Political: Belesia

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Political Overview

Official Flag of the Federated States of Belesia; short name is Belesia

Map of Belesia

Colonialism has shaped Belesia’s political culture and continues to influence its mindset. Over 300 years under colonial power decisively molded the nation. At first, colonial power rule brought political unity to a fragmented collection of states in the archipelago. Trade introduced food goods such as maize, tomatoes, potatoes, chili peppers, chocolate, and pineapples. Public reforms introduced free public schooling and established a university, hospitals, and churches. As a result of these policies the Belesian population increased exponentially.

Overall, Belesia maintains a Level of Freedom categorization of Partly Free and a ranking of 4 on a 7 point scale.

Political History

Arrival of Islam

Islam first arrived in Belesia during the 14^th Century with the arrival of traders from the Persian Gulf and the Indian Sub-Continent. First arriving in southern Belesia, Islam spread northward until the 16^th Century.

Colonization

European colonization of Belesia first began in the late 16^th Century. Colonization not only brought European settlers and governance, it also brought Roman Catholicism. The colonizers set up new towns and missionaries converted many of the inhabitants to Christianity. To defend their settlements, the colonizers constructed and manned a network of military fortresses across the archipelago. During its three-century rule, the colonial power also successfully quelled a number of indigenous revolts and external military challenges.

Re-Emergence of Islam

Around 1900, Belesia began its second political shaping period, as Islam spread across the islands, and with it, a desire for independence from both colonial and Christian oversight. In 1918, a three-year civil war erupted, and although the colonial power defeated the insurgents, it also weakened the colonial government. After WWII, Belesia received full sovereignty. 

Independence

After independence, the Belesian government operated with a two party system; power being divided between the Islamic Coalition of the People (CP) and the military-backed and western-leaning United Alliance (UA) political parties. Political power, corruption, and influence fluctuated between the two, often violently, until 1986. Under the authoritarian rule of Armando Mendoza, the CP gained preeminence, as Mendoza effectively shut down opposition to his administration and removed term limitations.

Military Coup

A popular military coup five years later overthrew Mendoza, paving the way for multiple political parties and restoring term limits. At the time, many negatively associated the CP with the Mendoza regime; however, it has had a resurgence in popularity in recent years and today, the CP is consistently one of the top five most popular political parties in Belesia.

Modern Belesia

Today, Belesia is an Islamic but western-leaning country that has also warm relations with North Torbia and other authoritarian governments. Its government is stable, but it faces many challenges. Corruption, dissatisfied island constituencies, debt, regional relationships, natural disasters, and other problems are ever-present threats to stability.

Government Overview

The Federated States of Belesia, more commonly known as Belesia, has a similar government structure as the United States with checks and balances shared between three branches of government. While the United States has a two party system, minority political parties in Belesia play a larger role and regularly shift policies through coalition and patronage partnerships with the two major parties.

Branches of Government

Placeholder for branches interactive chart

Legislative Authority

Throughout the 18th and 19th Centuries, the Belesian legislature functioned under a colonial power. Tightly controlled by the occupying power it nevertheless conducted the legislative affairs of the country. Under the Belesian Government Act, the legislature's lower house was the elected Belesian Assembly and its upper house was the colonial power-appointed Belesian Commission. The colonial Governor General served as the executive of the Government.

The Burns Law, passed in 1920, abolished the Belesian Commission and reorganized the legislature as a fully elected bicameral legislature composed of a Senate and House of Representatives and known as the Belesia Legislature. In a formal ceremony in 1946, the colonial power granted Belesia sovereignty and renamed the national legislature as the Public Assembly (PA) of Belesia.

Members of both houses of the PA are elected for five years, but offset from presidential elections. The last legislative elections occurred in July two years ago. The PA has 321 representatives in two legislative houses. The Senate is composed of 24 senators who are elected by the whole electorate and do not represent any geographic district. The House of Representatives is composed of 297 geographically elected members. There are two types of representatives—district and sectoral representatives. The district representatives represent a particular geographically defined district. All provinces are composed of at least one legislative district. Several of the cities are large enough to have their own legislative districts, giving leaders within those cities additional influence in the national government.

The sectoral representatives represent the minority sectors of the population. This enables these minority groups to be represented in the PA. The sectoral representatives represent labor unions, rights groups, and other organizations. Sectoral or party-list representatives are indirectly elected via a party-list election wherein the citizens vote for the party and not for the party's nominees. The votes are then arranged in descending order, with the parties that won at least 2% of the national vote given one seat, with additional seats determined by a formula dependent on the number of votes garnered by the party. No party wins more than three seats. If the number of sectoral representatives does not reach 20% of the total number of representatives in the House, parties that have not won seats but garnered enough votes to place them among the top sectoral parties are each given a seat until the quota is met. A voter therefore has two parallel votes in House of Representatives elections—for district representatives and for the under-represented sectoral-party list representatives. Elections are relatively violence free. However, periodic regional, ethnic, and religious tensions flair up in some areas. This is particularly true in places where the distance from the center of national power is greatest and where people feel they are neglected by the national government.

