World Government (One Piece)
The World Government (世界政府, Sekai Seifu) is a fictional political organization in the Japanese manga and anime series One Piece.
About the World Government
The World Government is affiliated with roughly 180 countries from around the world. Those member countries retain autonomy, that is to say, the countries run their own internal affairs (though the World Government does sometimes meddle), but cooperate with the World Government for massive international relations.
At first glance, the World Government seems to maintain a worldly order that benefits all, making the world safe for the sake of everyone. Using the Navy, they pursue criminals endangering the lives of those who are innocent, protecting the people of each country in the world. The World Government is the largest World Power maintaining full rights to halt or encourage any political action without question or opposition from any side.
The reality though is that, unknown to most citizens (and many world leaders), the World Government's actions are secretly and often based on corruption or questionable motives. Often when the storyline involves them, it shows them hiding the truth or ignoring the rights of the people. Individuals who become the enemies of the World Government are ruthlessly hunted down and dealt with and all those who walk along the same path as them are doomed to share the World Government's fury.
The World Government's power to release any information on anyone or anything they choose often cause the truth being hidden, altered or ignored all together. Any countries attempting to protect or harbour criminals are at risk from the World Government, although what would happen exactly has not been addressed yet. For the most part, the important role in maintaining world stability on a political ground far outweighs the corruption they often display.
Often there is a 'holy' or 'just' theme to the naming of things related to the World Government, like 'the Just Eleven Jurymen'.
Past interferences
The Blank Century
During Professor Clover's phone conversation with the Gorōsei, we learn more about the World Government. A long time ago, an enormous kingdom existed, which took great pride in its power and strength. During this time, the Ancient Weapons were constructed. People of that kingdom left the Poneglyphs as the only record of their existence, shortly before they were destroyed by some unknown enemy. Those enemies survived and, at the end of the Lost Century of History 800 years ago, the World Government was born. The Blank Century, according to Professor Clover, may be inconvenient history for the World Government. The kingdom held a great power, but all information about that was erased, along with that nation's ideals. Just as Professor Clover was going to speak the name of the ancient kingdom, one of the Gorōsei ordered him shot. Throughout known history, anyone who wishes to study the Blank Century has been accused of trying to resurrect the Ancient Weapons and prosecuted as a criminal by the Government; knowledge of the poneglyphs is considered a crime in the highest degree.
The Ohara Incident
Twenty-six years before the current events, scholars on the island of Ohara were secretly researching the Blank Century; several archaeologists including Nico Olvia departed on a voyage to search for the Poneglyphs. About six years later, Olvia was captured by the Marines, who murdered her colleagues and branded her a criminal. Plans were laid for a Buster Call on Ohara, with Vice-Admiral Saul in command; but Saul was shocked at the government's brutality towards "simple historians" and deserted, freeing Nico Olvia from prison in the process.
Olvia went straight home and warned her comrades (including Professor Clover) before attempting to escape, but was recaptured by Director Spandine and agents of CP9. Cipher Pol soldiers ransacked the Tree of Knowledge and discovered a poneglyph in the basement. the professor was granted a phone conversation with the Gorōsei, and revealed much information pertaining to the Blank Century (see above).
As Clover was about to speak the lost kingdom's name, the Gorōsei had him shot and gave the order to commence the Buster Call, saying that Ohara's knowledge had "exceeded its bounds" and needed to be wiped out. The fleet, led by Vice-Admiral Kuzan, opened fire while civilians were directed to a waiting rescue ship and soldiers set fire to the Tree. Spandine abandoned Olvia and fled the bombardment, although he learned that eight-year-old Nico Robin could also interpret the poneglyphs. Robin was kept from boarding the refugee ship, which was sunk moments later by Vice-Admiral Sakazuki. Saulo had ended up on the island by chance, and destroyed six warships to protect Robin before being killed by Kuzan, who allowed Robin to escape as Ohara was utterly obliterated.
In the months that followed, the World Government, working in tandem with the Marines, issued a massive coverup. Little Nico Robin was blamed for Saulo's destruction and given a bounty of 79,000,000 beri; publicly, the Ohara scholars were called "demons" and accused of seeking the Ancient Weapons.
