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{{Short description|Country in Olivacia}}
{{Short description|Country in Olivacia}}
{{Infobox country
{{Infobox country
| conventional_long_name = Country of Freice<ref name="const.">[https://i.imgur.com/LJrd3HN.jpg/ "Constitution of Freice"] ''General Kiuva''. 19 June 2022. Retrieved 17 July 2022.</ref>
| conventional_long_name = Country of Freice
| common_name            = Freice
| native_name = ''Feese Kaaunga'' (Freician)
| native_name            = {{unbulleted list |item_style=font-size:88%;
| Tehua oe Faio'se (Freician)
| 並外民国 ([[Hoterallia|Hoterallian]])}}
| image_flag            = [[File:Flag of Freice.png|125px]]
| image_flag            = [[File:Flag of Freice.png|125px]]
| image_symbol          = [[File:National Emblem of Freice.png|100px]]
| image_coat            = [[File:Coat of arms of Freice.png|100px]]
| symbol_type           = Emblem
| flag_type           = [[Flag and emblem of Freice|Flag]]
| other_symbol          =  
| coat_alt              = Coat of arms of Freice
| other_symbol_type      =  
| symbol_type            = [[Flag and emblem of Freice|Coat of arms]]
| national-motto        =
| other_symbol          = <div style="padding:0.3em;">
| national_anthem        = Riamo Will Be There<br />{{lower|0.2em|[[File:Riamo Will Be There.png|link=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_ZVxs1ajIW0|center]]}}<br>Island anthem: Te ma Haimoa Mulo'i<br>"The Island Song"<br />{{lower|0.2em|[[File:Anthem of Freice.png|link=https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/0/0a/National_Anthem_of_the_Republic_of_Kosovo.ogg|center]]}}
[[File:Coat of arms of Freice (Riamese variant).png|75px|]]</div>
| image_map = [[File:FAO orthographic.png|260px]]
| other_symbol_type      = [[Flag and coat of arms of Freice|Federal arms]]
| map_caption =  
| national_motto        = ''Kalaa ata Lavaae'' (Freician)<br>(Common: "Separate and Free")
| image_map2 = [[File:Freice Locator Map.png|260px]]
| national_anthem        = ''Tasaam Feese'' (Freician)<br>(Common: "The Freician Song")
| capital                = [[Sekapa]]
| image_map              = [[File:Freice on the globe (Kaldaz Sea centred).png|260px]]
| capital                = Sekaapa
| coordinates            =  
| coordinates            =  
| status      = Recognised as a [[Political status of Freice|country]] of [[Riamo]] with independence in foreign relations ''de jure''; operating as an independent state under Riamese protection ''de facto'' (since 1980).<ref>See [[Political status of Freice]].</ref>
| largest_city          = capital
| largest_settlement    = capital
| official_languages    = {{hlist|Freician|Common Language}}
| largest_settlement_type = largest city
| national_languages     =  
| official_languages    = Freician <small>(national)</small><br>Common Language<br>[[Hoterallia|Hoterallian]]
| ethnic_groups          = Freician (95%)<br>Other Kaldaic (3%)<br>Other Olivacian (1%)<br>Other (1%)
| languages_type        = Recognized languages
| ethnic_groups_ref      =  
| languages              =
| ethnic_groups_year    = 2019
| ethnic_groups          = {{unbulleted list |78.2% Freician |12.3% Hoterallian |4.6% Riamese |4.9% other}}
| demonym                = Freician
| ethnic_groups_year     = 2021
| government_type        = Regional assembly-independent democracy under a federal monarchial republic
| religion              = {{ublist |item_style=white-space:nowrap;
| leader_title1 = Monarch
  |78.4% [[Christianity]]
| leader_name1 = Diana II
  |10.3% Gaoism
| leader_title2 = [[Maaita of Freice|Maaita]]
  |5.1% Homara Aio
| leader_name2 = [[Kaana Tenkel]]
  |3.6% Not declared
| leader_title3 = [[Maaita_of_Freice#Regency|Regent]]
  |2.6% others}}
| leader_name3 = [[Makeeia Taaguvigi]]
| religion_year          = 2021
| legislature           = [[Representative Council (Freice)|Representative Council]]
| membership            = [[Riamo]]
| sovereignty_type       = Establishment
| membership_type        = Sovereign state
| established_event1     = Riamese protectorate established
| demonym                = {{hlist|[[Freicians|Freician]]|Muloan (colloquial)}}
| established_date1     = 1878
| government_type        = Unitary parliamentary democracy under a federal monarchial republic
| established_event2     = Constitution
| leader_title1 = [[Monarchy_of_Riamo|Monarch]]
| established_date2     = 1 September 1925
| leader_name1 = [[Monarchy_of_Riamo|Diana II]]
| established_event3     = Current status
| leader_title3 = [[Head of the Government (Freice)|Keomoru'lu]]
| established_date3     = 3 April 1972
| leader_name3 = [[Kana Tenqel]]
| established_event4     =  
| leader_title2 = [[Sovereign's Representative in Freice|Sovereign's Representative]]
| established_date4     =  
| leader_name2 = [[Apoka Semeia|Ailu Apoka Semeia]]
| area_km2               = 121.3
| legislature = [[General Kiuva|General ''Kiuva'']]
| area_rank              =
| sovereignty_type = [[Political_status_of_Freice|Country of Riamo]]
| area_sq_mi             =  
| established_event1 = Self-government
| percent_water         = negligible
| established_date1 = 1 February 1969
| established_event2 = Country status
| established_date2 = 1 March 1980
| established_event3 = Recognition of independence in foreign relations
| established_date3 = 28 November 1992
| established_event4 = [[Saltstil Pact|SP]] member state
| established_date4 = 23 June 2021
| established_event5 = Current [[Constitution Act 2022 (Freice)|constitution]]
| established_date5 = 11 April 2022
| area_km2 = 121.3
| area_sq_mi = 46.8
| percent_water = negligible
| elevation_max_m = 64
| elevation_max_ft = 210
| population_estimate =
| population_census = 14,158
| population_census = 14,158
| population_estimate_year =  
| population_estimate_year =  
| population_census_rank = not ranked
| population_census_rank = not ranked
| population_census_year = 2021
| population_census_year = 2019
| population_density_km2 = 117
| population_density_km2 = 117
| population_density_sq_mi = 303
| population_density_sq_mi = 303
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| GDP_nominal_per_capita = 2,312 ACU
| GDP_nominal_per_capita = 2,312 ACU
| GDP_nominal_per_capita_rank =  
| GDP_nominal_per_capita_rank =  
| currency = [[Hoterallian gen]]{{efn|Traders are permitted to denominate their capital in [[Gran Rugidoense peso|Gran Rugidoense pesos]] if they import/export at least 40% of their stock to/from [[Gran Rugido]].}} (HTG)
| HDI                    = 0.640
| currency_code =
| HDI_year              = 2021 <!-- Please use the year to which the data refers, not the publication year-->
| HDI_change            = increase <!--increase/decrease/steady-->
| HDI_ref                =
| currency = [[Riamese_hull#Freice|Freician hull]]{{efn|Non-circulation legal tender.}}<br>[[Riamese hull]]
| currency_code =  
| timezone = RST
| timezone = RST
| utc_offset = +5:00
| utc_offset = +5:00
Line 89: Line 76:
| postal_code = RMT 1972
| postal_code = RMT 1972
| iso_code =
| iso_code =
| cctld = .fa
| cctld = .fe
| footnotes             =
| footnotes =
}}'''Freice''' (Freician: Faio'se; Hoterallian: 並外民, ''Namimin''), officially the '''Country of Freice''' (Freician: Tehua oe Faio'se; Hoterallian: 並外民国, ''Namiminkoku''), and alternatively known as the '''Nation of Freice''', is an island country located in the [[Kaldaz Ocean]]. It consists of one island and a small number of uninhabitable rocks, around 936 km (582 mi) southeast of the [[Olivacia|Olivacian]] mainland. The island measures approximately 12 km (6 mi) in length and 10 km (8 mi) in width, making it the second-smallest self-governing democracy. With a population of 14,518 (as of July 2021), it is also the second-least populated self-governing state.  
}}
'''Freice''' (/friːs/ fr-EE-s; Freician: ''Feese'' [feɪeɪsə]), officially the '''Country of Freice''' (Freician: ''Feese Kaaunga'') is an island country in the Kaldaz Sea, approximately 936 km (582 mi) southeast of mainland Olivacia. The country, consisting of a single island that forms part of the wider Pohnpenesian Island group, has a land area of 121 km<sup>2</sup> (47 sq mi) and a population of 14,158 people as of 2019. The capital and largest city is Sekaapa.


