United Compatriots
Association of the Friends and Veterans of the Carriers of Mercy | |
meSol meIkhtimiy | |
| Nickname | The Compatriots (meSol) |
|---|---|
| Motto | "Compassion leads" "luRaheem ludonha" |
| Predecessor | Carriers of Mercy |
| Founder |
|
| Founded at | Rahdib Hotel, Bingol, Packilvania |
| Type |
|
| Legal status | Charity |
| Purpose | Veteran care and commemorative activities |
| Headquarters | The Lahneeb Palace, Bingol, Packilvania |
| Location | |
Membership | 20 million |
Official language | Packilvanian |
President | Sultana Saga of Tynam |
General Secretary | Prince Thuwalqamir a-Udayin Bedon |
Treasurer General | Mulwadeem Dohal, Duke of Lehasa |
The United Compatriots (Packilvanian: meSol meIkhtimiy; or simply the Compatriots or meSol, formally the Association of the Friends and Veterans of the Carriers of Mercy) is a non-governmental, non-profit, public benefit organisation registered and based in Packilvania. It was founded by prominent leaders of the Liberal faction of the Carriers of Mercy following its dissolution with the adoption of the Constitution. Avoiding being purged for resisting the consolidation of power by Amhoud I and the Bedonite dynasty while able to sustain and perpetuate the values of the now defunct Carriers, they allied themselves with the establishment. Today they are a significant force through their philanthropy, civic research and lobbying activities. With their massive size, and support of many members of legislative organs of state, they can be perceived as a de facto political party. Because of government suspicions about its activities, it has entered collaborative arrangements with other PBOs with its cooperation with Business Chambers in particular causing a lean towards market economic thinking.
It consists of members and volunteers grouped into branches and a small secretariat of permanent staff. Its head is the President, currently Sultana of Packilvania Saga of Tynam together with its chief administrator General Secretary Prince Thuwalqamir and Treasurer General Mulwadeem Dohal. Between its annual National General Conference, the National Executive Committee is the leading organisation. Originally founded to care and advocate for veterans of the Carriers of Mercy and to erect monuments to commemorate the Carriers, its mandate has expanded to encompass other charitable activities as well as peripheral activites undertaken by sister organisations such as policy research and lobbying. It broadly adheres to the social market, and religiously and socially conservative ideology of the Liberal faction of the Carriers of Mercy. It is perceived as the spiritual successor of the Carriers and it continues to emulate many of its symbols and ceremonies such as uniforms, motto and other features.
Formation and Early Years
The United Compatriots was formed by veterans and allies of the Carriers of Mercy in 1985 at a conference at the Rahdib Hotel in Bingol. The agreement between the Carriers of Mercy and the Packilvanian Communist Party required both organisations to be dissolved once the Constituent Assembly adopted the constitution. Additionally, the new constitution forbade the formation of political parties.
Some veterans of the Carriers, specifically those in the supposedly Liberal faction, were disillusioned by this decision and cautioned against it. But, desperate to end the war and outmaneuvred by Sultan Amhoud I, they were unable to prevent the prohibition on political parties from being drafted. Recognising that the Bedonite clan had successfully taken over the political system, they sought to preserve the ideals and legacy of the Carriers of Mercy through a new organisation that operated within the legal framework of the new state.
Within the Liberal faction lay prominent figures in the movement such as Darhad Ulmid, Yashik Khaydun and Ifhatim Mansour, who felt that the Sultan and his clan had monopolised power. There was a Radical faction that was led by Hudayn Ashmiyad and Ashkhayd Namsoud which sought to prevent the Sultan from seizing power and banning political parties by launching a coup. Attempts to turn the rest of the Carriers against Amhoud failed, and they were purged from the political system.
The Liberal faction learnt their lesson from this and decided to work within the bounds that Amhoud and his brothers were willing to allow. As such, they courted his wife, Sultana Anshalia to be the patron of an NGO founded initially to take care of veterans and build commemorative monuments to the Carriers. At the Rahdib Conference, they made her the President of the organisation, which earned them the favour of the government.
And indeed the organisation stuck to its initial focus and hoped to preserve and perpetuate the ideals of the Carriers of Mercy as they understood them. Sultana Anshalia was a determined leader and they often followed her leadership but it was apparent within a few years that it was Darhad Ulmid, the General Secretary, who was the de facto leader of the organisation.