Each bill needs the consent of both houses in order to be submitted to the president for a signature. If the president vetoes the bill, the PA can override the veto with a two-thirds supermajority. If either house voted down a bill or fails to act on it, the bill must be proposed in the next legislative session, with the process starting all over again. Decisions are mostly via simple majority vote, except for voting on constitutional amendments and other matters of greater importance. Each house has its own inherent power, with the Senate given the power to vote on treaties, while the House of Representatives introduces money bills. The constitution provides the PA with impeachment powers, with the House of Representatives having the power to impeach, and the Senate having the power to try the impeached official.

National Assembly Diagram

The Belesian National Assembly is currently composed of members from six different political parties. No single party has enough representation to rule alone and must form a coalition government.

Belesia National Assembly By Party

National Assembly Chart

Below is the current composition of the Belesian Senate and House with the number of elected members in each.

Political Party	Senate	House
United Allisance (UA)	10	107
People's Popular Front (PPF)	7	77
Coalition of the People (CP)	3	27
Socialist Union (SU)	2	49
Democracy Party (DP)	1	27
League for Justice (LJ)	1	10

Executive Authority

Executive Branch Ministry Offices in Belesia

The executive branch of the Belesian government consists of a president and a vice president, each elected separately for a maximum of two five-year terms. Three years ago, Belesia held its last presidential election. The president, Aayiz Hermanto, is serving his second term, while the vice president, Nazra Purnama, is serving his first term. The president heads the cabinet, which he chooses with the approval of the Senate. Under constitutionally given authority, the president is head of state, commands the Belesian armed forces, and conducts foreign relations and policy. The president runs the government through a cabinet that he appoints. The president may choose to appoint the vice president to a cabinet position or give other assignments within the government. President Hermanto is a member of the United Alliance party and Vice President Purnama is a member of the People’s Popular Front party. The two parties form a coalition government and, together, hold a majority of the seats in the PA.

Judicial Authority

National Court System

Supreme Court

The Supreme Court has been set up along the American model. Justices are appointed by the president on the recommendation of the Judicial Approval Committee (JAC). The JAC is a constitutionally created six member body that recommends Supreme Court justice nominees. Justices serve until age 70.

The Supreme Court, at the apex of the judicial system, consists of a chief justice and fourteen associate justices. It has original jurisdiction over cases affecting ambassadors, other public ministers and consuls, and over petitions for injunctions and writs of habeas corpus. It has appellate jurisdiction over all cases in which the constitutionality of any treaty, law, presidential decree, proclamation, order, or regulation is questioned. The Supreme Court also may hear appeals in criminal cases involving a sentence of life in prison. 

Members of the Supreme Court and judges of lower courts are appointed by the president from a list of at least three nominees prepared by the JAC for every vacancy. The JAC consists of a representative of the Belesia Bar Association, a law professor, a retired member of the Supreme Court, and a representative of the private sector. Presidential appointments do not require confirmation. Supreme Court justices must be at least forty years of age when appointed and must retire at age seventy. According to the Belesia Constitution, members of the Supreme Court "may be removed from office on impeachment for, and conviction of, culpable violation of the Constitution, treason, bribery, graft and corruption, other high crimes, or betrayal of public trust." The House has exclusive power to initiate cases of impeachment. The Senate tries such cases, and two-thirds of the Senate must concur to convict. The judiciary is guaranteed fiscal autonomy.

Court of Appeals

The Court of Appeals reviews the decisions and final orders of all the Regional Trial Courts. In addition, the Court of Appeals reviews decisions and resolutions in administrative cases of the Department of Justice and other agencies exercising quasi-judicial functions, including the Office of the President. The decisions and resolutions of the National Commission for Labor Relations are initially reviewed by the Court of Appeals, instead of a direct recourse to the Supreme Court.