Freice has been continuously inhabited since the first century AD.<ref name="Third">Mafaiea, Famea, ''Mulo Toniu'' (Pabo oe Faio'se: Homa'me Kedihatata'me, 2009), p.18</ref> Remaining an independent monarchy into the eighteenth century, the island was annexed by Riamo in 1758 and governed as a colony until the late 1960s.<ref>Harman, Henry F., ''Riamo and Empire'' (Guri: Carry Education Press, 2011) p.67. ISBN 881-4-3192-325-4</ref> In 1969, Freice became an autonomous republic within the Riamese Federation, becoming a [[Political_status_of_Freice|''Country of the Federation'']] (Freician: Tehua oe te ma Tehua Kahe) in 1980.<ref name="21Cen">[https://i.imgur.com/LJrd3HN.jpg/ "Freice and the Federation: A Partnership for the Twenty-First Century"] (PDF). ''Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Riamese Federation''. 14 May 2019. Retrieved 7 June 2019.</ref> A coup d'état in 2021 led to political turmoil, resolved with the passage of a new [[Constitution Act 2022 (Freice)|constitution]] and the reform of the island's political system.<ref name="Fourth">[https://i.imgur.com/LJrd3HN.jpg/ "Island paradise emerging from political turmoil"]. ''Guri Telegraph''. 18 February 2022. Retrieved 21 March 2022.</ref>
Freice was first inhabited by Kaldaic people in the first millenium, with a stable and comparatively complex system of government established by the time of colonial contact in the eighteenth century. The Riamese first landed on the island in 1871, making contact with the local chiefs. In 1872, a [[Riamo|Riamese]] protectorate was established, with the indigenous rulers allowed to retain control of internal government. In 1972, Freice assumed full self-governance as a Country of the Riamese Federation, with Riamo retaining control over defence and foreign affairs.


Since 1992, Freice has been recognised as an independent legal personality separate from Riamo proper, with the power to enter into treaties and send and receive diplomatic missions in its own right.<ref name="First">[https://i.imgur.com/LJrd3HN.jpg/ "COUNTRY OF FREICE: LEGAL STATUS AND INTERNATIONAL PERSONALITY"] (PDF). ''Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Riamese Federation''. 8 March 2013. Retrieved 19 July 2015.</ref> In recent years, Freice has adopted an increasingly independent foreign policy, establishing direct diplomatic relations with a number of states and becoming an independent member of the [[Saltstil Pact]].<ref name="Second">[https://i.imgur.com/LJrd3HN.jpg/ "Freician government displays political maturity"]. ''Riamo News''. 15 November 2013. Retrieved 9 January 2016.</ref> [[Freice national status|Freician nationals]], however, remain [[Riamo|Riamese citizens]] and certain federation-wide laws apply in Freice.<ref name="First">[https://i.imgur.com/LJrd3HN.jpg/ "COUNTRY OF FREICE: LEGAL STATUS AND INTERNATIONAL PERSONALITY"] (PDF). ''Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Riamese Federation''. 8 March 2013. Retrieved 19 July 2015.</ref>
Today, Freice remains one of the poorest countries in the world, despite Riamese financial aid. In the early twenty-first century, tourism steadly grew and is now one of the main sources of income for the island's small economy. The island's culture remains tied to its Kaldaic traditions, with minimal residents coming from mainland Olivacia, Riamo, and the other Pohnpenesian islands.
 
[[Sekapa]], the capital, is the main population centre, serving as seat of government and the location of most major businesses operating on the island. Sekapa International Airport, which provides important transport links with Riamo proper and a number of other states, is also located in the city. Outside of the main population centres, Freician society has successfully maintained traditional cultures and ways of life, with the vast majority of the population living in small, rural village communities rather than in larger urban areas.<ref name="Culture">[https://i.imgur.com/LJrd3HN.jpg/ "Culture"]. ''www.visit-freice.faiose''. 4 May 2018. Retrieved 18 August 2019</ref> However, the island's population is diverse despite the island's small size; large numbers of Riamese, Hoterallian, and Vultesian people have led to a vibrant cosmopolitan culture in Freice's main urban areas.<ref>Hamner, Laura (2011) "Freice, the post-national society". ''National Society for Political and Social Studies''. 4 July 2011. Retrieved 29 March 2019.</ref>


