Various News in Velika

[Andrezj Kolarov]

Velika Expands Into Petroleum Industry

A petroleum refinery just outside Ostromir

 

Female soldiers of the People's Militia defending a refinery

 

Today the construction of thirty-three petroleum refineries was finally completely in Velika. Although Velika lacks oil as a natural resource, the Government believed it was paying too much "value added" prices by importing petrol directly instead of importing oil and refining it ourselves. The thirty-three refineries were spread out evenly across the country with three in each major city, essentially to make sure all corners of the country had equal expansion of industry and employment. Wages in the refineries have been fixed rather high in order to attract skilled workers from elsewhere in the economy. From day one Velika's new petroleum industry will now use 99 tonnes of oil to produce 198 tonnes of petroleum a day, easily satisfying Velika's domestic needs plus providing a substantial stockpile for emergencies. Although Velika will still need to import oil to feed this industry, government economists are hopeful regarding the possibility of "coal liquefaction" technologies which would enable the conversion of coal (which Velika has in abundance) into oil. thus allowing complete self-sufficiency in this sector.

 

Minister of Heavy Industry Boris Petrovic was at a ribbon-cutting opening ceremony at a refinery in Uzdin and told the State press that "...this is a great leap forward for the construction of socialism and industrialization in the whole country, and proves the superiority of Marxist-Leninist economic principles... All credit goes to the Party and to our leader Chairman Kolarov who are leading us toward a bright future!".

 

 

New Ministry

The new (and first) Minister of Central Planning Velimir Radik

 

The Council of State and Presidium of the People's Republic have both agreed to form a new government Ministry to be called the "Ministry of Central Planning", which will directly oversee and direct the Five-Year Plans of the national economy. In a statement the Council stated that "various inefficiencies have emerged due to duplication of effort and waste due to economic portfolios between split between the Ministries of Finance, Heavy Industry, Light Industry, Building etc". Those ministries will remain to handle specific issues in the various branches of industry, though the new Ministry of Central Planning will have direct command over the commanding heights of the economy, with the power to issue decrees and orders to the various industries and enterprises, as well as control over salaries and prices. Velimir Radik, a veteran of the Communist Party, member of the People's Assembly and close personal friend of Andrezj Kolarov, has been appointed by the Council of State as the Minister of Central Planning.

 

 

New Trade Route Established

 

The Council of State, specifically the Ministry of External Trade, has announced that agreement has been reached with the Islamic Republic of Khevin regarding the formation of a new trade route. The route will start in European Khevin, through the Grand Ruthenian Empire of Chernigov (which Khevin has an agreement with for free travel), through unoccupied territory in Eastern Europe and the Balkans, and then into Velika. From Velika's westerly ports on the Adriatic coast, the goods will be transported via Velika's merchant fleet into the Mediterranean Ocean and finally to the port of Alexandria on the coast of Khevinist Africa. The Government of Khevin is expected to transport the majority of their traffic to their African province via this route, giving a large boost to Velikan shipping. The route will not only be used for trade between Khevin and it's African province, it will also be used for trade between Khevin and Velika itself, and pending future agreements trade between Velika and Chernigov. The Government is hopeful the increased trade will bolster ties and good relations with Khevin's government.

 

A map depicting the trade route

 

A Velikan container ship at near the port of Usevce

 

 

Crime and Punishment

 

Legal proceedings have begun at the emergency revolutionary court in Ostromir over the so-called "exploitation case" after some 1,996 people were arrested by the police earlier this week on charges relating to their occupations before the Socialist Revolution, in which all gained income from the work of employees. The court is closed to the public and the accused have no right to legal defense or appeal, but a specially chosen member of the press was allowed in to make notes for the Party newspaper.

 

Some of the accused in the dock

 

The judge, Tihomir Ilic, a NARPOL colonel, used his opening statements to viciously condemn the "blatant foreign interference" in Velikan affairs by "various foreign capitalist powers" who wanted to "whisk the criminals out of the country to escape justice", stating firmly that their would be no extraditions or deals of any kind. Ilic went on to denounce anyone who thinks that the Exploitation Bill is "unjust" because it is retroactive, stating that "These blood-sucking vampires knew what they were doing was wrong, it is impossible for a moral human being to not look at the social relations present in capitalist production and not see the injustice of one class living off another". Ilic defended the emergency powers of the exploitation bill, stating that the accused represented a large chunk of the entire ruling class before the Revolution, and that left alone they would inevitably start forming secret underground organizations to overthrow the State, as well as form links to foreign intelligence agencies. They would, Ilic insisted, worm their way into key areas of the industrial economy and begin sabotage and undermining efforts against the national economy (which they could then use to blame on the "inefficiencies of the socialist system" to whip up unrest. The courthouse, a huge gymnasium owned by the Communist Party's youth wing, was packed with over 200 of the accused, surrounded by armed NARPOL troops. With an emotionless expression, Ilic condemned all 200 to the death by firing squad, the only penalty allowed for exploitation. It is expected the other accused will face the same fate.

 

Tihomir Ilic, revolutionary court judge and NARPOL colonel

Edited May 15, 2016 by Andrezj Kolarov

[Ekejen Luish]

Cool, although...

This trade route would allow you to trade with more coastal cities along Khevinist Africa, and you'd stay near coasts in case of an emergency on the boat. Just a proposal.

[Ikhan]

Might we be able to take part in this trade route?

(considering it is going through a good portion of Chernigov, I don't see why I wouldn't)

[Andrezj Kolarov]

Might we be able to take part in this trade route?

(considering it is going through a good portion of Chernigov, I don't see why I wouldn't)

Yep, that would be good, we could trade directly, or you could send goods to Velika and we transport them to Khevinist Africa for you (with costs of shipping paid to us of course).

[Ikhan]

Yep, that would be good, we could trade directly, or you could send goods to Velika and we transport them to Khevinist Africa for you (with costs of shipping paid to us of course).

Sure, but I was also thinking maybe selling the goods directly, maybe sharing trade routes since Arab- What was that? Arabia doesn't control the strait of Bosphorus anymore? Well, Okay, I guess we can just sell the goods to you instead.