Reijihan Herad
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Reijihan Telbarat Herad is a current member of the Tuhran Bel and one of the most prestigious and long-serving politicans in Snefaldia.
Born in 1926 on his clan's homestead in rural Sring Issa, he joined the local Archive and quickly proved to be an intelligent analyst and Arsathae. At age 14, his father authorized the Archivist to transfer him to the Grand Library in Serasarda. Herad was a star pupil in the public administration departments, and at age 20 masterfully debated Chief Librarian Odun Samst on the issue of government management of the Saard River dikes. He rose through the ranks of the library and at age 26 he had been appointed Prefect of Administration at the Grand Library.
Two years later and after a a series of highly publicized debates and disserations, then-Grand Librarian Andrew Holmwood recommended him for a seat in the Bel of 1952, at that time the administrative council of Aatem Nal. When the Republic collapsed in 1963, Herad was part of the First Bel that took power, and was instrumental in effecting the Act of Assembly in 1966, which reformed the Bel and established it as the highest government in Snefaldia. He made alliances with Jeroen Seefeikh II, the son of a former Master of the Executive and another rising star in Aatem Nal and the Bel.
Herad served as a Bel shahry until 1974, when he was chosen for a seat on the Central Council. He continued to rise in importance after the assasination of Councillor Edric Mal in 1980, and was instrumental in forging legislation reducing goverment involvement in daily life, giving more powers to the regional governments, reducing the tax, establishing the national corvee and military service requirement. Often controversial for his support of free-market economics, and open society and foreign relations, Herad never apologized for his stances and maintains that he did what he believed was best for Snefaldia.
One of his most publicized efforts was his leadership in the 1995 Assembly Expulsions. After a plot by members of the Council and the lower Bel to expel all foreigners, reinstate the death penalty, and eliminate all non-Native faiths was informed, Herad declared a state of emergency and called out the army and militia to preempt the conspirators. Calling a session of the Bel in the middle of flood season, under his direction the Bel condemned, expelled, and subsequently exiled 95 members of the Bel from the nation.
Since the 90s Herad began to step back from active legislation. When he turned 75 in 2000, he used his influence to replace many of the longer-serving Councillors, appointed many younger and more vigorous Arsathaes in their place. He was instrumental in the opening of official diplomatic relations with foreign countries; most notably the Federal Republic of Omigodtheykilledkenny; and steered the Bel to align the country with the region of the Antarctic Oasis. Herad will be leading the Council in moderating a peace conference between the Autocratic Empire of Akimonad and the Federation of The Far Echo Islands.
Herad announced in September 2007 that he would be retiring[1] at the close of the current Bel's session. His contributions to Snefaldia rank him among great leaders like Trimna III Kelangat, Ta'us Alaa and Dain-da-Hol.