==History==
==History==
===Early history===
===Riamese Era (1878-1972)===
{{Quote box
Between 1878 and 1972, Freice was a protectorate of the [[Riamo]]. In Freician historiography, this period is known as the "Riamese Era" (Freician: ''Teeia Ramiotam''). During this period, Freice remained a nominally independent state, with its foreign affairs and defence the responsibility of the Riamese Government as part of a Treaty of Friendship and Amicable Relations. In 1878, the Maaita Tuaa Savou signed the treaty under pressure, with implied threat of full annexation if he resisted. Despite promises of domestic autonomy, the Freician government came under increased Riamese influence through the presence of a number of Resident Ministers.  
| title = Historical affiliations
| class = plainlist
| quote ={{flagicon image|Riamo flag 2.png}} Colony of Freice Island 1753-1911
* {{flagicon image|Hoterallian Colonial Flag of Freice.png}} Hoterallian Mandate for the Governance of the Freice Island 1911-1931
* {{flagicon image|Colonial Flag of Freice (1931-1969).png}} Colony of Freice Island 1931-1969
* {{flagicon image|Flag of Freice (1972-2021).png}} Autonomous Republic of Freice 1969-1980
* {{flagicon image|Flag of Freice.png}} '''Country of Freice''' 1980–present
| align = left
| width = 26em
| fontsize = 90%
| bgcolor = #B0C4DE
}}
Although humans have been present on the island from as early as 5000 BCE, the first permanent settlement occurred only in the 3rd century CE, with the Oliva people being the first to establish a long-term, permanent settlement in Freice. The Oliva were a largely agrarian people who focussed on farming and fishing and were largely isolated from events on the continent.<ref>Botín, Sofia E. (2002). ''Tracing roots in Olivacian history''. Olivacian Historical Studies. vol.19, n°102, summer 2019. p.93.</ref> The Oliva people continued to inhabit the island, mostly the west and north, until the 12th century, when a second migratory wave from Olivacia saw the Faio people, a small nomadic people group (from which the native name of the country comes), displace them.<ref>Astor, Felix J. (1999) ''Migration in Medieval Olivacia''. Portington: History Press, p.103. ISBN 120-0-315-54301-3</ref>
 
The Faio people are the primary ancestors of most native Freicians, with the country's name derived from them. Much like the Oliva people, the Faio economy was dominated by farming and fishing.<ref>Botín, Sofia E. ''Tracing roots in Olivacian history''. p.102.</ref> However, the Faio also involved themselves in continental trade, with small trading posts established on the island to host traders from the mainland continent.<ref>Iqe, Pagei, A. (2009) ''Economic Practices in Pre-Colonial Freice''. Portington: Portington University Press, pp.99-101. ISBN 091-2-357-54431-6</ref> Because of this involvement in continental trade, the Faio were able to amass significant wealth compared to the Oliva people, who had largely been incorporated into the Faio population, and diversify their economy beyond agrarianism.<ref>Iqe, Pagei, A. ''The National Encyclopedia of Freician History and Culture'', p.279</ref>
 
The Faio operated under a system of feudalism, with a strictly enforced class system dividing power between the nobility - the Talitaiama'me - and several classifications of commoner.<ref>Riley, Berton L. (1983) ''Early-Modern Government in Olivacia''. Cockney: R&M Publishers, p.88. ISBN 112-5-632-4576-7</ref> The Aio'i Keikitoe Ritio, the traditional Freician monarch, was the political and spiritual leader of the Faio people and head of the Kauteai dynasty, with a series of ad hoc assemblies (meetings) established as primitive parliaments. From the 14th century, Freice became a vassal of the Kaldaic Empire, although it largely retained its independence. This system of governance remained largely unchanged until Riamese colonisation in the mid-18th century.
 
===Riamese Colonization===
Riamese contact with Freice was first made in 1750. A small trading post was established in the ancient town of Sekapa, called Wilmington, which remained the center of Riamese presence for the next three years. During this period, relations between the Riamese and Freicians remained cordial, with resentment over increasing Riamese control placated by the bribing of nobles.<ref>Harman, Henry F. (1999) ''Riamo and Empire''. Guri: Carry Education Press. p.67. ISBN 881-4-3192-325-4</ref>
 
The island was formally annexed in 1753, with the monarchy and Talitai'ama formally abolished in 1772, having been stripped of power. Local governing institutions were absorbed by colonial institutions, with a military governor exercising near absolute authority on the island.<ref name=": History4">Makama Hutiua (2006) "Early colonial government and the survival of traditional practices", ''Friends of Freice Journal'' 27(4), pp.7-16</ref> The island served largely as a military base for its strategic location in the Kaldaz, with native Freicians seeing little interference in their lives.<ref>Harman, Henry F. (1996) ''General Approaches to the Study of Early Colonial Government in Freice''. Cockney: R&M Publishers, p.100. ISBN 201-2-453-4763-5</ref> Despite this, brutal reprisals against attempted revolts undermined any public support for the colonial government, which fed into popular disdain against the compliant local authorities.
 
Slavery was not instituted on the island, although forced labour was commonplace, with thousands of Freicians forcibly taken and employed in construction projects, conscripted into the Riamese army, or sent to other Riamese colonies to work for little-to-no pay.<ref>Ferrant, Victor R. (2017) ''The Forgotten Island: The Isle of Freice''. Leopolis: University of Leopolis. p.129. ISBN 991-2-31631-775-7.</ref> A number of forts were constructed using such labour, most of which have since been demolished.
 
In Wilmington and surrounding areas, local Freician culture was curtailed through a number of repressive laws which aimed to displace the Freician language and culture through Riamese immigration and segregation between the two ethnic groups. Whilst this did not officially extend to rural areas outside of the capital, unofficially the efforts were implemented across the island.<ref>Harman, Henry F. ''Riamo and Empire''. p.161</ref> Most, however, responded by living double lives, adopting Riamese practices outside of the home whilst maintaining Freician customs and traditions within it.
 
Unemployment and poverty remained a problem for many native Freicians, who were prevented from enjoying the wealth and opportunities available to ethnic Riamese.<ref>Tokia, Enokal A. (1991) ''Economic Conditions for Native People in Early-Twentieth Century Colonial Freice''. Portington: Portington University Press, p.77. ISBN 012-5-67432-665-3</ref> Beginning in the early 1900s, a number of political movements emerged, seeking economic and political reform. Whilst few openly argued for independence, being a potentially capital crime, pro-independence movements began to gain traction as underground resistance against Riamese colonialism quickly grew.
[[File:Shiozawa kōichi.JPG|200px|thumb|Admiral Ryōta Nagase, the first Hoterallian Military Governor.]]
===Hoterallian occupation===
During the Great War, Riamo and Hoterallia entered into the war on opposing sides. The Hoterallian navy was tasked with eliminating Riamese naval presence in the Southern Sundaic and Northern Kaldaz, precipitating an invasion of Freice by June 1910. A landing at Wilmington-West Freice by Hoterallian marines quickly followed by the storming of the Riamese garrison on the island.<ref>''Ibid.'', p.310</ref><ref name=": History3">Siotefe Koela (1998) "The Seige of Wilmington", ''Friends of Freice Journal'' 18(2), pp.28-39</ref>
 
Following the conclusion of the Great War, the Treaty of Tsuwan divided Riamese imperial territories amongst the victors, with Freice transferred to Hoterallia as a colonial mandate. Under the treaty, Freice was partially demilitarised, and Hoterallia agreed not to fully assimilate the island into its empire.<ref>Rameia, R.E. (2019) ''A History of the Hoterallian Government in Freice'' (Portington: Portington Press), p.75</ref>
 
