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The Principality of Minerva

Friday, November 5, 2004 Update by Zack "Geist Editor" Parsons

The Principality of Minerva, submitted by Michael Oliver. About 30 years ago a few libertarian political activists decided to found a utopia devoted to their ideology. They gathered the money, resources, and people and shipped out and built an artificial island on the Minerva Reef near the Kingdom of Tonga. They then declared the island the Republic of Minerva and sent out a letter to all of the nearby nations. Unfortunately, Tonga got the letter and said the island was theirs and promptly sent troops. They kicked out all of the libertarians and declared the island territory belonging to Tonga. Some of the founding members tried to go back in 1982 and reclaim the island (since it was uninhabited) and were promptly kicked out again by Tonga.

That's amusing and all, but they're at it again.

ANY PERSONS WISHING TO TRAVEL TO AND WITHIN THE ISLANDS AND SURROUNDING REEF COMPLEX OF WHAT IS KNOWN AS THE PRINCIPALITY OF MINERVA SHOULD BE AWARE THAT THE PRINCIPALITY MAKES NO CLAIMS OF SAFETY OR SECURITY DUE TO THE CURRENT OCCUPATION. PLEASE CONTACT THE EXECUTIVE OFFICE OF THE PRINCIPALITY WITH CONCERNS OR QUESTIONS.

That's from the tourism section of the "government in exile of the Principality of Minerva". Apparently a new group is claiming to be the government of Minerva and is fighting for the rights of their non-existant people. The oppressive Tongans and their troops who love to shoo people off islands have a stranglehold on the freedom loving imaginary people of Tonga. Feel free to read some of the hilarious propaganda and email important sounding officials of the Minervan government.

- Zack "Geist Editor" Parsons