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Some fun news on Pommesfritesland! 娛人節特稿——薯條國

People of Pommesfritesland started a Pommes Frites revolution back in February to demand the political parties of that country to work together to form a government. However, things have since then taken a turn for the worse and the political parties plunged deeper and deeper into disagreement. The only thing that they could agree on was to split the country into two along the ethnic and cultural boundary.
薯條國國民發動「薯條革命」,原意是促使各政黨儘快組成聯合政府,但事與願違,政治談判不但無成果,各黨反而愈吵愈烈,最終決定於4月1日把國家按民族和語言分界一分為二。

The news took the world by surprise, and many Pommesfritesland citizens only found out when they were denied entry upon arrival in a foreign country because their country was no longer existent. Those already abroad faced the problem of being stranded because their passports and nationality were no longer recognised. They would have to stay put until the arrangements for the separation of Pommesfritesland are finalised and new passports can be issued. The United Nations described it as the largest peace-time refugee crisis for any developed countries.
由於事出突然,不少出國的薯條國國民待抵達外國被拒入境時才知道國家已不存在,要原機折回出發地,已身處外國的薯條國國民則因證件失效、失去國籍而頓時成為難民,要暫時滯留外國,直至薯條國分裂的細節敲定後,簽發新證件後才能出境。聯合國形容,這是已發展國家在和平時代發生的最大規模難民事故。

Despite the abrupt separation, neighbouring countries have actually braced themselves for this eventuality as Pommesfritesland has been in political limbo for such a long time. Tulipland announced that it could assume sovereignty over the Tuplispeak region of Pommesfritesland, while the Tulipland Post is ready to extend its service into Pommesfritesland at any time. While everyone knows that the 4-digit postcodes of Tulipland start from 1000, Tulipland Post said that it has always reserved 0000 to 0999 for Pommesfritesland and issue those postcodes to Pommesfritesland immediately. On the other side of Pommesfritesland, Champagneland was working out the logistics of accepting the 4 million people from the Champagnespeak region of Pommesfritesland. But this should not be too onerous a task for Champagneland as the 4 million intake was relatively minor in proportion to its 60 million population, and Champagneland has a long history of expanding its borders and ruling over increasing numbers of people from all over the world.
薯條國分裂雖然來得突然,但鄰國因為薯條國長期無政府兼政治膠著狀態而一早作好準備,其中鬱金香國表示可隨時接管薯條國鬱金香語區,鬱金香國郵政亦準備好可以把薯條國郵政馬上納入其服務範圍,大家一向都不知,鬱金香國的4位數字郵政編碼,一直由1000開始,0000至0999原來是預留給薯條國的,薯條國可即日使用鬱金香國郵編。薯條國另一邊的鄰居香檳國,對於要收容四百多萬薯條國香檳語區的居民也作好部署,對於有六千萬人口的香檳國,歷史上曾大舉擴張版圖、吸納或收容五湖四海的人,現在增收四百多萬人不是個太大的數目,應駕輕就熟。

Pommesfritesland products also faced an identity crisis as they were no longer allowed to be labelled as such. Vendors were frantically searching for alternate means of labelling, but they need not look too hard. After all, the national food of Pommesfritesland provides a good example to follow. Many people may not know that potato chips actually originate from Pommesfritesland not Champagneland (so much for the misnomer from America …) but the proper name for potato chips in Pommesfritesland can also be called ‘Vlaamse Frites’ (i.e. chips from the Tulipspeak region) alongside ‘Pommesfriteslandse Frites’ (i.e. chips from Pommesfritesland). So vendors would only need to find out whether the product originated from the Tulipspeak or Champagnespeak region of Pommesfritesland and amend the labelling accordingly.
薯條國出口產品也面對類似的「身份危機」,由於已經國不成國,那些貨品再不能標明是「薯條國產品」,一眾商家都煩惱如何改掉商品標示,不過其實有例可循:很多人未必知道,薯條國其實是薯條的發源地,但薯條在薯條國的正式名稱,除「薯條國薯條」外亦可稱為「弗拉芒薯條」(即鬱金香語區薯條),商家祇要查出商品的出產地屬於鬱金香語區抑或香檳語區,然後改名便可。

Pommesfritesland citizens were probably the least surprised of all and have even become insensitive to this turn of events since the issue has simply lasted for too long. Many from the Pommesfritesland capital described it as a divorce of a couple who were forcibly married but just could not get on with each other, and considered that it may lead to a happier, more normal life and relationship between the two. Others viewed Pommesfritesland as the microcosm of the hotchpotch of 27 countries which were squabbling over all things big and small in its capital city all the time, and what has happened to Pommesfritesland may forestall the future of this union. Everyone in Pommesfritesland hoped that the separation of their ‘country’ would be resolved cleanly and looked forward to new lives with new identities.
薯條國國民對事態發展不感意外,甚至有點麻林,畢竟事件擾攘太久,正如不少薯條國首都居民所說,該國一直就像一對被迫撮合的男女,但勉強無幸福,分手對雙方都可能更合適、更幸福。也有當地居民認為,在薯條國首都每天都在上演27國為不同大小事吵吵鬧鬧的鬧劇,薯條國的遭遇祇是那27國的縮影,也預視著那27國的未來。薯條國舉國都希望,這次分裂能妥妥當當的解決,好讓大家都有個新身份過新生活。

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