Tiny Shetland island declares independence

Reuters via Yahoo! ^ | Saturday, June 21, 2008 | Kate Kelland

[Momaw Nadon]

LONDON (Reuters) - The owner of a tiny island in off Scotland declared its independence from the United Kingdom on Saturday, saying he wanted the territory, population one, to be a crown dependency like the Channel Islands.

In a declaration on his Web site, Stuart Hill, who owns the 2.5 acre island of Forvik in the Shetland Islands in the North Sea, said he no longer recognised the authority of the government or the European Union, and cited a centuries-old royal marriage dowry deal as the basis for his claim.

"Forvik owes no allegiance to any United Kingdom government, central or local, and is not bound by any of its statutes," Hill wrote.

Hill, 65, has lived in the Shetland Islands on the edge of the Atlantic since 2001, when his boat capsized there during an unsuccessful attempted to circumnavigate Britain.

He is Forvik's only resident, and his home is a tent on the storm-battered island. He says on his website that he plans to create Forvik's own currency -- the "gulde" -- print his own stamps and raise his own flag.

"There will be no income tax, VAT (value added tax), council tax, corporation tax, or any of the other taxes instituted by the British government," Hill wrote.

Hill's claim dates back to a 15th century arrangement between the Norwegian King Christian and King James III of Scotland when the Shetland Islands were effectively pawned to King James in lieu of a marriage dowry.

According to Hill's studies of the history of the island, in 1669 King Charles II re-confirmed Shetland's status at the time of the pawning, meaning the islands remained directly answerable to the crown -- represented today by the Queen.

[Stoat]

MINA Breaking News - One Man Island (Forvik) declares Independence from U.K.

An excerpt from the Declaration:

It is my earnest desire that Forvik will provide an example for Shetland to follow and that Shetland in turn will provide an example for other countries and regions, the people of which would prefer a system where their politicians represent, rather than rule them

Below is the complete declaration of Independence by Stuart Hill, citizen of the Forvik Republic:

 

==============================================================
We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are entitled to certain inalienable rights and that among these are life, freedom and the expression of their full potential.

To secure these rights, a Government is instituted, deriving its just powers from the consent of the governed. Whenever any form of Government becomes destructive of these ends, or when there is a long train of abuses and usurpations, it is the right and duty of the people to alter or to abolish it. Then to institute new Government, laying its foundation on such principles and organising its powers in such form, as shall seem most likely to effect their security and prosperity. In Shetland there has been for many years abuses and usurpations by both government and Crown. They include, but are not limited to, those in the following indictment.

Indictment:

That the monarchs and governments of Scotland, and Great Britain and The United Kingdom have for many years assumed powers over these islands of Shetland to which they were not entitled.

That those monarchs and governments have imposed a foreign system of laws in breach of their clear obligation to the contrary and that those laws have been used against the people of these islands to their great prejudice.

That the government of the United Kingdom has committed fraudulent acts upon these islands to the great detriment of the people.

That the only powers granted to King James III of Scotland in 1469, when he accepted these islands as security in the matter of payment of a marriage dowry, were those of trustee. His Majesty was holding them in trust until they were redeemed by King Christian of Denmark and Norway or his successors. Part of his obligation was to preserve the existing language and laws. The Plenipotentiaries of Europe confirmed in the 1667 Peace and Treaty of Breda that these arrangements remained in full force at that time and nothing has happened since then to give the monarch or the government any further rights or powers.

That King Charles II confirmed in 1669 that the inhabitants of these islands were to have an immediate dependence upon His Majesty and his officers and the islands were erected into a Stewartry, answering directly to His Majesty and to the exclusion of Parliament.

That King Charles II declared that in the event of a general dissolution of His Majesty's properties, such as happened in 1707 with the Act of Union, these islands were not to be included, but were to remain in direct dependence to His Majesty.

That Queen Anne ignored the provisions laid down by King Charles II and illegally incorporated Shetland into Great Britain with the Act of Union.

That the government of the United Kingdom forced these islands, to their great disadvantage, to remain in the European Economic Community, and later the European Union, against the clearly stated will of the people.

That the government of the United Kingdom, without any prior right, appropriated the fishing and other rights, in the seas around these islands and gave them to foreign powers.

That the government of the United Kingdom, without any prior right, appropriated the seabed around these islands for the purposes of oil extraction.

That the government of the United Kingdom demands rents for the use of seabed around Shetland, to which they have no right or title.

That the Shetlands Islands Councillors and their legal department, having been advised of these issues and having chosen to take no action, thereby make themselves complicit in illegal acts.

Accordingly I, Stuart Alan Hill, being the udal owner of the island of Forvik, do declare that the said island of Forvik owes no allegiance to any United Kingdom government, central or local, and is not bound by any of its statutes. I offer my services as Steward to Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II and acknowledge her rights as being the same, and not more, than were originally granted to King James III in 1469.

Further:

I hereby invite residents of Shetland to join with me to set up a true and just administration, based on principles of democracy that will ensure the elected representatives carry out the wishes of the people and that will serve as a model to which the rest of Shetland can aspire.

Further, I hereby invite residents of Shetland to join their properties with that of Forvik in a federation under such new administration.

Further, I also invite any suitable person from any country in the world, who supports these aims, namely to become free of liars, thieves and tyrants in government, to become a citizen of Forvik.

It is my earnest desire that Forvik will provide an example for Shetland to follow and that Shetland in turn will provide an example for other countries and regions, the people of which would prefer a system where their politicians represent, rather than rule them.

[Stoat]

Interesting. I hope he has a brewery in the works!

The output of such a brewery or distillery would instantly be a very popular brand (providing it didn't harm the palate too badly) but such a venture would also likely be his undoing....depriving any Government of Liquor Revenue is something that no Government has ever tolerated....this would be the excuse the Crown needs to send in a battleship.

[NonValueAdded]

I want a pony

[Mr. K]

now all he has to do is invite corparations to ‘re-locate; their business headquarters there, and pay no sales or income tax, and he will make a fortune

until they come and arrest him (he has no army)

[rahbert]

he should set up a bank.

[Mr. K]

[Clintonfatigued]

Give how downhill Great Britain has been going, who can blame them?

[NonValueAdded]

OMG, that’s heartbreaking

[NonValueAdded]

Please?

[Portcall24]

Shoot low Sheriff they’re riding these.

[Bat_Chemist]

Imports it is, then. Oh well, GB and Europe have some palatable brews.

(C8

[Stoat]

Imports it is, then. Oh well, GB and Europe have some palatable brews.

(C8

Indeed they do, and running a public house, a resort or a B&B featuring Shetland-brewed ales might allow him to make a go of this revolutionary effort  while keeping under the radar of Parliament and in so doing also keep the gunboats at bay  :-)

Valhalla Brewery. Almighty ales from Britains most northerly island.

 

Imports it is, then. Oh well, GB and Europe have some palatable brews.

(C8

[SunkenCiv]

Note: this topic is from 6/21/2008. Thanks Momaw Nadon. Flyspeck, er, Forvik island;

[SunkenCiv]

http://www.forvik.com/

http://www.scotsman.com/news/end-of-the-road-for-free-forvik-1-1741271

http://www.theguardian.com/uk/2011/dec/15/shetland-stuart-hill-community-service

http://www.vice.com/read/captain-calamity-and-the-quest-for-shetlands-independence-930

http://mw.micronation.org/wiki/Crown_Dependency_of_Forvik

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sovereign_State_of_Forvik

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Forewick_Holm

[Fightin Whitey]

I want a pony

Hay quit horsin' around!