Statement on incident at New Alhira
For immediate release.
25 July 3005 — Yesterday evening, at the request of Imperatrix Snowmist Shadowstalker, the Public Health Service coordinated an evacuation of citizens unaffected by the Advanced Thul Resequencing Virus (ATRV) from New Alhira. The evacuation was carried out by the Public Health Service in cooperation with the Demarian Militia and with support of small contingents from the Royal Naval Service and the La Terre Defence Force.
During the evacuation, members of the public infected by ATRV broke through riot lines that had been established by units of the Demarian Militia. When rioters failed to obey commands from the Demarian Militia to turn back, and when it became clear that the infected rioters were threatening the uninfected evacuees, the Demarian Militia opened fire to protect the evacuees. Only after the Demarian Militia opened fire did the RNS and LTDF forces follow suit.
What happened on Demaria yesterday was a tragedy of the first magnitude and will weigh heavily upon the mind of all Public Health Service officers as we work to contain and treat this terrible disease. As a result of the evacuation effort, 1,635 uninfected Demarians were successfully removed from harm's way. Unfortunately, due to the ensuing violence, approximately 900 more uninfected Demarians had to be left behind.
The Minister would like to extend his deepest sympathies and regret to the New Alhiran people. He also reiterates his promise made to Imperatrix Shadowstalker: the government of Sivad believes that ATRV is a galactic problem that affects us all and that reaches out to the compassion of all sentient beings. Sivad will not abandon New Alhira in its hour of need.
Two hundred and fifty Public Health Service officers are on standby to be deployed to Demaria when order is restored. As always, the PHS works only on the invitation of host governments and will act within the rules the host government sets.
The Government of Sivad expresses its heartfelt condolences to the people of Demaria as well as its hope that it will soon be able to resume its humanitarian mission there.