The coastline sentinel December 21, 2026 Fiction, Travel and Adventure from Lombok to Vladivostok

year 1, issue 3 CathaySeas.com

Social troubles in Malhaindo archipelago Martial law The territory of Malhaindo has been under martial law for 26 days now, as the whole society seems to have upraised against the government and especially the main island, which gave its name to the country. The capital city E’ladaera has armoured vehicles and armed patrols on every crossroad. It all began with a decision to shutdown several environmental organizations... but from then on, the situation has only got worse, shifting from public protests to a full State crisis. These organizations were ‘‘threats to the public order’’, a representative of the Prime Minister said at the beginning of last month. Indeed, a local website published information quickly after, about possible corruption reaching the highest level of the Malhaindese State (the PM and the president, namely). Western oil companies would have given cash money worth years of Gross Domestic Product to several officials, in order to secure oil digging contracts. ‘’As it is now very rare to find new oil sources, the value is priceless in terms of profit and stakeholders satisfaction’’, says a specialist. Critics were loud and people got in the streets immediately.

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International concerns All medias are now silent and the Army has deployed in key areas to prevent demonstrations. Gatherings of more than three people are forbidden and the curfew is enforced 14 hours a day. The only news come from the internet and the (rare) satelite phones available. Also, to insist on the gravity of these events, the government has deliberately cut the GPS coverage, something that had never been done since the Two Koreas war. All borders are closed, air and sea traffic are interrupted. The President of the United Nations said he was opposed to any form of violence and that the UN was monitoring the situation closely : ‘’the UN forces already had to go to Malhaindo to evacuate foreigners, returning there to separate the oponents would be one time too much’’ he said.

Point of no return ‘’I don’t know, says a local contact of the Coastline Sentinel, the situation is very, very tensed here. There are no lootings or riots but from my house in Ta’loth i see many boatpeople drifting in the Strait from the mainland to Malhaindo main island. I have seen our own Navy fire on fishermen fleeing on their boats towards Kessif. Their bodies washed ashore at a famous surf place 800 meters from here. All foreigners have been evacuated now, so they [the government] have free hands to do whatever they want –that’s disgusting. We have passed a point of no return. Either something new emerges, either Malhaindo will sink in civil war. I sleep in my sofa with a rifle and my wife and kids are safe in the outback. We have no fear : we’re ready.’’ As a matter of fact, the peacekeeping task of the army is not difficult, because large parts of the population seem to have gone in the outback, but to do what ? Press reports suggest that the government is struggling to keep the control of the main island, where the so-called resistance blocks the access to the southern peninsula. The village of Ckahdera in particular seems to be of great interest for everyone.

The South is the key From the government’s point of view “terrorists” have seized the South violently and illegally, and it is now a strategic task to regain control of the area. The martial law will remain enforced until the task is done. But what does not appear in official communications is that the whole population of the South is in favor of the rebels’ side. Between Beausoleil and Adarak Prime cities, all roads and bridges have been blocked, putting the peninsula in a de facto autonomy. If the negociations fail, the Army will have to progress by feet, tree after tree. But first the officials will have to find someone to negociate with... This peninsula is mountainous, with curvy roads and large forests with an abundant wildlife of hoars, bears and fifteen herds of wolves, reintroduced twenty years ago from specimens captured in Italy. From Adarak Prime to Ckadera, roadsigns every two kilometers read : “Wild animals, do not stop. If you break down, lock-in and wait for rescue. Save your drinking water.” As a matter of fact, the place is good for anyone who want to hide the hard way, a bit like the Montana in the USA or Corsica in France. On the other hand, the local culture here is considered the birthplace of Malhaindo, and people are not afraid to voice their opinion. National politics are considered somewhat a local issue so, no wonder it is here, in the South, that the “terrorists” have found a safe haven.

