Racial Tension Still on The Rise: Editorial

[Nicholas "Niko" Scott]

Racial Tension Still on The Rise
Caprica City still a Hot bed for Anti Tauron Sentiments

Racial Tension Still on the rise as a result of Caprica's Military Draft. Anti Tauron and Sagittaron sentiments still plague Caprica's cities and now its Armed Forces. With reports of racially based attacks on newly drafted personal beginning as a result of the newly adopted "War Time" amendment to the Military enlistment regulations, Allowing the Blending of forces for the Newly created Coalition of Colonies Fleet. The amendment states That the Armed forces of Scorpia, Lenois, Picon and Caprica will unite in operations to fight the Cylon threat, but as an unwanted side effect racial differences has some units segregating themselves; forcing Command staff to make a radical decision.

It can be described as Growing Pains, or as a serious threat to the moral of the Coalition Forces. With the Addition of the two largest Coalition members, Picon and Scorpia, comes not only the much needed reinforcements to fight the Cylons, but the drama of piecing together an inter-colonial Fleet.

With hard feelings still running deep between Picon Military men and women and the Newly Drafted personal from Sagittaron steaming from the Picean embargo of Sagittaron, it seems like an un-likely match up for a blended Fleet. But with Leonis being a Main draft planet, with 57% of the Draft taking place there and it's large amount of Sagittaron Immigrants, it seems like the partnership might be stretched beyond its means.

Reports of Race based Attacks on Picon Military personal by Sagittaron born draftees, and the retaliatory attacks by Picon Natives has worked their way up to the Coalition Commanders. With Some reports varying from beatings and robberies, to death threats and growing reports of deserters Command Staff have Issued a simple but powerful order to all Coalition Military personal.

"Any Attack or threat of Attack on any Member of the Coalition Military, regardless of rank or racial decent will be punishable by immediate deployment to the front lines." This is what the new order states in the Coalition Forces statement to all Command staff and military bases. That if any enlisted or drafted personal engage in racially based attacks on fellow personal, the guilty party will be deployed to a combat ready division after Command staff has determined the nature of the case.

Some say that this is not going to help the situation, but the numbers prove the naysayers wrong. With a sharp drop in Military on Military violence soon after the new orders were sent out. But more concerns flow out of Command central with the amount of Military personal now working to fortify Caprica's Racially Diverse Cities. It is feared that with the growing amount of armed forces out on the streets of Caprica's Ethnic neighbor hoods that more attacks might take place. With such organizations as the Tauron Based Ha'La'Tha' centered in these regions, Civilians can now feel the tension growing think in the air. One Civilian was able to speak out about the growing fear in her Neighborhood.

"Well the Soldiers came in a few weeks ago, and started patrolling the streets in the daytime, it was fine. No one is really out in the daytime, just the normal people that go to work or school. Then When they (Coalition Military) started to go out at dust, was when the Gangsters started all the trouble. The normal stuff for the gangsters were only pressuring businesses for money, or breaking a few windows when they dont get their money. But now, with the military out on the streets, and their (Ha'La'Tha) street war on the STO, It seems like everyone is fighting everyone and nothing is getting better..."

It seems like an un-winnable situation for both Military and Police officials. With the Caprican Government trying to combat the Growing Cylon threat as well as the constant Terrorist Threat from the STO it looks like more fighting is on its way before a solution can be found.