Vantser

Erusean Vantser is an Erusean colonial territory located on the Gunther Peninsula in southwestern Usea. It shares borders with Ugellas and Voslage (Erusea) to the north and Amber to the east. The Kingdom of Erusea annexed Gunther Peninsula during its history of expansionism. Eventually, the Erusean royal family was overthrown, and became a federal republic. Despite the regime change, Erusea did not allow its annexed territories to regain independence and maintained its expansionist policy. The capital of Vantser is Selatapura. Its proximity to the equator results in featuring tropical climate and a high level of atmospheric humididy, resulting in rather unpredictable weather; downpours are quite common. Under Erusean administration, the capital port city of Selatapura is the center of all political, economic, and cultural aspects of the Vantser. Selatapura is also a vital link in maritime transport. The Vantser is administred by the Republic of Erusea.

History

19th Century

In its early history, when the rubber industry became established in Gunther Peninsula and Vantser, the protectorate became a global centre for rubber sorting and export. The Kingdom of Erusea built the large Selatapura Naval Base to guard its strategic position. It was the largest dry dock in the world, the third-largest floating dock, and had enough fuel tanks to support the entire Erusean Navy for six months.

During the 19th century, the Vantseer Movement began promoting the creation of a Vantserian state. During this period, the Eruseans exploited the resources in the region during their rule, but also contributed to improvements of the health and education system. Nevertheless, deep divides remained between the native population and the colonists. However, many leaders believed that Vantser's future lay with Malaya, due to strong ties with Erusea. It was thought that a complete unification with the Erusea would benefit the economy by creating a common market, alleviating ongoing unemployment woes. However, a sizeable opposition was strongly opposed to the merger, fearing a loss of Vantserian voices. Erusea was also opposed to the proposition, concerned that the large ethnic population and minority groups in Vantser would alter the racial balance in Erusea. Despite Vantser's growing importance, the Erusean administration governing the peninsula was understaffed, ineffectual, and unconcerned with the welfare of the populace.

The 1945-1955 period saw a political awakening amongst the local populace and the rise of anti-colonial and nationalist sentiments, epitomised by the slogan Merdeka, or "independence". In 1946, Vantser became a protectorate with a civil administration headed by a Governor. Three months later, an armed insurgency by radical groups broke out. The Eruseans imposed tough measures to control these groups. Since the radicals were the strongest critics of the colonial system, progress on self-government was stalled for several years. Then, in 1955, a Chief Minister was finally appointed to Vantser. The new Chief Minister launched a crackdown on communist and leftist groups, imprisoning many trade union leaders and several pro-communist members. The Erusean government approved of his tough stance against the agitators, and when a new round of talks was held beginning in 1957, they agreed to grant further self-governance. The Legislative Assembly was expanded and the governor and cabinet would control all aspects of government except defense and foreign affairs.

During its time as an Erusean protectorate, the area saw the rise of nationalist movements divided along ethnic and religious communities. Competing interests of the various groups led to several rebellions and race riots. Throughout the 1960s, racial tensions increased as ethnic groups rejected the discriminatory policies imposed by the Eruseans, as special privileges were granted to them. There were also other financial and economic benefits that were preferentially given to Erusea. Political leaders of the opposition began advocating for the fair and equal treatment of all races in the Kingdom of Erusea's territories.

In the 1970s, self-liberation movements were empowered by the events which led up to the Rectan Conflict in Belka. The Rectan Air Force was notable for having fewer pilots than most east Osean territories, but the Rectan pilots were highly skilled. The Belkan Air Force, unfamiliar to such resistance, suffered heavy losses early in the war. But this wave of action died down following Belka's victory and the quelling of the democratic riots.

Against the background of the Cold War in the 1980s, the Vantserian government began an organized drive to settle new areas of the Gunther Peninsula. In response, there was massive protests by minority groups, who lived in rural Vantser, against the government's plans to expropriate land. During the 1980s, the Erusean royal family was overthrown, and became a federal republic. Despite the regime change, Erusea did not allow its annexed territories to regain independence and maintained its expansionist policy, later annexing the Republic of Voslage. This further complicated the situation in Vantser, which became a refuge of multi-ethnic peoples and wide diversity.

