led by Annika Raudsepp.
  • Samhold Council later issues a statement re-affirming loyalty to the Senate and accusing the government of hypocrisy: "The government likes to make a lot of noise about its "overwhelming democratic mandate", but those same election results show two out of three Samholders have a very different perspective. Even among the third who did vote for government parties, many are starting to have second thoughts as a consequence of recent events. People here voted for the SDP because they felt marginalised and wanted the hope of a brighter furture; they weren't voting for left-wing militias, armed with illegal weapons, to attack the Peace Corps! So we say this to Raudsepp and her cronies: next time you cite your democratic mandate, remember that we have an equivalent mandate to tell you to go to hell!"
• 23.X.1719: EMMP Leader, Greta Mondosdottra, physically assaults Mårten Kvalsted with an ornamental cake server in the Assembly chamber. The young woman manages to lightly injure the shocked minister before she is restrained by assembly members and subsequently detained.

XI.1719

• 7.XI.1719:
  • Reports from Tyrador suggest that BUDF forces have established control over the administrative district, harbour, and the HPC airfield outside the city. As the duodecennial festival of Eid approached, Umraid congregations complained of raids by Benacian forces upon their places of worship. These raids, which inflamed tensions within the Umraid community, appeared to be aimed at capturing suspected members of the Green Turbans as well as identifying the locations of Sanaman arms caches placed in the district by the CWP. Viric Merrick meanwhile has issued a statement announcing his resumption of office as Commissioner for Transprinitica, with his allegiance pledged to the Senate "until such time as the present disorders have ended".
  • The establishment of a Provisional Special Unit attached to the Psychology Department of the HPC elicited little attention during the ongoing maelstrom of events. With nominal headquarters in Huyenkula, the main function of the PSU appears to be the enabling of an undisclosed number of discharged members of the former constabulary to resume drawing a regular government salary.
• 8.XI.1719:
  • Pro-government demonstrations take hold in Rekozemlje, with Mitrovska seeing barricades set up, and the long running general strike reinvigorated by an active boycott of businesses that fail to hang the red banner or the flag of a government aligned party over their premises.
  • The Assembly opened debate on legislation, proposed by Ramzan Q̇adar Khan Abakhtari, that would see the Hurmu Constabulary reinforced by Volunteer Divisions, organised at the state and district level, receiving companies of volunteers as they offered themselves for service. The proposed legislation would further enable the Minister for Policing and Security to organise the companies into legions, regiments or battalions, and to appoint company grade and field officers.
  • Resident of Mitrovska and budding aviation enthusiast, Pytor Ohlersky, suspected by some of being the architect of the Ghawlama microlights provocation, presented the local chapter of the Trade Unions Congress of Hurmu with an intriguing proposal for improving popular defence in a timely and cost effective manner. His proposal, on the surface eccentric, is readily accepted, with the promise of support from the Civil Aviation Corps.