Runmi Uprising

Runmi Uprising
File:Runitwarbreheimians.jpg Breheimian arctic forces during the Runmi uprising
Date April 11, 2014 - June 15, 2018 Location Runmi, Breheim Result Runmi Autonomy
Belligerents
Republic of Breheim Storsir-Breheimian Loyalists	File:RunmiFlag.png Runmi Constituent Assembly File:Runitribes.png Runit Tribes File:Runitparty.png Runit Party
Commanders and leaders
Vilde Gunnhildsdottir Fredrik Johansen	File:RunmiFlag.png Seppo Kuura File:Runitribes.png Matti Leino
Strength
7,300 1st Arctic Jeger Battalion 3rd Skitroop Brigade 6th Armoured Battalion 1 Cruiser, 2 Frigates 1,000-2,000 Storsir-Breheimian Loyalists	File:RunmiFlag.png 4,000 File:Runitribes.png ~800 File:Runitparty.png ~1,000
Casualties and losses
557 killed 1694 wounded	File:RunmiFlag.png 512 killed File:Runitribes.png 400-500 killed File:Runitparty.png 397 killed 400-500 wounded
Civilian casualties: 500-3,000

The Runmi Uprising (Breheimian: Runittopprøret, Runmi: Rumen Vapaussodassa) also known as the Runmi War of Liberation was a political and military conflict within the Republic of Breheim. Parts of the fylke of Runitland, one of Breheim's smallest fylker and the only without a majority of ethnic Breheimians, broke off and declared independence led by the Runit Party leader Seppo Kuura.

Causes

The causes of the Runmi Uprising goes back centuries. Before Breheim was settled by Norsemen, most of the archipelago were populated by the Runmi, with a developed tribal and clan systems. Gradually, over the course of the last millennia, the Runmi were conquered and forced to flee further north (before the Breheimian settlement, the vast majority of Runmi are estimated to have been lived along the fertile southern coasts of Storøy and Vestøy). The Runmi retained independent polities in the far north until the early 19th century, when the recently born Republic decided to unite the Breheimian archipelago into one nation-state. During the 19th and early 20th century, the Runmi culture was brutally suppressed, and forced 'Breheimization' of the Runmi population, including banning the language, kidnapping children to be raised in southern orphanages and withdrawing citizenship from ethnic Runmis who protested. While their situation improved dramatically over the course of the 20th century, many Runmis retain significant animosity towards the Breheimian state and even people due to centuries of oppression.

The economic underdevelopment of the north, particularly Runmi areas, is another key cause of the uprising. Many Runmis, particularly those who support the Runit Party, consider this the fault of the Breheimian government who refrain from investing in Runmi areas, as well what little exist of state-run enterprises in the north going nearly exclusively to fund projects further south. Runmi have also historically been denied advanced education (Runmis only being legally allowed to attend universities in the late 1930s), and despite having been allowed on the same grounds as ethnic Breheimians for decades, consider the current small number of Runmi with tertiary and secondary education to be the fault of the Breheimian government, and have demanded state programs to help ethnic Runmi youth attend university.

The state of the Runmi language is another demand by the rebels, as they demand Runmi to be recognized as an official language on par with Breheimian. Only 0.5% of the Breheimian population speak Runmi, and of those only half fluently, while the Runmi minority is estimated to account for between 0.7 to 5% of the total population (the Breheimian government claims 0.7% on censuses, but the Runit Party accuses the census of fabricating lower numbers of ethnic Runmi than actually exist). Genealogical tests, among others those undertaken by the University of Odinberg, estimates that between 1% to 3% of Breheim's population are primarily ethnically Runmi, and a far larger number (excessive of 10%) have some Runmi blood. Runmi Nationalists demand state-funding towards a 'cultural renaissance' of Runmi culture, as compensation of past Breheimian governments' systematic destruction of Runmi culture, language, religion and pride.

The recent political instability in Breheim itself is considered another cause, and the most important one, as despite the post-socialist government federalizing the central state and granting recognition as an Autonomous Republic within Breheim to Ragnarsøy/Zemlya Petrova, the Runit areas are still considered fylker within Breheim with little autonomy. Demands for an Autonomous Runmi Republic appeared almost as soon as plans for federalization were made, but were ignored by the Breheimian government. The new governments' policies of privatization and social liberalization have also offended many Runmis (who are, on average, more socially conservative and economically left-wing than ethnic Breheimians).

