War and Peace

By

Jacquimac

Part Fourteen

The talks restarted and everyone was telling the settlers what was going to happen, this got me angry how dare they lay down the law to these people.

What infuriated me the most was our forces, they were asked for help which they gave in the so called name of freedom. OK some died and a lot got injured but we shouldn`t be forcing people to do what we want. These people had helped in during WW2 by providing a safe harbour for our ships.

I stood up and halted the meeting again the two opposing forces were upset.

I told them that they don`t make demands or lay down rules to these people, it was their country and way of life that had been turned into a nightmare. Eventually it led to us once again walking out but this time we only got as far as the gate before they asked us to return.

These lands hadn't as yet been exploited and it suspected that there was abundant natural resouces for the taking both on and offshore, of course that would mean the country got very little while the big multinational corporations made a fortune not to mention the pollution they would create and the crime that occur when they brought in their own workers.

We started the meeting again and this time they asked what the people wanted, now we were getting somewhere, I let Ethel and the others deal with that and sat back listening and making notes.. At the end of day we stayed in the camp at least they had provided accommodation rather than going back forth every day.

once we had settled in we were taken to a central dining area, all the camp personnel had already eaten so we could use it as long as we wanted. After we ate and cleared the debris away we started talking about what was on offer and what the two wanted. to be honest they had offered quite a bit electricity to all settlements, Television, a telephone network etc.

All the modern conveniences you could ask for, but did the people want them ? they had along without them OK. I told them they should be looking at the practicle things like trade, getting a better deal for transportation for goods that had to be shipped in by sea ( they didn`t have an real airport).

There was cove that had a cliff face that looked like solid Quartz, there was a market that, the ecomony of the counrty was based on the large flocks and herds of livestock so I told them to hold out for a better trade deal. If they wanted to have miltary bases in the country, rent them the land for a limited period which could be renewed or refused as the country decided.

Ask for a Modern state of the art hospital to be built.these are thing they should be looking for, things that would help the country and it's people. schools should be asked for. then the negotations for drilling and mining rights could be dealt with.

They had finally got peace but they should now exert their rights as a country in their own right. there was planty they could offer in deals, but they had to force their wants and needs on the others. I got up and went back to room I had been assigned and left them to talk things out, I knew they would come looking for me when they needed advice.

Out off all the countries I had been to this little country was special, no politicians, no corruption,no armed forces, hell they didn`t even have a police force crime wasn`t known here. Oh they had disputes of various things but in the end these were settled amicably by both parties and rarely outside each settlement.

I had come to love this little country and it`s people, I knew I could never go back to my old life and to be honest didn`t want to, I was content here and with the life I know had.and the little family I had. I had been accepted by these people as one of their own and now I didn`t want to see their lives destroyed by so called modernisation.

True to form the committee came looking for me after a couple of hours later, they hande me a list and item by item we talked it out.

They knew what they wanted, Television didn`t want, electricity was a yes, a radio network instead of telephones, a good hospital and schools etc, what they asked for would help them live better and easier lives. They weren`t sure about mining, drilling and land rental, I wasn`t either but I told them to get the United Nations to help. I did tell them that quartz was marketable as were fishing rights.

At last they had a working plan for their demands and the next day we ready for what ever they could throw at us.

The meeting didn`t start too well the next day especially when I revealed my true Identity, the Allied forces started ranting about War crimes, then started calling me and my team traitors. The enemy commandant told them what had happened and that the guilty were being punished.

Then they objected to me speaking for the settlers until an irate Ethel stood up and told them that they had asked me to represent them and if it caused a problem then all talks were over. The Allied representatives stormed out saying they need to talk to their superiors before they could go any further. for a peace conferance it wasn`t very peaceable. So we left for our settlements leaving word that when the other parties were ready we come back.

The next day a couple staff cars arrived in the settlement one from each of the two factions, they wanted to meet with and the rest of the medical team.