Lower Courts

Regional Trial Courts have jurisdiction over both criminal and civilian cases. It has exclusive original jurisdiction in cases not within the exclusive jurisdiction of any court, tribunal, or body. The RTC has jurisdiction over all cases where the penalty is higher than 6 years, including government-related cases. The RTC has jurisdiction over cases involving:

• Laws on written defamation or libel
• Decree on Intellectual Property
• Dangerous drugs cases except where the offenders are below 16 years and there are Juvenile and Domestic Relations Courts in the province
• Areas where there are no family courts, the cases falling under the jurisdiction of family courts are adjudicated by the RTC
• All civil actions in which the subject of the litigation is incapable of pecuniary estimation
• Civil actions which involve the title to, or possession of real property
• Actions involving the contract of marriage and marital relations
• Civil actions and special proceedings falling within the exclusive original jurisdiction of a Juvenile and Domestic Relations Court and of the Court of Agrarian Relations as now provided by law.

The RTC exercises appellate jurisdiction over all cases decided by Metropolitan and Municipal Trial Courts.

Metropolitan and Municipal Triat Courts

These courts have jurisdiction limited to a city or municipality, with criminal jurisdiction usually corresponding to that of a police court and civil jurisdiction over small cases.

Judicial Commission (JC)

The JC is a judicial advisory board established under the Belesian Constitution. It consists of eleven members who are recommended by the president and approved by the Senate. The functions of the JC include:

• Recommend individuals to the president for appointment as judges, with the exception of the Supreme Court
• Review and recommend the conditions of service of judges and judicial officers, other than their remuneration and the staff of the Judiciary
• Receive complaints against, investigate improprieties, and make punitive recommendations for registrars, magistrates, other judicial officers, and other staff of the Judiciary in the manner prescribed by the Judiciary Reform Act
• Prepare and implement programs for the continuing education and training of judges and judicial officers
• Advise the national government on improving the efficiency and administration of justice.

Constituent State Court System

NA

Parallel Legal Systems

There are parallel legal systems in Belesia and continue to operate no matter whatever attempts the government takes to rid the country of them.

Religious Law

Within the Belesian court system is an accommodation for Islamic law. The parallel system of state Sharia Courts have limited jurisdiction over matters of Islamic law. The Sharia Courts only have jurisdiction over matters involving Muslims and only hear cases when agreed upon by all parties involved in a dispute. This court has limited jurisdiction and can only pass sentences of not more than three years imprisonment and limited fines. In all cases, findings by this court can be appealed to higher appellate courts.

Customary Law

In certain limited and unique circumstances, customary law can be used to defend or prosecute a case.  

Common Law

Belesia has a mixed legal system of common law, Islamic (sharia) law, and customary law, however, common law predominates in the legal system.

Governance Issues

Legitimacy

The Belesian government currently enjoys relative stability. Its legitimacy, however, is stronger in some areas than others. The more remote and distanced islands feel less a part of the nation than other areas, due in part to perceived neglect by the national government. These areas tend to be less supportive of the national government and more inclined to protests and conflict with the national security forces. Mistrust on both sides is a concern.

Government Legitimacy Claims

Belesia is a constitutional democracy with executive branch term limits and a successful record of transference of power over the past several decades. While it struggles to govern a dispersed island geography, it has maintained its legitimacy through adhering to its constitution.

Population's Recognition of Legitmacy

Corruption and perceived neglect of its far-reaching island populations are challenges. How legitimate the population views the government is dependent on a number of factors associated with individual citizens. While the picture may be mixed, the population continues to vote and support the values espoused in Belesia’s constitution and national aspirations.

Participation

Over seventy percent of Belesia’s registered voters turn up to support their candidates during elections.

Protests

Protests are a popular way of showing dissent and disagreement with government policies and actions. As in other places, university students and other young Belesians lead and participate in protests focused on government corruption, environmental issues, human rights violations, and other perceived provocations.

Measures Taken to Maintain Legitmacy

At times, the government has been known to resort to punitive and violent reactions to protests and attacks in the media against government officials. At other times, government officials remind citizens of their efforts to protect their basic rights through public relations campaigns.

External View of the Government's Legitmacy

The government of Belesia is generally seen as a functioning democracy and heralded by western countries as an example of a Muslim democracy.

Effectiveness

Belesia has been improving its effectiveness as a government over the last decade. It looks upon South Torbia as an example of what a government can become in their region.

Elections

National and regional elections are usually violence free, with some exceptions in the more contentious areas of Belesia. Electoral winners generally come from the two leading parties, influenced by smaller party interests. This has created a degree of stability and assumed expectations. Elections are not free from disruptions and contentions over election results. 

The Commission on Fair and Transparent Elections (CFTE) is the designated oversight authority for elections in Belesia. The president appoints five CFTE commissioners with the approval of the Senate. The president designates one of the commissioners the chief of commission, who then manages the administrative affairs of the commission. The CFTE is tasked with insuring policies and regulations that govern the administration of national, regional, and local elections are fair and transparent. Decisions of the CFTE can be appealed directly to the Supreme Court.

