30 September 2024
Navy to be Deployed to River Nandrat as Urthvision Declared Critical National Security Event
IMAGE: The Royal Tavari Navy destroyer Zaram V.
NANDRAT– For the first time in the modern era, the Royal Tavari Navy will send a ship up the River Nandrat—the guided missile destroyer Zaram V—as part of the security measures for Urthvision XXI. The destroyer Nežeren is also to be deployed to the Nandrat area, and the Acronian Peacekeepers Maritime Command has agreed to deploy the frigate Crystal Coast, the Acronian flagship, to the area as well. All three ships carry complements of helicopters that will be deployed to the skies above Nandrat throughout the day of the event. Those traveling to Nandrat for the world’s biggest song festival will see the Zaram V from the Queen Adra IV Bridge, though both the Tavari and Acronian governments have pledged that this will be the only military presence along the border. Coupled with the announcement is a declaration from the Cabinet that Urthvision is to be a Critical National Security Event, along the lines of the wedding of Emperor Otan and Prince Hendrik and the finals of the 2022 World Cup.
For many in Nandrat, this is sure to awaken memories of April 2022 and the peak tensions of the Division Crisis, when the Tavari military base in West Nandrat was encircled by forces loyal to Acronis, in contravention to the Matron’s orders, threatening to begin open warfare in the name of Acronian secession. The Defence Ministry’s announcement on Monday, coming a week after violent riots in Nuvrenon, acknowledged those fears but made clear that the government considers these heightened security measures an absolute necessity. Minister for Defence Tebran Išdašt Batti said at a press conference “The eyes of the world will be on Nandrat next month, and there will be performers and visitors from dozens of countries here, all of whom deserve and will receive safety and security during their time in Tavaris. We cannot and will not fail. To assure this goal, we will leverage the full force and power of the Tavari security establishment, no holding back. I want to assure the people of the world that Urthvision will be safe. You can feel comfortable coming to Tavaris, the most beautiful country in the world.”
It cannot be denied that, just like the 2022 World Cup, a major world event is happening in Tavaris at a time of crisis. Urthvision XXI was announced just a month after Emperor Otan IV was shot and almost killed in the Royal Palace by a rogue officer of the Royal Tavari Marshalls outraged over his performance of the Acronian national anthem, a hymn entitled No Line but Akrona that was illegal in Tavaris for centuries because it was considered incitement. Violent riots broke out in Rodoka in July after the Tavari National Diet passed a law granting Rodokans only one seat in the Diet, a purported answer to the so-called Rodokan Question of how to represent non-Tavari people in Tavaris’ clan-based national legislature. Native Rodokans had enjoyed 20 seats in the Tavari legislature from its inception until, in 2022, the Ranat Accords that granted Rodoka independence repealed the treaty that afforded the Rodokans their seats in the Diet, an apparent oversight that both the Tavari and Rodokan governments missed until the last moment and chose to attempt to solve after independence. Emperor Otan IV, who is also High Chief of the United Tribes of Rodoka and the Isles, enacted his own answer to the Rodokan Question last week by using the never-before-invoked royal power to create new Lines, one for each Rodokan tribe, restoring the 20 Rodokan seats but enraging nationalists across the country, hundreds of whom violently stormed Palace Square, killing dozens of law enforcement officers and burning the headquarters of the Reserve Bank of the Tavari Union. Tensions are higher in Tavaris than at any point since 2022, possibly even worse. It is at this moment that the entire world will look to Tavaris for an evening of music and fun, and the Tavari government has declared that there will be fun by any means necessary.
One person in the Tavari halls of power who is determined to see Urthvision through is Diet Delegate Oda Rundra Lita, who has the distinction of being the currently reigning Urthvision winner. Del. Rundra Lita, of the Official Opposition Tavari National Party (KDT), is Shadow Minister for Culture, Tourism, and Sport and the ranking opposition member of the Diet Committee on Culture and Heritage. She has been on the ground in Nandrat for well over a week, meeting with event organising staff, delegations from the Urthvision Songfestival Broadcasting Union and various participating governments, and keeping the public updated on progress through videos posted to Pigeon. Unlike nearly every other KDT politician, Del. Rundra Lita had nothing but glowing praise for the government’s efforts, saying in Monday’s update video that “Things could not be going better here in Nandrat, and I am so proud of the coalition government for really taking this seriously and making sure Urthvision will be both safe and fun for everyone.” She interviewed Royal Tavari Army Gen. Vezba Omantar Lešti, commander of the international joint task force for Urthvision security, who told the youngest Delegate in the Diet “In addition to the Navy presence in the river and out in the harbour, there will be a significant Army presence here at Rivermouth Park Stadium, with the Marshalls patrolling the city proper. Attendees of Urthvision will see uniformed Royal Tavari Armed Forces personnel when they come to the stadium and we want to assure everyone, they are here for your safety, they are here because they want you to have a good time, and that rain or shine, we will do our utmost to ensure Urthvision XXI is the best edition yet.”
The Royal Tavari Armed Forces, citing “obvious concerns for operational security,” declined to provide further specifics than what has already been released to the media, according to a written statement in response to the Independent’s request for comment. Bedri Hóštan Labadra of the Nuvrenon Defence Policy Institute, a think tank, told the Independent that “it is likely that measures at Nandrat for Urthvision will at least match, if not exceed, the security during the World Cup. It is taking place at the same venue, which is already equipped for high security events, and it should be noted that there has been a heightened Marshall presence in Nandrat for months now anyway since it has become something of a centre for the cannabis industry and the Border Guard is very interested in preventing trafficking across the border. The government is certainly taking security seriously, but it remains to be seen how the dramatic military presence will affect the mood of the event, which is supposed to be light-hearted and optimistic. The exact opposite of security theatre, really. I doubt the soldiers will be doing much dancing.”
In addition to the military presence, Nandrat Province—which operates Rivermouth Park Stadium—has announced a number of security measures for the event. Metal detectors will be placed at every entrance and security officers will be screening and, where necessary, patting down guests to ensure they are not carrying weapons. Weapons of all kinds are forbidden—not only firearms but pepper spray and knives of any kind, including pocket knives and utility blades. Attendees will only be permitted to bring handbags or backpacks that are transparent. Guests who arrive with non-compliant bags will be permitted to leave them with soldiers of the Royal Tavari Marshalls, but they will need to be dropped off and picked up at the security checkpoint outside of the building. Once the event has started, absolutely no guests will be permitted to enter, and no refunds will be issued to ticketed attendees arriving after the doors are closed. Those who exit the event early will not be readmitted for any reason. The car park at the stadium will not be available for public use as it is being used by the armed forces; those arriving by car will instead be directed to the public car parks at the Queen Adra IV bridge, 3.7 vonai (about 2.5km) from the stadium, where they can take free shuttles to the stadium. Streets within a vonai (1.4km) of the stadium will be closed to traffic. Additionally, by order of the Nandrat Province Legislative Council, sales of cannabis products and liquor will cease at noon on the 10th and not resume until the morning of the 13th, after the Sugar Day festival.