Sôgmô passes Major FA Reform

Ave, Sandum Citizens!

This government, in an effort to develop the internal government of Sandus and to advance itself, has passed a new foreign policy which essentially isolates this state to its closest allies and partners. This action comes after weeks of “a lack of professionalism”, according to the 27/09/2011 foreign affairs directive. This declaration comes following weeks of a moratorium on the 2009 foreign affairs policy, that the declaration describes as a “constitutional law”, and the 2010 addendum; and, is itself an addendum to the 2009 foreign affairs policy. The declaration was made in the presence of several other micronationalists whom, after the Sôgmô left citing the law, described the directive as “asshattery” and a “ragequit” on the part of this government. Whilst it has been clear that Sandus has protested such comments in the past, this government shall not respond or take to heart such comments as any sort of fragment of petition to the government following this recent foreign policy directive. The text of the declaration is below:

Gentlemen:

Over the past few months, this government has been alarmed by the lack of professionalism exhibited by micronationalists. Indeed this government has tried all in its power to bring — even force — such ethics back into our prided hobby and ideology. I must admit as the S8gm8 and Leader of the Sandum Government:
We have failed.

This government shall no longer hesitate to express its true and earnest beliefs and ethics concerning our same hobby. Indeed the time has passed when we would have protested such a lack of ethics by mere de-recognition of a micronation; this government and state was attacked for acting within its sovereign freedoms to protest a growing insurgency of unethical behaviour. This government shall no longer argue with extra-Sandum intermicronational leaders; rather, we shall put words to action. In short: this government affirms the 2009 foreign policy directive and recognises it as a constitutional law of Sandus. Such policy declares that Sandus shall recognise every nation it comes into contact with. A later policy addendum, dating from 2010 under the DPRS, declares that Sandus has all liberty to and may rescind recognition and be exclusive on whom it has contact with, therefore it has the right to choose whom to recognise.

I admit, on the part of this government, failure to quell the growing storm. Such a storm has transformed and converted micronationalists I once admired into little more than children fighting on a play ground. My actions and hopes to slow, or even stop, such a conversion have been ignored, attacked and labelled as mere “imperialism”. My government, despite admitting defeat, shall not welcome any such attitude by micronationalists we are in contact with and, as such, we are prepared for a radical overhaul of our foreign affairs system.

At 18:00 GMT-5, Sandus shall revoke recognition to all micronations, without exception, which do not exhibit themselves on this list:
– St.Charlie
– Renasia
– Landashir
– Egtavia
– Austenasia
– Nemkhavia
– Flandrensis
– and GUM member-states.

All micronations wishing to gain recognition by this government will have to go through M. André Sammut, Sandum Citizen, who shall direct your appeal to this office. I shall decide, then and on the advice of M. Sammut as well, if we are to allow such a micronation and its leaders or officials to have contact with this government.

Please be mindful that if your micronation’s name does not appear on that list that your recognition, by the government of the State of Sandus, is hereby revoked. If you appear under the “GUM member-states” mention, we are required by international law to recognise you.

All organs, offices and their officials of this state and government are hereby ordered and requested to excuse themselves from any form of communication on Skype and Facebook that violate this 09/27/2011 foreign policy directive.

— Sôgmô Sörgel.

The Sôgmô, in conversations with a few other micronationalists, expressed how he had hopes for the policy, as it will isolate Sandus from pettiness that is harmful to Sandus’ internal advancement. He also described that the policy would indeed help Sandus in the long-run and that it was a win-win decision for all sides: Sandus and anti-Sandus micronationalists.

As the declaration states, all micronations wishing to gain recognition from Sandus or to have relations with it are obliged to go through Citizen Sammut, who shall pass the appeal onto the Sôgmô’s office. The Sôgmô and Citizen Sammut, then, shall discuss the appeal and see if it meets their acceptance and approval to allow communication between the Central Government and the foreign government.

