Sealand: From the Sea, Freedom

William Shakespeare believed that boldness lies in freedom, and for Paddy Roy Bates, freedom lies in the North Sea. The salty kiss of the Atlantic Ocean, however, wasn't the freedom Roy longer for; he scoured for independence from English law. As a 1960s DJ, Roy wanted to play popular rock'n'roll, but English Parliament had yet to enable radio broadcasts of this genre. Many DJs like Roy decided to take music into their own hands and broadcast from sea. This tactic enabled legality of the station and provided England's youth with the music they wanted to hear. These Disc Jockeys were known as Pirate DJs. Paddy differed from his fellow Pirates in regard to his means of broadcasting. Instead of using a boat, Roy's Essex Radio, relayed from a WWII stronghold, designed to prevent German invasions. Secluded six miles off of England's east coast, Roy still encountered fines and taxes aplenty from England's Government. With his knack for entrepreneurial foresight, Roy left behind Essex Radio and warmly embraced the Principality of Sealand. For anyone who doesn't know, a Principality is a nation ruled by a prince or princess. In this case, Prince Michael and Princess Penelope. Roy established his oceanic platform without English consent. With such little concern for the rules, Roy wasn't as wayward as he seemed. In Montevideo, Uruguay, multiple world powers instilled four laws that would be every nation’s path to gaining a "certificate of authenticity" and "outlined statehood rights and duties" as the podcast 99% Invisible puts it. The rules are as follows: the state as a person of international law should have a defined territory, a permanent population, a government, and capacity to enter into relations with other states. Though the sixteen articles made in Montevideo still stand, many technical "nations" are seldom recognized as prevailing realms.

Despite being remarked as illegitimate, Mr. Bates encountered proper national hassles. The list of these toils contains, but is not limited to, ousting, mutiny, and treason. The Ambassador of Foreign Affairs, interestingly, committed each one of these sins. However, it was Roy's devising that led him into trouble. Paddy had a past full of ventures with a hint of hustling, and his money making gimmicks often turned quite outlandish. One of the many ploys devised by Roy was to build a "leisure island" surrounding Sealand, complete with a casino. Roy and Joan Bates took a trip to Austria to negotiate funding the casino idea, and while the heads of state were away, 25 year-old Michael was left to "figuratively hold down the literal fort," as said by Roman Mars. Late one evening, while Michael was alone on the platform, Alexander Achenbach and some German cronies flew a helicopter to Sealand. Alexander said that Roy had signed over Sealand to him. Michael, knowing his own father, discerned that Achenbach was lying. Michael told Alexander to fly his father out to Sealand in order to prove it, and as Michael went inside to make refreshment, the Germans barricaded the door from the exterior, locking Michael inside for four days. Once Achenbach released Michael, he deported him to Europe and finalized the usurpation of Sealand. Something Alexander may have not taken into consideration, however, was Paddy's military history, savvy, and obstinacy. Michael contacted and rendezvoused with his dad. Upon meeting, the Bates boys plotted to regain control of the political situation in Sealand. Doors to the helicopter removed, Roy and Michael awaited their arrival at Sealand, where they would descend onto the platform guns blazing, literally. After propelling onto the roof, Michael leaped and pulled the trigger to his sawed-off shotgun. One round was more than enough to have the Germans with their hands in the air. Achenbach claims that the incident was a "joke taken too far," but that wasn't convincing enough for Roy to deter. Roy kept Alexander until the German government formally requested Sealand to return Alexander. This unconventional encounter with another government completed, in Roy's mind, the fourth and final criteria of the Montevideo Convention.

"From the Sea, Freedom," the national mantra of Sealand. I believe those four words are more profound than intended or expected. Not only does it portray the resistance of domestic thieves and foreign adversaries, but the end to which creating Sealand met. What point is there in life if we live without autonomy? Emily Dickinson understood this better than most, because she lived in bondage to anxiety her whole life. “Hope shall perch itself” in the heart with no sky to glimpse, no air to respire, no sea to imbibe. E Mare Libertas.

Photos by Google Images

Information from:

http://www.sealandgov.org

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/obituaries/royalty-obituaries/9602837/Prince-Roy-of-Sealand.html?scrlybrkr

99% Invisible: From the Sea, Freedom by Roman Mars

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