People's Commission

The People's Commission of Kanjor was a quasi-independent legal body established in February 2894 by the Parti Révolutionnaire des Travailleurs-led government of Kanjor. It was created to redress grievances made by the working class people of Kanjor against their treatment during the 44 year of Monarchist rule, however the extreme judicial power the Commission amassed was fiercely critised by liberals and Royalists.

Establishment of the Commission
Calls for a Commission stemmed principally from a grassroots movement of trade unionists and worker's collectives based in the Communist heartland of Martois, who demanded the Communist government overturn the various cases of exploitation the working classes had allegedly endured under the Monarchy.

Several influential trade union leaders from across Kanjor, including Marcel Rocquefort of Silliers Labour Association and Elliot Dupont of General Industry Collective, expressed support for the growing Martoisien movement. However it was Marion Menard, controversial General Secretary of the Martois Womens' and Labourers' Union, who campaigned most vigourously for a Commission, and fast became the figurehead of the overall movement.

Under Menard's direction, the movement swelled to massive membership, and regular protests on the streets of Martois' main cities raised the profile of the campaign. Several Royalist figures were targets of a smear campaign by the movement, calling for justice for the workers.

Following the execution of First Lord François Gualladet, former advisor to the Queen, Menard called directly on the national government to meet the demands of the movement and establish a Commission. The strength of Menard's campaign had become increasingly difficult to ignore, and Martois-based Justice Minister, Marcus Vastain, became the first member of the Cabinet to lend his support to calls for a Commission. With Vastain's help, ans some assistance from Vastain's close ally Internal Affairs Minister Elodie Majorie, a Commission was proposed and approved by the Communist Party's politburo.

"The Reign of Terror"
In February 2894 the Commission was officially announced, with the Communist government claiming it to be an investigative inquiry aimed at redressing the grievances of the working class people. Marion Menard was appointed Principle Chairman of the People's Commission, who hand-selected her 12-person panel, and with the ear of Marcus Vastain, the Commission was given virtually unrestricted judicial powers in its inquiry. The Commission was able to subpoena any Kanjorien who was thought to have contributed to the 'exploitation of the working classes' during the period of 2850 to 2894. The Commission was able to unrestrictedly arrest, inprison, and even execute, individuals who they found guilty of "gross exploitations which cause grievous or irreperable harm" against the working classes.

Although the Commission won great plaudits from its target base in deprived working class communities, and amongst trade unions, it was harshly criticised by liberals and Royalists fearful of the immense power the Commission, and in particular Menard, had. Politician, Jean Bacquar, raised the loudest voice in opposition to the Commission, calling it a "sham organisation aimed at curbing opposition".

Although in the first few months the Commission refrained from some of the harsher punishments associated with the latter months of its existence, disagreements amongst the panel about the severity of the punishments forced Menard to sack six members of the panel, including fellow trade unionist Elliott Dupont, who refused to take more hardline positions. Following the reduction of the panel membership, punishments became increasingly harsh, and arrests more than doubled. During the final months before the Commission's disestablishment, restrospectively referred to as "The Reign of Terror", executions increased in frequency and became a common-day occurrence.

Disestablishment
In December 2894, reactionary protests on the streets of Atyr campaigning against the Commission broke out. Although the protests were harshly suppressed, Président Théo-Narcisse Souvellent promised to call an early election to seek legitimacy for the continuation of the People's Commission. The decision was a catastrophic blow for the Communists, with Souvellent narrowly losing his re-election, and the Communists losing control of the government.

The new Royalist Premier Ministre, Diane Richlieu, swiftly closed down the Commission and arrested Marion Menard, Marcus Vastain and Elodie Majorie for their involvement in the Commission's actions.