Liberland is the world’s newest self-proclaimed micro-nation where taxes are optional

BY: TJ MOREY

As general knowledge, it’s a preconceived notion today that there is no piece of land that exists that is not already bound by the shackles of any particular nation. Either the land is already owned by a country, or few countries are losing their time, money, and men to capture and claim it. And just when we think countries fighting over a piece of land is a norm and the space on earth is overtly saturated, a new country is emerging right before our eyes.

Cradled in a minuscule 7 square kilometre area between Serbia and Croatia, on the western bank of the river Danube, is the new (disputable) country of Liberland. An unclaimed no-man’s land located on the Serbo-Croatian border, the territory has been disputed since the breakup and distribution of Yugoslavia, eventually to be proclaimed on April 13th, 2015 by Czech politician and activist Vit Jedlicka.

Cradled in a minuscule 2.7 square mile area between Serbia and Croatia, on the western bank of the river Danube, is the new (and disputed) country of Liberland.

A country that is already equipped with a website, flag, coat of arms, and a motto: “To Live and Let Live,” Liberland has been accepting citizenship applications through their website, and they have received more than 300,000 of them. Originally conceived as a political stunt by Vit Jedlicka, a former member of the Party of Free Citizens in Czech Republic, the concept of Liberland soon gained enough traction to materialize into reality. With its liberal views, Liberland is focussing on attracting the most liberal of today’s generation to partake in their libertarian venture. The prime motive is to have minimal governance over the people while offering basic provisions like fire fighting, banking, etc. strictly on a voluntary basis.

Currently, Liberland is considering Bitcoins as its official currency; a move that will eliminate central banking and loosen monetary regulations. It is also accepting design proposals for a set of gold coins that will be aptly called “Vit coins,” named after the founder of Liberland, Vit Jedlicka. Liberland is also accepting proposals for a national anthem, architectural structure among various other proposals.

The country is already equipped with a flag, coat of arms, and a motto: “To Live and Let Live.” They have received more than 300,000 citizen applications.

The first settlement of 120 citizens will soon be arriving in Liberland and will lay the foundation for future citizens. Unfortunately Liberland hasn’t been officially recognized as a country, especially by Serbia and Croatia, making its existence questionable. Absurdly though, the branding and marketing of Liberland is spot-on, making it seem legit, at least in the people’s eyes. Earlier, a group of Czech journalists tried to enter the territory but were disallowed to trespass by the Croatian Border Patrol.

Unfortunately, Liberland is already in a bit of an existential dilemma. Apparently, the land on which Liberland is situated was already claimed by another nation called Paraduin, and they’re vying to reclaim it from Liberland. For the first time in history, we might just witness two freshly-formed microscopic states battling each other over an infinitesimally small piece of land.

Setting up a country is a relatively old trend, especially on a terra nullius territory—a territory that isn’t claimed by any sovereignty as per international laws. Last year itself, Jeremiah Heaton, an American, claimed an undisputed patch of desert between Egypt and Sudan to fulfil his seven year old daughter’s dream of becoming a princess.