The Hoterallian occupation is divided into two periods: the transitional phase and the permanent phase. The transitional phase saw the consolidation of Hoterallian rule. It was divided into five districts, each of which reported to a rear admiral at the navy headquarters in the newly-renamed Sekapa. The island's legal system was administered under Hoterallian law.<ref name=":HAF"> [https://i.imgur.com/LJrd3HN.jpg/ "Hoterallia And Freice: An Island Where The Phoenix Once Landed."] ''Minami no Taiyō.'' Retrieved December 11, 2018.</ref> The permanent phase saw a transition from naval to civilian administration, with a ''Freician Elected Authority'' established to govern the islands under the authority of the Navy Ministry.<ref name=":FNA"> [https://i.imgur.com/LJrd3HN.jpg/ "The History of The Imperial Hoterallian Navy: Freician's Naval Authority"] ''Hojo Daily.'' 10 October 2007. Retrieved 17 August 2018.</ref> A governor was established, elected by Freicians and appointed by the Hoterallians, reporting to the Director of the Supreme Authority.
 
The Hoterallians sought cooperation from Freician leaders, promoting cultural and linguistic nationalism to win their favour and to undermine allegiance to the Riamese. Freician was taught in schools and native practices, largely suppressed by the Riamese, were once more introduced.<ref name=":Freice2"> Rameia, R.E. (2011) 'The role of Freician nationalism in the Hoterallian Government (1911-1915)', ''Journal of Kaldaic History'', 9(3), pp.111-129</ref> This was coupled with the exploitation of Freice's natural resources and the suppression of Freician independence movements - often by force.
 
By the late 1920s, with the mandate coming to an end, the Hoterallians sought to encourage opposition to a handover to Riamo with a propaganda campaign. This campaign presented the Riamese as authoritarian colonisers who sought to destroy Freice's traditional way of life.<ref name=":Propa"> Yoshihiro, Kondō. "The Hoterallian Propaganda On Freice." ''Hojo Daily''. 16 January 2010. 4 March 2017.</ref> Nonetheless, on 18th July 1931, sovereignty was transferred to Riamo.
 
===Resumed Riamese sovereignty===
The island was returned to Riamo in 1931. A series of political and legal reforms transformed the governance of the island in response to the levels of self-government afforded to the island under Hoterallian occupation. In 1932, native Freicians entered into the island's civil service for the first time, with the Freice Language Order 1938 permitting the use of Freician in schools.<ref name=": History2">Makama Hutiua (2008) "The advent of civil rights in post-handover Freice", ''Friends of Freice Journal'' 29(3), pp.8-14</ref>
 
In 1950, a new Assembly of Delegates was established to provide representation for native Freicians. This body had only an advisory role, but beginning in 1958, could pass non-binding resolutions which increasingly carried weight with the colonial authorities.<ref name=": History2">Makama Hutiua (2008) "The advent of civil rights in post-handover Freice", ''Friends of Freice Journal'' 29(3), pp.8-14</ref>


Starting in 1965, the federal government began discussions on the political future of Freice. The lack of economic development and domestic political institutions rendered independence an impossibility, with discussions focussed on the level of autonomy the island should receive. In 1967, a draft paper was issued which proposed a locally-elected assembly and an island government with responsibility for certain domestic policy areas.<ref name=": History1">[https://i.imgur.com/LJrd3HN.jpg/ "Freice - the Jewel of the Kaldaz"]. 18 March 2009. Retrieved 29 June 2013.</ref>
In 1893, a number of Freician chiefs unsuccessfully sought to rebel against Riamese hegemony, resulting in the execution of five chiefs in what has subsequently been called Black November (Freician: ''Neeia Nogutumaa''). In 2003, the Riamese government apologised for its role in these executions. By 1900, with Christianity well-established as the religion of the majority of Freicians, Maaita Teeakaala Neeiet proclaimed Riamese Orthodoxy the state religion.  


===1969-present===
Beginning in the 1910s, the Riamese government placed growing pressure on the Freician government to introduce some form of representative body to avoid a second rebellion amongst the chiefs. In 1923, the Maaita's Council was established as an advisory body. This was replaced, in 1928, with the [[Representative Council (Freice)|Representative Council]], which consisted of all the chiefs and representatives of other senior groups. This body was largely hereditary, with the Maaita appointing additional members at their discretion.
In 1969, the Government of Freice Act was passed which granted Freice limited home rule. A constituent assembly was elected and sat for the first time in February of that year, passing a new constitution in 1971 for adoption on 1 January 1972. During the course of the 1970s, the island gradually assumed greater self-sufficiency, establishing new domestic institutions in place of federal services (including police, natural resources, and some medical services).<ref name=": RM1">[https://i.imgur.com/LJrd3HN.jpg/ "Freice constitution at 40"]. ''Riamo News''. 1 January 2012. Retrieved 9 January 2012.</ref>


The government of [[Sema T. Anamia]] (1969-1983) pursued a policy of nativisation, seeking to reverse two centuries of Riamisation. During this period, the Freice government closely aligned itself with [[Hoterallia]], with Hoterallian developmental aid through the [[Taiyō Initiatives]] helping to raise the standard of living and expand infrastructure.
Throughout the 1930s, Freice embarked on a series of social reforms to align it with Riamo. This included a new criminal code, a codified constitution, a form of state welfare, and elections to the Representative Council on a limited suffrage. Under the brief rule of Leiseini Mataasat (1943-1945) and his son Jalimateki Leiseini (1945-1953), restrictions on the press were lifted and universal suffrage was finally introduced.


In 1980, Freice became a [[Political status of Freice|Country]] of the Riamese Federation, granting it further self-governance to the point of near-independence. In 1987, the government of Katesu Fapera signed a Special Cooperative Agreement with Hoterallia, which has been renewed regularly until 2014 and which further stimulated economic development on the island.<ref name=": SCA">[https://i.imgur.com/LJrd3HN.jpg/ "Special Cooperation Agreement"]. ''Hoterallia in Freice''. 8 March 2018. Retrieved 22 March 2018.</ref>
===Recent history===
In the 1960s, the Riamese federal government requested that the Freician Representative Council discuss and decide on Freice's future political status. The government gave the Council three options: full political independence, integration into Riamo proper, or associated status within the Federation. From 1966, the Freician government supported a policy of association, maintaining political and constitutional links with the Riamese Crown and government whilst maintaining its unique form of self-governance.


