Hmmmmmmmmmm...
Shades of _The Mouse That Roared_.
DSH
Lux et Veritas et Libertas
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Tiny Shetland island declares independence
<http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/oukoe_uk_britain_island_independence>
By Kate Kelland
Sat Jun 21, 12:19 PM ET
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 cir***navigate 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,
cor****ation 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-establi****ng
the correct legal relation****p 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 sup****ts
these aims, namely to become free of liars, thieves and tyrants in
government, to become a citizen of Forvik," he added.
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