Difference between revisions of "Sotanabeltz"

Revision as of 15:11, 1 January 2015

Junta Sotanabeltz
Anthem: "Salve Regina"
Map of Sotanabeltz
Capital		Manresa
Largest city		Barcelona
Official languages		Latin, English (spoken)
Recognised regional languages		Spanish
Ethnic groups		44.4% European/ N.American, 23.2% S.Asian, 14.2% Latino, 9.5% E.Asian/ Pacific Islander, 8.7% sub-Saharan African
Demonym		Sotanabeltzan(s)
Government		Military dictatorship
-	Head of state	Pope Francis
-	Head of government	Capitán General Fito Nikola
Legislature		National Assembly
Establishment
-	Date of first Charter of Recognition	1540 September 27
-	Date of revised Charter of Recognition	1550 July 21
Area
-	Total	97,458 km2 37,628 sq mi
Population
-	2013 estimate	2,083,588
-	Density	21.4/km2 55.4/sq mi
GDP (nominal)		estimate
-	Total	$74,687 million
-	Per capita	$35,845
Gini		30.2 medium
HDI		0.765 high
Currency		Sotanabeltz erreala (SB$) (SBE)
Time zone		Central European Time (UTC+1)
-	Summer (DST)	Central European Summer Time (UTC+2)
Calling code		218
Internet TLD		.jhs

Overview

The Junta Sotanabeltz is a nation on the Iberian Peninsula, bordering the Kingdom of Holland to the north and the ungoverned lands of Spain to the south. Its east coast touches the Balearic Sea and its west coast touches the Bay of Biscay. Everyone born within the borders of the country are automatically Sotanabeltzan nationals, not citizens. Nationals have access to all social services and carry all the responsibilities of citizens. However, only (some) citizens are allowed to vote and to serve in certain government/military offices. The government only grants a man citizenship if he demonstrates proficiency in a skill that contributes positively to society a few years after completing military service. The government also grants a woman citizenship if she marries a male citizen or her husband becomes a citizen during their marriage.

Sotanabeltz is a very diverse country, with no single race making up the majority. 44.4% of Sotanabeltzans are descendants of those from North America, Europe, North Africa, or the Middle East, 23.2% from South Asia, 14.2% from Latin America, 9.5% from East Asia or the Pacific Islands, and 8.7% from Africa. Within these racial groups, however, it is clear that those in the first grouping (i.e. Europeans et al.) are mostly over the age of 65 years old. Along with those from Latin America and East Asia/Pacific Islands, these racial groups are fueling the "graying" of Sotanabeltzan society. The population of South Asians and Africans have experienced growth in the past 30 years and is projected to continue to do so, slowing down though not reversing the population decline of Sotanabeltz. The population peaked in the 1960s, exceeding 4.5 million, but in the past half century has declined to just over 2 million. Part of this decline was due to the Cottish Flu epidemic, during which around half a million Sotanabeltzans perished. Overall, the population over the age of 65 exceeds 20%, which also poses a serious threat to future economic growth.

Given the diverse ethnic backgrounds of Sotanabeltzans, the official language of the government is Latin. However, the lingua franca is English, although Spanish is a prevalent regional language as well.

History

Geography

(area, maritime claims, climate, terrain, natural resources, natural hazards, environmental issues)

Culture

Government

The government of the Junta Sotanabeltz is a unitary state under military rule, whereby elections are limited to certain offices (see below sections for information on elections in executive and legislative branches).

The head of state is the Pope of the Roman Catholic Church and does not reside in the territory of Sotanabeltz. The Pope as head of state is not involved in the governance of the country, except approving the National Assembly’s election of Capitáns General and accepting the resignation requests of Capitáns General. However, he has unlimited powers regarding the governance (or existence) of Sotanabeltz. Historically, no Pope has exercised this unlimited power even during the coup d’etat in the early-1980s. It was in his power to not recognize the coup, but when he remained silent, Sotanabeltzans felt deeply betrayed. The Pope also continues to advise the government on international priorities of the Church.

Administrative Divisions

The capital is the City of Manresa. The country is divided into nine provinces: Biskaya, Iruñea, Aragoi, Tarragona, Manresa, Begues, Vallès, Barcelonés-Maresme, and Bartzelona. There are also eight cities, each totaling over 10,000 persons: San Hugo, San Bruno, Pamplona, San Antelmo, Zaragoza, Manresa, Montserrat, and Barcelona. Smaller settlements are towns (5,000-10,000 persons each) and villages (fewer than 5,000 persons each). There is a heavy population concentrated around Barcelona, totaling about 500,000 in that metropolis.