In 1992, the federal government formally recognised Freice's independence in foreign affairs, granting it the right to establish its own diplomatic missions. As of 2023, Freice has formal diplomatic relations with 12 states (including Riamo), maintaining diplomatic representation in four of these states.
On 3 April 1972, the Freice Act formalised the island's political status and clarified debated aspects of its relationship with Riamo. The act formally recognised Freice as a "Country under the Jurisdiction of the Riamese Federation" and granted the Riamese federal government responsibility for the island's foreign affairs and defence. A subsequent bilateral treaty granted the federal government further powers over fiscal and some monetary policy areas. Nonetheless, Freice assumed greater rights of self-government, including (from 1999) the unrestricted right to sign treaties and join international organisations.


In 2021, [[Aniara Neileka]] was elected the first woman president and initiated reforms known as the 'external focus'.<ref>[https://i.imgur.com/LJrd3HN.jpg/ "Aniara Neileka hails breakthrough election"]. ''Radio and Television Freice''. 18 June 2021. Retrieved 20 June 2021.</ref> Her government successfully negotiated entry into the [[Saltstil Pact]], which it had previously been represented in through Riamese membership. A month following her election, she was deposed in a coup led by the Common Wealth Party, restructuring Freice into a de facto dominant-party state.<ref>[https://i.imgur.com/LJrd3HN.jpg/ "Draft constitution passes legislative vote"]. ''Radio and Television Freice''. 1 September 2021. Retrieved 2 September 2021.</ref><ref>[https://i.imgur.com/LJrd3HN.jpg/ "Human rights groups condemn Freice constitution change"]. ''Riamo Broadcasting Corporation''. 29 September 2021. Retrieved 1 October 2022.</ref> A split in the party resulted in the government collapsing in December that year and the establishment of an interim provisional government under opposition leader Edia Kiarai.<ref name=": Electi1on12">[https://i.imgur.com/LJrd3HN.jpg/ "Nuejel approves constituent assembly"]. ''Radio and Television Freice''. 6 December 2021. Retrieved 9 December 2021.</ref>
In the 1980s, successive Freician governments sought to reduce Freice's economic dependency on Riamo. New agreements with Anahuac and Leogria, as well as greater cooperation between Freice and Pohnpenesia, led to a greater diversification in the economy. By 1992, Freice's exports to Riamo fell as a proportion of national income by a quarter. However, Riamo continued to be the destination of over 60 percent of Freician imports until the late 2000s, when further economic agreements substantially increased Freician exports to non-federation markets.


A [[General Kiuva|new assembly]] was created, elected in [[2022 elections in Freice|January 2022]], with Aniara returning as head of government. It approved a new constitution in April 2022.<ref name=": Electi1on1">[https://i.imgur.com/LJrd3HN.jpg/ "Meeting approves constitution draft"]. ''Radio and Television Freice''. 2 April 2022. Retrieved 6 April 2022.</ref>
In 2003, [[Maaita of Freice|''Maaita'']] Tenkel Maairai publically congratulated Diana II on the occasion of the 30th anniversary of her accession. This was the first time that a Maaita affirmed their loyalty to the Riamese Crown, with predecessors avoiding a direct statement of allegiance in favour of "respectful reverence." ''E Tai Seelit'' suggested that the change in stance reflected a "greater sense of self-confidence within government circles." Tenkel's son and successor, Kaana Tenkel, echoed his father's comments during the Queen's golden jubilee.


In 2023, a series of [[2023 Freician constitutional referendums|referendums]] saw the public vote to restore the Talitai'ama, to adopt the [[Hoterallian gen]], and to recognise [[Hoterallia|Hoterallian]] and the Common Language as co-equal alongside Freician. The subsequent constitutional amendments entered into force in February 2023.<ref name=": ref">[https://i.imgur.com/LJrd3HN.jpg/ "Constitutional changes enter law"]. ''Mulo'i Puineta''. 11 March 2023. Retrieved 16 March 2023.</ref>
In 2011 council elections, a record number of women were elected, with 7 women elected to the 20-member body. In 2017, the council became majority-female for the first and only time, with 11 women elected. In 2021, the Elections (Gender Balance) Act was passed and requires a minimum of 8 members to be women.
 
With the merger of [[Future Citizens (Freice)|Future Citizens]] and the [[MURO Alliance]] to form [[Mulo Uahi ma pa Kiuoa]], the "birthing of parties" came to an end, concluding the emergence of political parties into a stable two-party system.<ref name=": ref1111111">[https://i.imgur.com/LJrd3HN.jpg/ "New Kana party brings an end to 'painful' party birth"]. ''Riamo News''. 25 March 2023. Retrieved 29 March 2023.</ref>


==Geography==
==Geography==
[[File:Etuenao Rocks in Freice.jpg|thumb|Etuenao Rocks, located in Northwest Freice.]]
[[File:Coastal rocks - geograph.org.uk - 5401154.jpg|thumb|Etuenao Rocks, located in Northwest Freice.]]
Freice is an island nation in the Kaldaz Ocean, 936 km (582 mi) from the nearest point on mainland [[Olivacia]]. It is located in the south-centre of the Olivacian plate, and so is geologically considered part of the continent. It is located at latitude 92°E and longtitude 52°S. The island is approximately 47 km (29 miles) in length and 26 km (16 miles) wide, covering an area of 121.3 km<sup>2</sup> (46.8 sq mi) in the general shape of the letter 'L'.<ref name=": Map">[https://i.imgur.com/LJrd3HN.jpg/ "Freice Maps"]. ''www.visitfreice.faiose''. 18 May 2018. Retrieved 22 June 2018.</ref>
Freice is an island nation in the Kaldaz Ocean, 936 km (582 mi) from the nearest point on mainland [[Olivacia]]. It is located in the south-centre of the Olivacian plate, and so is geologically considered part of the continent. It is located at latitude 92°E and longtitude 52°S. The island is approximately 47 km (29 miles) in length and 26 km (16 miles) wide, covering an area of 121.3 km<sup>2</sup> (46.8 sq mi) in the general shape of the letter 'L'.


The island's geography is divided between hilly terrain in the north-east of the island, and flat plateaus and west and south. There, the terrain is generally flat and fertile, and which is where the vast majority of the population resides and economic activity takes place. The north-west of the island is dominated by the Eastern Highlands, which includes the Oratite Hills.<ref name=": Country">[https://i.imgur.com/LJrd3HN.jpg/ "Country of Freice"]. ''Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Riamese Federation''. 14 March 2018. Retrieved 3 April 2018.</ref> The area surrounding the range constitutes a National Nature Reserve and is protected by law.<ref name=": AWA">[https://i.imgur.com/LJrd3HN.jpg/ "National Nature Reserve and Environmental Preservation Act, 1998"] (PDF). ''Assembly of Delegates''. 7 August 2009. Retrieved January 3, 2015.</ref>
The island's geography is divided between hilly terrain in the north-east of the island, and flat plateaus and west and south. There, the terrain is generally flat and fertile, and which is where the vast majority of the population resides and economic activity takes place. The north-west of the island is dominated by the Eastern Highlands, which includes the Nogupi Hills. The area surrounding the range constitutes a National Nature Reserve and is protected by law.


