Rome Times Special Edition

[Tanthalas]

New Zion actualy, which was the Oficial reason for stoping her.  Remember the Zionists are suspected of suplying arms and materials to Egypt who I have under an Oficial Blockade atm.

[Korpen]

Then there is the matter of the Trial, he was after all guilty of Refusing to heave to for a Contraband search and Firing on a Military Vessel clearly sailing under the Flag of Italia.  For the later crime alone he could recive the death sentence or at the Minimum 50 years behind bars in someplace interesting like the coal mines of Italian South Africa, where Bodies arnt cast out to sea they are burned.

While the Netherlands is very happy that the pirate is caught, we are appalled by Italy's claim on stopping a ship on the high seas to "search for contraband"; and we demand an explanation from the Italian government on exactly what would constitute contraband.

As for holding a trial, there are quite a few Swiss pirates that were caught in the Indian Ocean incident serving prison terms in the Kingdom that might be willing to witness against him.

The Netherlands is also curious as to when Italy reinstated the death penalty?

[Carthaginian]

I don't think N-verse Italy ever got rid of it.
In fact, I think that we should be happy that N-verse Italy doesn't still toss the condemned into the Tiber tied in a bag with a dog, a cat, and a chicken. The prisoner generally didn't survive long enough to drown... if you get my drift.

[Tanthalas]

Then there is the matter of the Trial, he was after all guilty of Refusing to heave to for a Contraband search and Firing on a Military Vessel clearly sailing under the Flag of Italia.  For the later crime alone he could recive the death sentence or at the Minimum 50 years behind bars in someplace interesting like the coal mines of Italian South Africa, where Bodies arnt cast out to sea they are burned.

While the Netherlands is very happy that the pirate is caught, we are appalled by Italy's claim on stopping a ship on the high seas to "search for contraband"; and we demand an explanation from the Italian government on exactly what would constitute contraband.

As for holding a trial, there are quite a few Swiss pirates that were caught in the Indian Ocean incident serving prison terms in the Kingdom that might be willing to witness against him.

The Netherlands is also curious as to when Italy reinstated the death penalty?

Ill try and answer this all at once (hopefully it dosnt get to confusing).

the ship was stoped in the great rift (I realy need to finish the second more detaild news post), as such weather or not it was international watters is open to debate (would depend on the exact point in the rift all that jazz).  Contraband would be in this case Naval Mines (remember I just recently lost a Colony ship to one) or Poison Gas (its another news item I realy need to finish).  Help with the trial would be most likley apreciated as I forsee this being a multinational afair (No real Basis for it atm but its about the only way I can see keaping everyone happy)

As to the Death Penelty, the punishments I listed were based off Military Law (im using the UCMJ as my Basis for Military law because I know it) and under it Firing on a US Military ship is a NO NO (they actualy tend to just shoot back with far larger guns and ask questions later) Civilian Penelties im not so sure about, (im not real knowlagable on Maratime law) and as he was captured by a  Military comands (Hercules to be exact more details that should be in the next news item) he is curently under Military Jurisdiction.

I actualy still have it for Civilian courts to although it will rarely if ever be used (I realy have to finish my Constitution)

[P3D]

Poison gas deliveries would be very strange, requiring support from an outside industrial power. Mines are commonplace, and I'd guess Cairo should have its own manufacturing capability.

[Desertfox]

As for holding a trial, there are quite a few Swiss pirates that were caught in the Indian Ocean incident serving prison terms in the Kingdom that might be willing to witness against him.

NS saw those as POWs. They would have been released per the Peace Treaty. Same time the UFOs took the Swiss troops from Celebes back home.

Plenty of Swiss ships around Zion, then again Zionite ships would be treated nearly the same as Swiss ships from the Swiss POV. However if NS replies is up to Walter.

But why would New Zion supply arms to Egypt via the sea when they have a nice big land border between them?

Mines are more than commonplace, just about anyone with enough knowledge could build one. In fact one of the possibilities for the sinking of the Maine (apart from self combustion) was the use of a very small homemade mine.

