Bakdep – Kuehong Chairman Le Van Kiet said Kuehong would send troops to assist embattled Tucau President Mou Shyun-en and his government, as demonstrators stormed and torched public buildings in the islets’ worst unrest for more than a decade. Citing “threats to regional and national security”, caused “in part” by “inside agents from abroad”, Le stated that Kuehong would deploy another battalion of troops to supplement its existing forces on the islands.
Since last weekend, protests erupted in western Shaachrau, ruled by the Kue-backed People’s Republic of Tucau, over rising oil prices, unemployment and increasing resentment against the Kue occupation in the country. Reports emerged of protestors attempting to break into Kue military bases stationed in the country. President Mou had declared a state of emergency last night and there were reports of an Internet blackout in the country since this morning.
Protestors had called for the resignation of President Mou, direct elections, and the withdrawal of Kue forces in the country. President Mou had earlier insisted that he would not resign but would try his best in his capacity to resolve the grievances by the people.
Earlier two days ago, a statement from the NSSC called for “non-interference” into the protests, stating that Kuehong had “full confidence” with the Republic’s ability to resolve its own problems. Vice-Chief of General Staff (Army) Trần Mạnh Cầm denied that Mou’s administration requested help from the Kue government and instead accused foreign powers of “stoking political terrorism” on the islets. The NSSC further added that the Kuehong government continues to monitor the situation and advocated a “peaceful resolution” to the political crisis.
The People’s Republic of Tucau is a de facto state comprising the western half of the Shaacharu Islets. Ever since the end of the Shaa Civil War in 1977, the islets were divided into two regions, each occupied by external forces. Kuehong continues to maintain its claim over the islets. The eastern half of the islets is de jure administered by the People’s Republic of Tucau but remains under Kue occupation. The other half of the islets is an international mandate territory established by Cinasia, with support of the AN peacekeeping forces and the Federal States.
Kuehong’s neighbours, Cinasia and Fayaan, said they would be “prepared” against any “aggressive” actions by the military state and warned not to break off its armistice treaties. The Bai Empire, a regional power, had called for “all parties” to discuss the ongoing political crisis, denying that he had encouraged its ally Kuehong to launch an intervention.
