Ishval Article 1:
Hundreds of innocent dead on the Streets of Ishval!!
Ever since the nation of Ishval was Annexed by Amestris one hundred and twenty years ago, there has always been very great and powerful tension between our two nations. Amestris, for wishing to bring about the modernization and exploitation of the many numerous natural resources for the just born Amestrian Heavy Industry, and of the alchemical Research that was among the best in the world.
And for Ishval, the tension grew, as religious persecution of the Amestrian State, along with the growing racial and cultural divide, was not answered, with either representation, autonomy, or religious acceptance.
The Divide began with protests, as all peaceful ones try to… but they were ignored, first by the military Regime of General Harrington, and General Fredrickson, then by President Howtizer.
But the failure of our government to mediate a compromise is not an excuse. For it has now led to bloodshed.
The child who was murdered was an innocent, a senseless tragedy of that failure to understand Ishval, and of the Military gross misuse of force.
The riot caused by this girls death, besides being a legitimate grievance by a population that was horrified by an act of senseless cruelty.
The unit that was stationed to the garrison in the city is nothing more than thugs, incapable of empathizing with people that were under their watch and protection.
They did not wish to assist local police in their duties, even when it would have prevented much of the friction between the two groups and maybe begin healing that may have prevented this tragedy.
Of course, that says nothing about the response to the rioting that has met this disorder.
Riot Aftermath:
However, one thing that this reporter must note is that the girl was not the only victim of tragedy in this incident.
Willie Hitchman…Corporal of the Eastern Garrison in Ishval. The Alleged Shooter that sparked this madness.
In the interview with him (Continued in Interview with Hitchman, on Page 15), He vehemently denies that he had killed the girl, as he claims he was at his duty post at the train station when the killing occurred, and he did not hold any ill will against Ishval and it's citizens, even when his unit continually bullied and belittled him such beliefs.
And adding to every Psychological profile and record that this reporter was able to access, the man did not have the motive, or desire to commit an act of murder.
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Amestrian Law does allow the Military to make a response that they believe is proportional to the threat that they face, and the commanding officer is allowed to make such a distinction without consulting his superiors. To make a decision that would protect the soldiers on the ground.
But General Fessler's response by unleashing two machine guns onto the crowd, even when they were rioting, due to a fear of continued destruction of military and civilian infrastructure was a gross overuse of force that left 600 dead, and over a thousand wounded.
That he continues to pour in hundreds of soldiers from other garrisons, not equipped for humanitarian or riot control, but for continued Combat operations against unarmed civilians… He is only going to make the already delicate balance and equilibrium that is here in the region… worse.
I do not believe he realizes it… but I pray he does soon, or scenes like this will become more commonplace… and it will include Amestrian dead.
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Murder in Hospital: Witnesses Silenced?
This reporter can only go into limited detail about such a barbaric act committed to the people of Ishval by the Amestrian Military.
Men, women, children were in the hospital, when trucks of soldiers poured in, with names and pictures… looking for those rioters who were at the hospital. (Images on Page 21)
I was thankful to not be caught… but there were squads of men going about the orders… men who wished to not commit such acts of brutality and wanton cruelty on defenseless people.
The Amestrian soldiers… many of them that this reporter Saw, were weeping visibly shaken by the acts that they were ordered to commit, but they committed them anyway, either by pressuring by the other soldiers in their units, or fear of reprimand from superiors.
Some were dragged out of beds and lined up against a wall around the back, the ones who were there, hospital staff, other members of the family onto trucks… to places that this reporter is unsure of.
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Know that we will continue covering the conflict in Ishval for however long that it takes for hostilities to cease, and peace is restored.
And remember: Truth is Eternal… and must be given Light.
Reporter: Alfred Alitree
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Article Strength: 1D100 => 56+20 (Pctures, Interviews and Skill)+20=96
Your Uncle is impressed, very impressed. He knew he could count on you to find the truth.
He has allowed you more time to hunt the truth for the article.
REward: you have 4 turns to research for an article.
Profitability: 1D100 => 88
The one hundred thousand first run of the Paper sold out in the first hour.
It sold almost a million papers in a week... three million in two, all over the region... Even abroad... you were surprised...
Apparently, you would be getting more bribe money with Johan.
Apparently, War sells papers more than anything else
And it sickened you.
Reward: Johan will be bringing 300,000 Cene with him when he arrives.
Reactions:
Eastern Reaction: 1D100 => 71
Ishval was burning, that much everyone knew...
But the extent that the locals now knew horrified them.
You were never a romantic... you never dreamed of changing the hearts and minds of people with your articles.
But there were others who believed otherwise.
There are good people in the East... And they may be coming to help.
Reward: Help is on the way... especially when the people running the trains decide to slow troop movements.
They are going to do everything they can to stop this genocide...
Northern Reactions: 1D100 => 16
The North does not care... Drachma forced are patrolling the border at Briggs...
No one cares.
Western Reactions: 1D100 => 25
The West Shrugs... it's just another uprising that is going to be put down.
Southern Reactions: 1D100 => 25
The South has other things to worry about, like another border skirmish.
Government Reactions: 1D100 => 97
General King Bradly frowned at the news that was brought before him. and he was not happy... not happy at all.
"General, what are your orders?" A Subordinate asked. He was after all...the man they would elect as Fuher. "This Alitree is going to ruin the Masters Plan for Ishval."
There was silence as Bradly only stared into the distance, towards the Office of War Stories. "Send a raid... i want to learn everything about their operations, contacts, allies... if they are linked to any political organizations... Anything to get them arrested and out of the printers."
Then a courier finally arrived. "Sir, from Dante."
Bradly smiled, as he read the letter with his single eye. Perfect...
"Tell her she has free reign to hunt him down... and find out if he is a capable sacrifice."
"Yes sir."
International Reactions: 1D100 => 18
But the most damming reaction was from the rest of the world.
They did not care... in fact, they applauded Amestris for handling a rowdy minority that was disrupting the peace.
Reward: The Rest of the World does not care for they only see a minority not accepting the rule of their betters.