[Tanthalas]

Belive it or not the NZ involvement wasnt my idea... I recived it in a PM from a mod who was messing with my Blockade of Egypt.  It was somthing to the effect of you loose a Transport to a Mine mine traced to NZ but not of NZ construction, Work it in.  so if the mine came from NZ but they didnt build it, that translates to it had to come from somewhereand with NZ that generaly would translate to it came across the watter lol, hence the ocasional stoping of NZ flaged vessels to search for Contraband.

[maddox]

Why would a pirate run guns and mines to New Zion?
Profit of course.

On a side note.
The north side of the Great Rift strait still is patrolled by the French- Djibouti Island fleet-, eager to catch any NS merchant ship.

[Korpen]

As for holding a trial, there are quite a few Swiss pirates that were caught in the Indian Ocean incident serving prison terms in the Kingdom that might be willing to witness against him.

NS saw those as POWs.

How the NS see (saw) them is irrelevant, they are (and were) civilian prisoners, under civilian jurisdiction, and got sentences of between 9 months and six years at the regency court in Lampung.

Ill try and answer this all at once (hopefully it dosnt get to confusing).

the ship was stoped in the great rift (I realy need to finish the second more detaild news post), as such weather or not it was international watters is open to debate (would depend on the exact point in the rift all that jazz).

If not in International waters, in whose water would it otherwise be?

(I realy have to finish my Constitution)

Why not just use the IRL Italinan one?

[P3D]

I doubt there are any NS-owned ships operating in the Western Indian Ocean if they are systematically rounded up by the French - there are a lot of French-owned territories around (Maldives, Mauritius, Reunion) besides Djibouti.

[Tanthalas]

Italian, OR, DKB all have teritorial watters on the great rift.  as to the Constitution question, Im runing a Constitutional Monarchy with restricted Citizanship (hence my whole Service Guarentees Citizanship line I use everywhere) if you have any links to a Constitution of that style belive me id be glad to use parts or all of it.

[maddox]

It was the French intention to get rid of all NS merchant shipping in French waters. This means the Atlantic, the Med and the Indian Ocean.
Only Orange Republic waters can be sailed safely by NS ships, This means the Indian ocean can be sailed by NS ships, but with a risk if they sail up to much northerly.

New Zion waters are pretty unsafe, but if New Zion naval ships are close, French warships won't do anything obviously agressive.

Of course , the French territorial waters on the colonies are also free of licence hunting grounds on NS shipping.

[Desertfox]

How the NS see (saw) them is irrelevant, they are (and were) civilian prisoners, under civilian jurisdiction, and got sentences of between 9 months and six years at the regency court in Lampung.

If you are refering to the Firanji Convoy Incident, then all those captured where clearly marked NSN Sailors. If you are refering to another incident, then they are civilians.

[maddox]

Italy is a French ally....  And I doubt allies see the sinking of their allies warships as an act of peacefull co-excistence.   And because the NS navy is out of reach due several factors, the freelancing NS privateer Sparrow, even with NS letters of marque, is free game if he does something stupid.
Like firing on warships.

Also, concerning letters of Marque. These are issued to make it "lawfull" to attack ships belonging to the enemy.   

Therefor, the presence of the Black Pearl during the "impounding " of the Caliphate/Firenj ships is "lawfull".
If New Swiss was officialy at war with the Caliphate, Firenj or France.

Conclusion, the sinking of the French vessels during that incident is another matter.
Is it a diplomatical incident, or an act of war?

[Ithekro]

Considering the Dutch seemed to be attempting to cover up that incident lead (in part) to a war, I'm not entirely certain were that places Mr. Sparrow.  His vessel did not, as I recall, actively engage any of the convoy vessels or their escorts.  I don't remember if he assisted the Swiss Navy in the aftermath boarding actions, and his known participation in the war is almost nothing (or perhaps actually nothing).  Captain Turgon was known to be active and operate in the Indian Ocean-New Zion region.