Prisoner of War

A **prisoner of war** (**POW**) is a non-combatant—whether a military member, an irregular military fighter, or a civilian—who is held captive by a belligerent power during or immediately after an armed conflict.

## Overview

During conflicts, there is a need to take prisoners in order to reduce the fighting power of the enemy forces, strategic value or to be used as leverage for negotiations. After the Third Geneva Convention on Earth, prisoners of war are expected to be given the following rights:

* Treated humanely with respect for their persons and their honor
* Able to inform their next of kin and the International Committee of the Red Cross of their capture
* Allowed to communicate regularly with relatives and receive packages
* Given adequate food, clothing, housing, and medical attention
* Paid for work done and not forced to do work that is dangerous, unhealthy, or degrading
* Released quickly after conflicts end
* Not compelled to give any information except for name, age, rank, and service number

However, in the New World, POWs are treated differently, depending on which nation takes them as prisoners. As a result, POWs may experience extremely harsh treatment and often lethal conditions.

On some occasions, there was an exchange of POW such as Prisoner's exchange. It is rare to conduct a POW exchange which only happens if both sides were agreed to have a prisoner exchange due to the value of each individual itself.

## Prisoners of War in the New World

### Third Civilization Area and Outside the Civilized Areas

Since the nations of these areas are still within the medieval to early industrial age of development, their treatment of prisoners is often very brutal, with little concern to their well-being. For example, the Parpaldia Empire treated their POWs as little more than 'spoils of war' and would often just treat them like slaves to be worked to death or sold off. Only the higher-ranking POWs, which usually consisted of nobles, would be ransomed to their home countries. On the reverse side, they expected their high-ranking officers to be treated according to their status if they were to be captured, while the lowly foot soldier was seen as expendable.

### Second Civilization Area

There isn't much detail as to how nations like Mu, treat their prisoners, but it's likely to be at least the standards of human decency.

### Gra Valkas Empire

There is no record or details as to how the Gra Valkas Empire treats its prisoners, but it is likely very brutally. At least it seems they have the idea of a policy to ban the torture of prisoners, as prisoners from Japan and other countries arrested after the Battle of the Folk Strait were not tortured, even those who did not cooperate were eventually shot. As for when Gra Valkas members are taken prisoner, it normally results in the Gra Valakas Empire threatening to destroy the nation unless the prisoner is released. This was especially true when Prince Gra Cabal was captured and the diplomat Dallas Claymond demanded the prince to be released, or else Japan would be burned to ashes. Unfortunately for the Gra Valkas Empire, they would fail both in the release of the prince and the invasion of Japan.

After the failed Great Naval Invasion of Japan, the Grade Atlastar would be severely damaged and given up for lost. As a result, the surviving crew was given the order to abandon ship and most would be taken as POWs.

### First Civilization Area

There's no detail on how nations like the Holy Milishial Empire treats its prisoners of war, but it's likely in the same manner as Mu.

### Japan

After its loss in World War 2, Japan treats all POWs humanely with adequate food, health and housing. Just about all POWs end up in the Tokyo Detention House. The other nations are quite surprised at how Japan treats its prisoners and do not demand ransoms nor sell their prisoners into slavery.