THE COUNCIL ON REGIONAL SECURITY
STATEMENT ON THE ACTIVATION OF SECTION 1(1) OF THE SECURITY POWERS ACT

The Council on Regional Security has voted to invoke Section 1(1) of the Security Powers Act with respect to Belschaft, having determined that there is compelling information that he poses a risk to regional security.

The information received and analysed by the Council strongly connected Belschaft to Neo Kervoskia, a founding member of The Empire and the incumbent Pharaoh of Osiris. The Empire is currently classified as a Prohibited Group, under the authority of Section 4 of the Criminal Code. The specific risk to regional security is an offer made by Belschaft to serve as a "back channel" for Neo Kervoskia, and to "work to discourage any 'Osiris bad, Empire bad' thinking" in the South Pacific.

In view of the above, the Council has deemed it necessary and appropriate to invoke Sections 2( c), 2(d) and 2(i) of the Security Powers Act, noting that the restriction under Section 2(i) shall be of 70% of the current endorsement cap. While the Council has already investigated this matter, it will conduct an additional investigation, as required by regional law, to afford Belschaft the opportunity to provide confidential testimony, in the interests of due process and cross examination, and to allow for the questioning of additional individuals and the gathering of further relevant information.

Following the conclusion of the investigation, the Council will make a determination on the possibility of lifting the declaration of a security risk or taking further action, as permitted by the Security Powers Act.

It should be noted that the Council does not take this action lightly. Any use of our security powers is a solemn occasion and done with the full agreement of the Council, after the review and analysis of intelligence reports and the interview of individuals involved. It should be further noted that attempts to come to a mutual agreement with Belschaft on precautionary and punitive measures were unsuccessful due to their rejection by Belschaft. It is the sincere belief of the Council that our actions are necessary, proper and proportional to ensure the security of the region.

Semi-Unretired

Reply

In accordance with the requirements of Article 1, Section 2(i) I have cleared my WA endorsements, bringing my nation bellow 70% of the current endorsement cap.

I note, for the record, that the CRS first publicised their allegations over three weeks ago and (to the best of my knowledge) have been "investigating" this matter for more than two months. Considering that in that two month period no evidence (again, to the best of my knowledge) has been produced to support the allegation, I trust that that when this additional two week period produces the same result the CRS will finally withdraw the allegation and apologise for this increasingly absurd witch-hunt.

_{Minister of Media, Subversion and Sandwich Making}
^{Associate Justice of the High Court and Senior Moderator}

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It's A week was spent by the CRS attempting to reach a mutual agreement with you that provided for leniency. You strung the negotiator along with change after change to the agreement, only to ultimately reject everything.

Additionally, the CRS is conducting interviews with material officials, prompted by your own submitted "depositions." Since you're a fan of trial language: you decided to bring forth witnesses and do a direct examination. We now get to do our cross examination. Given that this is a game and not a job, that people have different work and class schedules, not to mention actual lives to live, this cross-examination will take time.

On the one hand, you decried our initial findings as rushed and inaccurate. And now you're trying to say we can't take time to conduct the investigation wherever it leads, and every day that passes is another indication of your obvious innocence. That's not how an investigation works. If TSP wants a thorough investigatory process, they will get one.

(This post was last modified: 04-04-2017, 07:37 PM by sandaoguo.)

Reply

In accordance with the requirements of Article 1, Section 2(i) I have cleared my WA endorsements, bringing my nation bellow 70% of the current endorsement cap.

I note, for the record, that the CRS first publicised their allegations over three weeks ago and (to the best of my knowledge) have been "investigating" this matter for more than two months. Considering that in that two month period no evidence (again, to the best of my knowledge) has been produced to support the allegation, I trust that that when this additional two week period produces the same result the CRS will finally withdraw the allegation and apologise for this increasingly absurd witch-hunt.

I'm going to speak a bit out of turn here, but if you want to produce other evidence to the contrary, you should do so now.

Otherwise, all your depositions are doing are casting doubt on a wider circle of people who apparently floated law, tradition and reason — intentionally or unintentionally — to give you "permission" for this endeavor. 

Despite arguments to the contrary, the members of the CRS aren't off on their own without contact to the rest of the region. Currently, there's a sitting prime minister and former minister of foreign affairs on the council; not to mention the entire current Cabinet thought the information we've been working off of was important enough to release to the entire Assembly.

I feel like if this intelligence gathering was truly justified, someone out of the circle above would've heard about it or stepped up to say something during our initial two month discussion.

At the end of the day — are we going to be able to completely judge the intentionality of your discussion with NK? Probably not.

However, that doesn't mean the region doesn't have a right to be concerned and that the CRS doesn't have a duty to protect the region.

