Report on Draken Cletic tensions 1905

## Report 1905

This report is compiled from both existing documentation gathered from previous trips to both Celtica and Drakenstaat. Other observations were gathered from an intentional survey in the early months of 1905, boots on the ground observations were gathered by doctors and professionals form three outside nations.

The principle concern of the report is in two parts the treatment of Draken in Celtica and the treatment of Celtics in Drakenstaat. The principle compilers and the source of most documentation used was Saddian Medical missions escorted by the Royal Service Corp.

### Draken in Celtica

It is undeniable that the Imperial mindset of the Celtics has affected their treatment of neighbors to the south. That said there is at this time no evidence that Draken suffer any higher rates of injury, poverty, or imprisonment than any other clanless people in Celtica.

The important caveat there is the restriction placed on alleviating the clanless status, which is very often slanted against Draken public education in Clanless areas is borderline propaganda even within the context of an understandable Celtican narrative. Violence against ethnic Draken is not officially sanctioned by any level of government. However there were several clan leaders that openly disparage Draken.

Most evidence of this was only available upon deeper examination, it is not believed that the majority of those perpetuating these acts are aware of what they are doing. They are merely acting on preconceived notions and xenophobia.

The effects of this xenophobia cannot be ignored. Extrajudicial "punishments" and even executions are, while very difficult to track and quite obviously not endorsed, are far more common than any should be comfortable with, even if that is still rare. The fact that "Draken Panic" is still an accepted legal defence in Celtic courts is almost certainly a factor.

### Celts in Drakenstaat

Perhaps as could be expected there is some amount of animosity towards the Celtics in Drakenstaat. Celtica ruled through a series of proxies for many generations, and many of theses rulers were thoroughly repulsive individuals whose indulgences were tolerated in exchange for loyalty.

The most consistent finding of political injuries were centered around the non weaponized explosives used in celebrations on June 9th. Hidden in these injuries is a set that occurs in those of Cletican decent, these injuries are in majority caused by neighbors setting of their non weaponized explosives in a manner that is hazardous to their neighbors, presumably as some form of boasting.

The Celtican language is of a noted point of contention. Children under 15 may not learn or speak Celtic in school, those above 15 must pass a patriotism test to take lessons. Government Documents may not be presented or signed in Celtic. In some areas and cases this is used to justify delegitimizing documents as the signer's name is Celtic.

By far and away the best documented evidence of discrimination relates to the Celtic church. The ties between the alchemists and the church ensure the non-faithful have lesser access to healthcare. Churches in particular are targeted with legal challenges, they are not tax exempt, and marriages they certify require a Hearth Temple observer.

In terms of actual violence there is little evidence to suggest there is direct office sanction. That said such outbreaks are not uncommon, though extrajudicial executions are not common enough to be stated to be an occurrence, and are punished. Lesser incident however including public beatings are not uncommon. (Uncommon, in the context of this report not the population over all).

## Comments

### L'acquan

Whilst it is difficult to add to sacred wisdom, we have found places where our greater experience in the sins of the world has allowed us to comment.

The charge that some Celtic leaders are willing to disparage Draken to be notably understated. More than the exception are willing to use often violent rhetoric, scaremongering, and scapegoating to berate, belittle, and diminish the Draken.

Another note is that both side use systems of taxation to incentivize complete cultural submission. It is also noted that the Draken side has kept the conflict inside cultural bounds possibly due to their alliance with Us and the difficulty of separating the racial appearance of Celts out from others in the northern continents.

The same is not quite true for Celts, in particular in either the far north or the more entrenched in the border regions. where the imperialism has mixed with unabated xenophobia.

### Liotainain

Our observations leads us to conclude that both Celtican minorities in Drakenstaat, and Draken minorities in Celtica, suffer systemic (but unsanctioned) persecution on the basis of their preferred ethnic group. The *type* of persecution varies on both sides of the border, although certain comparisons may be drawn applicable to both sides. Initial comments will focus on Draken minorities in Celtica, then shift to Celtican minorities in Drakenstaat.

Draken minorities in Celtica may number as high as half a million individuals, but these must be divided into two broad groups.

We wish to note that many individuals - identified as "ethnic Draken" by the Drakenstaat government - originate as refugees who chose to flee the formation of Drakenstaat in prior generations, fleeing to Celtica in the anticipation of protection. It is undeniable, and particularly lamentable, that many of these refugees have not found a welcoming safe-haven in Celtica. At the same time, these refugees remain more friendly to the Celtican government (and the attendant majority culture) than to their ostensible ethnic kindred in Drakenstaat, and several individuals we interviewed proclaimed their willingness to fight for Celtica even against Drakenstaat. Many individuals have chosen to blend into Celtican culture (where possible) by imitating Celtican styles of dress, language, and names; intermarriage is common enough that it receives relatively little opprobrium. Others retain their "Drakenness" in spite of the cultural barriers.

However, the second group of ethnic Draken have lived in the border regions for many generations. This group is significantly more antagonistic to the Celtican government and culture, and more strongly expresses their non-Celtic ethnic identity. These individuals draw more attention - both negatively, from the Celtic authorities and ethnic majority, and positively by the government of Drakenstaat, which views them callously as pawns to be employed in a grudge match with Celtica. Rhetoric on both sides, both amongst local Celtican clan leaders and firebrand minority speakers, trends toward the extreme. The Draken minority possesses ample evidence of willful abuse by authority figures and tolerance of mistreatment. The Celtican majority possesses ample evidence of serious attempts by the Draken government to infiltrate and use angry minority members. It is our stated opinion that neither side can be held fully blameless, and both sides must be held accountable.

Without a comprehensive statistical analysis, we cannot determine the ratios of these two sides to each other. Nonscientific observation implies the ratio is roughly equivalent, with the potential of a ten percent swing in either direction.

On the southern side of the border, ethnic Celticans living inside Drakenstaat similarly may be divided into two groups.

As is the situation to the north, a number of ethnic Celtic minorities fled to Drakenstaat upon its formation for a variety of reasons, ranging from disenchantment with or disenfranchisement from the Celtic clan system, political extremism, or religious differences. Draken's hammer has fallen most heavily on the political extremists, who have not ceased their political agitation upon their immigration to Drakenstaat. It is undeniable that, like their counterparts north of the border, they express a preference for their new homeland and even a willingness to fight on its behalf.

The larger group is composed of ethnic Celticans who settled - or, in a number of cases, *were placed* - in border territories currently owned and administered by Drakenstaat. Many of these individuals were born in the affected regions, often to parents and grandparents similarly born in these territories; they resent Draken rule with the same fervor as their Draken counterparts to the north. They view their land as "conquered territory." Draken authorities can certainly cite as many reasons to be wary of this "conquered" populace and its nascent guerrilla population as their Celtican counterparts.

While interviewing minorities on both sides of the border, we noted similar narratives in proposed solutions to the problem. Many of these individuals stated their belief that the ideal course of action would be a border change, either in territories being given to Drakenstaat or 'returned' to Celtica. Our observation is that any border change along the current provincial boundaries would almost certainly *worsen* the problem. The geographic distribution of the two ethnic groups is so diverse in these border regions that the difference of a kilometer can equate to massive swings in the ethnic majority and minority.

Similarly, the suggestion by ethnic minorities on both sides of the border that the minority "just go home / leave" fails to address the significant issues we have uncovered.

It is instead our stated recommendation that both sides develop a comprehensive plan to address the discrimination inherent in both systems. One country may make substantial strides independent of the other, but no final permanent solution can be obtained solely by the efforts of one side.