There are a number of small rocks off the coast, which are nature reserves and host to a number of birds and sea species.<ref name=": Map">[https://i.imgur.com/LJrd3HN.jpg/ "Freice Maps"]. ''www.visitfreice.faiose''. 18 May 2018. Retrieved 22 June 2018.</ref> All are located within five miles off the shore. This includes [[Culture_of_Freice#National_Heritage_Sites|Far Rock]] (Freician: ''Tora Matakita''), located off the coast of Roheo Radei Oratite, which was historically considered a holy site.<ref>[https://www.nationstates.net/page=rmb/postid=48280706 "National Heritage Sites: Far Rock"]. ''Radio and Television Freice''. 22 July 2022. Retrieved July 25, 2022.</ref>
There are a number of small rocks off the coast, which are nature reserves and host to a number of birds and sea species. All are located within five miles off the shore.


Freice is home to a large variety of flora and fauna, with around 19 mammal species, 10 amphibian species, 8 reptile species, and around 150 species of fish native to the island and its surrounding waters.<ref name=": WW">[https://i.imgur.com/LJrd3HN.jpg/ "Protecting Freice's Wildlife"]. ''Government of Freice''. 19 January 2012. Retrieved 8 March 2019.</ref> Historically, Freice was host to a number of endemic bird species and subspecies, but these have since become extinct following decades of hunting and land clearance from the 1820s to the 1960s.<ref>Harman, Henry F. ''Riamo and Empire''. p.231</ref>
Freice is home to a large variety of flora and fauna, with around 19 mammal species, 10 amphibian species, 8 reptile species, and around 150 species of fish native to the island and its surrounding waters. Historically, Freice was host to a number of endemic bird species and subspecies, but these have since become extinct following decades of hunting and land clearance from the 1820s to the 1960s.


=== Climate ===
=== Climate ===
The climate of Freice is temperate marine, (Köppen: Cfb), with generally moderate weather all year round. Summers are warm and winters are mild, with temperatures rarely going above 20 °C (68 °F) or below 5 °C (41 °F). The highest temperature recorded on the island is 30.0 °C (86.0 °F) on January 23, 1978, while −0.4 °C (31.3 °F) on June 6 and August 13 1956 is the coldest.<ref name=": RMS1">[https://i.imgur.com/LJrd3HN.jpg/ "Data > Countries > Freice"]. ''Riamese Meteorological Service''. 5 June 2019. Retrieved 29 November 2019.</ref><ref name=": GreatFreeze">[https://i.imgur.com/LJrd3HN.jpg/ "Look Back: The Great Freeze of 1956"]. ''Radio and Television Freice''. 14 March 2017. Retrieved 29 July 2018.</ref> The island is generally windy all year round; in winter, the island receives southerly blasts that suggest a cooler temperature. Precipitation is heavy throughout the year, with an average rainfall of 1,250 mm (49 in); June and July are the wettest months, with an average of 132.1 mm (5.20 in) and 135.7 mm (5.34 in) respectively.<ref name=": RMS1">[https://i.imgur.com/LJrd3HN.jpg/ "Data > Countries > Freice"]. ''Riamese Meteorological Service''. 5 June 2019. Retrieved 29 November 2019.</ref>
Freice has an oceanic climate (Koppen: Cfb), characterised by relatively frequent rainfall and a narrow temperature range. The highest recorded temperature in Freice (36.3 °C) was in Sekápa on 3 January 2010. Average temperatures range between 15 and 20 °C (59 and 68 °F) in summer, and between 2 and 10 °C (41 and 50 °F) in July, with the climate broadly characterised as cool, wet, and windy. Snow is rare, recorded only in the highland hills in the island’s northeast, usually once every few decades.
 
Frost is sometimes observed in the Oratite Hills from May to September, although is very rare elsewhere. The only time snow fell in Freice was in 1956 during the Great Freeze, the same time that record low temperatures were recorded.<ref name=": GreatFreeze">[https://i.imgur.com/LJrd3HN.jpg/ "Look Back: The Great Freeze of 1956"]. ''Radio and Television Freice''. 14 March 2017. Retrieved 29 July 2018.</ref>
 
Fresh water is primarily taken from rainwater. It is common for communities to collect rainwater in June and July for storage through the rest of the year.<ref name=": RMS">[https://i.imgur.com/LJrd3HN.jpg/ "Country of Freice > Climate"]. ''Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Riamese Federation''. 15 March 2018. Retrieved 5 April 2018.</ref>


