LAN NA UNITY NEWS 23 days to reunificationUNITY PLAZA NEAR COMPLETION The centre piece of the upcoming "Reunification Day" is the grand opening of Unity Plaza. As military forces from both the Democratic Republic and the Kingdom have dismantled border fences, defensive positions and machine gun posts the sprawling mass of buildings, green spaces and a temple has been rising from the dirt. It is envisaged that in the next five years or so a new administrative centre, or perhaps even a city, will flourish around the project which is located 5km from the nearest Democratic Republic settlement and 10km from the Kingdom's nearest. The Plaza will feature a debating chamber for the new Unified Council, banquetting facilities, space for visiting representatives to sleep and entertainment ranging from a museum to a small series of classrooms. The idea behind the plaza was that it would be an outward sign of the two former uneasy neighbours coming together to once again be brothers and sisters.
With the final touches being made the Plaza was visited today by President Prawit Sasiprapha who was representing the Democratic Republic and also by King Kittiratt V of the Kingdom of Tongxiao. The two leaders inspected various parts of the project and left imprints of their hands in wet cement on paving at the main entrance. The main entrance will feature a large series of paving inscribed with the new nations constitution and the handprints will serve as a kind of signature showing that both nations have agreed to accept its conditions.
On the 31st of August 2021 these new terms will come into effect and will see a new flag raised over the Plaza. Under the new constitution all citizens will be granted equal rites meaning the concept of feudalism will end for half the nation. Other changes will see King Kittiratt being a ceremonial figurehead for the new nation with the right to grant noble titles for the whole of the nations territories. These noble titles however will only be ceremonial in half the territory. In the old Kingdom the nobility will give up 80% of their land however will be given tax exemptions in many areas for the next 10 years as compensation. King Kittiratt will also retain the right to implement his own educational policies in the land of the Kingdom. The agreement brings an end to almost 100 years of uneasy relations between the two halves of the nation, around 40 years of which have seen warfare. The fighting between the two nations has seen around 400,000 people die in what had been at times brutal cross border raids.
Princess Yingluck was also at the visit today and spoke about the importance of "reunification day". The 26 year old has served as an ambassador to the people of the Democratic Republic for the last two years helping to try and smooth relationships between the people of both nations. "The 31st is a day that my generation have longed for all our lives. We have been fortunate to know no war between our lands. We have seen when disaster struck our people's that despite everything we can work together and come out the other side stronger. My family now recognize that while we have a role to play in the nation, we are not the nation, it is our duty to ensure that we play our role. We now do not exist to be honoured by the people, we exist to be a check and balance to ensure their prosperity. I believe my family, along with the duly elected government of the new United Tongxiao States can make this agreement work for the betterment of all."
President Sasiprapha also praised those of the past. "21 years ago our two lands realized there was more to bind us than to divide us. When bad times came it was our ethnic brothers and sisters that put aside our differences and helped, we returned the favor and then it became clear that Tongxians are stronger together. My predecessors along with various members of the royal family have engaged in good faith and we will soon have a beautiful symbol to bring us back together. I believe we are an example to the world at how nations can achieve great things when old animosities are put to one side."