- "You can't possibly appreciate that this is Bajoran against Bajoran." - Krim
The Circle's symbol
The Alliance for Global Unity, informally known as "The Circle", was an organized extremist faction that emerged after the Cardassian withdrawal from the occupation of Bajor in 2369.
In the midst of civil unrest and wide-spread dissatisfaction with Bajoran Provisional Government, The Circle offered an alternative, xenophobic vision, in "Bajor for Bajorans." They insisted on their superiority over all other species, and demanded all aliens expelled from the planet. In the Circle's eyes, the presence of the Federation aboard Deep Space 9 was akin to Cardassia and the recently ended occupation. As chaos overwhelmed Bajor, the Circle, with Bajoran Militia support, attempted a coup d'etat and besieged DS9. The faction's takeover attempt faltered when evidence revealed the original source of their weapon supply. Cardassians, finding advantage in the Circle's disruption of Bajoran politics, had surreptitiously supplied the faction through intermediaries. Once the Circle's credibility was compromised, the Bajoran Militia withdrew their support, lifting the siege of DS9.
Origins
Fifty years of the Cardassian Empire's oppressive rule created a fierce Bajoran desire for independence. After their liberation in 2369, many Bajorans found it insulting when the Provisional Government invited the Federation to oversee DS9. Even Kira Nerys, the station's Bajoran liaison officer, believed the Federation had no right to be there. Like others, she had little respect for the provisional government, but she was willing to abide by its decision. Others, like Tahna Los, were unwilling to wait for change. Shortly after the discovery of the wormhole, Tahna attempted to destroy it, believing the Federation, Cardassia, and the rest of the Alpha Quadrant would leave Bajor alone once it was gone. (DS9: "Emissary", "Past Prologue")
Initially, the bulk of the Bajoran people harbored little ill-will for the Federation, but tensions rose when Federation and Bajoran cultures clashed. When Keiko O'Brien opened a school aboard DS9, most of her students were Bajoran. Her teachings of the wormhole's nature and "wormhole aliens" conflicted with their religious upbringing. According to Bajoran religion, the wormhole was the "Celestial Temple", home of the Prophets. The opportunistic Vedek Winn Adami arrived on DS9 accusing Keiko of blasphemy, drawing in her political opponent Vedek Bareil Antos, and causing an uproar in the local population. .("In the Hands of the Prophets")
Emergence
Jaro Essa, an outwardly gracious Minister of the provisional government, saw an opportunity to seize power and rule unilaterally, by capitalizing on the disenchantment of his fellow Bajorans. In 2369, he secretly founded the "Alliance for Global Unity", orchestrating its activities from behind the scenes through 2370. The Circle became the tool he used to turn the Federation, and the provisional government that supported it, into enemies of the Bajoran people.
The Circle took steps to drive the Federation and all non-Bajorans into leaving DS9. Starting with vandalism in remote, unsecured areas of the station, they left their symbols, testing Federation vulnerability. Becoming bolder, they left similar grafitti on the door to Commander Sisko's quarters and branded the Ferengi barkeep Quark. Concurrently, agents on the planet's surface inflanmed anti-alien sentiments.
Jaro perceived a threat to his power in the popularity of the war hero Li Nalas, recently freed from a labor camp on Cardassia IV. Jaro dealt with this by promoting Major Kira to a surface post and assigning Li tp DS9. Without Li's unifying influence, tensions mounted on Bajor and riots erupted across the planet, particularly in the vicinity of the capital. Disgruntled Bajorans angrily demanded a new government that could stand on it's own. As Jaro himself secretly put it, "Government? They can't even agree that it is a government, so they call it 'provisional'."
Armed with weapons purchased from Kressari traders, the Circle clashed with Bajoran Militia forces with increasing frequency. The Militia was unable to stop the Circle; each potential conflict leading to a further withdrawal. Some of the Militia proved to be members of the Circle, further aggravating the situation.
Chaos and Downfall
Vedek Winn and Minister Jaro
Jaro remained a man of the people in the eyes of his fellow Bajorans throughout the ordeal, so when popular support was clearly on his side, he began to openly support reform. With Li Nalas gone, Jaro easily gained the support of the opportunistic Vedek Winn (whom he promised would be the next Kai if she claimed the Prophets were on Jaro's side) and military leaders such as General Krim. The only thing stopping the Circle was the Federation, so in preparation for a coup d'etat, members of the Bajoran Militia informed Comander Sisko that he had seven hours to evacuate DS9; bound by the Prime Directive, Sisko had little choice in the matter. ("The Circle")
Krim led a siege of the station, driving Sisko and the others into hiding. By this time, it had been discovered that the Cardassians were secretly supplying the Circle with weapons through the Kressari, for without the Federation, Bajor -- and with it the Bajoran wormhole -- would be ripe for conquest. However, as all communication with Bajor had been cut off, there was no way for Sisko to relay the message to the Chamber of Ministers.
Oblivious to the manipulation, Jaro's thugs continued to terrorize the planet as he prepared to usurp power from the provisional government. Fortunately, Major Kira Nerys (whom the Circle had taken hostage earlier) and Lieutenant Commander Jadzia Dax were able to bring the evidence, in the form of a manifest with a Cardassian Gul's thumb signature on it, to the Chamber of Ministers in time to prevent the transition of power from occurring. ("The Siege")
Known Members
Appearances
DS9:
Background Information
DS9's second season began with Star Trek's first three-episode-long story arc, of which the Alliance for Global Unity was the focal point. Building upon events from the first season, such as the sentiments expressed by Tahna Los in "Past Prologue" and the tensions between Winn and the Federation in "In the Hands of the Prophets," this marked the beginning of a trend that would continue throuhout the series.
The revelation of Cardassian involvement in the Circle's plan to overthrow the provisional government appears to have silenced the movement's supporters; in later episodes, Bajor and the Federation are far more cooperative than previously. The fate of members of the Circle, particularly Minister Jaro (who claimed to fully support the investigation of the new evidence) is uncertain.