just like a real country...micro-nation up for sale

[Guest guest]

i saw a special on this platform quasi nation a loooooooooong time ago....

it was sorta interesting, but at the time(ack, prolly very early 80's, maybe

late 70's), it almost seemed more of a gimmick

 

 

 

'Smallest state' seeks new owners

 

The owners of the world's " smallest state " -- Sealand -- have put

the

quasi-country up for sale.

 

The former anti-aircraft platform, seven miles off the Essex coast, was

taken over 40 years ago by retired Army major Paddy Roy Bates.

 

The so-called " independent state " of Sealand is currently home to an

internet firm.

 

The platform, built by Britain during World War II, now has its own

flag, passports, currency and stamps.

 

It was derelict until the 1960s when Mr Bates took over the 10,000 sq ft

platform and declared it the independent nation of Sealand.

 

At the time, the platform was beyond the then three-mile limit of

British territorial waters. All this changed in 1987, when the UK

extended its territorial waters from three to 12 miles.

 

'Rejuvenation' needed

 

Sealand's current " head of state " , Mr Bates' son Michael, said

he was

only 14 when the they took over the platform, but now seemed the right

time to sell up.

 

" My father is 85 and my mother in her late 70s and I'm 54, " he said.

" I

believe the project needs a bit of rejuvenation. "

 

" Michael of Sealand " said the family were approached by a Spanish estate

agents specialising in selling islands.

 

The firm, Inmonaranja, has put a price tag of 750m euros (£504m) on Sealand.

 

However, Michael was reluctant to put a price tag on it.

 

He said the " micro-nation " included accommodation, offices, a power

generator and a chapel.

 

" What you would normally expect in a small village, really, " he said.

 

During the Bates' time on the platform, they saw off an attempt by the

Royal Navy to evict them, and an attempt by a group of German and Dutch

businessmen to seize control of the platform by force.

 

Michael said Sealand had aroused suspicion as well as drama.

 

" At one time it was regarded by some as the Cuba off the east coast of

England, he said.

 

" People thought we were harbouring missiles or something, and this is

despite my father's exemplary military record. "

 

He said the North Sea property, complied with international laws.

 

Michael, who travels to Sealand by helicopter from his Essex base, said

he believed Britain was increasingly becoming a " nanny state " and that

the sale might attract people wanting to " get away from it all " .

 

The government does not recognise the sovereignty of Sealand.

 

BBC NEWS:

http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/pr/fr/-/2/hi/uk_news/england/6239967.stm

2007/01/08 16:03:57 GMT

 

*****

 

http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,242351,00.html

World's Smallest 'Country' for Sale

Monday, January 08, 2007

By Sara Bonisteel

AP

 

The self-proclaimed sovereign principality of Sealand, aboard an

artillery platform built during World War II, as seen in 1999.

 

The world's smallest " country " is going on the chopping block.

 

The self-proclaimed sovereign principality of Sealand, built atop a

World War II artillery platform in the North Sea, is for sale, Agence

France-Presse reports.

 

" We have owned the island for 40 years now and my father is 85, " the AFP

quoted Prince Michael of Sealand as saying. " Perhaps it is time for some

rejuvenation. Astronomical figures have been mentioned but we will just

see what comes forward. "

 

Its eight-figure price tag and remote accessibility would make it

perfect for a James Bond villain. Sealand's past is just as colorful as

any Ian Fleming novel.

 

Built by the British Navy in 1941 in international waters off the coast

of Harwich, England, the approximately 550-square-yard steel platform

set atop two concrete towers was abandoned after World War II.

 

Enter Paddy Roy Bates, who along with his family, occupied the structure

in 1967 and proclaimed its sovereign principality. That claim lead to a

decade's long struggle for control with the United Kingdom that included

a lawsuit and the jury-rigging of international water boundaries.

 

In 1974, Roy of Sealand introduced a constitution, and a flag, currency,

national anthem and official passport followed.

 

German businessmen allegedly attempted to kidnap Roy's son, Michael,

from the platform in 1978 in a botched business deal.

 

As of late, the platform has been home to an offshore Internet company.

 

According to Sealand's official Web site, the principality " suffered a

devastating fire which has crippled its infrastructure significantly " in

June 2006.

 

*****

 

http://www.allheadlinenews.com/articles/7006070387

Country Up For Sale For $126 Million

January 8, 2007 7:03 a.m. EST

by Komfie Manalo

All Headline News Correspondent

Essex, England (AHN)

 

Do you want to own a country? All you have to do is pay $126 million and

the Principality of Sealand, located seven miles off Harwich, Essex in

England, could be yours.

 

Sealand is a self-proclaimed mini-state on a former World War II fort.

It has its own passports, currency and stamps.

 

According to the Daily Telegraph, Sealand became an independent state

after " Prince " Roy Bates occupied the island with his family in 1967.

 

The British Royal Navy tried to retake the island from him but Bates

fired warning shots which caused the navy to retreat. A court later

ruled that Sealand sits outside the three-mile limit, and therefore

Britain cannot exercise its sovereignty on the island.

 

Now, the island nation, which was devastated by a fire last year, has

been put up for sale through Spanish real estate agents Inmonarnaja.

 

The brochure for the nation said, " Anyone who takes on a stake in

Sealand, " will be able to share in and become part of the history of the

most famous and oldest micro-nation in the world. "

 

*****

 

http://www.ananova.com/news/story/sm_2148495.html

Country for sale -- £65m

 

A country is up for sale to anyone who can stump up the £65 million

asking price.

 

The Principality of Sealand is a self-proclaimed mini-state on a former

Second World War fort, seven miles off Harwich, Essex.

 

It has its own passports, currency and stamps, reports the Daily Telegraph.

 

Sealand became an independent state after " Prince " Roy Bates occupied

it

with his family in 1967.

 

The Royal Navy was sent to evict him but Bates saw them off with warning

shots. A judge later ruled that, as Sealand lay outside the three-mile

limit, it was outside government control.

 

Now the nation, which experienced a devastating fire last year, has been

put up for sale through Spanish estate agents Inmonaranja.

 

Anyone who takes on a stake in Sealand, says the brochure, will " be able

to share in and become part of the history of the most famous and oldest

micro-nation in the world " .

 

 

What gets us into trouble is not what we don't know, it's what we know for sure

that just ain't so.

- Mark Twain