Tiny Shetland island declares independence

[el borracho]

By Kate KellandSat Jun 21, 12:19 PM ET

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.

"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," he wrote.

"By declaring Forvik a crown dependency I am simply re-establishing the correct legal relationship between this part of Shetland and the crown.

Hill said he had written to the Queen offering his services as "steward" and recognising her as head of state.

"I also invite anyone 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," he added.

No major political significance, but I like these stories when eccentric people do crazy sh!t.

[Kilgor]

Im sure someone here will claim its because of Kosovo

[khukuri]

Im sure someone here will claim its because of Kosovo


jhahahah!


funny article thou!

[el borracho]

http://www.shetland-news.co.uk/news_06_2008/Forvik%20Declaration%20of%20Direct%20Dependence.htm

Here is Hill's draft of Forvik's official declaration of direct dependence.

http://shetlandconversation.squarespace.com/forvik/

Here is Forvik's official website.

[szr]

Not sure why but when I read the title of the thread I though briefly that Chincoteague had declared independence.

Edit: I guess it's the pony connection.

[Vorian]

Bomb him rofl

[Trenk]

so I hope he´s not expecting medical care, police service or anything else from british government...

[SHAM]

so I hope he´s not expecting medical care, police service or anything else from british government...

He will blend in nicely with all the other British tax payers then:)

[Hydro]

He will blend in nicely with all the other British tax payers then:)


Ha! So true!

[Calanen]

so I hope he´s not expecting medical care, police service or anything else from british government...

The dude has lived in a tent by himself since 2001 in one of the most inhospitable places on the planet. I think his capacity for self-reliance cannot be disputed...

[justasoldier]

Did he consult Greece over the name of his island?

[muck]

No VAT? I shall move there.

...Wait.

[Midav]

Tiny ****land island declares independence

There, fixed.

[SHAM]

We need all the friends we can get in Ireland at the moment,
we will recognise him, but we have to put it to a referendum first!

[Luno]

lol you can donate money to him on his webpage, but still it is probably the poorest country on earth

[Kjallakr]

Yes, I don't think we can ignore this small nations right of self-determination...

Recognizedp-)

[Midav]

There's enough of us here at mp.net to orchestrate an invasion.

Let's take over and call it militaryphotosland. Official currency would be pics of nekkid chicks with numbers announcing the scale of hawtness.

I'll give you 10 nekkid Charlize Theron snapshots for that couch set and lamp

[CombatBoots]

There's enough of us here at mp.net to orchestrate an invasion.

Let's take over and call it militaryphotosland. Official currency would be pics of nekkid chicks with numbers announcing the scale of hawtness.

I'll give you 10 nekkid Charlize Theron snapshots for that couch set and lamp

We'd have a civil war over who we put on the 100 bill.

[Luno]

There's enough of us here at mp.net to orchestrate an invasion.

Let's take over and call it militaryphotosland. Official currency would be pics of nekkid chicks with numbers announcing the scale of hawtness.

I'll give you 10 nekkid Charlize Theron snapshots for that couch set and lamp

can we put up an huge Tof statue on the island to?

[Huhtis]

can we put up an huge Tof statue on the island to?
It will be bronze and so big the island will sink from its weight

[Luno]

It will be bronze and so big the island will sink from its weight

bronze it to expensive i say we build with lego and paint it with chinese led paint

[CombatBoots]

bronze it to expensive i say we build with lego and paint it with chinese led paint

A ToF statue must be done in latex and leather.

[Silent Reader]

lol you can donate money to him on his webpage, but still it is probably the poorest country on earth

hmm most (or nearly all) countries have huge debts.. if he has any these will seem non-existant to the trillions of dollars the big countries have in debt.
so taking this in account one could call this one of the richest countries in the world - there are also no homeless people, there is no crime... must be a wonderful place :D

[Luno]

hmm most (or nearly all) countries have huge debts.. if he has any these will seem non-existant to the trillions of dollars the big countries have in debt.
so taking this in account one could call this one of the richest countries in the world - there are also no homeless people, there is no crime... must be a wonderful place :D

and no pubs or girls :)

[Silent Reader]

and no pubs or girls :)

but you could get nearly every girl by promising her to make her your vice president.. or queen.. or whatever :D

[Luno]

but you could get nearly every girl by promising her to make her your vice president.. or queen.. or whatever :D

damn you are right :) or we can say we are giving away free one way tickets to Ibiza to lure them to the island :D

[pacifist]

Splitters!

Send in the Royal marines, paras and the SAS.

[Bushranger]

Splitters!

Send in the Royal marines, paras and the SAS.

Thats what i was thinking it would be over in 1 min.

[Alfacentori]

Nice, made me think of Oz's own little independant principality who split from us in the 70's.

http://www.principality-hutt-river.com/

Alfa

[Silent Reader]

there are several of these:


Small, Strange and Surreal: 3 of the Most Bizarre Micronations in the World:

http://weburbanist.com/2007/12/24/small-strange-and-surreal-3-of-the-most-bizarre-micronations-in-the-world (http://weburbanist.com/2007/12/24/small-strange-and-surreal-3-of-the-most-bizarre-micronations-in-the-world/)


Want to Be Alone? Six Micronations Where That's Possible

http://www.citizensugar.com/1646814

[el borracho]

there are several of these:



Small, Strange and Surreal: 3 of the Most Bizarre Micronations in the World:

http://weburbanist.com/2007/12/24/small-strange-and-surreal-3-of-the-most-bizarre-micronations-in-the-world




I was trying to remember the name of the micronation that a couple of guys in Nevada made, there were even photos of them in pieced together general's uniforms as the president and vice president. Sure enough, it's in that link.

[SniperLane]

wow there are quite some freaks in the world i guess

[Vorian]

One of those had a coup that failed and the rebels were imprisoned as POWs!!!!

[SniperLane]

pretty amazing how they did it since they had only 3 persons on board or something like that rofl

[Connaught Ranger]

lol you can donate money to him on his webpage, but still it is probably the poorest country on earth

So he is willing to use a British Bank and British currency to survive:roll:

Britain should place an embargo on him, and if he wants to enter British territory apply for a visa:)

Connaught Rangerp-)

[CombatBoots]

Politics put aside, ain't he doing what many of us have dreamed of?

[Connaught Ranger]

Politics put aside, ain't he doing what many of us have dreamed of?

Yeah! living a bloody miserable existence on a rock, now he wants publicity to keep him company:roll:

Connaught Ranger:)

[CombatBoots]

Yeah! living a bloody miserable existence on a rock, now he wants publicity to keep him company:roll:

Connaught Ranger:)

Not what I meant, I meant a dream not a reality.
Dream: Having your own island, freedom from buerocracy etc...
Reality: The situation stated by you and the article.

Thanks for your understanding.