Rule of Law

Belesia generally respects the rule of law. However, it still suffers from challenges related to corruption, disappearances, arbitrary detention, extrajudicial killings, and an inefficient court system. While the nation’s media technically enjoys freedom of expression, it sometimes self-censors and is prone to corporate and political interests. Additionally, the government or military controls most of the television and radio outlets. Open and competitive sometimes are tainted by intimidation and political violence. Regular complaints are raised in some areas where the actions of the federal military are regarded as overreach. These conflicts, often religious in nature, happen mostly in areas where local citizens feel distanced from the benefits of the national government and where large federal troops are based.

Reasonable accommodations are made for areas where Muslim population densities support the need for Muslim courts, known as Sharia Courts. The use of these courts is contingent, however, on both parties in a dispute agreeing to use the courts. Areas where the parity between different ethnic, tribal, and religious groups exists, there is increased risk of conflict. Where the courts are less efficient, extrajudicial means may be sought to solve contentions.

Domestic Security Forces

The Belesian National Police (BNP) is a primarily uniformed federal police force in Belesia. The force is a centralized organization. The police force is led by an Inspector-General of Police (IGP). The constitution, control, employment, recruitment, funding, discipline, duties and powers of the police force are specified and governed by the Police Reform Act 1990. In carrying out its responsibilities, the regular BNP is also assisted by a support group of Extra Police Constables, Police Volunteer Reserves, Auxiliary Police, Police Cadets and a civilian service element. Police forces are divided into jurisdictions and led by a cadre officers assigned by the Central Deployment Authority under the direction of the IGP.

Prison System

The Belesian prison system under the jurisdiction of the Ministry of Home Affairs through the Department of Prison Systems (DPS). The fifty-two prisons are under the direct management of a superintendent and a cadre of prison managers and guards. These facilities are ill-equipped to feed and house prisoners sent to them from the courts. Overcrowding, aging infrastructure, and the associated living conditions are ever-present problems for prison facilities.The following chart shows the status of the Belesian prison population.

Responsible Ministry	Ministry of Home Affairs
Prison population total (including pre-trial detainees / remand prisoners)	68,603
Pre-trial detainees / remand prisoners (percentage of prison population)	26.7%
Female prisoners (percentage of prison population)	4.5%
Juveniles / minors / young prisoners incl. definition (percentage of prison population)	2.2%
Foreign prisoners (percentage of prison population)	20.5%
Number of establishments / institutions	52
Occupancy level (based on official capacity)	131.9%

Corruption

High corruption levels severely restrict the efficiency of businesses operating in Belesia. Extensive bribery within the public administration and vague and complex laws make foreign companies vulnerable to extortion and manipulation by public officials. Favoritism and undue influence are widespread in the courts, leading to time-consuming and unfair dispute resolution and to an uncertain business environment. Corruption plagues the customs administration and fraud routinely occurs in some companies when they file import and export documentation. The Corruption Act criminalizes active and passive bribery, extortion, abuse of office and conflicts of interest. Giving gifts, except for gifts of insignificant value given in line with local customs, is prohibited. Facilitation payments are not addressed by anti-corruption regulations and private sector bribery is not criminalized. The legislative framework for fighting corruption is scattered and is not effectively enforced by the weak and uncooperative law enforcement agencies.

Human Rights and Freedoms

Periods of Belesian history have been marked with extreme cases of social oppression. This has been the case under colonial rule, military rule, and popularly elected rule. Religious disagreements and socioeconomic disparities have fomented anything from political protests to outright insurgencies, especially in remote areas. These political uprisings are frequently met with extreme measures from the government, which in turn have resulted in that regime's removal. Belesia has made progress on creating a more stable and free environment over the past thirty years. However, provincial power struggles, tribal conflicts, religious disagreements, and questionable police brutality still cast a shadow on the nation.

Provisions of Services

Belesia provides a basic level of services to its people and continues to improve. The major stumbling block is the lack of financial resources to institute additional programs to help the poorest of its people. As the Belesian economy has improved, the level of services to the people have also improved

Centers of Political Power

Placeholder for a political map

State Institutional Authority

The Federated States of Belesia is a nation of islands. Its geography shapes its politics in a significant way. The national government lives with a bit of suspicion about its more remote and independent island states. In some circumstances, the national military has overreached in some areas, increasing mistrust among the local Belesians. Over the past decade, a delicate balance between national and regional interests has created reasonable stability in Belesia. Since the president and vice president are elected on separate tickets, there is potential for power politics within the executive branch if the president and vice president differ on issues.