Unspecified hostage incident
Fifteen years before the Alabasta Coverup (see below), an unnamed (and unseen in the manga) pirate captain took five hundred of a certain nation's soldiers hostage and demanded the throne. As the king was about to cave, the World Government sent an "emissary": thirteen-year-old Rob Lucci, who murdered every single hostage before killing the captain.
The Conspiracy of Water 7
The World Government made a move once again some 8 years ago at the island of Water 7. They discovered that the blueprints of the ancient weapon, Pluton, existed there and were under the protection of the great shipwright Tom. At that time, Tom had two apprentices working for him, Cutty Flam and Iceburg. Tom had spent the last ten years building a steam powered boat that would help make Water 7 a great city in order to cancel out the crime of building the ship belonging to Gold Roger. Tom was confronted by CP5 under the orders of the World Government to find and take the blueprints from Tom. However, Tom protected the blueprints by denying he ever had them.
Angry that Tom lied to him, Spandam, the leader of the CP5, decided to investigate Tom under the notion that he was a criminal. At the same time, he decided to frame Tom for not handing over the blueprints to him. On the day Tom was due for pardon for building Gold Roger's ship, CP5 attacked the boat the trial was to be held on using warships made by Cutty Flam, one of Tom's apprentices. Everyone knew who the warships belonged to and presumed Tom had ordered them to attack the trial boat to save himself. Still hoping to get the blueprints from Tom, Spandam confronted him once more declaring Tom as a criminal under CP5 and the World Government's investigation. However things did not go as planned. As Tom had been allowed to have one crime pardoned, he asked to have the crime committed that day, the attack on the trial boat, to be pardoned so that he could save his two apprentices.
As Tom was carted off on the steam boat he had created, Cutty Flam tried to stop it from leaving but was hit by the train and declared dead. After being declared dead, Cutty Flam was put down to being the one behind the attacks and he was known as a criminal who caused the deaths of over a 100 people that day. Cutty Flam did not die however, as he managed to drag himself from the ocean and onto an abandoned ship, where he proceeded to modify himself into a Cyborg and later guising himself by bearing the new name Franky. Prior to being carted off, Tom had already handed the Pluton blueprints to Iceburg, the only apparent surviving apprentice of Tom. Thus once again the World Government had lost its chance to get hold of the blueprints.
The Alabasta Cover-up
One of the most recent actions made by the World Government was to hide the truth about Sir Crocodile and his actions in Alabasta. After Sir Crocodile was defeated and the secret behind the Baroque Works organization was discovered, the World Government took actions to cover-up the events that took place in that country. While it was Monkey D. Luffy and his crew that took out the Baroque Works organization, the World Government did not want the public to know that it was a pirate who defeated Crocodile and saved the kingdom of Alabasta. Captain Smoker and his partner Tashigi were awarded all the credit for the group's defeat and capture.
To add to this, both were rewarded with medals and promotions, however, Smoker rejected both the medals and promotions for his partner and himself. Roronoa Zoro was given a bounty of 60,000,000 beli for his massacre of over a hundred agents at Whiskey Peak and his defeat of Mr. 1, while Luffy's previous 30,000,000 beli bounty was raised to 100,000,000 after the Alabasta events.
The Second Water 7 Conspiracy
Five years later, Director Spandam was tipped off by Admiral Aokiji that the Straw Hat Pirates had recruited Nico Robin and were on their way to Water 7. Threatening the Straw Hats with a Buster Call, CP9 forced Robin to work with them. She and a disguised Blueno entered Iceburg's mansion and shot him, deliberately leaving him alive so that the Straw Hats would be publicly blamed.
The next night, CP9 attacked the mansion in full force with masks hiding their identities, and defeated dozens of Galley-La shipwrights who were protecting their boss. While retrieving the Pluton blueprints, foreman Paulie was attacked by Kaku and Lucci, who discovered the blueprints were fake. While Robin kept Iceburg under guard, CP9 met and decided to reveal their identities. Rob Lucci posited that Iceburg had given the blueprints to Franky, who had returned to the island four years previously and identified himself to Califa (only once) as Cutty Flam; Kaku used Iceburg's pulse to confirm this. The Straw Hats tried to interfere, hoping to clear their names and learn Robin's motivation. Robin was sent to the train station while CP9 easily defeated the Straw Hats.
