Pomara

Pomara, officially The People's Republic of Pomara, is a moderately sized country along the eastern coast of Avalonia. The majority of the population resides on or near the coast, while vast regions of the inland regions of the country are densely forested. The country is divided into 28 political districts, with the capital in Catamoto.

Pomara has a fairly monocultural society, with descendants of the Argrana y Griegro colonists comprising the majority of the countries demographic. Spanish is the only official language, although more than 11% of the country's population speaks various dialects of.

The lands that now comprise Pomara were once inhabited by many native peoples but mainly comprised of the Yucatecs. The majority of the native populations were forced to exile or died off when explorers from Agrana y Griegro arrived in 1521. The colony of Pomara was officially established as an organized territory in 1547 and became a plentiful source of emeralds, coffee, and shellfish for Artemia. Independence was secured after a violent war in the early 1820s and the Pomarian People's State was established. In 1924, electoral scandals would lead to the election of the communist party and the abolishment of democratic practices. The regime sent support to socialist and communist states during the Grand Campaigns. International pressure and widespread labor union strikes would force the communist government to open internal politics. After the first election saw the communist party lose complete control in 1958, the current democratic government was established under the Covenant of Governance.

Pomara is considered the Carita capital of Anterra. It is estimated that over 75% of the world's Carita is either produced or smuggled through the nation. The government has turned a blind eye to most smugglers, despite international pressure.

Ancient History
It is estimated that the first humans to populate the present-day lands of Pomara arrived around 5000 BCE Small, familial based tribes likely subsisted off the rainforests of the southern regions and the vast fishing resources of the Bay of Velcan. The earliest recorded history remains La Cueva Cadiz, a series of paintings and carvings in a cave series near the Pura River delta. Agriculture developed in the region later than most areas, due in fact to the rich natural resources. It wasn't until around 2000 BCE that the widespread cultivation of beans and squash helped spur population growth.

While written documentation from before the Mayan Empire is sparse, it is clear that sometime between 200 BCE and 500 CE, became the common language of the region north of the Pura river. This linguistic connection would help form the ties that would eventually spur the creation of the Mayan Empire.

The Mayan Empire (800 CE - 1500 CE)
The small tribes of the Yucatec people were based near the Cadiz Caves and rapidly grew in size during the 8th century. Historians contribute the rise to potential technological developments in the ability to control water flow from the delta, thus improving irrigation and field management. The ensuing population growth had two major impacts: a need for increased territory, and an increase in soldiers.

Emperor Yaputec (almost all Mayan Emperors would take up a new name that resided closely with Yucatec) began a vast campaign to unify tribes within the Pomara region. Many tribes stood ground and fought the campaigning army, but many laid down arms - becoming what would eventually be a vast network of tributaries. Tribes that fought back were almost always exterminated completely. Yaputec was quoted by assistants to have said, "Those who stand before us now will not lose that fear. Why should we risk our children with their subversive nature."

The empire spread from the Pura river in the south to the Lenienda Flats in the north. The network never traveled too far inland but remained tied closely to the coasts - the Mayans would not only develop a strong road network, but also a number of rudimentary ports along the Pomaran coastline. The original settlement along the Pura delta, where the city of Yucatec now sits, was the administrative capital of the empire. From there Yaputec and later emperors ruled with a gracious hand.

While the unification of the lands may have been harsh, the culture and laws of the land were the complete opposite. Family-based rituals promoted growth within communal ties, and the central Mayan emperor ensured that communities were taken care of when in need - a deep system of interdependence within previously isolated ties ensured a highly unified empire. While the Mayans never maintained a standing army, a system of military training ensured that in times of need, a large number of troops could be raised, dissuading uprisings and alleviating fears of invasion from other tribal empires. Those troops, however, could not have prepared enough for the arrival of the explorers.