The president exercises power as the head of the executive branch. Local politics on disparate islands translate into multiple conflicting interests, which in turn are exploited by elites who enjoy patronage privileges if their candidate wins the presidency. The president has wide discretion in handing out government positions in the cabinet ministries and other areas of the bureaucracy. These positions tend to be given out as a reward for support during a campaign. This patronage capacity gives the executive branch an outsized incentive for support, positioning the president as a center for political power. Remote islands often feel left out of national politics and are potential points of rebellion.

Military

The Belesian president is the commander in chief of the military and exercises control through powers authorized by the country’s constitution. The National Command Authority of Belesia exercises overall control to plan and carry out the national security strategy. The Belesian Chief of National Defense is the senior military position in the chain of command, subordinate to the Belesian president. The military is generally seen as an apolitical institution and is respected by the population. The military is viewed as an honorable career by most Belesians.

Religious

Belesia is fundamentally secular; however, the majority Muslim population insures Islam’s influence is felt in national, regional, and local politics. Regional and local politics tend to be shaped by the religious tensions of a particular area, particularly when religious domination of one religion overshadows minority religions. While national issues are less about religiously divisive matters, local and religious concerns have caused tensions and limited amounts of violence. Because of this dynamic, religious and clerical authority is felt most acutely and effectively at a sub-national level. In some areas, religious leaders regularly complain about national military units singling them out for harassment.

Other

Belesia has a healthy nongovernmental organization (NGO) and media environment. These groups actively hold government, business, and other leaders accountable. Religious leaders actively influence local and regional policies related to societal issues such as human rights, poverty, and the justice system.

Non-State Institutional Authority

Islands, the outlying ones in particular, have tribal and local customs that guide social interactions and facilitate communal harmony. These traditions may be used to solve local problems outside the legal framework. These are largely ignored by the government, except in rare situations where the government deems a particular practice a threat to established legal statutes.  

Informal Authority (Social Groups)

Ethno-linguistic Groups

Due to a dispersed island geography, Belesia is populated by a diversity of languages and ethnic groups. The distance from the federal government and cultural diversity add complexity to creating national unity.

Kinship Groups

Families in Belesia are culturally and economically important. Family bonds are particularly strong in rural areas and on the smaller islands, where the agricultural economy makes immediate and extended family members important to survival and well-being. In the rural areas, extended families live together: elderly members of the family have a place of authority and respect within the home and the community. Elderly members of the family are also a means of transferring values and cultural order to future generations.

The close proximity of rural families to each other has eroded to some degree in urban areas. Urban families do not always have the advantage of physical proximity with extended family members. Fewer and smaller available housing units and families separated from one another reduce the influence of older family members in urban areas. Families are members of clans and tribes, which adds extended means of support and organizational structure. Tribal membership is shaped through traditions, rites, and social standing within the larger tribal population. The standing of a particular family within a tribe is determined by wealth, size, historical events, and other cultural variables. Many intra-family disputes are handled within these familial structures.

Belesia is also home to a unique system called Wantok. Literally meaning “One Talk,” the wantok system refers to a reciprocal social responsibility between kin and community members. Wantok networks vary in size and tend be between people who are related to each other by a common language, ethnicity, district or by provincial boundaries. Requests made through the wantok system can be directed toward anyone else within a particular wantok, regardless of their profession or status, and refusing a reasonable request can lead to the fracturing of social ties. Despite the benefits the wantok system provides, many external stakeholders are concerned that it is incompatible with notions of good governance. The reciprocity demanded by wantoks promotes a dynamic of unofficial favors and the treatment citizens receive is often based on their connection to informal social networks rather than on their rights as citizens. This can result in rule bending, corruption, collusion, fraud, nepotism, redistribution of resources or providing wantoks with contracts, to the detriment of quality service provision.

Non-state Sponsored Religious Groups

Belesia is a multicultural and multi-confessional country, whose official religion is Islam. Other religions represented among Belesians are Buddhism, Christianity, Hinduism, other oriental religions, Animism, Folk religion, and Sikhism.

Politics and Political Parties

Politics are important in Belesia and there are many parties all with their own pet issues that the party is based upon.

Domestic Political Issues

There are several major political issues in Belesia, but the four most significant are below:

Corruption

Endemic corruption plagues all levels of Belesian politics. Over the past ten years, several high level politicians and business leaders have been arrested, however, it is generally believed that the arrests were less about justice and more about political revenge. Extensive bribery within the public administration and vague and complex laws make foreign companies vulnerable to extortion and manipulation by public officials. Favoritism and undue influence are widespread in the courts, leading to time-consuming and unfair dispute resolution, and some uncertainty in the business environment. 