Events of the Open War

The Republic of the Runmi was declared in Storsir, the only decent-sized town with a Runmi majority, on the 11th of April 2014 by Seppo Kuura and the Runit Party. The RR was recognized by the Storfylke of Nordbreheim, led by the far-left Alliance of Radical Socialists and Farmers (of which the Runit Party is a member), and the RR assumed control of Storsir, most of the fylke of Runitland, and some other areas in Northern Breheim.

On the 12th of April, Premier Vilde Gunnhildsdottir denounced Seppo Kuura and the Republic of the Runmi as 'terrorist traitors' and vowed that order would be restored to the North with a minimum of casualties. The 3rd Skitroop Brigade was despatched to Storsir to quell the rebellion.

On the 13th of April, Kuura was officially declared President of the Runmi Republic with extraordinary supreme executive and legislative authority until the Republic was recognized and at peace, and appointed a Runmi Constituent Assembly to act as the government (primarily consisting of members of the Runit Party as well as Runmi tribal leaders).

Between the 14th and 16th of April, the first military engagements of the Runmi Uprising took place, as the Breheimian Home Guard retook most Runmi-controlled areas outside of the fylke of Runitland. The Breheimian Armed Forces suffered no deadly casualties, with an estimated twelve Runmi militants having been killed. Kuura declares a general draft of able-bodied Runmi and sympathetic ethnic Breheimians in Runitland, and manages to mobilize a defense force numbering in the thousands, primarily equipped by Breheimian military stockpiles located in the north.

Between the 18th and 19th of April, fierce combat occurs between the Breheimian Home Guard and the Runmi forces in the Runitland kommune of Svartberg, the location of all of Runitland's coal mining operations. The Runmi manages to take control of the coal mines, and captures more than a hundred Home Guard soldiers in the process. The Breheimian Home Guard reportedly suffers the first deadly casualty on the Breheimian side during these engagements, and surrender Svartberg on the 19th of April following the arrival of Runmi reinforcements.

Fierce fighting occurs along the Runitland borders between the 3rd Skitroop Brigade and Runmi forces, with casualties on both sides. Entrenched Runmi troops manage to repel the Breheimian intervention, and the 3rd Skitroop Brigade entrenches themselves along the southern border of Runitland. Breheim reportedly suffer another five deadly casualties during these battles, and dozens more wounded. The Runmi declares twenty 'freedom fighters' gave their lives to prevent Breheimian invasion.

The 1st Arctic Jeger Battalion is dispatched to Runitland from Odinberg on the 23rd of April, and General Fredrik Johansen is made operative chief of the 3rd Skitroop Brigade and the 1st Arctic Jeger Battalion.

On the 26th of April, President Seppo Kuura signs a decree about approaching international actors for aid in their 'Struggle for Freedom'.

On the 4th of May, Runmi forces try to break through Breheimian entrenched positions along the Runmi border, suffering casualties and being forced to withdraw.

A cease-fire is signed between General Johansen and Seppo Kuura on the 8th of May, as the Breheimian Parliaments sign a bill to enter negotiations with the 'Runmi Rebels'. Kuura issues several non-negotiable demands, including that Runitland and parts of Norraøya, Snøland and Jørland be made into the 'Autonomous Republic of Runmi' within the Republic, and for the Runmi language to be made an official language on par with Breheimian.

Negotiations break down on the 9th of May as Runmi representatives leave in protest after Breheimian diplomats refuse all Runmi demands.

The Breheimian Navy initiates a blockade of Storsir on the 14th of May, blocking all traffic to and from Runmi ports. General Johansen makes a public request to cut off Runitland from electricity, but is vetoed by the National Government due to fear of civilian casualties.

Fighting breaks out in Storsir between the 28th of May and the 3rd of June between Breheimian Loyalists and Runmi Forces. The Runmi Republic manages to quell the uprising, but declares no official casualty figures.

Martial Law is declared in the Republic of Runmi on the 5th of June, but is revoked on the 7th of June.

The Breheimian government accuses the Runmi Republic of having carried out unlawful arrests of ethnic Breheimians within the Runitland on the 9th of June.

The 6th Armored Battalion is dispatched to aid Breheimian forces in the north on the 14th of June, despite the cease-fire still being in effect.