Many micronationalists, even those whom this government thought would oppose the policy and label it another action of imperialism, responded to questions with relative support and acceptance for the new policy directive.
President Bralesford of Egtavia, who declined to comment in great detail, expressed his appreciation and best wishes “in following the policy”, but could not evaluate if “it will be the right one as yet”.
Prime Minister Austen of Austenasia stated that he recognised it as an unalienable right of Sandus to control its foreign policy and applauded the principle behind the declaration, but had no other personal opinion on it as it does not directly affect Austenasian-Sandum relations.
Nemkhav Federal President Mejakhansk was not available for commenting, but King Linden of Pristinia stated that he agreed with the pretext and understood the action but the declaration may “antagonise nations not included on the list that are currently not entirely, but might wish to become, serious micronations”. M. Linden later commented that it was Sandus’ right behind the policy and may be a wise decision on Sandus’ part; and, he explained that he did not “rage” against Sandus because although the Sôgmô may be “extremely manipulative”, the Sôgmô has “common sense, seriousness, and integrity. [And] While Messrs Fowler and Puglisi are manipulative as well, they lack the latter characteristics.”
Foreign Affairs Minister Glorie of Flandrensis stated that he was unsure if it was “a good idea”, noting that Sandus shall be “ignoring all those starting states” and even proposed the idea of a “term”, as Flandrensis has a similar term “of three months of existence before recognition”, and noted that it was “the decision of the State of Sandus”. When asked if he thought if the action was right or wrong, he stated that “[you] have to keep micronationalism open for everyone. I dont want the community to be closed.”
King Fowler of Zealandia stated that he was not surprised “considering the [S8gm8]’s recent behavior” and that it was not his place to comment on whether or not he thought the action right or wrong but would advise the Sôgmô “to seriously think about what potential impacts it could have on Sandus” (sic).
People’s President Puglisi of Tiana stated that he has a “mixed reaction”, noting that “Sandum foreign policy prior to this has been characterized by provocative public statements and the like” but “I hope that to change”. M. Puglisi noted that he expects it “to eliminate any chance of further Sandum influence on those outside of their already existing sphere of influence”, commenting on Sandus as if an imperial power. M. Puglisi, when asked to comment on whether he thought the declaration right or wrong, stated that he does not “find it wrong or right in terms of benefitting the Sandum government, as it could go either way in that”, but that he has “some hopes that it will at least change the Sandum foreign policy into a less aggressive one” and concluded in saying that “I’m either indifferent or mixed in opinon on it”.

Regardless to the reception given by several other micronationalists, this government is planning on major internal advancement following this rather exclusive isolation from the intermicronational community. It is possible that this government will continue to see itself as a revolutionary state in the community at large, as the former Democratic People’s Republic of Sandus was, but not to the large scale as it once was. The state may continue to be a driving force for socialism within the community, as the Citizens’ Communist Party of Sandus is hopeful for a party congress in order to outline its first formal proceedings in Sandus’ and the party’s history beginning on November 7, the 94th anniversary of the beginning of the October Revolution. However, Sandus will begin to follow a stronger Libera style policy, based off of Juche, in order to advance the state through self-imposed isolation. This government is hopeful for such an isolation to benefit Sandus at large and in its long run. The Sôgmô commented, as well, as it being a “Great Leap Forward” for Sandus and a new advancement policy comparable to the Five-Year Plans, following in the line of the Soviet Union from 1928 to 1991. Such a Five-Year Plan would be discussed at the CCPS party congress, if it is put into action.

This policy comes at a time following the Sôgmô’s office passing and implementing a new law affirming the democratic rights of Sandum citizens to annually vote and elect the Sôgmô for a following year in office and comes in response to the moratorium on the 2009 foreign policy that was declared due to the East Kozuc-Sandum dispute, wherein nations such as Tiana, A1 and Zealandia condemned Sandus for “imperialism” and “bourgeois” attitudes.

— Sôgmô Sörgel.