Name: Rafael ‘Magonel’ Bautista
Work: Free Clawombian Press, 25 Pack Street
Born in the outer city slums of Clawombia’s capital, Hogotá, Rafael experienced firsthand the poverty and anguish brought on by the drug cartels and corruption plaguing the nation. His mother, Alicia Manchuras, was a well renowned neurosurgeon at Hogotá’s largest hospital, Hospital Real de Su Gracia (Her Grace’s Royal Hospital), and his father was a leading official in the
Bandera Azul Partido Socialista de los Trabajadores (Blue Flag Socialist Party), the most vocal opposition party to president Menunto government, which unbeknownst at the time, had major ties to the country’s dominant drug cartels
After working for a short period at a steel mill in the rundown industrial area of the capital’s east side, Rafael found his niche in writing and, more prominently, journalism. Taking notice, his father employed him as a field journalist at Heraldo Bolchevique (The Bolshevik Herald), a popular newspaper that held heavy Barxist undertones. No matter his paper’s political association, Rafael was determined to make his mark and set about finding a juicy story.
It was at this point he came across a leak from within Menunto’s inner circle about his connection to the drug cartels as well as claims that his presidency was acting in the interest of several multinational companies. With an upcoming election, high-ranking officials within Bolshevik Herald and Blue Flag gave the story the green light, and within a week, it had spread like wildfire across the entire country.
Opposition parties were quick to act, fanning the flames of discontent and encouraging massive protests in every major city across the country, demanding Menunto’s resignation and for him to stand trial. Menunto’s forces acted harshly, military troops and state police open fired on protestors, killing hundreds and injuring thousands. Rafael found himself in the thick of it, reporting on the carnage as it happened and capturing it in the form of brutal photography.
It wasn’t long before a Military Coup brought an end to Menunto’s presidency. High-ranking officials within Clawombia’s military enacted the Coup, previously perceived as staunch loyalists of Menunto’s regime. Such thoughts were dashed with his execution at the paws of the usurpers. The new government attempted to restore order by cracking down on Members of Blue Flag, The Bolshevik Herald and other opposition political and journalist groups; arresting hundreds, including Rafael’s father. Soon they were enacting harsh penalties against any and all forms of opposition and the raiding of The Bolshevik Herald, Rafael fled with many other intellectuals and journalists from the country.
After arriving in Zootopia, Rafael joined about twenty other journalists in purchasing a small two-story building out at Pack Street. The group established it as the headquarters of the Free Clawombian Press, an independent newspaper firm with Rafael as its senior editor. Their activities caught the attention of MICE, and after a successful buyout, FCP was merged with MICE, bringing their message to a much wider audience. He bought an apartment on Slot Street, as a refuge from his work.
He continues working at FCP, now as its Executive Editor and as one of MICE’s most senior foreign journalist. He spends most of his time across the globe reporting from the frontlines of conflict; from the political crisis in Bunisia to the civil war in the Ucrane. He wishes to return to Clawombia and pay his respects at his father and mother’s graves, but for the time being, the military regimes still brandishes him a traitor.
http://archiveofourown.org/users/Magonel