You are correct that this investigation has been going on for longer than two weeks. If, instead of protracting this, you'd like us to skip any further investigation and have the CRS move onto Sections 1.5 or 1.6 of the Security Powers Act, I'm sure that could be arranged.

-tsunamy
[forum admin]

Reply

It's A week was spent by the CRS attempting to reach a mutual agreement with you that provided for leniency. You strung the negotiator along with change after change to the agreement, only to ultimately reject everything.

Yes, because the failure of the CRS and myself to reach mutually acceptable terms is an indication that I was stringing the negotiator along, rather than us failing to reach mutually acceptable terms.

It is a matter of record that I was willing to accept the "punitive" elements the CRS proposed, but required a summary of agreed upon facts to be included, including the acknowledgement that I was an SPSF Intelligence Officer - as confirmed by the SPSF and Ministry of Military Affairs. This was rejected by the CRS, and when I was given an option to "take it or leave it" I choose to leave it.

Additionally, the CRS is conducting interviews with material officials, prompted by your own submitted "depositions." Since you're a fan of trial language: you decided to bring forth witnesses and do a direct examination. We now get to do our cross examination. Given that this is a game and not a job, that people have different work and class schedules, not to mention actual lives to live, this cross-examination will take time.

I am overjoyed to here that the CRS is conducting a proper investigation, I only regret that it has taken them so long to do so.

On the one hand, you decried our initial findings as rushed and inaccurate. And now you're trying to say we can't take time to conduct the investigation wherever it leads, and every day that passes is another indication of your obvious innocence. That's not how an investigation works. If TSP wants a thorough investigatory process, they will get one.

Your initial findings were rushed and inaccurate; this is indicated by the fact that no supporting evidence for the allegations have been produced, and that testimony has been provided disproving key assertions and the central claim. That, with the absence of evidence to support the allegation, the CRS is choosing to try and find new evidence to do so is simply regrettable. I was under the general understanding that the general idea was to produce a theory that matched the evidence, rather than trying to find evidence that matches the theory.

That you believe I am a member/agent of Empire is clear. That in the absence of any evidence of such you are conducting a fishing expedition to try and find some is also clear.

In accordance with the requirements of Article 1, Section 2(i) I have cleared my WA endorsements, bringing my nation bellow 70% of the current endorsement cap.

I note, for the record, that the CRS first publicised their allegations over three weeks ago and (to the best of my knowledge) have been "investigating" this matter for more than two months. Considering that in that two month period no evidence (again, to the best of my knowledge) has been produced to support the allegation, I trust that that when this additional two week period produces the same result the CRS will finally withdraw the allegation and apologise for this increasingly absurd witch-hunt.

I'm going to speak a bit out of turn here, but if you want to produce other evidence to the contrary, you should do so now.

Otherwise, all your depositions are doing are casting doubt on a wider circle of people who apparently floated law, tradition and reason — intentionally or unintentionally — to give you "permission" for this endeavor. 

Despite arguments to the contrary, the members of the CRS aren't off on their own without contact to the rest of the region. Currently, there's a sitting prime minister and former minister of foreign affairs on the council; not to mention the entire current Cabinet thought the information we've been working off of was important enough to release to the entire Assembly.

I feel like if this intelligence gathering was truly justified, someone out of the circle above would've heard about it or stepped up to say something during our initial two month discussion.

At the end of the day — are we going to be able to completely judge the intentionality of your discussion with NK? Probably not.

However, that doesn't mean the region doesn't have a right to be concerned and that the CRS doesn't have a duty to protect the region.

You are correct that this investigation has been going on for longer than two weeks. If, instead of protracting this, you'd like us to skip any further investigation and have the CRS move onto Sections 1.5 or 1.6 of the Security Powers Act, I'm sure that could be arranged.

I have been incredibly patient here Tsu, and understand entirely the need of the CRS to conduct an investigation. But an investigation has to end at some point, and if it doesn't uncover anything then it is required that the CRS admits that - rather than just extending it endlessly and without due cause. An allegation is not in of itself sufficient - it has to be supported by facts.

To the best of my knowledge - and unless the CRS has some further details in regards to this that they haven't disclosed - this entire matter rests on my conversations with NK. These conversations were accounted for, and the SPSF confirmed the details. The CRS apparently did not find this sufficient, so a formal deposition was provided. This is apparently also not sufficient, and rather chillingly is "casting doubt" on anyone who provides it. Evidence of my innocence is now, apparently, evidence of both my and others guilt.

The following is a deposition of Roavin, conducted on 27/03/17 and provided to the CRS on 28/03/17.

Roavin Deposition

Belschaft: For the record, could you please identify yourself and your current positions and offices in TSP or elsewhere?

Roavin: My main nation is Roavin. I am currently a Legislator in the South Pacific, Officer in the South Pacific Special Forces, and First Warden of The Order of the Grey Wardens.

