Todays Headline from New BLCTV News. Full stories available on www.newblctvnews.bl (Articles also available in English, Dannistrian and Dovakhanese)
Richard Im and Stephen T. Ding compete head to head in election.
With only two candidates in the election, Richard Im and Stephen T. Ding compete with each other to be elected as the 4th Interim Admin excluding acting ones. Flyers and posters of both candidates dominate much of the country and even custom t-shirts of each candidate are part of the fierce campaign to get the top job.
Several newspapers have listed Mr Im as the favourite to win the election on April 15th with Mr Im leading the polls by a large majority with varying outcomes from 70-80% of votes in favour of Mr Im. A turnout of 55% is required to elect the interim admin and if the turnout falls short, a re-election is mandatory and will be held 3 weeks after the previous election. In January, Chiba Seto was unable to be elected as the new interim admin because of a shortage in turnout. Some political commentators called the high minimum turnout to be highly unfair and undemocratic while defenders considered the turnout a necessity as the minimum turnout is needed to prove the majority of eligible voters voted for that person as well as too make vote rigging more difficult.
Both candidates claim Christianity as their faith and if either has been elected, they will be the first Christians to be voted into office unless a third candidate throws him/herself into the ring. Excluding acting interim admins, previous elected interim admins have been atheists or Shintoists as is the case with Kobayashi Taro, who is a devout Shintoist.
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Birth Name - Richard Lam Kar-Daam (Mandarin: Lin Jia Dan)
Born - New Jian Sha Zui, Bai Lung.
Ethnicity - Chinese
Languages - Cantonese, Mandarin and English.
DoB - 11/01/58
Religion - Roman Catholic
Education - Dannistra Onn University (1977-1980)
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Born Richard Lam Kar-Daam in New Jian Sha Zui, Mr Im holds the rare distinction of being a Cantonese speaker than a Mandarin one. Both of his parents are rich, ethnically Chinese who are raised Roman Catholics and both claimed Cantonese as their native tongues. At a young age, Richard Im had to change his surname from Lam to Im to avoid discrimination from fellow pupils as he came from a Cantonese speaking background. The dialect is not recognise by the general consensus and regards Mandarin as the only dialect of Chinese.
Despite holding Bai Lungese citizenship, Richard Im spent nearly half of his life in Dannistaan and it’s colonial master, the United Kingdom. He left Bai Lung in 1977 to study at Dannistra Onn University for 3 years followed by Oxford in the UK from 1981-1986. He spent the next 21 years running as a councilman in Dannistraa Onn, helping local communities. After the Bai Lung-Dannistaan war ended, Mr Im volunteered to put his hat in the name to run as a member of the Wang Bin cabinet. Mr Wang turned him down, citing his lack of experience in the field of politics. Deeply offended, he confronted Mr Wang in June to convince the late Interim Admin into giving him a place. Mr Wang considered Mr Im’s plea but died the next day. Speculations are now rife whether Mr Im killed Mr Wang but no evidence suggest he committed murder and the claim was swiftly dismissed.
Mr Im was offered the position of Secretary of the Interior by then acting interim admin Chiba Seto. While not interested at first, Mr Im accepted the job. His position was only a brief stint when he criticised his superior for failing to accept responsibility for a riot in Kelssek for which he was fired from the job. His sacking did not stop him from filling a motion of no confidence. After persuading the Secretary of Transportation Wang Joon-Jin, Mr Im managed to get the vote he wanted to put forward. The majority voted to remove Mr Chiba and he was removed from office. Mr Im was chosen to be the next acting interim admin until the election.
Some of Mr Im’s policies include universal health care, a parliamentary style government with a President as head of state and a change to the Bai Lungese constitution, allowing leaders with Chinese/Korean names to be sworn in.
Mr Im has been widely criticised by many for his lack of knowledge in the Korean language as it is one of the two official languages of Bai Lung. Many claimed that a non-Korean speaking leader would endanger the number of speakers in the home and many would pick Cantonese as their 2nd language. If elected, he would be the first Roman Catholic leader in power.
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Name - Stephen Thomas Ding Shui Wan
Born - New Shenzhen, Bai Lung.
Ethnicity - Chinese, 1/4 Korean
Languages - Cantonese, Mandarin, English and Korean.
DoB - 23/02/60
Religion - Methodist
Education - Dannistra Onn University (1980-1983)
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Born to a Cantonese speaking, purely ethnic Chinese mother and a part Korean, part Chinese father, Stephen T. Ding’s background is more diverse than his rival. His mother is a cook while his father is a lawyer Unlike Richard Im, Mr Ding never faced discrimination in school because he always communicated to his teachers in Mandarin and he cites his father’s willingness to teach him to speak Mandarin.