Opportunity ? Our witness in Ta’loth reports that ‘’a strange paper’’ was put under his frontdoor. ‘’It is about a new constitution for Malhaindo, something drafted by the People. I have added my own comments on the paper, put it back under the door and the day after it was gone. Friends of mine in Nakhalek have received it also. There must be a very good organization behind this, and apparently it’s all happening in Ckahdera. You talk about chaos, but from my point of view it’s more like a revolution.’’ This analysis shows that the population of the whole island is supportive of what’s happening in the South -whatever it is- and that communication lines are still operating. Dr. Piccard, of the Harvard School of Politics, insists on the importance of this point : “It is not a local upraising, it is a whole nation waiting for an opportunity and the South is tasked to propose such an opportunity. If they fail, the government will regain the advantage without much support from the population. Then we may see fightings and a quick failure of the peaceful leaders who are dominant

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today. Violences from one side will call violences from the other side and yes, it would be a scenario similar to the Yugoslavia war.” At this time, it is not possible to write more on the situation. We may publish special editions as the situation evolves.

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(southern peninsula)

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Background on Malhaindo Many of us know Malhaindo for its strong culture, reefbreaks and world-class surf, but with all the foreigners evacuated by the UN troops weeks ago, it’s no more about enjoyment. If the civil society can not solidify enough to become stronger than the government, there is a serious risk to see the whole country commit suicide. A Chinese analyst wrote recently in the Social Research Review : ‘’Malhaindo is a political anomaly. The traditional culture of fraternity walks hand in hand with a long habit of aristocracy, but at the same time the elected government is full of pro-Western businessmen . It’s like Italy, Thailand and France, when the they had to deal with Berlusconi, Thaksin and the extreme-right wing coalition, but in Malhaindo today, they are all in power together. There must have been a mistake somewhere in the political process because this can not work, it is all in non-negociable contradictions.’’ This makes a positive echo for all the tourists who have been in Malhaindo already and especially surfers, who were 125.000 to visit the country last year. Between the kindness of the population and the toughness of the government the difference is palpable and very disturbing. One Swedish woman at the head of FTA surfboats company says : ‘’Politicians come and go, right ? That’s why elections are made for. I have decided to set up a surf charter business here because it’s just the best place to live and the best job to have. Today’s government is just a temporary constraint.’’ Now she is back in Europe, after the UN Evacuation Squad took her in a military unmanned helicopter, along with the 230.000 other non-Malhaindese living in the country. ‘’I know i can trust the people, my boats and wharehouse will be in good hands. I’ll be back there in the first plane’’

Malhaindo history : Unlike the neighboring countries, Malhaindo was never a colony. It was a kingdom since XIIth century with a King appointed by a secret vote starting at the village level, in a process always selecting the bests in their specialty. These people competed against each other in philosophy, hunting and sailing; and the King was the last of them all, on the top of the list. Then in XVIIIth century an English missionary landed from Hawaii, talked about surfing and after a few trial and error, this activity was declared also on the must-have skills to be King. The priest commited suicide shortly after. Following the example of Japan at the beginnning of XXth century, Malhaindo had its own Meiji revolution, to quit obsolete political and economical structures and adopt in ten years the face of an up-to-date republican model with capitalistic roots. As World War II was declared, the pro-modern government managed to make Malhaindo a safeheaven. The model of a militia army (Swiss-like), deterred at least two invasion plans. Each household has at least one citizen trained for combat, woman or man. At that

time, the mainland asked for a union with the island. Later on, Malhaindo changed its capital city from Emila to E’ladaera on the mainland. The government joined the Non-Aligned club of countries at the Bandung Conference in 1955... and the list of ‘’developping nations’’ at the same time. In the second part of the XXth century, Malhaindo became a hotspot for tourists and Western oil companies alike, opening the door to easy money, short term policies and a growing gap between the people and the government. Today, we may be the witnesses of the end of that situation. Malhaindo figures : State name : Malhaindo Capital city : E’ladaera (on mainland) Population : 3.500.000 Territory : 34.024 square kilometers Coastline : 2.200 kilometers Average air temperature : 11°C Islands (total / inhabited) : 791 / 22 Political regime : representative democracy (one president every five years)

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