Early Spanish Discovery (1500s)
The coasts of Pomara were first discovered by explorers from Agrana y Griegro in 1542. Attracted by both the rich delta of the Pura and the vast plains of the Lenienda Flats, the first major inland exploration took place in 1558. It is estimated, based on journal entries, that Lake Horeb was reached around during 1561 by Juan Esteban Correa’s canoe expedition up the Pura.

Correa would also be known for his first interactions with the Mayan people. Before journeying the Pura, he would engage with the Mayans at Yucatec, trading steel from Artemia for rudimentary maps of the region. This style of small scale bartering would dominate early interactions between Spanish explorers and local Mayans until they eventually would start learning Spanish and integrating in early colonial settlements.

In February of 1571, the Merida landed in the Izcaya Bay, establishing the Agrana y Greigro colony of Catamoto.

Early Colonial Era (1571 - 1700)
Early policies on colonization from Monte Real were focused on building up local populations to extract resources from the waters and caves of Pomara. Emeralds and iron became major exports to Artemia as Agrana y Greigro established additional settlements along the coast. Yucatec quickly was populated by Spanish settlers as local Mayans were forced to the outskirts of their once capital.

The Proclamación de 1575 established the modern-day borders of Pomara to its north and south. Settlers could not travel south of the Pura river. The inland borders of the west would not be formally settled upon until an 1867 agreement with the future country here.

In 1621, settlers in the Lenienda Flats discovered the soil was ripe for the growth of coffee beans. By 1650, Pomara was shipping over a billion cups worth of coffee beans to Artemia and Kesh every year. Meanwhile, the population of the colony was pushing 250,000 at the time.

The tension between Pomaran settlers and the Mayan natives started in 1675. Laws regulating the interaction between colonists and Mayans prevented pushing the natives out of urban areas. However, in 1675 settlers in Yucatec were quickly running out of housing and the local governor decreed that all Mayan descendants would be thrown out of the city. The Mayans rioted. Over a thousand natives and a hundred settlers died before the riots calmed.

In response, Agrana y Greigro sent armed battalions to lead campaigns into remaining native villages and demand reparations for the lost settlers. Modern historians agree the demands could have never been met given the current state of the native populations. When the natives could not meet the demands, the village was burned and most military-age men were killed. It is estimated over 70% of the Mayan population was killed in the Reparation Campaigns.

Late Colonial Era (1700 - 1820)
A side effect of the Agrana y Griegro campaign was the installment of colonial governors, appointed by the crown and replacing locally elected officials. While at first, locals weren't opposed to the concept, the tension would begin to grow in the late 1700s when governors were increasingly loyal to the crown and uninterested in local well-being.

In 1772, Pomaran colonists discovered that the local Carita plant, when properly prepared, produces a moderate stimulating effect. While the plant would go on internationally to create more powerful and deadly narcotics, the plant has become a benign staple of local culture.

By 1810, Pomaran ports were trading (often secretly) with other global trading companies more than Argana y Griegro. As officials in Monte Real came to realize this discrepancy and steps were taken to redirect Pomaran goods, tensions between the two groups would quickly rise. A general strike in Catamoto left the docks with no workers for over a month in 1814. Eventually, the colonial governor ordered the dock workers arrested and held until willing to work. From 1814 to 1820, an additional 32 strikes would occur in Catamoto and other port towns in Pomara.

The military presence of Agrana y Griegro in Pomara was doubled in the six years after the first strike. Meanwhile, colonists had begun stockpiling weapons in backcountry towns where anti-crown sentiment had led to practical autonomy. Stockpiling was not widespread at first but by 1820 most towns had at least a small contingency of men who were committed to fight against the crown if the call came.

The President
The Covenant of Governance established the Presidency of Pomara as an almost entirely symbolic role. Domestically, the president stands as a symbolic leader and attends large scale events and public gatherings as a popular figurehead. Internationally, however, the President of Pomara serves as the head of state and nation's chief diplomat. The President handles international summits, foreign negotiation, appoints diplomats, and oversees the Foreign Ministry.

