Trayavix Province Abolishes Death Penalty for Shoplifting

Current Date:
Oron 4, Salgan 7, Adonsik 40, Vylor Cledman VI
(4th Day of the 7th Month, 40th year of the reign of Emperor Cledman VI)


Ulor Tervin of Trayavix Province has issued a decree abolishing the death penalty for shoplifting. Currently imperial law requires the death penalty for all "thefts from public market places". While Trayavix province continues to implement the death penalty for most crimes, Ulor Tervin of Trayavix said, "Thefts of merchandise with a value of less than one bayla really don't merit the death penalty. From now on shoplifters of such small items will be given 100 lashes with a whip, have their right hand cut off and be branded on the forehead with the word "thief" with a hot iron." Under the new law, shoplifters in Trayavix who steal items of more than one bayla in value will still be put to death by slow torture, just as before.

The Lord Chancellor has expressed his support for Ulor Tervin's decree, saying, "This is a humane measure that shows we are a civilized and tolerant people. I'm sure the Emperor will endorse this change in the law across the whole Empire when he gets around to it."

Asnalyva, the Lord of the Exchequer and a member of the Imperial Council has expressed his opposition to the move. "The death penalty deters crime. If we weaken our laws, there will be anarchy. We should not change the law. An Ulor doesn't really have the authority for this anyway. If it weren't for the fact that it's the Ulors' men enforcing the laws out in the provinces, or not enforcing them, nobody would take this so called decree seriously."

Ulor Yandimuk of Baaniferan province has expressed support and opposition to the measure at the same time, confusing many people. "I'm against this reform being done in my province or the rest of the Empire, but I'm glad that Ulor Tervin has done this in Trayavix. His province is right next to mine. All the thieves here will stampede over there when word gets out how Ulor Tervin coddles criminals. Just flogging, amputation and branding for petty thievery? Who wouldn't love to have that instead of a real penalty? After all, most shoplifters in my province are children, especially orphaned street urchins. Everyone knows the only thing children understand is force and the more of it the better I say."


Here is more information on the Stavuk Vyloresh
(Imperial Council) where this is being debated
http://nationsandempires1.blogspot.com/2006/11/imperial-council.html