Shadow of the Andes - An Interactive Chilean AAR

rudders10 said:

Name Fernando Rios
Occupation Captain in Chilean Army
Political Affiliation FNT
Born Santiago 1852

Fernando was born of Conservativce Parents, deeply religous. As is the way with young men he rebelled against this and was inspired by some of the contemporary socilaists at the time in particualr Sergio Gogolw. However he decided that politics was not his thing and at the age of 18 he enlisted in the Chilean Army. Promoted quickly to Captain he found himself under the command of the brillant but erratic General Zepeda and was involved in the fighting against the Argentians. Upon taking part in that war he realised that the theoretical brillance of Zepeda was not matched by his performance in the field. Coming to the conclusion theat hte Army was staffed at the top level by fools he decided to work hard on tactical and strategic studies so that one day he could replace the fools and bring a new level of competence and professionalism to the Chilean Army.

When Zepeda sided with Andonie he found himself in a difficult position. He wanted to fight for Gogolow and the legitimate Government but found few supporters amongst his men. So hhe did everything he could to hinder the preperatons and movementy of the Army helpoing it to arrive late at the major battles. He also tried to protect his men as much as possible, seeking only to defend and not attack. This led to the majority of his command managing to survive and slip back into Santiago.

Pleased to see a Socialist Victory he has vowed to improve the Chilean Army and hopes he can continue to rise through the ranks to command an army at some stage. In the meantime he keeps his eyes open for any rebels and hunts them down assidiously.

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((Zepeda is evil now? Good that you have created a new character though))

((I will update the list later))

I propose the following bill:

Toleration of religious beliefs act

By passing this bill, any president of the nation elected by popular vote is therefore obliged to tolerate the beliefs of the Chilean people, be it christianity, animism or any other. The president of the nation is prohibited to enact State Atheism unless overrided by the congress. The president is also forced constitutionally to defend the right of worship, from any militia or paramilitary group that attempts to remove such freedom from the people.

By accepting this bill, you can make sure the socialists will not be allowed to kill our beliefs. They might seize our homes, tax us to death, but they will never kill our God!

Speaking as a Catholic and without impudence towards His Eminence, I feel such an act is unnecessary. Any effort to suppress or forcibly alter the religion of the people must of course be opposed, but this pre-emptive act seems premature. If there was ever a legislative effort to prohibit theism or dismantle the apparatus of the Church, I would immediately oppose it and expect any lawful President to veto it. Moreover, such an act would nonetheless be doomed, as the history of the Holy Mother Church pays testament to the futility of attacking religious belief. Rather than presenting a bill opposing an proposal that has not yet made, we should merely oppose that proposal once - or if ever - it is made.

- General Charles Maximilien, Prince de Conti

((Right, internet knocked out for a day and all this happens?))


Women's Suffrage - Yes

Agrarian Land Redistribution Act - Abstain

Internal Security and Militia Act - No

The Progressive Tax Act of 88' - No

Woman's Suffrage: No
Agrarian Land Redistribution Act: No
Internal Security and Militia Act: No
The Progressive Tax Act of 88': No

(( Hey, TH, can we please get a brief on immigration to Chile? It would be useful to know, for the purposes of both the political side of things and creating new characters when the time comes, what the composition of nationalities among the Chilean populace is like.))

Agrarian Land Redistribution Act: Yes
Internal Security and Militia Act: No
The Progressive Tax Act of 88': Yes

- Jose Mendoza. Minister of the Treasury.

Rogov said:

(( Hey, TH, can we please get a brief on immigration to Chile? It would be useful to know, for the purposes of both the political side of things and creating new characters when the time comes, what the composition of nationalities among the Chilean populace is like.))

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((I second this.))

(Why do I feel this is being asked for future Fascist purposes...?)

((thekinguter, Senastian was never a CoS, so he can't really be considered a controversial one, and what do you mean by "now defunct"? He died under mysterious circumstances.

Maybe you are just crazy Zagoroth, Rogov is clearly never going to make a Facist character, what with his constant Communist rhetoric.))

OConner said:

1- So you wouldn't mind if the Republicanos had a massive militia?
2- I believe it is the responsibility of the church, not the state, to care for the poor. Thus the church is responsible for ensuring that the wealthy give at least some of their wealth to the poor. I also understand that the church has been highly corrupt when it comes to such matters. I have fought against such corruption for most of my life along with many of my fellows.
3- As long as the clergy (or government schools, although I prefer the clergy) ensures the education of the poor, anyone intelligent and with good ideas can become wealthy. This philosophy has proven itself in the United States.

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1-Not at all, as long as they were obeying the law.
2-If the Church is doing such a great job then surely there must be no suffering in this nation, it seems like you believe the poor do not need a bed to sleep on so long as they have a bible in hand.
3-Except that, it hasn't or we would have eliminated poverty by this point.
Also I am rather terrified about how many people support this ban on militia's, is this how you award the guard for helping save this country, you all make me sick.

(( Later on in the thread/game I may make a Christian Democratic character along distributist lines, Christian corporatism as outlined in papal bulletins of the 19th century addressing social problems and the labor movement, if I feel like I can turn or replace the Republicanos or other moderate party at that point. ))

And I am somewhat concerned, Senor Juarez, that a man who previously sought the highest rank of the Chilean Army is now protecting private armies.