National Cohesion

Remote islands feel neglected and distanced from national attention. This has led to protests and strikes. National security forces have been known to exploit the distance from the capital to take advantage of citizens in these areas. There have also been concerns over some regional governments using these conflicts to their advantage by opening fishing and other talks with local leaders.

Terrorism

Terrorist organizations have also exploited weaknesses in the government. There is disparity among the member islands of the Federation about the extent of national versus local control and autonomy. This sometimes erupts into violent protest, or, in the past, outright insurgency.

Human Rights Absues

As the country goes through periods of national unrest over a variety of issues, the federal government has pivoted to utilizing security forces to quell dissent. This happens most prominently in islands distanced from the national government by geography and culture.

Official Political Parties

There are six primary parties (show below), but other political parties spring up usually based on a single issue.

United Alliance (UA)

It advocates for a strong federal government and weaker provincial and island governments. It views regional dissent as unpatriotic and against the best interests of the nation. Its official platform includes anti-terrorism, anti-corruption, and pro-economic growth.

People's Popular Front (PPF)

The PPF aligns with the UA political party in support of nationalist over regional interests.

Coalition of the People (CP)

The CP represents, primarily, Muslim interests. It ranks as one of the top five political parties in most years.   

Socialist Union (SU)

The SU advocates for taxes on the wealthy and government programs that support the poor, expand education, and flatten incomes across the population. It supports unions and activism across a variety of social justice areas. It aligns with the more moderate PPF. 

Democracy Party (DP)

The DP is a relatively small party that advocates for decentralization of the government, giving semi-autonomous governing authority to islands grouped according to traditional, cultural, and ethnic criteria. It has led several secession movements. LJ members have been implicated in acts of violence against government facilities conducted by other radical groups with similar goals.

League for Justice (LJ)

The LJ is made up of government employees, predominated by educators. It focuses its political influence on insuring adequate pay for those employed by the government and services to the poor.

Political Coalitions

Coalitions coalesce around common interests and may shift as the political environment changes.

Other Domestic Influential Groups

Belesia has a healthy nongovernmental organization (NGO) and media environment. These groups actively hold government, business, and other leaders accountable. Religious leaders actively influence local and regional policies related to societal issues such as human rights, poverty, and the justice system. Business and trade union organizations exert influence on government policies and have constituencies that can be brought to bear on issues important to the discrete groups. The elites, those in both the public and private sector, have influence in varying, but important, ways.

International Relationships

Geopolitical/International Political Strategy

Belesia's main international objective is expanding its consumer trade while maintaining a neutral stance regarding the global superpowers. As an island nation, it respects US maritime power, but must also respect the regional economic power of Olvana. Religious ties also keeps Belesia cordial with much of the Middle East.

Major Diaspora Population(s)

The Belesian diaspora remittances provide a critical supplement to poor island family members. Crowdsourcing funds have also been raised by Belesians working and living abroad to offset the costs of natural and man-made disasters. 

Relationship with Major World Powers

United States

Today, the United States and Belesia share a diverse and expanding partnership in trade, investment, security, environmental cooperation, and educational and cultural relations. Belesia has a diverse democracy and is an important partner. The two countries cooperate closely on security matters, including counterterrorism, maritime domain awareness, and regional stability, and participate frequently in bilateral and multilateral training, exercises, and visits. Economic ties are robust, and there is a long history of people-to-people exchanges.

U.S. assistance to Belesia focuses on education, exchanges, counterterrorism, non-proliferation, security cooperation, and enhancing transparency, accountability and responsiveness of government. The United States supports Belesia’s counterterrorism efforts through information sharing, capacity building programs for law enforcement and judicial authorities, and assistance to improve immigration security and border controls. The United States also partners with the Malaysian government and civil society organizations on programs and initiatives to counter the spread of violent extremism ideology. Non-proliferation assistance aims at enhancing Malaysia’s ability to enforce its export control laws to indict shipments and trans-shipments of controlled technology, dual-use commodities, and weapons of mass destruction and related commodities. Security cooperation and training builds capabilities among Belesia’s armed forces allowing it to take on an expanded international role including peacekeeping operations.

Donovia

Contacts between the two states picked up momentum in the mid-1980s. In 1986, the establishment of diplomatic relations was accompanied by the signing of a trade agreement. The Donovian trade mission was established in November 1986, and the Embassy of Donovia was opened in April 1987. Belesia opened its diplomatic mission in Moscow in November of the same year. To fulfil the potential of cooperation in practical areas, the Donovian-Belesian Joint Agreement for Cooperation in Economics, Scientifics, and Technical and Cultural Endeavors was established under an agreement signed in November 2015. Humanitarian and educational cooperation is also expanding. Belesians and Donovians regularly host concerts featuring musicians and performers and organize exhibitions and presentations that highlight each country’s cultural heritage. About 3,000 Belesians study at Donovian universities, mostly at medical and engineering schools.

