The 1967 State Secrets Act is a controversial piece of national security legislation that criminalized the disclosure of classified military and intelligence operations. While ostensibly designed to protect the Republic from foreign espionage, it is historically recognized as a political amnesty deal designed to shield the Kresimirian military establishment from prosecution for war crimes committed during the “Iron Era.”
Proposed by Vjetrusa leader Haret Trn, Chair Ante Brov’s support of the act was a concession to the hardline nationalists, both in Vjetrusa and in the Sons of Kresimir (SoK). It was the political price paid to maintain the coalition’s stability following the divisive Treaty of Brod Moravice.
Background
The Post-Treaty Trials
Following the peace treaty in 1961, the Bosken Liberation Front (BLF) began gathering evidence of atrocities committed by the Kresimirian Army and the CIA during the occupation of District X in the 1950s. By 1964, several high-profile cases were moving through the District Courts, threatening to imprison senior officers who were heroes to the Kresimirian right.
The Nationalist Backlash
The prospect of “patriots” being jailed on the testimony of former BRC-21 insurgents caused a crisis. Davor Banit (SoK) and Haret Trn (Vjetrusa) threatened to paralyze the Assembly and withdraw support for the budget unless the trials were stopped. Brov, fearing a military coup or the collapse of his government, sought a legislative solution.
Key Provisions
The Act introduced a broad definition of “State Secret.”
- Retroactive Classification: The Council for Defence was empowered to retroactively classify any document or operational record dating back to the founding of the Republic.
- Treason Charge: Publishing, possessing, or discussing classified material became a felony punishable by up to 20 years in prison.
- Evidentiary Bar: Classified material was deemed inadmissible in court without the express permission of the Chancellor.
The Act passed 13-7.
| Senator | Vote |
|---|---|
| Vladi Korunic (BD) | For |
| Ante Brov (BD) | For |
| Adam Corak (CRF) | Against |
| Vanja Zulim (BD) | For |
| Sonja Tolik (CRF) | Against |
| Tihomir Bran (SoK | For |
| Pavel Iric (NP) | Against |
| Neda Jovan (SoK) | For |
| Nika Radman (BD) | For |
| Ivica Grebenara (VJ) | For |
| Leon Rukavin (BD) | For |
| Haret Trn (VJ) | For |
| Davor Banit (SoK) | For |
| Tamara Velar (BD) | For |
| Sonja Duval (CRF | Against |
| Dalibor Pralinovic (NP) | Against |
| Stojana Czyhlarz (BD) | For |
| Ivic Davor Kovrekovic (BD) | For |
| Nadja Vrasch (BLF) | Against |
| Lutz Diekwisch (BLF) | Against |
Impact
The immediate effect was the collapse of the war crimes trials. The government classified all operational logs from 1950 to 1960. Without this evidence, the Appellate Tribunal was forced to dismiss the charges against 14 senior officers in 1967.
While the Act stabilized the government by appeasing the military, it remains a source of deep grievance for the Bosken population. It effectively erased the legal record of the “Iron Era” abuses.