Belschaft: And during the period of November 2016?

Roavin: In November 2016, I was also Legislator in the South Pacific and Officer in the South Pacific Special Forces; furthermore, I was Minister of Military Affairs in the South Pacific and a citizen in Lazarus.

Belschaft: As Minister of Military Affairs, did you establish an intelligence program and employ intelligence officers?

Roavin: Yes.

Belschaft: Did you appoint Belschaft as an intelligence officer?

Roavin: Yes.

Belschaft: What instructions and objectives did you give Belschaft as a SPSF Intelligence Officer, in your capacity as Minister of Military affairs and his direct superior?

Roavin: Only one specific instruction was given, pertaining to finding possible information on a particular gameplayer's involvement with another gameplay organization. The objective of the program was to generally have the capability to perform intelligence operations in a responsible fashion, and most discussions revolved around that objective.

Belschaft: So Belschaft had no instructions or directions to launch any intelligence operations?

Roavin: None besides the specific one already mentioned, no.

Belschaft: Did you discuss or provide directions in regards to unsolicited or "walk in" contacts?

Roavin: They were discussed as a component part of establishing an intelligence program. Unsolicited contact was to be accepted, even if no specific order to solicit contact was given.

Belschaft: So, to clarify; if contacted by an individual of potential interest, such as a GCR Delegate or major GP figure, Belschaft was to accept that contact and attempt to develop it if possible?

Roavin: Yes.

Belschaft: Under what circumstances was Belschaft expected to report back from such a contact?

Roavin: This was not specifically agreed upon.

Belschaft: Broadly speaking, what were your expectations in regards to that subject? To be specific, whilst no set criteria for reporting were established, what would you have expected or considered appropriate?

Roavin: I would have expected, at the very least, any tangible information that is not already common knowledge to have been passed on, unfiltered by value judgements. A notification that contact has been established would be nice-to-have but not essential.

Belschaft: You are aware of the unsolicited contact between Belschaft and Neo Kervoskia, aka. NK, aka. Griffin, initiated on the 11th of November 2016 and then continuing?

Roavin: Yes.

Belschaft: When did you become aware of this unsolicited contact?

Roavin: On February 8th, 2017.

Belschaft: So you are familiar with the contents of the logs in question?

Roavin: Yes.

Belschaft: In your professional opinion, is there anything revealed in the logs that should have been reported to you? To be specific, any "tangible information that is not already common knowledge"?

Roavin: No.

Belschaft: In your professional opinion, how would you characterise the contents of the logs in question?

Roavin: The statements on lines 77, 78, and 84 are, whilst not directly incriminating on their own, quite suspicious and warrant a closer look.

Belschaft: Could you specifically identify the lines you are referring to?

Roavin: Line 77: Anything you want me to do in TSP? I'm not actually in the government these days Line 78: So if you want me to act as back channel you've got to let me know Line 84: I can work to discourage any "Osiris bad, Empire bad" thinking The author for all three of those lines is Belschaft.

Belschaft: Thank you.

Belschaft: Considering the context of an unsolicited contact, and standing instructions that such were to be developed if possible, what is your evaluation of those statements?

Roavin: It's not black and white. On the one hand, it can be reasonably argued that the statements are products of the unsolicited contact directive given through the SPSF intelligence program; on the other hand, the contact was with the Delegate of a region in which the Delegate does not hold a power equivalent to a Commander-in-Chief over the military, therefore straining the argument that this falls into the jurisdiction of the SPSF alone.

Belschaft: In your professional opinion, does the constitutional role and powers of NK reflect his actual role and powers in Osiris?

Roavin: I do not consider myself to have either the expertise or knowledge in the intricacies of Osiran law, nor of their de facto interpretation, to be able to answer that question.

Belschaft: Do you consider NK to be an individual of potential interest, in keeping with your instructions regarding unsolicited contact?

Roavin: Likely not, for the reasons previously stated.

Belschaft: To the best of your knowledge, would others consider NK to be an individual of potential interest?

Roavin: Considering that Neo Kervoskia was or is a key figure in the Empire, a group that is prohibited in the South Pacific, the Council on Regional Security presumably considers them an individual of interest.

Belschaft: Considering NK's status within Empire, Empire's prohibited group designation, and your instructions regarding unsolicited contact, how would you have expected Belschaft to respond to unsolicited contact from NK?

Roavin: Certainly friendliness, openness, and an encouragement for future contact are key here, and these traits were certainly displayed by Belschaft's statements. At the same time, these could surely have been phrased differently such that these statements, while being just as effective, do not tacitly offer special access or the services of a South Pacifican insider (as in for example line 77, in which Belschaft initiates an offer to act in the South Pacific based on orders from Neo Kervoskia).

