[War] Canada: "Demons of the Past."

[Iain]

"Demons of the Past."
Prime Minister Chloe Taylor
Canada
6th February 2013

=========

For almost 8 months now, Chloe Taylor had knew this moment would come. Part
of her had dreaded the event but the other part had pushed her to undertake
it. As she walked towards the centre of the same Iroquois community that she
had visited last June her heart pounded in her ears. She knew her breathing
was much more shallow than usual and coming somewhat quicker but she
couldn't force herself out of the pattern. Expecting protestors was one
thing, wading through them was quite another. To compound matters, in an
effort to reduce the antagonism that her visit was bringing she was not
under armed escort as she had been before - rather local law enforcement was
undertaking crowd control and she was flanked only by two members of her
person security. She had never felt so exposed in her life, with insults
being hurled in tandem with the odd small missile - all of which managed to
land short of their target, not for lack of trying, she thought.

Taylor had to admit that her reasons for being here were not as pure as they
might otherwise seem. Sure she came here to make peace with this people to
the best of her ability, as well as to try to improve the situation in the
region, but also she had come here to put her demons to rest and also, she
supposed, to improve her public standing and that of her government.

Instead of progressing to the community's central area as had been the case
on the last visit, Taylor found herself being led into a smaller clearing,
where an elderly couple and a younger man stood. Immediately she recognised
these people from her briefings in preparation for this moment and found
herself for the first time pulling in a deep, though haggard, breath.
Although she knew that the pace of her party hadn't changed she felt as
though they were moving much slower, and the protests of those gathered
seemed much more distant and subdued in those moments.

"Madam Prime Minister, may I present." An official stood with them, one who
she recognised but could not place at that moment but interrupted him
nonetheless.

"Mr. and Mrs. Doxtator, Mr. Smith." She shook each of their hands in turn
and gave each a solemn nod of respect. The survivors of those who had been
killed last July by her armed escort looked somewhat abashed and
unsurprisingly saddened. "I must apologise for the tardiness of my visit and
the extension of my deepest sympathies for your losses." There was an
uncomfortable silence, during which Taylor began to wonder if she had been
wrong to come here.

"Thank you, Madam Prime Minister." The elderly Mr. Doxtator eventually spoke
up with a parched and unsteady voice that belied his grief. "May I also
extend the apologies for the actions of my son that led to his death, if
he."

Taylor raised her right hand stopping the man before he could continue. She
had spent many days going over who was to blame for what part of the events
last year and that didn't have to be rehashed now. "The truth is, Mr.
Doxtator, your son's intentions will never be known. Those responsible for
his death have been.disciplined appropriately but that does not change the
fact that he died. He died because I was here, and for that I am sorry. I
hope that my visit here today can make amends to not only you, but to the
rest of the Oneida Settlement and First Nation peoples."

With a slight bow, Taylor made herself turn before they saw the tear that
had managed to escape her eye. As she sniffed a little to compose herself
and wiped her face as once again her party moved off, she became aware for
the first time of the flash of cameras indicating the presence of the press.
Good, she thought, let them watch. After all, the more people that heard
about this, the better.

Retracing their steps to a main thoroughfare, Taylor began to recognise
their surroundings as they closed on the centre of the settlement where the
events of eight months ago had unfolded. Her heart pounded louder, though
she would not have thought it possible but this time she forced her breaths
to come long and deep and pushed the images of blood and death from her mind
that threatened to take over. In moments she was shaking hands with the same
man she had been facing as she heard two gunshots ring off not so long ago.
This time, however, he looked much more tired but no less determined. 

"Prime Minister, I am glad you have returned.at last."

Taylor could not decide if his tone suggested actual gratitude or
maliciousness but was not going to allow this to phase her. "Chief Abram, I
apologise it has been so long. However, I come bearing news that I think
shall in part make up for my lateness."

The man looked intrigued but there was a suggestion he would take some
convincing. "I look forward to what you have to say." With a further nod he
turned to the microphone that was only metres away on the raised area both
leaders now found themselves. "Ladies and Gentlemen, that you for coming.
May I present, Prime Minister Chloe Taylor." 

A brief introduction, but what more did she need? Taylor stepped forward to
the place in front of the microphone now vacated by the Iroquois Chief, and
couldn't help but notice how he too surveyed the crowd that had gathered as
she and her escorts had been doing moments before. So far, there did not
seem to be a repeat of previous violence on the cards.

"Ladies and Gentleman of the Oneida Settlement," Taylor gave a brief nod to
the few cameras assembled together somewhat near the front of the crowd and
added in a somewhat snide tone. "and my friends of the press." Before
continuing. "I come before you today to firstly apologise for the time it
has taken for myself and my government to respond appropriately to the
concerns you put your voice behind last year. Secondly to apologise for the
excessive force used during my last visit by members of the military escort
that accompanied me which resulted in the death of two of your number." 

Her heart fluttered as someone began to move to the front of the crowd until
she recognised him as the official who had begun introduction earlier in the
day and continued without a note of hesitation in her voice. "The resulting
protests, though understandable, led to violence, violence that threatened
not only this Settlement but the surrounding area. Unfortunately, it was
deemed necessary to take drastic action," A nod to the small group of
military officers at the fore of the crowd supplementing the local law
enforcement made her meaning clear. "Today I can announce, that without
further debate, the garrison of troops that have been stationed is this area
of Ontario over the last eight months in force, shall be rotated out of the
area. The number of soldiers taking their place will be returned to that of
pre-June 2012, and law enforcement will once again take the lead in
maintaining civil peace in the area. However, the number of law enforcement
officers required to undertake this task is greater than that of the current
police force available in this region. This deficit will be managed by
recruiting directly from Oneida nationals and giving them full training, pay
and privileges afforded to that role." Taylor let the somewhat shocked
silence prevail for a moment and was amused by the perplexed looks passing
between the military officers, clearly they had not been briefed on the
situation yet. "I also once again want to reaffirm my promise that support
to increase the standards of conditions within Oneida as well as First
Nation settlements throughout the rest of Canada will continue. Beginning
with the ground breaking of an adult education centre in Oneida later
today."

Noise had began to return and Taylor could see the cogs in the minds of the
press turning as they put together questions. Questions she had both been
advised not to answer, nor did she feel able to at present. As the shouted
questions began, she raised her voice. "Thank you once again, ladies and
gentlemen, I leave you in the capable hands of Chief Abram." Before anything
more could be said or done, Taylor and her two security guards were heading
off the staging at a quicker pace than was strictly necessary. She may have
faced her demons today, but she had no desire to bait them into action.

============

ACTIONS:
1) Taylor gives face-to-face apology and condolences to families of victims
of previous visit.
2) Troops in Southern Ontario to be rotated, new troops to be back to normal
number and duties as per rest of Canada, no futher role in law enforcement
at this time.
3) Recruitment of law enforcement officers from Oneida Settlement to number
100 for deployment throughout Southern Ontario in attempt to increase
employment and skills in area.
4) Ground breaking of new adult education centre in Oneida to be first of
kind in recent years in First Nation Settlement. Due for completion in late
2013/early 2014.