Olvana

Belesian leaders have long bet that they could make more headway with Olvana through accommodation than confrontation. Despite disadvantaged by size, the Belesian approach to its relations with Olvana has yielded positive outcomes for Belesia. The two countries have exchanged frequent high-level visits. The two sides agreed to elevate Olvana-Belesia strategic cooperative relationship to a comprehensive strategic partnership, bringing the relationship to a track of comprehensive and mature development. In addition to diplomatic and economic successes, the two countries are seeing deepened people-to-people exchanges and cultural cooperation.

European Union

The European Commission delegation office was established in Belesia in 2003 and since then, policy interactions and co-operation between both federal and state authorities including the Belesian and EU business communities have increased progressively.

Relationship to Other Countries in the Region

North Torbia

The relationship between Belesia and North Torbia is diplomatically strained, but businesses manage to carry on limited commerce. North Torbian citizens maintain niche capabilities useful to Belesia, such as skills repair of old industrial equipment. While Belesia officially participates with other countries in international sanctions against North Torbia, enterprising businesses and government bureaucrats willing to look the other way facilitate the sidestepping of the sanctions. 

South Torbia

Belesia is a major trading partner with South Torbia. Politically, there are usually no issues between the two countries. On occasion, issues involving fishing rights and other boundary concerns occur as fishermen and others stray across country borders. These are usually warm issues that are easily solved diplomatically.

Gabal

Belesia and Gabal share membership in several regional organizations, mostly related to climate threat mitigation. There is limited trade between the two countries. They share similar challenges in being small countries and resisting the encroachments of larger and more economically powerful countries. In this regard, there have been a several diplomatic meetings to discuss how to better position themselves in a larger world.

Regional Issues

Sovereignty

There are some issues with sovereignty in Belesia as shown below:

Domestic Sovereignty

Belesia seeks to maintain positive economic and diplomatic relationships with big powers, each of whose strategic interests are in competition with the others. This environment requires careful cooperation and resistance in order to maintain the balance.   

Territorial/Interdependence Sovereignty

There are ongoing disputes, however, from groups claiming independence from Belesia. These regional disputes are local, simmer, flare up, and then simmer again. There is always the possibility of one of these eruptions becoming a larger issue with the right amount of foreign intervention.

International Sovereignty

Currently, there are no areas of Belesia recognized by other governments. Both North Torbia and Olvana have claimed some Belesian islands belong to them. This is based on claims from centuries ago. Other than Donovia, no other country entertains the thought that these claims are credible

Issues of de jure and de facto Sovereignty

Outlying islands have the possibility, with outside support, to seriously challenge the sovereignty of the Belesian government.

Conflict and/or Disputes

• Water Rights: With the exception of disputes over territorial fishing rights, there are no major water rights issues.
• Environmental Issues: Weather-related disasters are a constant reminder of the precarious position of small island communities. Belesia is involved in several organizations focused on climate change and environmental issues.

Political Relationships

Global Participation

Belesia’s most important international political organization memberships are the Non-Aligned Movement, the Coalition of Low-Lying Atoll Nations on Climate Change (CANCC), the Global Environment Facility (GEF), and Small Island Developing States (SIDS). These are all coalitions of small island nations focused on the specific issues facing these types of countries. Gabal is noted as a leader in the CANCC. Belesia is a member of the United Nations and participates regularly in UN activities, to include military peacekeeping operations. Gabal is also a member of several other major international organizations, including the International Monetary Fund (IMF), the World Trade Organization (WTO), and the Pacific Islands Forum.

Regional Participation

In addition to international organizations, Belesia is a member of several organizations focusing on regional issues. These include Conservation Alliance (CA), Regional Fishing Pact (RFP), and Climate Threat Mitigation Initiative (CTMI). In addition, Belesia is involved in several ongoing diplomatic discussions, both formal and informal, focused on climate, trade, and military cooperation.

Military Relationships

The presence of foreign military presents the government of Belesia with the horns of a dilemma. On the one hand, military advisers from various nations, both regional and global, have increased the effectiveness and professionalism of the armed forces. Additionally, security agreements can enhance maritime security, HADR operations, modernization, and interoperability. On the other hand, the presence of foreign troops is seen by the public as a breach of national sovereignty and any discussion of permanent basing is met with protests regarding a return to colonialism. Current government restrictions mean that any foreign military cooperation must be agreed upon on a case-by-case basis by the Public Assembly. This is complicated by the fact that various political parties in the PA have various leanings towards western nations, Olvana, or the Middle East.

