HOLONET NEWS Volume 351. #52. 13:4:18
Mid Rim Worlds Open Ports to Refugees Naboo, Monastery, Cerea and Kalarba Ease Immigration Restrictions
THEED, NABOO – The displaced citizenry of the Separatist crisis have newfound options today as a coalition of 10 worlds in the Mid Rim have loosened immigration restrictions to allow refugee resettlement.
“Our world is generous with uninhabited lands that we are willing to share in this time of upheaval,” said Queen Jamillia, elected sovereign of Naboo.
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“Together, the Naboo and the Gungans will open Naboo’s plentiful spaces as a new home for those in need.” To that end, Naboo has designated a number of slips in their ports of Theed, Oxon and Kwilaan as refugee arrival stations, even at the expense of moving commercial mining ventures to limited service ports.
The Refugee Resettlement Coalition (see below) was set up a month ago, under the direction of the Refugee Relief Movement, to discuss possible options in relocating displaced citizenry. What began as a coalition of 25 worlds was reduced to 10 as strategies for increased immigration were debated.
The bare minimum requirement for ingress to the worlds of the Coalition is proof of citizenship from a seceded world. Specific planets may have cultural, environmental or biological requirements of prospective immigrants, and travelers are advised to consult with the Bureau of Ships and Services for the latest planetary updates.
Naboo and Cerea, for instance, will not allow the import of heavy machinery or vehicles, instead opting to only take in people. The ringed world of Monastery requires all citizenry to convert to the Order of the Sacred Circle and is confiscating any weaponry brought into the system.
“We applaud the spirit of openness that this coalition embodies. As other worlds turn their back on the problem, these planets have instead embraced the people of the Republic with open arms,” said Refugee Relief Movement spokesbeing Kaysil Verwood.
A New Hope for Refugees : The following worlds of the Mid-Rim have loosened immigration restrictions to allow the resettlement of refugees. Their current populations, drawn from official census records, are also listed.
- Naboo
625 million - Monastary
35 million - Kalarba
750 million - Cerea
450 million - Sneeve
1.1 billion - Bimmisaari
20 million - Durkteel
3.2 billion - Ord Tessebok
2.5 billion - Garos IV
22 million - Ord Varee
3.1 billion
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Abrion Sector Secedes; Separatists Get Agri-Worlds
SASHASA, UKIO – In an alarming development that pushes the Separatist movement closer to self-sufficiency, the agriculturally rich worlds of the Abrion sector have withdrawn from the Republic.
“The ag-producers of the Abrion have lived for decades with few options and limited control of the goods we provide. Now, though, we’ve found appreciative markets without the restrictive bureaucracy of the Republic,” explained Senator Esu Rotsino (Abrion Major) as she tendered her Articles of Secession in today’s Senate session.
The bountiful Abrion sector is home to over 200 agri-worlds, including the planet Ukio, a world that provided a sizable percentage of the Core World’s food shipments last year.
“Many of the worlds that we service, our neighbors, have already seceded,” said Ukian Overliege Topas dosLa. “It is most prudent for us to continue serving them as best as possible. Furthermore, removed from the burden of Republic tariffs and bureaucracy, we will actually see a rise in efficiency and, eventually, profits for our farmers.”
In response, the Senate is currently debating the approval of emergency subsidy packages that would benefit the remaining Republic food producing sectors. “Without the breadbasket of the Republic, the Core Worlds would starve,” stressed Senator Lexi Dio (Uyter). “We need the heart of the galaxy to be strong, and we need the grains of the Colonies and Rim Worlds to strengthen us.”
Circus Horrificus Turns Horrific
KO HENTOTA, NAR SHADDAA – An illegal performance by the underground Circus Horrificus ended in chaos yesterday in the lower levels of Nar Shaddaa as a new, exotic beast showcased by the traveling troupe escaped and ran amuck. While performing within an immense ventilation nexus beneath the district of Ko Hentota, the Circus Horrificus revealed an agitated arqet, a creature native to Pellastrallus, to an appreciative crowd. Cheers of joy quickly became shrieks of terror as the arqet escaped its bonds and gored 12 audience members. Attempts to stun the beast proved fruitless, and the arqet fled into the ventilation grid. At least five other deaths have been attributed to the escaped creature, but since many of the lower levels have never been explored, it is impossible to determine the extent of the damage. The surviving members of the Circus have fled. Nar Shaddaa authorities are not expected to pursue.
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Greyshade Proposes Gambling as Revenue
SENATE ROTUNDA, CORUSCANT – Senator Simon Greyshade (Vorzyd) drew criticism with his motion to collect Republic tax revenue through government-subsidized casinos in his sector.