Whatever practical benefit we have historically reaped from armed militias is irrelevant. What is pertinent is that the presence of armed militias of any political stripe or creed is an intolerable threat to the democratic process and to national stability. It is the remit of the army to uphold the constitutional order and defend the Republic from subversion. The army is an independent institution and official service, whereas the militias are of dubious legality and subject to the whims of political operators. It does not matter if they once raised arms for the Republic; they can just as easily raise arms against her. We cannot accept a situation where there simultaneously exists two military entities, one lawful and one illegitimate, with divergent aims and obligations. There can only be one Army of Chile, and I would prefer it to be that which is accountable to the elected government and the constitutional order of the Republic.

Chile has only recently emerged from a period of political turmoil. It would do much to relieve tension and display good faith if the controllers of these armed militias would voluntarily dissolve and disband them. Otherwise, we risk perpetuating the present state of affairs, which is mutual distrust.

- General Charles Maximilien, Prince de Conti

Syriana said:

And I am somewhat concerned, Senor Juarez, that a man who previously sought the highest rank of the Chilean Army is now protecting private armies.

Whatever practical benefit we have historically reaped from armed militias is irrelevant. What is pertinent is that the presence of armed militias of any political stripe or creed is an intolerable threat to the democratic process and to national stability. It is the remit of the army to uphold the constitutional order and defend the Republic from subversion. The army is an independent institution and official service, whereas the militias are of dubious legality and subject to the whims of political operators. It does not matter if they once raised arms for the Republic; they can just as easily raise arms against her. We cannot accept a situation where there simultaneously exists two military entities, one lawful and one illegitimate, with divergent aims and obligations. There can only be one Army of Chile, and I would prefer it to be that which is accountable to the elected government and the constitutional order of the Republic.

Chile has only recently emerged from a period of political turmoil. It would do much to relieve tension and display good faith if the controllers of these armed militias would voluntarily dissolve and disband them. Otherwise, we risk perpetuating the present state of affairs, which is mutual distrust.

- General Charles Maximilien, Prince de Conti

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Are you saying that the army is not influenced my politic's senor? Are you saying the army has not collaborated with tyrant's? Over half of our army backed a man trying to create a bourgeouise dictatorship. No military run by the state is without corruption. No may I ask you this, how many times has the Red Guard backed a coup? Name one time and perhaps I will relent but if you recognize that the Red Guard has been less of a threat to Chilean freedom than our military senor then you also must recognize the tyranny of this agregious law.

Also Senor you state the Red Guard is a private army? The men who work in the Red Guard are not proffessional soldiers selling themselves to the highest bidder, they are a collection of like minded civilians who want to stand up for their beliefs and right's, you would rather have the people be subject to the whims of generals such as you and I rather than have means to defend themselves.

Also Senor I would like to pose a question. If these militia's were apolitical, or better yet, had any other ideology than that of a communism, would anyone support this? If there was a republicano militia would anyone have supported it? Or perhaps in the days before the coup a liberal one? This is just politicians trying to stop the cause of the worker once again. The discrimination against communistas is getting rather sickening.
General of the North- Mario Juarez

[ignore]

LeeroyJenkins said:

Mr. Rios, I can't help but notice you haven't voted yet, I don't need to remind you that every vote counts and we are only two votes away from Senior Guerro's law being passed.

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((I think he's disenfranchised))

((Right, will change post))

Why should the government be in the business of stealing private property? I personally see no good justification, and Socialistas, despite their blusterous shouts of "Equality!", there is little reason for the government, with it being so strapped for cash, to either purchase or seize private property then subsidize the farmers living there. Should we punish the wealthy for owning land? The poor need some... safety net, yes, but having the government steal from Pietro to pay Paolo ((for the record, the Santa Rosa's are actually Italian)) is not going to alleviate the situation or resolve the problems; rather it will only create new problems and push back an inevitable collapse.

Our economy has been booming for far too long; it will crash in the near future (five, ten, maybe fifteen years?), and if we are continuing these policies, plus maintaining this large army, plus expanding the navy, plus using our diplomatic influence, we will be bankrupt before the turn of the century!

((Also a little foreshadowing/prophesy from your favourite old guy... TH actually gave me the idea))

I woke up this morning with the darkest, most mournful spirit in me since the day before Roseno announced his coup. I felt as though a great darkness has been spawned, and that that dastardly force will one day strike to bring the whole world down into the depths of tyranny and despair. I fear for the freedoms of not only Chile, but for the world; we must remain on our guard for these dark days coming.

On a more positive note, I am pleased to inform the readers of this great newspaper that the Canal Zone has never been so secure! My men have been working around the clock to improve defences, police the region, and keep the peace. Hopefully this will encourage more funding for this vital choke-point connecting the Atlantic and the Pacific and allowing trade and transport to travel along much more easily (and putting a pretty peso in the treasury).

Lyonessian said:

((I think he's disenfranchised))

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Thank you General, but At this stage the weather is preventing me from voting. I would gently remind you that I am a Captain in the Chiliean Army and would politely ask you to address me as such.

Captain Rios

Edit -Sorry that was for Leeroy not Lyonessian