Spotlight on:

“Our place under the sun”

The Empire of Sumartica is a huge, environmentally stunning nation, remarkable for its compulsory military service. Its hard-nosed, cynical population of 326 million are ruled without fear or favor by a psychotic dictator, who outlaws just about everything and refers to the populace as "my little playthings."

The government -- a sprawling, bureaucracy-choked, corrupt morass -- juggles the competing demands of Law & Order, Defence, and the Environment. The average income tax rate is 45%, but much higher for the wealthy. A small but healthy private sector is dominated by the Arms Manufacturing industry.

Suppression of pro-democracy protests is a daily occurrence, the government is spending millions on renovating the public transportation system, retirement homes are often fitted with luxurious suites, and the government seizes all major gold finds. Crime -- especially youth-related -- is totally unknown, thanks to the all-pervasive police force. Sumartica's national animal is the Phoenix , which frolics freely in the nation's many lush forests, and its currency is the Sumar Dollar.

Sumartica is ranked 184th in the region and 13,240th in the world for Largest Arms Manufacturing Sector.