Platforama Sealand (24 photos) Bashny.Net

I never heard of it before, but the theme is cool)
This is not just a platform, it is the whole Principality!
See photos and read.




Physically, the territory of Sealand arose during World War II. In 1942 the Royal Navy erected at the approaches to the coast a series of platforms. One of them was Rafs Tower (Roughs Tower, lit.. "Hooligan Tower"). During the war, there were placed anti-aircraft guns, and there was a garrison of 200 men. After the end of hostilities, the majority of the towers were destroyed, but Rafs Tower, being outside British territorial waters, remained intact. In 1966 a retired British army Major Paddy Roy Bates chose this place as a base for his pirate radio station «Britain's Better Music Station». To avoid prosecution by the British authorities, Bates declared platform a sovereign state and proclaimed himself Prince (prince) Roy I. The proclamation of Sealand took place on September 2, 1967. This day is celebrated as a major public holiday


In 1968, the British government tried to occupy the young state. By
patrol boats approached the platform, and the prince's family said
warning shots into the air. Before the bloodshed is not reached,
but against the Prince Roy as a British citizen, started trial
process. September 2, 1968 the judge handed down a historic Essex
Resolution: he admitted that the matter is outside the jurisdiction of the British.



In 1972, Sealand began to coin money. In 1975 it came into force on the first constitution of Sealand. There were flag and emblem.



In August 1978 there was a coup in the country. It was preceded by
the emergence of tension between the prince and his closest associates,
Prime Minister Count Alexander Gottfried Achenbach
(Alexander Gottfried Achenbach). The parties disagree on
attracting foreign investments into the country and accused each other of
anti-constitutional intentions. Taking advantage of the absence of Duke,
who led the negotiations with the Austrian investors, with a group of Achenbach
Dutch citizens landed on the island. The invaders locked up young
Prince Michael in the basement, and then took him to the Netherlands. But Michael
He escaped from captivity and met with his father. With the support of loyal citizens
country overthrow the monarchy succeeded in defeating the forces of usurpers and
return to power.



The government acted in strict accordance with the norms
international law. Prisoners foreign mercenaries were soon
released as the Geneva Convention on the rights of prisoners of war require
release of prisoners after the end of hostilities. Organizer
coup was dismissed from all his posts and convicted of public
change in accordance with the laws silendskimi, but he had a second -
German - citizenship, so its fate authorities concerned
Germany. British Foreign Office declined to intervene in the matter and the German
diplomats had to negotiate directly with Sealand. On
Island came senior legal adviser of the German Embassy in London Dr.
Nimyuller. Prince Roy of Sealand demanded diplomatic recognition, but
Finally, given the nature of the bloodless coup failed, he agreed to
verbal assurances and generously let Achenbach.



Losers continued to insist on their rights. They formed
Sealand illegal government in exile (Germany). Achenbach claimed,
that is the chairman of the Privy Council. In January 1989, he was
arrested by the authorities of Germany (of course, it does not recognize his diplomatic
status) and handed over his post to the Minister for Economic Cooperation
Zaygeru Johannes (Johannes WF Seiger), which soon became
Prime Minister. Re-elected in 1994 and 1999



September 30, 1987 Sealand announced the expansion of its territorial waters
from 3 to 12 miles. The next day, a similar statement was made
United Kingdom. Thus, in accordance with international standards,
maritime area between the two countries should be shared equally.
The absence of a bilateral agreement governing the matter, it became
cause hazardous incidents. So in 1990 Sealand fired
warning volleys British ship, unauthorized
it approached the shore.



Name Sealand without the knowledge of the government became embroiled in a grand
criminal fraud. In 1997, in view of Interpol was branched
an international syndicate to establish trade with false silendskimi
passports (he never traded Sealand passports and did not provide
asylum). Over 150 thousand. False passports (including
Diplomatic) and driving licenses, university
diplomas and other forged documents were sold to citizens of Hong Kong
(during its transfer control of China) and Eastern Europe. In
several European countries have been recorded attempts to open
bank accounts, and even the acquisition of weapons of silendskim
passports. Headquartered intruders are in Germany, the scope
activities cover Spain, Great Britain, France, Slovenia,
Romania and Russia. "Foreign Minister" was the pseudo
Russian citizen Igor Popov. In the United States found a link this case with
the murder of Gianni Versace (the killer committed suicide on the yacht, whose owner
silendsky had fake diplomatic passport). Government
Sealand had full assistance to the investigation and after this tragic
event canceled passport.



In 2000, the company posted a HavenCo Sealand your hosting instead
Government has undertaken to guarantee the inviolability of the legislation on
Freedom of Information (for the Internet in Sealand permitted everything,
except spam, hacker attacks and child pornography). HavenCo hopes,
that location on the sovereign territory would save her from the action
restrictions the British Internet legislation.



Position Sealand favorably with other provisions of artificially
created states. The Principality has a physical territory and
It has some legal bases for international
recognition. The requirement of independence is based on three arguments.
The most fundamental of these is the fact that Sealand was founded
in international waters before the entry into force of the UN Convention on Maritime
law of 1982, which prohibits the construction of artificial structures in
the open sea, and to expand the sovereign UK marine area
3 to 12 miles in 1987 on the grounds that Rafs Tower was abandoned and
struck off the list of the British Admiralty, his occupation in 1966
It is considered as colonization. It settled on the settlers had
full right to establish a state and establish a form of government for
its discretion. Sealand meets all the criteria of statehood,
specified in the Montevideo Convention on Rights and Duties of States.
According to international standards, the size of the state can not be
obstacle to recognition. For example, a recognized British possession
Pitcairn Islands has only 60 inhabitants.



Another important argument is the decision of the British court in 1968 about
lack of jurisdiction of Great Britain over Sealand. No other
The country also has not declared their rights to Sealand.