Presidential terms in Pomara operate unlike any other country in Anterra. The presidential election occurs every first year, however also must coincide with elections for The Republic. Once the President has served four years, the next electoral cycle for The Republic will also include presidential elections on the ballot. Presidents are elected by a nation-wide popular vote using ranked-choice voting. Felipe Gallo current holds the record for the longest presidential term - he served for 5 years and 8 months from 1991 to 1997. Presidents can only serve a single term and do not have to match the party of the Prime Minister.

The current president is Zacarías Sáez of the Union Party. He has served since March, 2018 and the presidency will be on any ballot after March, 2020.

The Republic
[[Image:Pomaran Republic Make-up.svg|right|thumb|350px|105%

{{legend|#E4E422|Union Party: 164 seats}}

{{legend|#3192FF|Liberty Party: 129 seats}}

{{legend|#FF0000|Socialist Party: 34 seats}}

{{legend|#140AA6|The Popular Front: 16 seats}}

{{legend|#097B11|Yucatec Coalition: 37 seats}}

{{legend|#929292|Independent : 7 seats}}

]] The Covenant of Governance established the Republic, a parliamentary body for the passing of legislature and operation of the country. The body has 387 seats, divided amongst the 28 political states based on official census populations. Within each state, a local electoral board appointed by the Governor Estate establishes electoral districts whilst adhering to regulations established in the Republic Voting Districts Act of 1972. Acts within the Parliament begin in a committee corresponding to the type of bill being passed. If the act passes through a revision in committee, it then moves to general discussion and voting on the floor of the Republic. The Prime Minister, Pomara's head of government, is the person most likely the hold the confidence of the parliament. This likely falls upon the leader of the party that holds the most seats or stands at the head of a leading coalition. The Prime Minister then forms a cabinet of ministers to handle bureaucratic operations of the government. The current Prime Minister, Ana Sofía Fernán, is the leader of the Union Party and supported by a coalition with the Yucatec Coalition.

The cabinet is usually made of members of the Prime Minister's party, with occasional members of coalition parties. They take advisor positions to the Prime Minister and some will additionally oversee ministries within the Pomaran government. Republic Members (RMs) are elected within their district using the first-past-the-post system. Elections occur every two years unless 60% of the Republic vote for snap elections following a call from the Prime Minister. For a candidate's name to be placed on the ballot, the candidate must be approved by one of the five official parties or obtain signatures from 5% of the district's population.

Of the five officially recognized parties, two are considered the major political parties. The Union Party is a center-left internationalist party that has held the most seats for the last five years. Their main opposition is the Liberty Party, a center-right party that holds the second-most seats in the Republic. A consistent regional power is the Yucatec Coalition, comprised of Mayan representatives from the Pura Islands. The two minor parties that vary in popularity over time are the Popular Front, a far-right reactionary party, and the Socialist Party, a far-left radical party that has occasionally received calls for inclusion in the Anti-Communist Party Act of 1959, which banned all official communist activity in formal politics.

The Judicial
Pomara's Judicial system runs independently from the political system and judges are not subject to elections. Judges interpret laws and can also rule laws illegal under the agreements of the Covenant of Governance. Judges are appointed for twenty-year terms by the Council of Law. The Council of Law is enumerated in the Covenant of Governance and appointed by the Prime Minister while requiring a 2/3rds confirmation vote from the Republic. This practice often leads to a varied political composition within the Council's nine members and prevents one-sided judicial selection.

The Council of Law's sole responsibility is appointment and renewal of judicial positions. Even the lowest positions in the judicial system are reviewed and approved by the Council, although lower municipal judges are often selected by local offices and sent through the Council as a formality. When a judge's term is up, the Council decides whether or not to renew their term, often debating the judge's age. If the Council believes a judge is worthy of removal from office and that judge is not near the end of their term, the Council can force a vote within The Republic. Removal of a judge requires a 2/3rds vote by the Republic and has only occurred five times - three times due to terminal illness and twice due to suspected communist sympathies.