Foreign Nationals Arrested in Lamadentin following Customs Raid – District Court reaches judgement on Sedevacantist Church
20th November YC123/FC238
Lamadent Capital News Network
Six foreign nationals of Imperial citizenry have been arrested amongst several Sedevacantist members in a sting operation conducted by the Lamadent Space Authority.
Port Authority Captain Sebastienne ‘Baz’ Jacobs, already having seized significant quantities of weapons that were unlawfully attempted to be imported into the Tribunate earlier in the year, has given a statement to this news agency confirming the arrests were made in relation to an anti-terrorist operation following a tip from the Federal Intelligence Office, in co-operation with the Gallente Police Department’s Federal Anti-Terrorism Task Force. No further details on the arrests have been made public at this time – although the detainment of Imperial citizens on criminal charges has caused some concern in the capital of Lamadentin, especially those in the anti-Sedevacantist camp.
The Aeman Federal District Court has also reached a decision on the challenge made concerning the Sedevacantist Church, following a lengthy legal battle carried out by Minmatar focus groups and the All-Federation Caldari League.
The Honourable District Court Justice Mariana Oursler confirmed in a ruling supported with little dissent by Justices on the panel that the Sedevacantist Church was deemed to be an unconstitutional organisation, citing the threat to civil liberties of Roussillon’s Minmatar populace amongst other arguments made by the protestors and their supporters. Consequently, Justice Oursler confirmed that the Church has been proscribed as an unlawful organisation under Federal anti-terrorism legislation and membership of the Church is now considered to be a District criminal offence in the Aeman District. It is unclear if the Church plans to appeal the decision made today.
Both the Roussillon Sheriff’s Office and Tribunate Gendarmerie have deployed additional officers to reinforce existing shifts and have cancelled annual leave for most circumstances. Armed patrols have become commonplace in the capital and in Roussillon since the outbreak of violence several months ago, with fears that the decision could spark even further civil unrest. Offers from the Gallente Police Department for assistance have been politely but firmly refused by the Tribunate Government, citing the need for local law enforcement to be at the forefront of policing, rather than Federal agencies.
Instances of violence have thankfully been few and far between, with a speech given by a recently naturalised Caldari capsuleer immigrant to the Federation having been cited in having calmed tensions in the member state. Sceptics have questioned the wisdom in a foreigner having intervened in such a manner considering the foreign nature of the Sedevacantist Church, but the message was well received by the majority of anti-Sedevacantist protestors.
A Note from L-CNN: We at the Lamadent Capital News Network support the decision of the Aeman Federal District Court and hope that once more our citizens that we serve can rebuild the peace and prosperity for our homeland.
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