Marcusburg Press Release
October 17, 2001

"The sovereignty of nations is paramount above all else. When a person breathes, when a person thinks, when a person moves, is he or she at the mercy of another? Are they inferior to another person? All nations, like people, have the basic right to freedom. They are independent to shape their own destiny and fulfill their own ambitions. Sometimes these nations may require guidance, a little help along the way so that they can get up off the ground and pursue their own dreams.

"The Great Republic of the Marcusburg Empire strongly believes that every nation, no matter its size, no matter its strength, is entitled to self-determination. Not all nations share our ideology – some choose tyranny and conquest and abuse the countries which they had promised to assist and further. A classic example of such oppression was the former Phoenix Confederacy. Within the supranational organization, the powers of the Supreme Council, appropriately named, were left unchecked. Entire nations and their peoples could be annexed or ordered to act without their consent. They would be at the total mercy of their overlords – the same nations to which they entrusted their very existence. The people of Marcusburg found such unlimited power and its inevitable misuse to be, at the very least, unpalatable and insufferable.

"With the dissolution of the Phoenix Confederacy, we firmly believed that a new era of openness and liberty had unfolded on the Mapp. Much to our disappointment, the Rattanjeetarr invasion of Dickens Peninsula crushed all hopes for a free and just society. Although Dickens Peninsula was granted independence before it was attacked, the invasion gravely violated the spirit of self-determination. Because the Ethnarch wanted to justify his military action, he invaded Dickens Peninsula after, as opposed to prior to, the granting of independence. The context of the attack is also important: Rattanjeetland had just reluctantly granted independence to the El-Hussaqi Republic.

"The Ethnarch claimed the honour of his nation and his protectorates was insulted. That is no excuse for war. When Rattanjeetland was attacked by Samchorage in the Pyrrhic War, the spark for conflict emerged after a controversial telegram was sent from the Ethnarch that insulted Samchoragean honour. The people of Marcusburg vividly remember the Ethnarch viciously denouncing the war and belittling its ‘trivial cause’. The tables have now turned – Rattanjeetland is waging a Pyrrhic War of its own. We sympathized for Rattanjeetland then, we sympathize for Dickens Peninsula now. However, that is not to say that the Universalistic Dictator is not at fault. His release of provocative propaganda crossed the line in the sand that separates a noble struggle for liberation from a nasty campaign full of verbal attacks aimed at destroying the integrity of the individual.

"Both sides have erred – now it is time for both sides to do what is right. The Great Republic of the Marcusburg Empire understands the anger and frustration behind the propaganda of Dickens Peninsula. But to the Universalistic Dictator I urge you to apologize to Rattanjeetland for the sake of reconciliation and harmonization back into the international community. We also understand the Rattanjeetarr fury that led to the annexation of Dickens Peninsula. But to the Ethnarch I urge you to restore Dickens Peninsula and grant it full independence and freedom for the sake of self-determination.

"The sovereignty of Dickens Peninsula must not be violated. Its people and culture must not be silenced. Therefore the Great Republic of the Marcusburg Empire fully supports the humanitarian, and strictly humanitarian, objectives of the mission led by our great ally, the Republic of Lindsholm, to liberate Dickens Peninsula. This mission of liberation does not necessarily entail military action. Diplomacy, negotiation, and compromise are all viable avenues of action and are looked upon favorably by a peace-loving people such as ours. Lindsholm and Marcusburg stand united in the fight for self-determination. The cards are now in the hands of the Ethnarch and the Universalistic Dictator."