Executive Branch

The Capitán General is the head of the government and military. He is elected by the National Assembly, confirmed by the Pope, and serves for life. As the head of government he does not enact legislation, but is tasked with carrying out the implementation of the laws. He also directly appoints the province Teniente, of which there are nine, and the municipal Alférez. Mayors of towns are appointed by the governor whose province the town resides. Citizens in each province (or city if selecting a mayor) can collectively submit three candidates to the Capitán General for openings for teniente, as well a well-documented case for each. The Capitán General then selects one of the three or asks the citizens to submit another list of three candidates.

The Generalate

The General Council consists of twelve people, four of whom are known as Advisors. These four are selected by the National Assembly at the same time it elects the Capitán General. The other eight, known as Counsellors, are appointed by the Capitán General and serve at his pleasure. Among these twelve, there must be at least one from each of the nine provinces. The Capitán General also appoints an Exhorter, who serves as a confidant (though not part of the General Council) to ensure that the Capitán General’s actions are not imprudent.

The General Curia is a separate entity from the General Council and serves as a cabinet. It is headed by the Adjutant General and the Vice-Adjutant, who coordinate the works of the Curia. The General Curia is divided into three levels: secretariats, councils, and offices.

There are three Secretariats: Treasury and Justice, Military Police, and Decorations and Merits. The Secretariat of the Treasury and Justice oversees finances and civilian legal matters. The Secretariat of Military Police is concerned with all legal matters within the military/government. The Secretariat of Decorations and Merits oversees the process of awarding merits to citizens posthumously.

There are five Councils: Foreign Affairs, Industry, Interior, Higher Education, and Education. The Council of Foreign Affairs promotes the culture of Sotanabeltz and diplomacy abroad. The Council of Industry facilitates collaboration between public and private, military and civilian sectors, including trade, energy, and tourism. The Council of the Interior manages all issues relating to social well-being and ecology. The Council of Higher Education and Council of Education are responsible for educational institutions in the country, with the latter focusing on secondary education (Grades 6-12). There is a necessary distinction, because the government provides free secondary education to all, but almost all students of higher education are young men who are also serving in the military due to the conscription requirement. Private schools offer education for the seven years prior to secondary education as well as an institution of higher education for women. While the government provides tax breaks for pre-secondary education providers and families, only wealthy families can afford to send women to higher education.

There are six Offices: Communication & Public Relations, Archives, Library of the Curia, Tax Administration, Development Cooperation, and Spirituality & Living. The Office of Communication & Public Relations is in charge of releasing information from the General Curia to members of the military or the general populace as well as conveying information from them to the Capitán General. The Archives manages and controls access to all important documents/records the General Curia generates. The Library of the Curia keeps a collection of all literature and media concerning Sotanabeltz. The Office of Tax Administration is the revenue service for the country. The Office of Development Cooperation manages all humanitarian efforts internationally and in response to national emergencies. The Office of Spirituality & Living coordinates programs that seek to continually enrich the spiritual lives of residents so as to instill better moral living.

Current Officials of the General Curia

• Adjutant General: Ignacio Mascarenhas
• Secretary of the Treasury and Justice: Carlos Gray
• Secretary of Military Police: Benoît Mendoza
• Secretary of Decorations and Merits: Antonio Lindeijer
• President of Foreign Affairs: Milán Blaszczak
• President of Industry: Tomás Žust
• President of the Interior: Xavier Álvarez
• President of Higher Education: Miguel Mesa
• President of Education: José Alberto Garanzini
• Prefect of Communication & Public Relations: Roy Sebastian Bellucci
• Prefect of the Archives: Norman MacCuarta
• Prefect of the Library of the Curia: Ernesto Serrano
• Prefect of the Tax Administration: Jorge Eduardo González
• Prefect of Development Cooperation: Raúl Martinez
• Prefect of Spirituality & Living: Eduard Witwer

Legislative Branch

The National Assembly is the highest authority in the government, superseding even the authority of the Capitán General. The National Assembly is both an electoral college and a legislature. It does not meet regularly and only gathers to elect a new Capitán General or at the request of the Capitán General. It is composed of 144 members, with each province having a proportional number of delegates based on its population. Currently, each province is allocated 16 delegates. The incumbent teniente automatically has a seat in the National Assembly and can appoint up to 1/3 of the remaining seats. The other 2/3 of the seats are elected by popular vote; as long as one is a male national (citizenship not required) over the age of 30, one is eligible to be elected as a delegate. The Capitán General has always been (though not necessarily) elected from among the delegates of the National Assembly. Each time the National Assembly is gathered, there must be a new election of delegates, although any gathering may be separated into various sessions without holding a new election of delegates.

