Adi Philosir
Adi Philosir | |
|---|---|
| Member of the Ostracine Assembly for West Central | |
| In office 3 June 2012 – 13 May 2015 | |
| Preceded by | Thomas Aurent |
| Succeeded by | Emmanuelle Zalto |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Adi Emmanwel Philosir 18 May 1977 Ostracine, Sydalon |
| Nationality | Sydalene |
| Spouse | Sophia Bonavit (m. 2002) |
| Children | 3 |
| Alma mater | St Philip's University |
| Profession |
|
| Military service | |
| Allegiance |  Kingdom of Sydalon |
| Branch/service | Royal Army |
| Years of service | 1995 – 1997 |
| Rank | Private |
Adi Philosir (b. 18 May 1977) is a Sydalene activist, former politician, republican, and co-founder of the Citizens Movement.
In 2015, Philosir gained notoriety after being removed from the Ostracine City Council for violation of lese majeste laws. Later, during the 2016 New Year's Revolt, Philosir was a chief activist and became the co-founder of the Citizens Movement. Philosir was eventually arrested for his role the revolt, and was sentenced to death. He was later re-sentenced to life in prison without parole.
Early life and career
Philosir was born in Ostracine on 18 May 1977; he is the middle child of four children. His father was a car salesman, and his mother a teacher for the Ostracine school board. He joined the Sydalene army, where he served his mandatory term of 36 months from 1995 to 1997. He was primarily stationed on the southern border with Yisrael.
In 1998, he began university at Saint Philip's University in Philippopolis. He graduated in 2001 with a degree in journalism, soon after earning employment at DephaSydalon news offices; he later was promoted to POST at the main Delpha office in Ostracine. He resigned from his post in 2012 when he was elected to the Ostracine City Council.
Ostracine Assembly
In 2012, Philosir became one of the initial members of the political group People for Citizens Power, a precursor to the Citizens Movement. AS a local activist in Ostracine, Philosir was urged to run for Ostracine Assembly and was elected to represented the West Central constituency for the provincial assembly.
Philosir served on the Public Services Committee, but was later removed from the committee for his involvement in a number protests in 2013 and 2014. Philosir was then removed from the Housing Committee, upon which Philosir accused royal authorities of interfereing with Assembly business and his removal from both committees. He continued to participate and organize protests for a number of movements while he was a member of the assembly, often for causes such as the expansion and promotion of democracy in Sydalon.
On 13 May 2015, Philosir was removed from the Ostracine Assembly by royal order for repeat violations of lese majestee laws.
New Year's Revolution
Philosir quickly became one of the most prominent organizers when the 2016 New Year's Revolt began on 4 January 2016, due to his public royal removal from public office. He spearheaded a number of protests and demonstrations leading up to the insurrection to combat and draw attention the disregard of due process and, later, the royal interference in the trial of former Captain of the Order of the Holy Lance Adeodatus de Caeseti. These demonstrations and flash protests continued for three months leading up to 4 January 2016.
The turning point in demonstrations came on 3 January 2016, when Royal Guards were called to a bomb threat a mile from Palis de Aultavilla. The resulting limited police presence outside of Parliament at Palis Autrecôté saw demonstrators push their way towards parliament. Documents presented during Philosir's ensuing trial demonstrated his presence outside of Parliament before it was stormed by protestors. By 12:01 PM, demonstrators pushed authorities to the steps of parliament, eventually breaching its doors by approximately 12:30 PM. The sstorming of parliament and death of 10 protestors sparked further, larger protests organized by Philosir and the activist group People for Citizens Power.
Philosir called for a general strike on 4 January. An arrest warrant was issued the same day, though Philosir was not arrested until 7 January at approximately 4:00 AM alongside his wife, Sophia Bonavit, who was also taken into custody. Bonavit was later released on house arrest with her children.
Alimas River crossing attack
On 8 January, Philosir was scheduled to be arraigned Ostracine Royal District Court for multiple charges of conspiracy, destruction of property, incitement, insurrection, and treason. He pleaded not guilty to the charges. At approximately 2:20 PM, Philosir was being transported to Fuertzuarru, a prominent prison for political dissidents.
The police convoy transporting Philosir and a number of other inmates was attacked by at least 20 armed persons. The first reports of gunfire came in at 2:32 PM. Philosir and Adeodatus de Caesti were freed during the attack, which resulted in 8 deaths including 5 police officers. The convoy attack led to further escalation from royal authorities with protestors, though Philosir called for peaceful gatherings in his first address following his release.
Formation of Citizens Movement
On 11 January, Philosir and a number of associates including Adeodatus de Caeseti, X, and Y, issued the Proclamation for a Citizens Movement, which commonly became referred to as the Citizens Movement. The group was jointly led by Philosir and Caeseti, though trial documents demonstrated a tenuous alliance between the two fraught with many political and philosophical differences. In a public address, Philosir and his allies demanded the creation of an elected house of Parliament, monarchy reforms, restriction of royal power in favor of an elected body, the end of the Monarch's immunity and removal of lese majeste laws, constitutional amendments to secure judicial independence, resignation and arrest of those responsible for the deaths of protestors, and the abdication of Queen Melisende III.
Philosir again reiterated his calls for a general strike, which were often contradicted by Caeseti. However, despite their contradicting statements, the pair appeared in a series of videos that were posted and shared on social media before being removed by government officials. On 12 January, a social media post attributed to Philosir called for the abolition of the monarchy.
Second arrest
The heavy protests in Ostracine led to the relocation of a number of high ranking government officials, including members of the royal family such as Queen Melisende III. The highest ranking official known to be in Ostracine was the then Chancellor, Theodoric VI, Marquis of Vada. On 12 January, Vada addressed the public from his home where he implored protestors to remain peaceful. The following day, on 13 January, at approximately 8:30 in the morning, Vada was gunned down while leaving his home. The IDR claimed responsibility for the assassination, adding that further attacks would follow if the Citizens Movement demands were not met. Vada's assassination prompted harsh government response, and Queen Melisende issued a public address which blamed Philosir and Caeseti for "stoking" the flames that resulted in Vada's assassination.
By 15 January, protests began to reduce in size and is regarded as the calmest day since the New Year's Revolt began. On the evening of 16 January, Philosir was arrested in one of many simultaneous raids executed by Royal Marshals. Court filings following arrest indicated that authorities used Philosir's wife and her house arrest as a means of locating Philosir and other leads of the Citizens Movement.