Could you declare your plot of land independent from the rest of the country?

darkman2

*Is it possible? Imagine if a couple living in a gaff in a surburban housing estate in Muff, for example, declared independence - refused to pay tax etc, made a little flag for themselves and declared a Republic.......what would happen?


Ive got a feeling this has happened somewhere in the world....but I dont remember where - probrably America.:)




*this is a serious question and no, im not drunk....

Cool_CM

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Principality_of_Sealand
They were giving out honorary titles for a while too that you could apply for on their site
http://www.sealandgov.org/
And here's picture to show you exactly how big it is
http://www.sealandnews.com/wp-content/uploads/2007/07/page2.jpg

Parsley

It was an episode of Family Guy.

ParkRunner

Im sure some guy tried that in england. Declared himself King of his own caravan..and there is some tiny island too which someone claimed as an independent country not far off our shore. Id love to see it happen but they dont seem to get very far these ideas

Black Swan

darkman2 wrote: »

Ive got a feeling this has happened somewhere in the world....but I dont remember where - probrably America.

Yes. I read about a weird group in Texas that declared itself independent of the state and USA. Not sure what they called themselves... Republic of Texas or something?

darkman2 wrote:

*this is a serious question and no, im not drunk....

Well, hurry up, run to the frig and get a cool one! I'm on meds and my GP won't let me drink, so you can have one for me!

pq0n1ct4ve8zf5

Don't Cork people make sporadic attempts at doing that but then get distracted by talking about how much they love Cork/hate Kerry/despise Dubs?

Pompey Magnus

I might be completely wrong here but I think I remember being told that we don't strictly speaking own our own land, the state ultimately lays claim to it.

Anyways International Law pretty much prohibits unilateral secession from established states so it can't really be done.

connundrum

It'd be sweet if you could, but I'd suggest declaring an island independant might be easier.

I thought Cork tried this already?

I never understood how Lesotho got away with it, but I guess being a 'kingdom' has something to do with it.

marco murphy

There was someone in Ireland who done that, I'm certain, was in one of the tabloids. Had a flag and a currency, on his farmyard as far as I know.

Kimbot

Parsley wrote: »

It was an episode of Family Guy.

Ah petoria... what a place.

"pedoland was already taken".......

Overheal

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/petoria

Chardee MacDennis

Danny Wallace tried this

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/How_to_Start_Your_Own_Country

Dave!

If I were to guess, I would think that it qualifies as a coup and would have some rather harsh maximum sentences associated with it. Probably to deal with paramilitaries.

Eoin

Addisyn Shy Zap wrote: »

Don't Cork people make sporadic attempts at doing that but then get distracted by talking about how much they love Cork/hate Kerry/despise Dubs?

Yep, despite no one outside of Cork having any problems with this whatsoever, it's still not happened.

Alessandra

I don't think it is quite as simple as declaring statehood. I think you have to show there is (a) a definite permanent population (b) a stable and effective government (c) a defined geographical location. It's up to other States to then choose to recognise the independent state or not by advancing diplomatic relations or else ignoring the state in question.

Sherifu

Sealand will rock when the piratebay moves there.

phantom_lord

i wrote to the gov about doing this when i was a kid, citing the economic benefits of the the tourism trade that would be created by the worlds smallest country, they fobbed me off with a letter thanking me for my interest in the dáil, and sent me some booklets on the government depts. bastards.

Xavi6

Already been done over here -

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

http://www.australiantraveller.com/index.cfm?page_id=2027

DID YOU KNOW? // The Principality of Hutt River has its own stamps, currency, visas and drivers licenses, so remember to take your passport with you on your visit so you can get it stamped.

KTRIC

Sherifu wrote: »

Sealand will rock when the piratebay moves there.

Isn't Pirate Bay already there ?