Judicial Branch

This branch of government does not exist separately, but resides in the Secretariat of Military Police (for matters within the military and government) and in the Secretariat for the Treasury and Justice (for matters regarding civilians). The Capitán General also has the power to overrule any verdict the Secretariats reach.

Constitution & Legal System

The Constitution has been in place since the establishment of the country almost 500 years ago, with certain sections becoming obsolete or clarified in the accompanying Supplementary Standards document. The Constitution is separate from the Charter of Recognition, which only the pope may alter. The Charter of Recognition mentions the Constitution of Sotanabeltz as having much authority to govern the country. The legal system is a civil law system. Suffrage is for male nationals 25 years or older.

National Holidays, Symbols, and Anthem

There are several national holidays, during which all non-emergency, non-national security employees are required by law to abstain from work (exception for religious occupations): all Sundays, Feast of the Immaculate Conception (December 8), Christmas (December 25 – January 6), Father’s Day (March 19), Easter (varies, holiday starts the evening of the Thursday prior and lasts through the Sunday after Easter), Ascension (sixth Thursday after Easter), Corpus Christi (three weeks after Ascension), Feast of Sts. Peter and Paul (June 29), National Day (July 31 – August 2), Mother’s Day (August 15), and All Saints’ Day (November 1).

The national symbol is a cross with its base resting on the center of the diameter of a circle with its top and arms sticking up above the circumference of the circle. Above the cross are seven five-point stars arranged in a semicircle formation. It represents the national motto, “Stat crux dum volvitur orbis” (The Cross is steady while the world is turning).

The national anthem is the Salve Regina:
Salve, Regina, Mater misericordiæ,
vita, dulcedo, et spes nostra, salve.
Ad te clamamus exsules filii Hevæ,
ad te suspiramus, gementes et flentes
in hac lacrimarum valle.
Eia, ergo, advocata nostra,
illos tuos misericordes oculos
ad nos converte;
Et Jesum, benedictum fructum ventris tui,
nobis post hoc exsilium ostende.
O clemens, O pia, O dulcis Virgo Maria.

Religion

The official religion is Roman Catholicism, although all residents are free to worship any established religion. However, to acquire citizenship requires that one be a fully-initiated Roman Catholic. The country contains the Archdiocese of Montserrat and the Diocese of Pamplona. The seat of the Archbishop of Montserrat is at the Basilica Cathedral of La Virgen de Montserrat. The archdiocese itself governs the parishes in the provinces of Barcelonés-Maresme, Bartzelona, Begues, Manresa, Tarragona, and Vallès. There are 94 priests in active ministry as well as one auxiliary bishop serving over 1.35 million Catholics. The seat of the Bishop of Pamplona is at the Cathedral of Our Lady of the Way. The diocese covers the provinces of: Aragoi, Biskaya, and Iruñea. There are 50 priests in active ministry and one auxiliary bishop serving over 730,000 Catholics.

Military

The Sotanabeltzan military comprises of three main branches: Army, Navy, and Air Force. There are 46,243 men on active duty, not including the men undergoing military training. Overall, there are 368,984 men between the ages of 16-49 fit for military duty and ready to respond to any national emergencies.

Army

The Army has the fewest members on active duty of the three branches, but in wartime the amount can grow to over 238,000. During the initial two years of military training, there are over 13,000 males in the army training division. In addition to the equipment below, the Army is also producing surface-to-surface missiles that can deliver conventional warheads up to 1,700 km.

Armoured Vehicles

• Challenger 2 main battle tank (38)
• Challenger Armoured recovery vehicle (40)
• Chieftain tank-MK-5 (27)
• M60A1 (60)
• M60A3 (93)
• M88A-1 Recovery (11)
• M728 Recovery (31)
• B1 Centauro with 120 mm gun (Hitfact) (9)
• Mowag Piranha 8x8 LAV's (175)
• Panhard VBL (132) including 8 with BGM-71 TOW ATGM Missile launcher.
• Panhard VAB 4x4 &6x6 including 6 with 2RM 120mm heavy mortar\ 6 VAB-VCI and 8 VAB-VTT (56)
• Fahd APC (31-100)
• WZ-551B (50)
• HMMWV Hummer
• Commando MK-III 4x4 (100)
• FV101 Scorpion (97)
• FV103 Spartan (34)
• FV105 Sultan (31)
• FV106 Samson (30)
• Alvis Stormer (9)
• Alvis Saladin (38)
• Saxon (22)
• Cadillac Gage Commando (20)
• VBC-90 (19)