“The casinos of Vorzyd generate billions of credits of profit, and right now, these monies are just being pocketed by private interests,” said Greyshade. “I should know; I own many of them. The business model works. I say, make it work for us.”
Greyshade’s bill would call for Republic capital investment in new casinos throughout his sectors, in return for the majority of the profits made by the gambling establishments.
While the galactic leisure industry continues to suffer record losses in this period of instability, casinos are, on average, continuing to generate profits.
“The Republic’s uncertain future is cutting into what consumers would consider frivolous spending — things like trips and vacations at resorts,” says Tanda Marelle, senior correspondent for Galactic Resorts newsnet. “Conversely, they don’t have faith in the economy and don’t see much to lose spending at a casino. Why put your money in a bank that might not be part of the Republic tomorrow?”
“The Republic was not built on scavenging from vice. This will hurt our people, not help them,” argued Senator Bail Organa (Alderaan). “The Senator from Vorzyd is offering a social blight disguised as a panacea.”
“The Senator from Alderaan is offering double standard in return,” countered Greyshade. “If I recall, I believe his world’s government taxes exports of Alderaanian brandy and wine, as well as t’bac products grown on his planet’s grasslands. Alderaan believes its citizenry responsible enough to handle those products. I believe my citizenry to be just as responsible.”
Senator Greyshade went on to note a percentage of his casino profits goes to gambling addiction relief programs, something that he assured would continue should the government back gambling in his sector.
“I am all for it,” said Senator Orn Free Taa (Ryloth). “We can’t mollycoddle our
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people from making their own decisions. People can choose to gamble or not. The way I see it, it’s a voluntary tax for the stupid.”
SBI Officer Warns of Conspiracy
GALACTIC CITY, CORUSCANT – “Someone in the Republic government is going to great lengths to hide something,” alleged Senior Senate Bureau of Intelligence official Vyn Narcassan in a regular media briefing.
During the course of increased surveillance of anti-Republic factions, Narcassan claims to have uncovered a communications channel that directly bypassed “even the most highly classified detection procedures.” The decorated SBI officer asserts that the connected remote node self-destructed at the first sign of a trace, destroying any evidence of the unauthorized conduit.
When asked how unusual such a find may be, Narcassan replied, “Not even the Supreme Chancellor could order a line that silent. Someone on Coruscant has something to hide — and not your day-to-day bribery and adultery.”
While the Chancellor’s office characterized the find as “gravely disturbing, if true,” Senator Ronet Coorr (Iseno) remained highly skeptical. “Is Narcassan deliberately trying to end his Intelligence career? He’s chasing a phantom.”
Palpatine Health Rumors Denied
CORE NODE – Supreme Chancellor Palpatine is in great health, and has no plans to take an extended vacation prior to the Military Creation Act vote, said one the Chancellor’s closest aides today. Sate Pestage, personal advisor to Palpatine, addressed the latest rumors regarding the Chancellor’s health. “If he looks tired, it’s because holding the Republic together is a tiring job. He’s working day and night to deal with the Separatist issue, but his health is up to it. He has the energy of a man half his age,” said Pestage.
Baby Ludi Moved to Kamparas
JEDI TEMPLE, CORUSCANT – Amidst a flurry of controversy and popular activism, the Jedi Council has transported young Baby Ludi from the Jedi Temple on Coruscant to the training academy on distant Kamparas.
The fourteen-month old child is the subject of a heated custody dispute between her mother, Jonava Billane, and the Jedi Council, who refuse to hand over the child since she has began her Jedi training.
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Sometime last night, a Jedi transport vessel took the child — known to the Jedi by her adopted name of Aris-Del Wari — as well as a class or “clan” of 19 other Jedi children off Coruscant.
Upon learning this, members of the People’s Inquest, a citizen’s Jedi watchgroup that has had members camped outside the Temple for months, launched into an impromptu rally. “What have you to hide?” asked acting leader Firris Palbert through a loudhailer, drawing cheers from the assembled group. “Are the vaunted Masters so afraid of us that they must flee with a child they know they have no claim to?”
Though the Jedi Council refused comment on record regarding the transfer, members of the Judiciary did address the move. “This transfer is part of standard syllabi,” said Judicial Cerisa Vosengoor. “The initiate clan is undergoing specialized learning at Kamparas by Masters of varied techniques. The implication that any external pressure prompted the move is spurious,”
Palbert continued to rouse his audience, loudly suggesting that all supporters of the People’s Inquest with the necessary funds should travel to Kamparas to continue the protest there.
The Inquest’s founder and president, Thrynka Padaunete was not available for comment. Padaunete and Jonava Billane are currently on Kassido reviewing casting auditions for the as-yet untitled Baby Ludi holofeature.
Legends 