Alliances

Belesia’s long-held policy is not to involve itself in military alliances with other countries. This is in keeping with its recognition of its limited capacity and a considered strategy of avoiding confrontation at all costs.

Treaties

With the exception of a handful of informal agreements, Belesia has avoided signing military treaties. Belesia does participate in UN peacekeeping missions in accordance with its membership responsibilities.

Military Aid

Belesia leverages its relationships with the US, Olvana, and Donovia in supplying its military and providing military advisors. Belesian armament used to be mostly Donovian in origin, but more than a decade of foreign advisors and international assistance has diversified an inventory that now includes a number of Olvanan variants and even selected western systems. The inclusion of Olvanan weaponry may be a result of developing economic ties to the regional giant.

Economic Relationships

Trade Agreements

• Pacific Agreement on Closer Economic Relations (‘PACER’)
• Pacific Islands Air Services Agreement (‘PIASA’)
• Pacific Islands Countries Trade Agreement (‘PICTA’)
• South Pacific Regional Trade and Economic Cooperation Agreement (SPARTECA)
• Conservation Alliance (CA)
• Regional Fishing Pact (RFP)
• U.S.-Pacific Islands Multilateral Tuna Fisheries Treaty
• EU-Pacific Islands Trade Agreement

Tariffs, Sanctions, and Embargos

Imports into Belesia are subject to a number of charges, including tariffs, excise duty, value-added tax, an Export Development Board Levy, a Social Responsibility Levy, and a Ports and Airports Development Levy. These charges considerably increase the cost of importing into Belesia, which in some cases may exceed 100%. Tobacco products and motor vehicles face the highest overall import charges. Despite having raised tariffs and other charges on imports, the Belesian government made substantial efforts to enhance transparency regarding applied tariff levels and all other import charges. On aggregate, Belesian tariffs display mixed escalation, with first-stage processed products dropping to an average tariff rate of 6.7%, semi-finished goods remaining steady at 4.9%, and semi-finished to fully processed products climbing to an average 7%. At a more disaggregate level, positive tariff escalation is most pronounced in textiles and leather, followed by wood and furniture, paper and printing, chemicals, and non-metallic mineral products, thereby providing higher levels of effective protection to those industries than that reflected by the nominal rates.

Economic Aid

Belesia retains $1.9 billion of International Bank for Reconstruction and Development loans to be disbursed—approximately one-half of the original principal. Over the past decade, the nation has used $1.77 billion to develop trade with special consideration given to pro-poor growth strategies. Trade is included as a macroeconomic strategy to achieve this development.

Over the last decade, disaster relief and recovery has also become an increasingly important area of assistance to Belesia. The United States has provided over $143 million in assistance to date to the people of Belesia after Typhoon Haiyan in 2013. The European Commission released the equivalent of $4 million in emergency aid funds and the United Kingdom Rapid Response Facility sent a team of experts to the Philippines, along with a shipment of emergency equipment, and an additional $8 million in emergency aid funds.

Other International Organizations

• Asian Development Bank (ADB)
• Asia-Pacific Asian Economic Cooperation (APEC)
• ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF)
• Association of Southeastern Asian Nations (ASEAN)
• Bank for International Settlement (BIS)
• Community of Democracies (CD)
• Certified Internal Controls Auditor (CICA) (Observer)
• D-8
• East Asian Seas (EAS)
• Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO)
• G-15
• G-77
• International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA)
• International Bank for Reconstruction and Development (IBRD)
• International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO)
• International Criminal Court (ICC) (national committees)
• International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement (ICRM)
• International Development (IDA)
• International Development Bank (IDB)
• International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD)
• International Finance Corporation (IFC)
• International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRCS)
• International Hydrographic Organization (IHO)
• International Labor Organization (ILO)
• International Monetary Fund (IMF)
• International Maritime Organization (IMO)
• International Mobile Satellite Organization (IMSO)
• Interpol
• International Olympic Committee (IOC)
• Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU)
• International Organization for Standardization (ISO)
• International Telecommunications Satellite Organization (ITSO)
• International Telecommunication Union (ITU) (NGOs)
• Multilateral Investment Guarantee Agency (MIGA)
• MINURSO (United Nations Mission for the Referendum in Western Sahara)
• MONUSCO (United Nations Organization Stabilization Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo)
• Non-aligned Movement (NAM)
• Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC)
• Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW)
• Permanent Court of Arbitration (PCA)