Setting the mansion on fire (with Paulie and Iceburg trapped inside), CP9 hurriedly set out to locate Franky before Aqua Laguna struck. After brutally attacking the Franky Family, they learned that Franky was hiding out in Tom's old workshop, holding Usopp and the Going Merry as bait for Luffy. CP9 ransacked the warehouse, taking Franky prisoner when the Pluton blueprints could not be located. Spandam was notified of this, and eagerly anticipated his reunion with "Cutty Flam." Usopp was also captured, and Kaku sent the Merry into the sea. Chopper rescued Paulie and Iceburg, and the truth was made known; however, CP9 successfully departed with their prisoners aboard the Puffing Tom, bound for Enies Lobby.
Government Workers
Gorōsei
The heads of the Government are the Gorōsei (五老星 Five Elder Stars). They are five elderly men who rule above the Navy, the Cipher Pol and made a pact with the Shichibukai. The tall thin one with the moustache (second from right) spoke with Professor Clover, ordered Spandine to shoot him and initiate the Buster Call.
They have shown to have at least a basic knowledge of the occurrences of the Void century,
according to their shocked reactions to professor Clover's statements.
Navy
Shichibukai
Cipher Pol
Vegapunk
Professor Vegapunk is a scientist in the employ of the Navy. His contributions include discovering the use of seastone, which, aside from being used to weaken Devil Fruit users, is also employed to hide ships from Sea Kings by applying a layer to the shipbottom. Furthermore, he also researched Devil Fruits, and gained an understanding of how their powers mutate. He is also the one who has figured out the recently developed technqiue for making objects "eat" Devil Fruit as well.
Government Soldiers
These are the equals of the Marine Seamen in the direct employ of the World Government. Unlike the Marines,their rank system and hierarchy is,to date, completely unknown, although they seem to fight alongside marine soldiers quite regularly.
Their uniform is black, labeled with the emblem of the World Government in white.
Corgi
- Seiyū: Egawa Hisao
- Voice Actor (FUNimation): ?
Corgi (コーギ, Kōgi) is a "regular" worker,being something of a commander amongst the Government Soldiers,as he is seen speaking to the CP9 agents of the security of the Sea Train.He constantly tries to get Iceburg to hand over the blueprint of the Pluton. However, he is denied and is seen leaving in a huff. He later appears accompanying the CP9 and watching Robin aboard the Puffing Tom, and was later knocked out by Sogeking (Usopp) during the rescue attempt.
He is able to sniff out pirates. Although he sometimes wonders if his gift is right or not he has never missed a pirate.
Workers at Enies Lobby
See Enies Lobby for details
Judicial Ships
Only remembered in the flashbacks by Franky, these ships are a traveling court and may judge a person anywhere. The one encountered judged Tom and sentenced him to death in Enies Lobby. It was later destroyed by Spandam as part of his plot against Tom.
Judicial Ship personel
The Judicial ship is acompanied by marines on board and is presided over supremely by its Judge.The one in question judged Tom twice-first sentencing him to death in Enies Lobby for building Gol D. Rogers ship,the Oro Jackson,but pardonen him,allowing him to build the sea train.After fourteen years he returned to Water 7 and was positively fascinated about the sea train,planing to pardon Tom permanently.However,his ship was atacked on the orders of Spandam , then leader of CP5 ,using Frankys ships,and afterwards making Tom and his aprentices responsible for the crime.The judge pardoned Tom from the original ofense,however sentenced him and his aprentices,yet at the last moment,Tom managed to bargain that the building of the sea train may pardon the later crime , to witch he confessed,hoping to save Tom and Iceburg from death.The Judge agreed and Tom was taken away by CP5 on board his wery sea train.
See also
- Gold Roger
- Nico Robin
- Shichibukai
- One Piece Navy
- Cipher Pol
- Enies Lobby
- The Will of D
- The Three Great Powers
- Bounties
References
