STATEMENT OF FACTS

The litigating nations this year were Agnostica & Reverentia two bordering
states who once shared a common colonial ruler. Agnostica developed into a state
reliant on its abundant natural resources while Reverentia became an industrialized
state. While Reverentia is populated almost exclusively by ethnic Reverentians,
Agnosticas population consist of 70 percent ethnic Agnosticans and 30 percent ethnic
Reverentians. The Reverentian minority, commonly known as the Agnorevs, lived
almost wholly within the province of East Agnostica. Reflecting its varied cultural
makeup, Agnosticas constitution devolved control over cultural affairs and education to
the provincial assemblies of East and West Agnostica. All other powers were reserved
to the federal government, including the ability to dissolve the federal union into two
independent states by the use of a supermajority vote.

The two neighbouring states were also parties to a bilateral treaty, the Marthite
Convention, which regulated the exploitation of Marthite, a mineral found solely within
East Agnostica. Marthite also held cultural value to ethnic Reverentians (including the
Agnorev minority). Though Agnostica maintained control over the mineral, Reverentia
was the only state that had the ability and technology to mine Marthite. The convention
reflected a reciprocal agreement between both parties to regulate Marthite extraction. It
authorized Reverentia to build and maintain mining factories in Agnostica while the
latter would retain ownership over the factories. Reverentia was granted rights to
purchase Marthite from Agnostica and the exclusive rights to re-sell the Marthite to
traditional medicinal consumers at a fixed price. Outside sales were only permitted
when Marthite supply exceeded demand by 25 percent. Until 2011, non-traditional
demand was virtually non-existent.

In 2011, scientists discovered that Marthite cured previously untreatable early

childhood autoimmune disorders, a discovery which rapidly boosted its international
market value. Reverentia subsequently sold 75 percent of its Marthite stock to
international pharmaceutical companies at a price that exceeds the Conventions fixed
price, causing severe Marthite shortages in the process. Agnostica decried Reverentias
acts as a violation of the convention and consequently, leased its Marthite factories to a
multinational trading company on the same day it provided Reverentia written notice of
termination. Reverentia rejected Agnosticas position, directing its on-site engineers to
cease work in Agnostica and to render any Reverentian technology at the factories
inoperable. Once Agnostica took hold of the factories, engineers quickly realized that
the Reverentians had managed to slow Marthite production to a trickle by removing their
software. In an attempt to secure Marthite supplies in the midst of these restrictions, the
Agnostican Parliament banned its unauthorized possession at the risk of a two year
prison sentence.1

In response, the Reverentian Presidentordered the return of Reverentian

engineers and the removal of the software installed by RMT at the facilities. This
crippled the entire Marthite operations as the mining systems depended on the software
to function. The facilities resumed by the end of May, relying on manual labour by local
Agnorevs.2 However, Baxter was able to extract only 100kgs per day and sold 2-3kgs to
traditional practitioners, as the computer systems could not be restored, leading to huge
shortages.3 Consequently, due to the sabotage, Agnostica enacted the Marthite Control
Act in October 2012, banning sale or transfer of Marthite into Reverentia and the
unauthorized sale, purchase or possession of Marthite in Agnostica. The breach of the
MCA subjected the person to a mandatory prison term. Moritz further announced that
the Act was passed in view of the fact that it was Agnosticas moral obligation to ensure
that the suffering children of the world received this life saving ingredient.

In mid-November,an Agnorev worker named Gohandas Sugdy wasarrested and

charged under MCA for possession of Marthite. He explained that he needed the daily
doses for his ill grandfather who died due to heart failure. Sugdy committed suicide in
his cell.With this, Agnorevs gathered outside the jail where Sugdy has been held in
order to protest against his death. Sugdy stationed troops at the area to maintain law
and order however, 60 demonstrators were killed.

On January 2013, the Reverentian Parliament adopted a resolution entitled On

the Crisis in East Agnostica to promote recognition of a decision to secede as well as
1
American Society of International Law vol. 109 Adapting to a Rapidly Changing World (2015)
2
Compromis.
3
Compromis.
of an independent state in East Agnostica to ensure security and integrity in East
Agnostica. Moritz declared such resolution as unlawful interference in Agnosticas
internal affairs.4

On the same month and year, a plebiscite was conducted in East Agnostica
which resulted in favour of secession. The people of the mentioned state did not
recognize the outcome since it was illegally conducted within its territory. Meanwhile,
Angnostica sought help from United Nations to protect its own territorial integrity.

President Nuvallus of Reverentia announced on 22 February 2013 that he and

Mr. Bien, an Agnorev politician, had signed an Integration Agreement that would make
East Agnostica a semi-autonomous province of Reverentia, with the Agnorev Peoples
Parliament as its provincial legislature.Reverentian Army units were promptly moved
into the region. The annexation was denounced by the Prime Minister of Agnostica but
was not able send troops into East Agnostica.

4
Compromis.