{{Weather box
{{Weather box
|location = [[Freice]]
| location = [[Freice]]
|metric first = Yes
| width = auto
|single line = Yes
| metric first = Yes
|Jan record high C = 30.0
| single line = Yes
|Feb record high C = 29.8
| Jan record high C = 36.3
|Mar record high C = 28.0
| Feb record high C = 34.6
|Apr record high C = 27.0
| Mar record high C = 33.6
|May record high C = 21.7
| Apr record high C = 25.5
|Jun record high C = 18.0
| May record high C = 20.2
|Jul record high C = 17.3
| Jun record high C = 15.1
|Aug record high C = 19.0
| Jul record high C = 16.6
|Sep record high C = 21.6
| Aug record high C = 19
|Oct record high C = 24.8
| Sep record high C = 25.5
|Nov record high C = 26.6
| Oct record high C = 29.1
|Dec record high C = 28.8
| Nov record high C = 31.3
|year record high C = 30.0
| Dec record high C = 35.1
|Jan high C = 19.9
| Jan high C = 19.9
|Feb high C = 20.1
| Feb high C = 19.4
|Mar high C = 18.7
| Mar high C = 17.9
|Apr high C = 16.3
| Apr high C = 15.1
|May high C = 13.7
| May high C = 12.5
|Jun high C = 11.6
| Jun high C = 9.8
|Jul high C = 10.9
| Jul high C = 9.5
|Aug high C = 11.6
| Aug high C = 10.8
|Sep high C = 13.1
| Sep high C = 12.7
|Oct high C = 14.7
| Oct high C = 14.8
|Nov high C = 16.4
| Nov high C = 16.3
|Dec high C = 18.4
| Dec high C = 18.2
|year high C = 15.5
| year high C = 14.8
|Jan mean C = 16.4
| Jan low C = 10.2
|Feb mean C = 16.6
| Feb low C = 10.1
|Mar mean C = 15.4
| Mar low C = 8.8
|Apr mean C = 13.4
| Apr low C = 6.6
|May mean C = 11.1
| May low C = 4.8
|Jun mean C = 9.0
| Jun low C = 2.7
|Jul mean C = 8.3
| Jul low C = 2.4
|Aug mean C = 8.9
| Aug low C = 2.8
|Sep mean C = 10.2
| Sep low C = 4.1
|Oct mean C = 11.6
| Oct low C = 5.5
|Nov mean C = 13.1
| Nov low C = 7.2
|Dec mean C = 15.0
| Dec low C = 8.8
|year mean C = 12.4
| year low C = 6.2
|Jan low C = 12.9
| Jan record low C = 3.1
|Feb low C = 13.1
| Feb record low C = 3.2
|Mar low C = 12.1
| Mar record low C = 1.6
|Apr low C = 10.4
| Apr record low C = 0.9
|May low C = 8.3
| May record low C = −1.4
|Jun low C = 6.4
| Jun record low C = −2.5
|Jul low C = 5.6
| Jul record low C = −2.6
|Aug low C = 6.1
| Aug record low C = −1.5
|Sep low C = 7.2
| Sep record low C = −0.5
|Oct low C = 8.5
| Oct record low C = 0.0
|Nov low C = 9.9
| Nov record low C = 0.1
|Dec low C = 11.7
| Dec record low C = 3.1
|year low C = 9.4
| rain colour = green
|Jan record low C = 3.8
| Jan rain mm = 41.7
|Feb record low C = 4.9
| Feb rain mm = 35.8
|Mar record low C = 4.3
| Mar rain mm = 35.0
|Apr record low C = 2.3
| Apr rain mm = 40.6
|May record low C = 0.7
| May rain mm = 37.2
|Jun record low C = -0.4
| Jun rain mm = 44.0
|Jul record low C = -0.3
| Jul rain mm = 42.5
|Aug record low C = -0.4
| Aug rain mm = 61.0
|Sep record low C = -0.1
| Sep rain mm = 52.6
|Oct record low C = 0.9
| Oct rain mm = 50.8
|Nov record low C = 1.4
| Nov rain mm = 48.7
|Dec record low C = 3.1
| Dec rain mm = 51.0
|year record low C = -0.4
| year rain mm = 540.9
|rain colour = green
| unit rain days= 0.2 mm
|Jan rain mm = 77.2
| Jan rain days = 8.5
|Feb rain mm = 76.7
| Feb rain days = 8.1
|Mar rain mm = 85.5
| Mar rain days = 10.3
|Apr rain mm = 100.6
| Apr rain days = 10.1
|May rain mm = 120.4
| May rain days = 11.0
|Jun rain mm = 132.1
| Jun rain days = 11.4
|Jul rain mm = 135.7
| Jul rain days = 13.1
|Aug rain mm = 125.2
| Aug rain days = 14.3
|Sep rain mm = 100.5
| Sep rain days = 14.7
|Oct rain mm = 110.0
| Oct rain days = 14.0
|Nov rain mm = 91.2
| Nov rain days = 12.5
|Dec rain mm = 91.7
| Dec rain days = 10.7
|year rain mm = 1250.1
| year rain days = 138.7
|Jan rain days = 6.9
| humidity colour = green
|Feb rain days = 6.6
| Jan afthumidity = 51
|Mar rain days = 7.9
| Feb afthumidity = 52
|Apr rain days = 9.1
| Mar afthumidity = 52
|May rain days = 11.3
| Apr afthumidity = 56
|Jun rain days = 13.0
| May afthumidity = 58
|Jul rain days = 13.1
| Jun afthumidity = 64
|Aug rain days = 12.8
| Jul afthumidity = 61
|Sep rain days = 10.8
| Aug afthumidity = 56
|Oct rain days = 11.1
| Sep afthumidity = 53
|Nov rain days = 9.3
| Oct afthumidity = 51
|Dec rain days = 8.8
| Nov afthumidity = 53
|year rain days = 124.0
| Dec afthumidity = 49
|unit rain days = 0.7 mm
| year humidity = 55
|Jan humidity = 79.1
| Jan sun = 257.3
|Feb humidity = 81.2
| Feb sun = 226.0
|Mar humidity = 81.8
| Mar sun = 210.8
|Apr humidity = 82.4
| Apr sun = 177.0
|May humidity = 84.0
| May sun = 148.8
|Jun humidity = 85.7
| Jun sun = 132.0
|Jul humidity = 85.5
| Jul sun = 151.9
|Aug humidity = 84.0
| Aug sun = 179.8
|Sep humidity = 80.3
| Sep sun = 195.0
|Oct humidity = 80.0
| Oct sun = 232.5
|Nov humidity = 78.7
| Nov sun = 234.0
|Dec humidity = 79.4
| Dec sun = 248.0
|year humidity = 81.9
| year sun = 2393.1
|Jan sun = 238.3
| Jan percentsun= 59
|Feb sun = 205.4
| Feb percentsun= 62
|Mar sun = 193.7
| Mar percentsun= 57
|Apr sun = 154.1
| Apr percentsun= 59
|May sun = 126.3
| May percentsun= 53
|Jun sun = 102.1
| Jun percentsun= 49
|Jul sun = 112.2
| Jul percentsun= 53
|Aug sun = 137.0
| Aug percentsun= 58
|Sep sun = 162.3
| Sep percentsun= 59
|Oct sun = 191.1
| Oct percentsun= 58
|Nov sun = 209.3
| Nov percentsun= 56
|Dec sun = 222.6
| Dec percentsun= 53
|year sun = 2057.8
| source 1 = Riamse Meteorological Office
|Jan percentsun = 50
|Feb percentsun = 52
|Mar percentsun = 49
|Apr percentsun = 46
|May percentsun = 40
|Jun percentsun = 35
|Jul percentsun = 36
|Aug percentsun = 40
|Sep percentsun = 44
|Oct percentsun = 45
|Nov percentsun = 46
|Dec percentsun = 46
|year percentsun = 44
|source 1 = Riamese Meteorological Service<ref name=": RMS1">[https://i.imgur.com/LJrd3HN.jpg/ "Data > Countries > Freice"]. ''Riamese Meteorological Service''. 5 June 2019. Retrieved 29 November 2019.</ref>
}}
}}