Belschaft: To the best of your knowledge, did Belschaft provide "special access or the services of a South Pacifican insider" to NK, providing him with anything that was not publicly available on TSP's forums or already in the public sphere?

Roavin: I am not aware of any such instance, no.

Belschaft: Do you have any reason to suspect such instances occurred?

Roavin: No.

Belschaft: Considering all that you know about this situation, how would you describe the relationship between Belschaft and NK?

Roavin: It appears that they consider each other friendly acquaintances, but not friends.

Belschaft: Would you agree that these logs, when examined in the context of Belschaft's status as an Intelligence Officer and the standing instructions regarding unsolicited contact, record an attempt to develop the relationship so as to acquire "tangible information that is not already common knowledge"?

Roavin: Yes.

Belschaft: And this was permitted intelligence activity, under the standing instructions you had given?

Roavin: Yes.

Belschaft: Thank you for your cooperation and your time. I have no further questions, unless there is something you would like to add or clarify?

Roavin: Nope.

As everyone can see, Roavin - who was Minister of Military Affairs at the time in question - confirms certain basic facts that have previously been declared by the SPSF. The CRS is welcome to continue their investigation - not that I have any control over such - but in the absence of any evidence to support the allegation, at a certain point it is going to have to admit that it was wrong rather than investigating indefinitely.

_{Minister of Media, Subversion and Sandwich Making}
^{Associate Justice of the High Court and Senior Moderator}

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Former Delegate (x2.5)
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Former Local Councillor (x2.5)
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Reply

As everyone can see, Roavin - who was Minister of Military Affairs at the time in question - confirms certain basic facts that have previously been declared by the SPSF. The CRS is welcome to continue their investigation - not that I have any control over such - but in the absence of any evidence to support the allegation, at a certain point it is going to have to admit that it was wrong rather than investigating indefinitely.

Roavin is the person who passed the NK log to the CRS.

I hardly think you should rest your entire case on a deposition of someone who was highly concerned about your behavior — to the point that they alerted the security apparatus in the region to the fact that you might be committing treason. 

Further, if your argument is that Roavin new of and endorsed your action, why would he have brought this issue up to us?

-tsunamy
[forum admin]

Reply

As everyone can see, Roavin - who was Minister of Military Affairs at the time in question - confirms certain basic facts that have previously been declared by the SPSF. The CRS is welcome to continue their investigation - not that I have any control over such - but in the absence of any evidence to support the allegation, at a certain point it is going to have to admit that it was wrong rather than investigating indefinitely.

Roavin is the person who passed the NK log to the CRS.

I hardly think you should rest your entire case on a deposition of someone who was highly concerned about your behavior — to the point that they alerted the security apparatus in the region to the fact that you might be committing treason. 

Further, if your argument is that Roavin new of and endorsed your action, why would he have brought this issue up to us?

Have you even read the deposition Tsu? Considering the CRS is meant to be "investigating" this I find the fact that you haven't - indicated by you know not knowing what is in it - rather shocking.

I am aware that Roavin was the person who brought the original information to the CRS. I am also aware that he considers me innocent of the accusations levelled against me on the basis by the CRS, as is clearly stated in the deposition.

_{Minister of Media, Subversion and Sandwich Making}
^{Associate Justice of the High Court and Senior Moderator}

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PREVIOUS ROLES

Former Delegate (x2.5)
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Reply

I'm confident that the Committee will conduct a proper investigation, and regardless of its outcome, I think we can all agree that the goal is to make sure we set a good precedent of diligence and due process.

Former Delegate of the South Pacific
Posts outside High Court venues should be taken as those of any other legislator.
I do not participate in the regional server, but I am happy to talk through instant messaging or on the forum.

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Reply

I'm confident that the Committee will conduct a proper investigation, and regardless of its outcome, I think we can all agree that the goal is to make sure we set a good precedent of diligence and due process.

I'd agree with that entirely Kris. I just regret that it has taken over two months from the CRS becoming aware of the original information, and over three weeks since making public and defamatory allegations against me, to apparently begin doing so.

I think no one will be surprised when I say that I have little confidence in the CRS at this point, when it appears to have shown neither diligence or due process up till now.

_{Minister of Media, Subversion and Sandwich Making}
^{Associate Justice of the High Court and Senior Moderator}

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Former Delegate (x2.5)
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Former Forum Administrator
Former Minister of Media

Reply

I think this will be a good opportunity for both side to approach this issue with good faith and renewed confidence, and work together to ensure this investigation reaches its logical conclusion in the best way possible. I can tell you that my agenda is merely to find the truth, whether that means taking further punitive action or lifting the restrictions. If we can work together to accomplish that goal, I think this will prove that the process works.

Former Delegate of the South Pacific
Posts outside High Court venues should be taken as those of any other legislator.
I do not participate in the regional server, but I am happy to talk through instant messaging or on the forum.

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Reply