Santiago Massacre

The Santiago Massacre was a civilian massacre perpetrated by Kuritan garrisons stationed in Santiago City, Alpheratz, in 2572. The Massacre increased tensions which led ultimately to the outset of the Reunification War.

Earlier in 2572, First Lord of the Star League Director-General Ian Cameron issued Directive 21. The Directive gave Inner Sphere militaries the authority to "garrison" the undefended worlds of the Outworlds Alliance for "mutual defense and protection". Ostensibly, the directive was aimed at curbing pirate activity within the Alliance, but troops were never stationed near any known pirate activity.

Despite frequent, peaceful demonstrations, the 17th Galedon Regulars maintained their garrison around Santiago City on the Outworlds Alliance capital of Alpheratz. On December 14th, an officer within the Regulars retaliated against a mob of snow ball-throwing children, severely burning one with a hot canister of coolant. A riot mob organized, and more soldiers responded. When the soldiers began firing wildly into the mob, the people dispersed. In total, 27 were killed, and 30 more were several wounded.

The Santiago Massacre would have much steeper repercussions throughout the inhabited space. Within days, widespread rioting had begun throughout the Outworlds Alliance, and spread to other Periphery realms. Even political leaders were rash to react to the Massacre. Protector Mitchell Calderon immediated increased funding for the Taurian Defense Force, and the Magistracy of Canopus withdrew from border dispute talks with the Free Worlds League.

Sources

• The Periphery (sourcebook)