Leveraging their experience in the Carriers of Mercy, they established branches to implement programs and embed themselves into communities and provide communities for volunteers and members. Many veterans who pined for the Carriers coalesced within the organisation include General Athqiyar Ipthuhmeen who led the Battle of Qadash Kebir, one of the major battles of the Second Packilvanian Civil War. They were able to debate ideas and policies. They in turn founded a think tank and lobby group to develop and propose policies and conduct research for the government and lobby politicians for legislation. The government began to lean on their advice. Many of their members were already involved in politics and the civil service.
As the system of politics in Packilvania matured and elections for local government were conducted, the organisation was able to support candidates without formally campaigning for them, circumventing many of the laws restricting political parties. As such, the organisation began to exert influence that is reminiscent to political parties in other countries.
21st century
The first election in which candidates who were members of the organisation participated with its formal support was a by election in the Yashmayad-Ibrahan district of Ebron held on 31 May 2000. The candidate, Rajmiya Wasoon, won the election and went to serve on the Ebron Municipal Assembly. The body began to support other candidates in various elections. This included hosting large public lecturers where they invited them to discuss topics e.g., the public lecturer entitled, "Building Compassion in a New World" ("luBidaytan aluRaheem weluYasteriya luJadid") in 2001 which was presented by Inham Alkhoud, who at the time was running for reelection in the Thajrat district of Alas Hedekia for the Akas Hedekia Municipal Assembly.
The government began becoming suspicious of the organisation's political activities and the Electoral Commission of Ukanar opened an investigation into its support of candidates in Local Government Elections. The investigation was led by Fajhmad Qardiyk, who questioned witnesses and collected documents from its offices. He published his report and concluded that the organisation was sticking to its original purpose but that based on minutes of the meetings of its leadership in Ukanar, he felt they needed to abide more strictly to regulations.
This began a tradition of the body hosting lectures for its members, volunteers and affiliates who were also seeking public office in collaboration with other organisations and bodies. This led to the formation of relationships with the Business Chambers. Its first lecture series hosted in collaboration with a business chamber was the 10-day "Compassionate Relations Between the Worker and the Employer" ("leLaheed leRaheemiy wemuShugul nadine muSharif") delivered by Akhsoud Yulhad, the Chairperson of the Kharyat Legislative Council who required the support of the Makobar Municipal Assembly to the reelected. He attracted over 20,000 people during the lecture series which was hosted with the Makobar Chamber of Industry and Business.
These relationships influenced the direction the United Compatriots think tank which began to direct much of its research positions on issues of equality and redistribution of resources based on class were leavened by a new focus on free markets and economic growth. Many researchers in universities benefited from scholarships and fellowships provided and funded partly or in whole by the United Compatriots which they continued to contribute to through their research time.
At its annual National General Conferences, under its new General Secretary, Upthaan Khaydial, the organisation began introducing themes for each year focused on different developmental areas. Its mandate was expanded by a constitutional amendment to include philanthropic efforts other than those aimed at veterans and commemorative activities which was approved by the Department of Home Affairs in 2005.
Structure
Every 4 years there is a National General Conference (NGC, luKhneset luShahitishme luAlmud) which consists of delegates of its branches. Delegates meet for a weekend where they adopt constitutional amendments, and elect the National Executive Committee (NEC, luMijhalis luShahitishme luDonahishme).
The NEC elects the National Working Group (NWG, luKabal luShahitishme luShablam), i.e., the highest 3 officials in the organisation. It is the highest authority of the organisation and meets once a month to deliberate and decide on major issues. The NWG serves concurrently with the NEC and proposes most initiatives and provides collective leadership of the organisation. It consists of the following members:
- The President (muRayeesqurlea) is the chairwoman of the National Executive Committee and National Working Group, and the highest representative of the organisation. She can designate portfolios to members of the National Executive Committee who with its approval can be co-opted into the NWG. She is elected by the National Executive Committee every 5 years, but in practice this position is always held by the Sultana of Packilvania, currently Saga of Tynam.
- The General Secretary (muSikhratariya muAlmud) is the chief administrator, running the daily affairs of the organisation. Their office oversees branches, administers membership, and manages logistics. This is currently Prince Thuwalqamir.
- The Treasurer General (muKhizamiya muAlmud) administers all financial matters a position currently held by Mulwadeem Dohal, the Duke of Lehasa.