Following his father’s footsteps, Mr Ding studied at Dannistra Onn University, the same university which his rival, Richard Im, has attended. It was from there he earned a degree in English, Law and Politics. Unable to find any clients when starting off as a lawyer, he took stints as assistants for councilmen at Dannistria Onn. It was not long before he tried to run as a councilor. Running under a Socialist ticket in 1992 after the incumbent chose not to be re-elected, he was one of several candidates elected. He give up his seat in 2000 to pursue his life long dream of being a lawyer. He was a generally successful lawyer, winning 80% of cases and reportedly, he raked up a whopping $33 million in 6 years. Famously, he was the lawyer representing controversial film director Marcel Chen when An An the Clown objected to footage of the latter. The case ruled in favour of Chen and An An was forced to pay $10 million to Chen, which 75% was given to Mr Ding.
Mr Ding’s policies include more freedom for health insurance companies, keeping the status quo by not turning the government into a parliamentary style one and changing the Bai Lungese constitution by forbidding candidates with Japanese names. Mr Ding also wishes to sever ties with Kelssek and therefore refuse troops from entering Bai Lung despite Chiba Seto giving approval.
Despite Richard Im being the favourite to win, there might be another shock victory like with the previous 2 elections because Mr Ding speaks Korean fluently and a
politician who speaks the two official languages is more likely to be voted into power.
In related news, Richard Im announces plans to visit Coocoostan and Kelssek to met respective leaders Andrei Pakhomov and Pierre Gautain. Mr Im will continue the work of predecessor Chiba Seto by discussing bilateral ties for his two visits.
Head in East Dannstrian beach woman identified.
East Dannstrian Police have identified the dead woman whose head was found in a beach in Port Ourad, East Dannstaan.
The woman is identified as 35 year old Bae Dà Ài Tè from Gao Bing Shui in the mainland territories. Her head was found on Tahn’gaht beach in Port Ourad by two young sisters on Saturday morning. Her hands and feet were later discovered by police. Ms Bae was a migrant worker who had been staying in Port Ourad, working as a taxi driver. She had been reported missing by her employer and her father has been told of her death.
About 60 officer are working full time on the inquiry and forensic searches of the property where Ms Bae resided have been taking place. Officers have also been carrying out door-to-door inquiries.
Two men, aged 19 and 40, were taken into custody on Saturday and have not been charged as police continue to question the two men.
Bai Lung film fans pay tribute to Charlton Heston.
Overseas Bai Lungese film buffs living in East Dannistaan have paid tribute to legendary American film actor Charlton Heston (Pictured above), who has died in his Beverly Hills home at the age of 84. Many Bai Lungese spent the day off, standing outside various cinemas throughout East Dannistaan holding candles and quoting dialogue from Heston’s most iconic roles.
His wife Lydia, was at his side when he passed away. Heston is best known for his portrayal of Michelangelo, El Cid and other heroic figures in Hollywod films made in the 50’s and 60’s. After his success with the American sci-fi film Planet of the Apes, Heston focused his attention is working in the theatre.
Many Bai Lungese, who have become naturalised Dannistrian citizens, regard his political views particularly on gun politics as inspiring. Many felt that his famous line spoken at a conference of American gun lobby, the NRA: “From my cold dead hands” has shed light into hoping that one day, they will get the right to bear arms, just like with their East Dannistrian counterparts who can own a gun. Under current East Dannistrian laws enacted by then ruling DNP state government, any citizen may purchase a firearm except those of Bai Lungese ancestry. While the DNP did not give a clear reason behind the ban, many called the law “extremely racist”. Despite a change in government, the Conservatives have been criticised for failing to change existing gun laws in East Dannistaan.
Heston is widely regarded and loved by many Bai Lungese, both film buffs and non-film buffs alike, because of his firm stance on gun rights and conservative views. Late dictator Chen Jong Sun, is a well known fan of the Ben Hur star. His now famous phrase at the NRA meeting, translated into Mandarin Chinese and Korean, is a part of daily lexicon in Bai Lungese society. Despite a de facto general social rule of thumb that stipulates only fellow Bai Lungese should be the only people a Bai Lungese can respect, Mr Heston is one of a handful of non-Bai Lungese people respected by many Bai Lungese.
Mr Heston’s family have said a private memorial service would be held.