Trucks

• MAN TAG heavy trucks
• ACMAT VLA 6x6
• ACMAT VLRA 4x4
• Landrover 4x4

Artillery

• Type-90A 122mm MRLs (12)
• G6 howitzers (24)
• M-109A2 (15)
• L118 Light Gun (39)
• Type 59-1 (12)
• M46 130mm Gun (15)
• FH-70 (12)
• 122 mm howitzer 2A18 (D-30) (30)
• L16 81mm Mortar
• M-102 105mm Howitzer (36)
• Brandt 120mm mortar (12)
• 2R2M 120mm SP\on VAB mortar (14)
• M-30 107mm mortar-SP\on M-106A-2 APCs (12)
• BGM-71F TOW-2B ATGMs (18)launchers\562 missiles
• BGM-71A\C Improved TOW ATGMs 26 launchers\220 missiles
• FGM-148 ATGMs 30 launchers\250 missiles
• Milan ATGMs 32-50 launchers
• LAW MK-80 Light ATRLs
• RPG-7V Light ATRLs

Surface-to-Air Missiles

• Oerlikon 35 mm twin cannon GDF-007 (10)
• Skyguard-AD system (Aspide SAMs+Oerlikon GDF-002 35mm twin AAGs)
• Bofors 40mm gun
• VDAA 2x20mm SP-AAGs (9)
• ZU-23 2x23mm AAGs (4-5)
• M-167A2 VADS 20mm AAG
• SHORAR radar system (2)
• Blindfire radar systems for Rapier missiles (18)
• Skyguard-radar systems for Skyguard A\D systems (5)
• Cymbeline artillery location radar (3)
• Tigercat SAMs
• Avenger SP-air defense system-on order (18)
• Rapier MK-2\Jernas SAMs (5) launchers\600 Rapier-1+ 800 Rapier-2 missiles
• Mistral anti-aircraft missile (54) launchers\230 missiles
• Blowpipe MANPADs-200 missiles
• Javelin MANPADs (30) launchers\280 missiles
• SA-7 Grail MANPADs (34)
• NASAMS
• THAAD anti-missile system

Small Arms

• Browning Hi-Power MK-2 Pistol
• SIG Sauer P226
• S&W M38
• INSAS Standard Assault Rifle
• Steyr AUG Service Rifle
• M16A1/A2/A4 Service rifle
• M4 carbine
• Bushmaster Carbon 15
• SIG SG 540
• FN FAL 50-00/L1A1
• H&K G3
• FN Minimi SAW
• FN MAG Machine gun
• M2 BrowningHB Machine gun
• M203 grenade launcher
• M79 grenade launcher
• PCMVMF
• Accuracy International Arctic Warfare
• Barrett M82
• H&K MP5A3
• H&K MP7A1
• Sterling MK-IV (L2A3)

Navy

The Navy has 23,122 men on active duty, though the numbers can grow to over 66,000 in wartime. During the initial two years of military training, there are almost 4,000 males in the navy training division.

Ships

• Khareef-class corvettes (3)
• Qahir-class corvettes (2)
• Al-Bushra-class patrol vessels (3)
• Al-Ofouq-class patrol vessels (4)
• amphibious transport vessel (1)
• amphibious landing ship, tank (1)
• general-purpose logistics amphibious assault ship (1)

Missiles

• 50 VT-1Crotale NG SAMs
• 162 Exocet MM-40 (122 Block-1+ 40 Block-2)
• Exocet MM-38
• Harpoon_(missile) Block-II
• Mica-SAM

Electronics

• MASS Ship protection system
• 3x SMART-S MK-II Ship sensors
• 2x MW-8 Air search radar
• 5x Sting fire control radar
• 2x DRBV-51C fire control radar
• 3x RA-20S air search radar
• 4x 9LV radar
• 3x CEROS-200 radar

Air Force

The Air Force has 22,558 men on active duty, though the numbers can grow to over 64,000 in wartime. During the initial two years of military training, there are over 3,500 males in the airborne training division.