The Breheimian Navy shells Storsir on the 22nd of June, effectively ending the cease-fire. The Republic of Runmi accuses the Republic of Breheim of genocide, and issues casualty reports that sixty-five civilians in Storsir, among them thirty ethnic Breheimians, perished during the shelling.

Breheim cuts Runitland off from electricity for thirty minutes on the 25th of June, and issues a demand for unconditional surrender. The Republic of the Runmi refuses.

The Breheimian Navy boards a ship attempting to enter Storsir with military supplies on the 27th of June. The Republic of Breheim refuses to issue information about the nationality of the ship and its sailors.

On the 29th of June, Runmi forces initiated a push along three of the weaker parts of Breheimian entrenched positions along the border, being repelled by Breheimian forces. The Runmi managed to destroy one T-72 of the 6th Armoured Battalion, and the Armed Forces of Breheim announced a statement that fifteen soldiers had perished in the attack (one of the 1st Arctic Jeger Battalion, three of the 6th Armoured Battalion and eleven of the 3rd Skitroop Brigade). Runmi losses are estimated to be in the dozens by the Breheimian Army, and a number of Runmi militants were captured.

The 6th Armored Battalion attempts to make a push into Runitland on the 1st of July, but is repulsed by Runmi forces. Both sides take moderate casualties.

On the 9th of August, after sporadic skirmishes along the frontline, a cease-fire is declared on both sides.

Alexander Larsen, a soldier in the Breheimian 3rd Skitroop Brigade, is shot dead. Hostilities flare up and Breheimian forces push further into Runitland before being repulsed by Runmi mages. Breheim takes heavy casualties.

Runmi terrorists attempt to blow up the Østskog Nuclear Power Plant, but are countered by the FSB. The Runmi Constituent Assembly claims to have no knowledge of the attempt.

Another cease-fire is signed on the 5th of October.

Attempted negotiations in Odinberg at Christmas breaks down after three days, cease-fire still in place.

Blockade of Runitland suspended due to a brewing humanitarian crisis, and food aid is allowed into Runitland.

Breheimian Loyalists in Storsir temporarily manage to take control of the town before Runit forces capture them on the 2nd and 3rd of February.

Prison exchange between Breheimian and Runmi forces on the 1st of April as a hundred and thirty Runmi PoWs are exchanged for the Breheimian Loyalists.

On the 2nd of June Breheim makes another push into Runitland. The border is moved a hundred kilometers inland and Runmi forces suffer large scale casualties. Runmi forces only barely manage to contain the Breheimian advance.

11th of June, the Breheimian Parliaments refused a bill that would enable more Breheimian forces to be deployed in the north.

19th of August, Breheimian Forces captured Storsir after a successful breakthrough, leading the Runmi forces to continue resistance from the country-side and fishing villages. This is viewed as the end of the Open War, and the beginning of the Runmi Insurgency.

Runmi Insurgency and Peace Treaty

Runmi forces continued to resist Breheimian rule until the peace treaty of 2018. This insurgency was characterized by assassination of occupying military forces, policemen and even Runmi collaborateurs. In this period, the unity of the Runmi split, being largely divided between the tribal forces, the remnant forces of Seppo Kuura and his Runit Party, the Runmi Democratic Party and various local groups. A steady stream of casualties, and growing sympathy for the Runmi cause, made Breheim's attempts at solving the secessionist crisis militarily increasingly unpopular, with the Storfylke of Nordbreheim officially declaring that no Northerner would be sent to kill their brother already in december of 2014.

International mediation was officially requested by the Storfylke of Nordbreheim in 2016, and quickly approved by President Gunnhildsdottir of Breheim. Negotiations began with international mediation in november 2016, although the Aala Massacre of 2017 temporarily halted negotiations. A peace treaty outlining the Republic of the Runmi as an autonomous Republic within Breheim was signed in 2018, with full internal autonomy and shared foreign policy with the Republic of Breheim, by the Runmi Democratic Party and the Runmi Party, the Storfylke of Nordbreheim and the Republic of Breheim. The treaty also included the fylke of Norraøya to be under the joint administration of the Autonomous Republic of Runmi, and the Storfylke of Nordbreheim, as well as the expansion of the Republic of Runmi into areas formerly under Nordbreheim with Runmi majorities. The Runmi Tribes have yet to formally sign the treaty, and some embers of resistance continues in the far north.