Journal of Akhadic Studies

[Hadash]

Journal of Akhadic Studies

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Eastern Galasia decisively supports independence in referendum
By: Florence Roberts
Published: Vintyr 1586


A polling station in Nova Tairal

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People living in Eastmarch, voted overwhelmingly in favour of independence for the eastern region yesterday referendum. The Rojadavi electoral commission said 69% of the six million voters who cast their ballots supported secession.

The referendum was only a few months after the end of the six-year Galasian civil war which erupted in 1579 and ended early this year. Since 1584, the western region has been invaded and occupied by the Angirisian Empire, while the eastern region has been ruled since late 1585 by a coalition of Rojadavi separatists and moderate Galasian parties.

Rojadavi leaders say that the "Yes" vote will give them a mandate to declare secession immediately and make true their dreams of a new independent nation in the Near East. Turnout was 80% among those eligible to vote, the electoral commission declared. However, the referendum was not without controversy as although refugees from the civil war were allowed to voted, the electoral law required them to prove that they were both citizens of New Galasia and that they had residence in Eastmarch at least for five years before 1579, something that as consequence of the chaos and destruction of the war not all them were able to prove. Most of the refugees established in Angiris and Ustyara, even if not all, were non-Akhadic and of Galasian or Angirisian ethnicity, and therefore more likely to vote against independence. But despite protests in Alsace and northern Eastmarch, it is not likely that they could do much to avoid the coming split of the country.

The vote was vehemently opposed in Drazen, the western region, even by Galasian politicians supportive of Angirisian occupation, but finally accepted as a compromise by Rojadavi separatists, who demanded their declaration of independence in Quartyr 1581 to be accepted and recognized.

Unless the Messanic-majority in Drazen, the eastern region of Eastmarch is dominated by the Rojadavi ethnic group, which made more than 50% of the population before the civil war. Most of the inhabitants of Eastmarch belong to the Akhadic faith, while Rojadavi are only 3% of the population in Drazen. Independence is still expected to become a complicated process but optimism in Sermîyan -where the unity government is located- makes many to believe that that the eastern region statehood has already become an unstoppable reality.

The electoral day was without major incidences in the largest towns, although nine people died after several violent incidents and 24 Rojadavi militiamen were killed by an Akhadic armed group in an unrelated attack nearby Ustyaran southeastern border. Two ministers of the coalition, both of Galasian ethnicity, resigned after the final result was announced.

Mazhar Qartel, Prime Minister of the Rojadavi coalition government is expected to officially proclaim the independence in the coming hours. Qartel -a formed Legion officer and one of the founders of the extinct "National Revolutionary Movement"- has promised to call for elections for a "Constituent Assembly" in the coming months in order to elect a new government and draft a constitution for the new state.

The Rojadavi separatists will have a huge challenge in the hands as, institutional and sectarian issues besides, the eastern region was completely devastated as consequence of years of war and its economy is considerably dependent of foreign aid. It is also unclear if the region will become a full-member of the international community soon, although Angiris government pledged to recognize the new state as it did other Near East countries such as Zargistan and A'Sir. Other governments, such as Kyrzbekistan, has declared to offer diplomatic recognition only after negotiations between the eastern region and Alsace are successfully finished.