The Montevideo Convention

Most libertarians know about the Montevideo Convention. However most people don't know about it. The Convention was signed by 19 states. This convention establishes the definition of a State, as well as its rights and obligations. The best known conceptualization is that of Article 1, which establishes four characteristic criteria of State, which have been recognized as an accurate statement in customary international law:

I. Permanent population.

II. Territory determined.

III. Government.

IV. Ability to enter into relations with other States.

The Montevideo Convention in the case of Catalonia:

Everyone knows that Catalonia is wishing to be an independent state. The Spanish State does not allow to split Catalonia from Spain. But according the Montevideo Convention, Catalonia has the right to do so. Let's check what is the Montevideo convention and why catalans can apply the right of self-determination in their case.

The Montevideo Convention stablishes several conditions to be an independent state. The first of them is to have a permanent population. Catalonia has more than 7 million people. From that population, more than the 50% of it, is autoctonous from the region. The second principle to fulfill is to have a territory determined. Catalonia has a territory, but it is part of Spain and here it is the reason why Catalonia is not reaching the 4 principles of this convention. The third principle says to have a government. Catalonia has a government. Carles Puigdemont, the President of Catalonia, has the ability to control the government of Catalonia. The last principle, the Montevideo Convention stablishes to be an state is to have the ability to enter into relations with other States. Catalonia has this ability. First of all, the last Catalan Presidents, Artur Mas and Carles Puigdemont have stablished relations with independent states. Raul Romeva, one of the members of Puidemont's government, has stablished diplomatic relations with a lot of European States.

The Montevideo Convention in the case of Pontinha:

The Principality of Pontinha is a micronation located on the Madeiran Archipielago. In the case of Pontinha, this country reaches the 4 principles stablished by the Montevideo Convention. It is not the case of Catalonia. In that Region, the territory is part of Spain, so before being an independent state, this territory needs to secede before, that has not happened. But in the case of Pontinha, the Principality has its own terriotory, whose sovereignty was granted by the King of Portugal to the new owners of the Island of Pontinha, now in hands of the Prince and teacher Renato Barros. So, Pontinha, has a defined and sovereign territory. It has also a population, even this population is too small, in fact, there is a population living there. It has also a government, the Prince Renato Barros ans its diplomats and international representatives. It has also the capacity to stablish relations with other states. Recently, the Principality of Pontinha has tried to stablish relations with the Republic of Portugal and even with some other governments, like the ones of Seborga or Liberland. So, that is to say, a tiny Principality, like Pontinha reaches the 4 principles of the Montevideo Convention, while a big and important region like Catalonia, does not reach these principles. That is law and law sometimes is more complex that what people think it is.

SELF-DETERMINATION

Self Herald is growing. Each day, we have more than 100 visitors from all over the world. We have the support of several independentist activists. They share the information we post in our blog. We have more than 1.000 followers in twitter and we are growing in several social medias. This is why, Self Herald has engaged a new project, SELF DETERMINATION. Our aim is to make a digital space where everyone can discuss about those nations and micronations which wwant to secede from their states.

Self Herald has also changed its logo in the last week. This new logo reflects the intention of Self Herald to support the self-determination concept.

Lusophone Kings and Princes congratulate the International Women's Day 2018

Dom Rosario Poidimani, King of Portugal

I am not talking about micronationalist leaders, 

I am talking about real sovereigns of countries. 

Today, the King of Portugal, Dom Rosario Poidimani, also Duke of Bragança, among other titles, congratulated to all women for the International Women's Day 2018.

He is proud of being the King of Portugal and this is why, he wanted to congratulate to all Portuguese women for this special day.Soon, we will write an article about this European Monarch.

Dom Renato Barros, Prince of Pontinha

Not only the sovereign of Portugal has talked about this special day. Also the sovereign of the Fort of Pontinha, the Fort which seceded from Portugal. Today, the Principality of Pontinha celebrates the International Women's Day 2018. The Prince Renato Barros congratulated to all women citizens of his Principality for this special day.

The yellow ribbon, a catalan symbol in the XXI Century

During the last months, the yellow ribbon reached a big importance on catalan society. It is now a symbol of political prisoners in Catalonia.

In Catalonia, yellow ribbons began to be used in late October 2017 by the Catalan independence movement as a symbol of solidarity with the leaders of two secessionist organizations, ANC and Òmnium Cultural, (Jordi Cuixart and Jordi Sànchez).

These politicians have been punished for encouraging civil disobedience (sedition) prior to the ‘referendum’ held on 1 October 2017. On 2 November 2017, also other senior Catalan separatist politicians were placed in preventive custody with charges of sedition and rebellion.

The streets of Catalonia are plenty of these symbols. In the Catalan pro-independence process, symbology is very important. For proving that, you should just check the profiles of the social media and you will find how the catalan society

is encouraged to make their independence real.

MORE THAN A SYMBOL

The use of yellow ribbons has also spread to celebrities and football. In Twitter some celebrities have posted tweets with the hashtags #prayforsouthkorea or #prayforcatalonia.

Also FC Barcelona icon and Manchester City Manager, Pep Guardiola, pinned a yellow ribbon for several weeks to his jumper in a show of support for imprisoned Catalan politicians.

Pep Guardiola,  is a catalan professional football coach and former player who is the current manager of Manchester City. Guardiola has been the coach of FCBarcelona for several years.

In Catalonia, pro-independentist usually have the FCBarcelona as their favourite football team. Guardiola is more than a coach, he is a symbol.

Committees of Defense of the Republic (CDR)

The Committees of Defense of the Republic  are groups emerged in Catalonia in 2017 with the initial objective of facilitating the realization of the independence referendum of October 1 (1-O), suspended by the Constitutional Court. After the referendum, they adopted the new objective of fighting for the fulfillment of their result and the proclamation of the Catalan Republic. They have the support of various organizations of the Catalan pro-independence left, including the Popular Unity Candidacy, although it is organically independent of these.

ACTIVISM

Normally these kind of Committees are made up of several pro-independence activists. These activists normally make activities for claiming the right of self-determination in Catalonia, but also they claim for independence. These activists make several activities, normally in the streets. They make symbolical portraits or they participate in rallies. Their activity is symbolical but it has the support of millions of people in Catalonia.

CDR IN MICRONATIONS?

Now imagine that micronations began to make their own commitees and imagine these commitees become important in society like the catalan ones has reached in the catalan society. Imagine Prince Renato II in a rally claiming independence from his rock, or the Prince Michael of Sealand making the same, or Casidio Tallini organizing an event for self-determination. Perhaps this sounds amazing, but it has not still happenned.

Our portraits for Self-Determination

SELF HERALD HAS REACHED 10.000 VISITS

Our blog has reached 10.000 visits. This is great news for us. It means that people are interested on micronations and libertarianism. It means people like what we write and what we design. We always publish articles related with micronationslism and libertarianinsm. We always explain the history of several micronations and nations without state. We also make some portraits and designs as a way of claim of freedom. Often we make interviews in several languages to leaders of secessionist movements. We have interviewed to the main representatives of the National Government of Venice and the Prince Renato II of Pontinha.

Thanks to everyone!!!!