The Almere Socialist Worker's Daily
By Jim Reed
In a recent and shocking event, the government of Bonitana has used flamethrowers on refugees next to the Novanae border. The incident is in-line with the new policies of the relatively new Bonitanan Security Forces, a paramilitary force whose main purpose is as a gendarmes for the UCGB. The horrific incident occurred as "revenge" after a incident on the morning of the 25th, when a van armed with explosives rammed into a Bonitanan checkpoint, killing 7 soldiers. The Bonitanan government blamed the supposed ASR sponsored "People's Liberation Army of Bonitana" of being behind the attack, accusing them of hiding as refugees to infiltrate the country.
However, it appears today's incident was much more brutal than the terrorist attack on the checkpoint. At around lunch hour in Novanae, commotion began to stir with refugees and a group of Bonitana Security Force officers, eventually leading to a small fight, which was recorded by cell-phone video from the Novanae border. After shots were fired into the air, more reinforcements from the Bonitanan side began to pour in, throwing teargas and beating the refugees, many sick and unable to move. The refugees retaliated by throwing rocks and bottles at the soldiers, when suddenly a armored personnel carrier arrived, carrying Bonitanan soldiers equipped with flamethrowers. The security forces formed a firing line whilst the flamethrower brigade burned down the innocent civilians, much to the shock of the observing Novanae civilians.
The brigade, identified as part of the 52nd Bonitanan Flamethrower Division, was halted by ANAC forces from Novanae, demanding that they cease their hostilities. Unwilling to let a conflict break out, the Bonitanan forces agreed, and the remaining refugees were taken away by bus. An estimated 200 refugees were killed, all fellow ASR citizens seeking treatment from the recent disease outbreak in Novanae.
However, we must remember that this attack was not just perpetrated by Bonitana, but by the abusive capitalist corporations that are the real hegemonic powers of the region. Many forget that not only are the Bonitanan Armed Forces, including the new Bonitana Security Forces, are sponsored by Chisel Enterprises and Mechadyne, but that many officials within those corporations hold high powers within the Bonitanan government. Even corporations that may have seemed redeemable, such as Black<Con Labs, were seen interacting with the flamethrower brigade but not at all attempting to stop their disgusting actions. Robbert Teck declined to comment.
With the recent aggression against innocent civilians by Bonitana and the corporate oligarchs, we as citizens of the Almere Socialist Republic must remember that we are surrounded by enemies, and that hopefully the next war will not just be a destruction of Bonitana, but a destruction of the abusive capitalist corporations as a whole.
The Almere Socialist Worker's Daily
Jim Reed