Anniversary nears

Where has the time gone? Has it really been three years since I founded the Intaki Liberation Front?

As I look back over what has been accomplished and what remains to be done I am filled with both a sense of pride and a feeling of sadness.

The ILF has done much to work toward the goal of an independent and sovereign Intaki nation. We have kindled a spark in the area's economy, put thousands to work and made strides toward increasing the safety of Intaki space.

There is much work left to be done, however, so as this third anniversary arrives and the fourth year of our struggle begins we will not offer a celebration, but an observance. We will save the celebration for the day when the ILF can disband and its members go on to other endeavors.

Of warnings and premonitions

While attempting to mediate today, I could not shake a feeling of foreboding. It has been growing for some time, but this was the first occasion where the nagging ill feeling prevented me from finding center.

I do not know if this is because of the recent resurgence of the FDU in Placid, my belief that Intaki Pure is behind several violent attacks against Caldari and Federation enterprises or the increased scrutiny I am receiving from the Gallente government.

I have seen a great many more Federation militia members in Placid lately and news has reached me that several systems have been cleared of Caldari occupation forces. I wonder how long now before the sky above Intaki is once more illuminated with lights of space battle? And when the fighting does return, what will it mean to those who are powerless to do anything but watch and wait?

News that Intaki Pure might have been involved in the SuVee terrorist attacks doesn't surprise me, I'm afraid. Jyotmi is really trying to stir the pot with his public comments these days. I think he'd like nothing more than to see every Intaki separatist wage open war on both the Federation and the State. I fear my old friend has truly lost the path of Ida.

I think the most troubling thing, though, is the sudden appearance of these unidentified agents who are looking into my private life. My grocer tells me Intaki men with off-worlder accents asked him about when I shop and what I buy. Someone was asking about me at a book store run by a friend of mine. And twice now someone has tried to breach the security of my estate.

I do not fear so much for my own safety as for that of my family. Taking on the life of a capsuleer and secessionist, I have accepted certain risks. My wife and children, though, are innocents and should not be made to suffer for my actions.

"Under state control"

With Ishukone vessels moving above Intaki Prime, I am deeply disturbed by events in the Essence and Verge Vendor regions. It appears that facilities owned and operated by Sukuuvestaa Corporation were attacked by unknown saboteurs.

Commander Aakonoshin Piertalen, head of Sukuuvestaa's Internal Security division, said the attacks were carried out by "a highly organized group of Gallente terrorists seeking to deny the establishment of State rule in our new territories."

While these occurances do not directly affect the people of Intaki, the statements of Commander Piertalen are of some concern to those of us who are currently involved in the creation of a sovereign nation of Intaki-populated systems.

In the "auction" that was held earlier this year, it was announced that Ishukone had won the development rights to the Intaki system. CBD Corporation was the "winner" of Harroule and Ostingele; Hyasyoda Corporation was the "winner" of Agoze, Annancale, Brarel and Vey and Wiyrkomi Corporation was the "winner" of Eugales and Fraire.

These systems were among the earliest to be colonized by space-faring Intaki and have large settlements of ethnic Intaki residents. As part of the disenfranchised Placid Region, representatives of the planetary governments of these systems have been invited to consider participation in the creation of the Intaki Sovereignty.

The ILF is currently neutral in its position toward the Caldari State and hopes that the State could become a principal trade partner with the Intaki Sovereignty. The statements of Commander Piertalen cast a shadow on this however, and if other Caldari corporations follow Sukuuvestaa's example, the ILF may have little choice but to join the anti-Caldari resistance.

No hope left

I can hold little hope of any good coming from the Gallente Federation. With Jacus Roden as the new president, I fear that the only course to a free Intaki will be a bloody one.

Roden secured a majority of 58.7% of all votes cast, but that did not include, of course, Intaki or any of the other occupied systems. His election is invalid and he cannot in good conscious be considered a President of the people.

His stated goals are primarily to take back Caldari Prime and the Luminaire System. Typical Gallente pride, to take back something that wasn't theirs in the first place while ignoring real and pressing matters in their own back yard.

Aguard received just over 30% percent of the vote, but some analysts believe that the votes of many frontier worlds excluded from the election process due to the "No Vote" law may have significantly increased Aguard's share of the vote and denied Roden an outright majority.

Without a nullification of the election from the Supreme Court, however, this is all just supposition and conjecture.