There was initial hope among many, that the Newport Conference would lead to steps toward a solution to both the Kaijan War, now well into its third year. However, on Saturday the Weasley govermeant announced that the conference would end early, due to “several parties’ unwillingness to negotiate”.
The Newport Conference was a series of private meetings between President Brooke Weasley and the Governors of North and South Kaijan as well as various other stakeholders. Originally scheduled to last until the 17th of June and conclude with the passage of a resolution, it was ended prematurely on the 8th of June after a round of talks specifically about military involvement. According to Weasley, “I say now way forward, as of now”. Weasley, who is unpopular in Kaijan due to her first terms in office in the 90s was widely criticized before the Conference began for the military’s violations of personal freedoms in Kaijan. In the year since the start of Operation Redemption, which mobilized the Army, Navy, National Guard, and Coast Guard to patrol South Kaijan, there have been at least 200 cases of abuse and violence against civilians reported to the Howard-Prince Gonzalez Institute. In addition, attacks by both the Kaijan League and the newly active FJK have increased against civilian and military targets.
Mohammed Quinzon, Governor of South Kaijan was present at the discussions on military involvement and complained in a press conference following the end of the conference, “She (President Weasley) was very rude, she couldn’t make up her own damned mind about anything”. Quinzon had previously worked with the military within his province, however in recent months has begun to deploy the South Kaijan National Guard in the place of some federal units. As a result, Quinzon faced a private warning from the Ministry of Defense, a statement that Quinzon made public in violation of federal regulation. However, Quinzon’s defiance has made him a star within his party, the Muslim Union, and has helped solidify his lead in this year’s Provincial Election.
The failure of this year’s Newport Conference has frustrated many, especially those in Kaijan, as many considered a 2023 Referendum, a de-facto statement that the Kaijanese people wanted full independence. Experts have already estimated that Kaijanese will come out in full numbers in this year’s Provincial Elections both in North and South Kaijan but also in Kaijanese communities in large cities such as New Liverpool and San Jose. Protests have already begun in Newport itself, as some demand a return to negotiations. However, Brooke Weasley has been reported to have already traveled to her private estate in Halls Province.