Aircraft

• Lockheed Martin F-16C/D Fighting Falcon (24)
• Eurofighter Typhoon (12)
• BAe Hawk 203 (11)
• Lockheed C-130 Hercules (6)
• Dornier Do 228-100 (2)
• Douglas DC-3 (1) for regional diplomatic travel
• Boeing 757 (1) for long-distance diplomatic travel
• EADS CASA C-295 (8)
• BAe Hawk 103 (4)
• Hawk 128 (Hawk T2) (8)
• PAC Super MFI-17 Mushshak (7)
• Pilatus PC-9M (12)
• AgustaWestland AW139 (10)
• Bell 206B JetRanger (5)
• Bell 214 (5) & 214ST (6)
• Bell HH-1H Iroquois (20)
• Eurocopter AS 550 Fennec (3)
• Eurocopter EC225 Super Puma (6)
• NHI NH90 (20)
• Westland Super Lynx (15)

Air-to-Air Missiles

• 70 MBDA R.550 Magic
• 550 AIM-9P\L Sidewinder
• 50 AIM-120 AMRAAM
• 310 AIM-9M Sidewinder

Air-to-Ground Missiles

• 20 AGM-84D
• 80 AGM-65D\G Maverick

Bombs

• BL-755
• GBU-31\38
• (84) JDAM (GBU-13\32)
• Paveway-II (150) (GBU-10\12\16)
• CBU-97 SFW350 (50)

Avionics/Pods

• 2 TARS
• 7 Sniper AN-AAQ-33
• AN-ALE-47
• AN-ALQ-211
• JHMCS Pilot helmet
• Topowl
• TWE
• 12 AN\APG-66 combat aircraft radars (for F-16C\D)

Target drones

• 53 TTL BTT-3 Banshee

Radars

• AR-15
• 4x S-713 Martello 3-D
• 2x S-600
• 1x Watchman

Training

All males ages 18 and older are required to be in the military, either on active or reserve duty. Active duty is defined as undergoing training or having employment that directly relates to national security. Reserve duty is defined as having employment that does not directly relate to national security, but may be called into active duty in times of national emergency or war.

Upon graduating from secondary education, all males report to their local military training facility for two-years of intensive training. They start off as a Soldado/Marinero, becoming Soldado/Marinero de Primera after one year.

Upon reaching the age of majority, they rise to the rank of Cabo, and begin their undergraduate studies in liberal arts. Over these three years, they rise to through the ranks of Cabo Primero and Cabo Major while maintaining some military training during their studies.

Then the man becomes a Sargento as he begins four years of graduate studies. During this time, men can choose from a variety of fields depending on what they wish their occupation to be and rise through the rank of Sargento Primero.

After a man completes his formal education, he becomes a Brigada and begins to work as an apprentice in his chosen profession. Usually after a couple years he has made progress and is promoted to Subteniente and then in another two years finishes his apprenticeship and becomes a journeyman, which comes with the rank of Suboficial Mayor.

The journeyman years as a Suboficial Mayor does not have a definitive timeline and depends on how the man is able to master the skills. Only when the government feels like the man can make a positive contribution to society does it offer him the rank of Caballero Cadete and citizenship. At this point the man either continues on active duty or is re-classified as being on reserve duty. In order to be appointed as an Alférez (Second lieutenant, equivalent to city mayor), Teniente (Lieutenant, equivalent to governor), or Capitán General, a man must hold at least the rank of Caballero Cadete.

Economy

(GDP – PPP,

Agriculture

corn, beets, cereal & forage crops, fruit orchards, sunflowers, rapeseed, prevail, vegetable crops, cheese, asparagus, piquillo peppers, wine, wheat, barley, rye, fruit, grapes, poultry, pigs, sheep, cattle, goats

Industries

agriculture, canned foods, livestock, iron ore, coal steel, shipbuilding, renewable energy, machinery tourism & services

Exports & Imports

Transportation

Almost all Sotanabeltzans rely on public transit for transportation, because they rarely travel outside of their home provinces. There is a national railway that connects San Hugo with Barcelona. There is one coast-to-coast train in each direction every day as well as three express trains in each direction on weekdays. Most of the national roads are used solely by the military to transport troops and materials and for facilitating inter-province trade. The major highway, El Camino, runs parallel to the express train route and after getting into Barcelona and San Hugo, turns north to the border with the Kingdom of Holland. These ports of entry at the Dutch-Sotanabeltzan border are the only land connections to the international community, because the southern border is closed.

Another major connection to the international community, particularly Senatus Populusque Romae, the Empire of Apilonia, and other destinations in the Mediterranean is from the seaport at Barcelona. This is also the major seaport for all trade to/from the Mediterranean. The port at San Hugo is the major seaport for trans-Atlantic trade as well as for passenger travel to northern Europe.

There is only one civilian air field in Sotanabeltz: the Barcelona International Airport. Almost all passengers departing and arriving are international tourists from the region. There is also one scheduled cargo plane landing and departure daily. Due to the short runway (3000 m), the airport cannot accommodate larger aircraft, which limits the nonstop destinations available from Sotanabeltz.

Diplomatic Missions