Darana

Darana, officially the Republic of Darana, is a sovereign city-state located in the Straights of Kibbar. The city-state has been self-governing for most of its long history.

Etymology
Darana is a shortening of the Old Osgal Daranagrangor, literally meaning 'elephant city'. The origin of this name is unknown.

Ancient Darana
Pre-Iron-Age Darana

Geography
Darana is bounded on all sides by the Straights of Kibbar. The east side of the island was originally a coastal plain, but is now covered by urban area. The north and west of the island nation is more rugged.

Most of the country's limited farmland is located in the south and along the edges of the city.

Politics
Darana is a parliamentary republic with a system of unicameral parliamentary government representing constituencies (prefectures). Executive power is held by the Chief Executive, who is the leader of the ruling party. The Chief Executive has veto powers over parliamentary legislation, a broad range of executive powers that do not need parliamentary approval (these decisions can be overturned by the Supreme Court of Darana, but this rarely happens, since all three judges side with the ruling party on all policy).

Parliament is the legislative branch of government. MPs (ministers of parliament) are elected to this body on a preferential basis.The National Democratic League (NDL) has won every single election since the Panthalassa War ended.

Although the elections are clean, there is no independent electoral authority and all media that is not government controlled is heavily censored. Furthermore, incumbent politicians are free to gerrymander their own seats.

The Daranese legal system does not have the legal basis of 'innocent until proven guilty'; if prosecuted by the government, the accused is presumed guilty and has to prove their innocence before the appointed judge. Juries were abolished in 4271.

Freedom of Speech and Freedom of Assembly are heavily restricted in Darana. Online, the Information Standards Ombudsman censors anti-government sentiments; any perceived insult to the first Chief Executive of Darana can land punishments ranging from caning to imprisonment or even death. Offline, groups of more than six people require a police permit to gather; political or religious protests are banned (except in a few small areas).