Usean Coup d'etat

In 1997, a group of southern Usean nations announced their intention to join the Osean Federation. Many northern nations, including Erusea, protested the act. Osea extended its support and prepared to sign the Spring Sea Treaty with the southern nations. On May 30, the day the treaty was to be signed, conservative extremists — including some members of Erusea's military - launched a coup d'état and overwhelmed the Usean Allied Forces across the continent. Within a year, the rebels had pushed the Allied Forces to the west and controlled most of Erusea's territory, as well as that of every other country. The disorder created a new psychological climate in which the formidability of the Erusean state was not anymore, thus laying the ground for for intense inner conflict in Vantser among divided groups, each seeking their own territories. The conflict came to an end in 1998 as Erusea regained its sovereignty.

Ulysses

On April 20, 1996, the FCU's serving president, Robert Sinclair, disclosed the existence and impending impact of Ulysses in an historic press conference, generating considerable shock and panic around the world. In Usea, the UTO announced its intentions to shelter refugees in each UTO-member nation. Around the world, governmental and private-sector organizations made extensive preparations concerning food and medical supplies, evacuation drills, humanitarian outreach, and disaster relief in anticipation of the impact.

The panic of impending disaster fuelled major civil discourse in Vantser, stemming from the Vantseer Financial Crisis caused by the coup d'etat. When Ulysses was confirmed, capital flight ensued almost immediately, beginning a chain of reaction. As the crisis spread, Vantser saw devaluation of currency, devalued stock markets and other asset prices, and a precipitous rise in private debt. In the wake of the downturn, the country's credit rating was obliterated and Vantser dipped into extreme recession. This series of events led to the Ulysses Riots, the largest events of civil unrest in Usea, triggered by Ulysses and economic problems, including food shortages and mass unemployment. There was a complete breakdown in essential institutions, severe civil disorders, and massive casualties, leaving the region rather unprepared for impending disaster.

Ulysses meteorites began to impact the planet on July 8, 1999, and continued to do so for the next two weeks, killing over 500,000 Useans and crippling the continent's infrastructure. Despite Stonehenge's attempts to defend the continent, at least ten meteorites made impact within Erusea's borders. The capital city of Selatapura was among the casualties; 20 km off the coast, a leaker fragment broke through the STN's anti-asteroid defense. This fragment struck into the ocean, which at first seemed to make no reason for panic. That is, until a tsunami that would be rated as a very high threat formed, and the massive wave rushed towards the city of Seletapura, engulfing any flooding protection and drowning the city in the blink of an eye. This event produced casualties of up to and about 30,000 people. Millions of civilians were displaced from their residences and became refugees.

Post-Ulysses

It was the most powerful tsunami ever recorded in Vantser. Residents of Selatapura had only eight to ten minutes of warning, and more than a hundred evacuation sites were washed away. The sheer scale of destruction hindered rescue works greatly. Official figures reported about 30,000 deaths in the city alone. Early estimates placed insured losses from the earthquake alone at billions of dollars, making it the costliest natural disaster in history, and leading to further economic decline in Vantser. Following the Ulysses impact event and tsunami, Vantser received assistance from a range of international leaders. Erusean troops, under Opération Tulipe Sanglante, quelled civil unrest and disorder in Vantser during the absence of effective governance.

Democratic Uprising

In the immediate post-Ulysses period, the protectorate government had suffered significant damage to its legitimacy. Weakness inspired democratic movements with the goal of paving the way for national self-determination. The pre-Ulysses Selatapura Uprising became a symbol of Vantseer struggle against Erusean authority. During the Ulysses Riots, among the rioters were strong demonstrations against the imposition of the Erusean government and voiced support for Vantserian national liberation. Many activists were fired upon, killed, brutalised. They took up arms, raiding local police stations and armouries, and were able to take control of large sections of the city before post-Ulysses events. Authorities generalised the events as riots. Denial of or support for the 'hush-hushed' demonstrations acted as a litmus test between conservative and far-right groups and beliefs, and mainstream and progressive sectors of the population, within Vantserian politics.