==Politics and foreign relations==
==Politics==
{{Main|Politics of Freice}}
{{Main|Politics of Freice}}
Freice is a monarchial republic (constitutional monarchy), with Diana II, [[Monarchy of Riamo|Queen of the Riamese]] serving as head of state, represented by a [[Sovereign's Representative in Freice|Sovereign's Representative]]. The [[Constitution Act 2022 (Freice)|Constitution Act 2022]] vests executive authority in the Cabinet of Ministers (known as the cabinet), headed by the [[Head of the Government (Freice)|Keomoru'lu]].<ref name="const.">[https://i.imgur.com/LJrd3HN.jpg/ "Constitution of Freice"] ''General Kiuva''. 19 June 2022. Retrieved 17 July 2022.</ref> Powers not transferred to the Freician government, particularly those relating to national defence and the deployment of military forces, remain under the authority of the Riamese federal government and are outlined in the Freice Autonomy Act 1969 and the Government of Freice Act 1979.<ref name="21Cen">[https://i.imgur.com/LJrd3HN.jpg/ "Freice and the Federation: A Partnership for the Twenty-First Century"] (PDF). ''Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Riamese Federation''. 14 May 2019. Retrieved 7 June 2019.</ref> The Head of Government is directly-elected every year, whilst ministers are members of the [[General Kiuva]], the island's parliament.
Alongside Pohnpenesia, Freice is one of the last remnants of the Riamese Empire still under a form of Riamese sovereignty. Freice is officially designated a "Country under the Jurisdiction of the Riamese Federation" and has a relationship with the Riamese federal government based on a series of bilateral treaties. Since 1999, Freice has maintained a separate personality in international law, although the Freician government continues to allow the Riamese government to legislate in foreign affairs on its behalf.
[[File:Vanuatu Parliament, Port Vila - Flickr - PhillipC.jpg|thumb|right|The Public Building Complex houses the Representative Council of Freice.]]
Freice's government follows a mixed system, combining elements of democracy and aristocracy. The [[Maaita of Freice|Maaita]] is the hereditary chief of the island, a position shared between the inheritors of three original claimants. Prior to 2001, the Maaita was the head of government; laws required the Maaita's approval and it was the Maaita that appointed government officials. Since the enactment of a new constitution, the Maaita's functions are now largely ceremonial. The current Maaita, since 30 January 2023, is [[Kaana Tenkel]], who is the 6th Maaita of his Tuaa share. His wife, [[Makeeia Taaguvigi]], serves as regent since 22 December 2023.


The General Kiuva (Common: ''General Meeting'') consists of 21 members, elected annually at the same time as the head of government.<ref name="aboutkiv">[https://i.imgur.com/LJrd3HN.jpg/ "About the General Kiuva"] ''General Kiuva''. 30 June 2022. Retrieved 13 July 2022.</ref> The assembly possesses legislative power in conjunction with the government, with responsibility for the proposing, debating, and passing of laws, the scrutinising of government activity, and the approval of nominations.<ref name="const.">[https://i.imgur.com/LJrd3HN.jpg/ "Constitution of Freice"] ''General Kiuva''. 19 June 2022. Retrieved 17 July 2022.</ref> Members are elected in multi-member constituencies by Freician nationals over the age of 18, and are addressed as ''Honourable Members'' and entitled to use the post-nominal letters "KM" (Freician: ''Kiuva'i Mero''; Kiuva Member). The Speaker of the General Kiuva (currently [[Kiso Toma]], since 2023) is elected by KMs at the beginning of each session<ref name="kiso1">[https://i.imgur.com/LJrd3HN.jpg/ "Members > Speaker Kiso Toma"] ''General Kiuva''. 25 January 2023. Retrieved 29 January 2023.</ref>
The [[Representative Council (Freice)|Representative Council]] is the unicameral legislature. 20 members are elected every three years through plurality block voting. All legislation requires the approval of the Council and the Maaita promulgates all laws. As part of the committee-based system used in Freice, councillors are appointed to one or more committees, which serve as equivalent to ministries, and which oversee and coordinate policy in a given area. The Policy Development Committee is the most important committee, consisting of a president, the chairs of the committees, and a number of ex officio members. The president of the Policy Development Committee is analogous to a prime minister.  


Historically a non-partisan democracy, Freice now operates a two party system. [[Mulo Uahi ma pa Kiuoa]] and [[Faio Ekaitaki’e ka Orpasa’e]] are currently represented in the island's parliament.
===Judiciary===
Freice's legal system consists of traditional Freician Customary Law overlaid with principles and practices taken from Riamese law and statute law passed in the Representative Council. The Courts of Freice are responsible for the administration of justice, which are independent from the executive and legislative branches.


The [[Judiciary of Freice|judiciary]] is independent of the executive and legislative branches. The Supreme Court serves as the highest court and court of last resort in most cases. The judiciary is regulated by the constitution. Appeals maybe made to the Federal Supreme Court in matters relating to human rights, constitutional provisions, and other matters of "grave legal importance".<ref name="justicesbio">[https://i.imgur.com/LJrd3HN.jpg/ "Role of the Supreme Court"] ''Supreme Court''. 18 February 2021. Retrieved 12 March 2021.</ref>
The principal court is the Island Court, which exercises jurisdiction over civil and criminal cases. The Island Court is the highest court of appeal, with the the power to interpret law and to reexamine the facts of a given case. The President of the Island Court is the head of the island's judiciary and is usually a Riamese jurist appointed with the approval of the local government. Other courts include the District Court, which deals with serious criminal matters, and the Summary Court, which deals with minor criminal matters and civil cases. Land Courts are specially-formed courts to hear disputes over land ownership.
 
The Federal High Court (FHC) and the Federal Supreme Court (FSC) are the final courts of appeal in certain cases. The two federal courts have the power of appeal only in cases relating to good government and human rights, as well as in cases reserved for the federal government.


===Administrative divisions===
===Administrative divisions===
====Districts====
Freice is divided into nine administrative districts. Each district is governed by an elected mayor and district council, which have some jurisdiction over local matters.The most populous district is Sekápa, with 3,810 residents. The following table shows the population of each district according to the 2019 census.
Freice consists of nine districts:<ref name=": Newsonthis">[https://i.imgur.com/LJrd3HN.jpg/ "Meeting passes local government reform"]. ''Radio and Television Freice''. 22 March 2022. Retrieved 24 March 2022.</ref>
[[File:Towns of Freice Map.jpg|thumb|right|The districts and towns of Freice.]]
* Dukorane
* Koimuke
* Marana Pratsa
* Mopeta Pratsa
* Peka
* Ritora Iisa
* Roheo Radei Oratite
* Sekapa (not to be confused with [[Sekapa]], which is the main town in the district)
* Sekapa Seiva
Each district includes a main settlement, called a ''petaira kaumatua'' (senior camp), which is the seat of district governments.
 
====Towns====
The country is made up of 23 towns, which are formal groupings of smaller villages and larger settlements:<br>Alui, Aolo, Areia, Ataia, Fana Mano, Hamia, Kalapi, Kapia, Koimuke Seiva, Lemana, Levaima, Matta, Maui, Nania, Pulo, Puti, Sani, Savaga, [[Sekapa]], Soni, Tuhea, Ui and Yaqia.
 
===Defence and foreign affairs===
Freice operates as a Country of the Riamese Federation, having attained this status on 1 March 1980. Under this status, Freice has full responsibility for its internal affairs, with the Riamese government having responsibility for the island's international representation and defence. However, since 1992, Freice has had formal responsibility for formulating its own limited foreign policy for the purposes of political, economic, and cultural development. The Country of Freice (International Affairs) Act 1991 states:<blockquote>The government of the Country of Freice shall be permitted to assume an independent international personality, and shall be empowered to pursue a separate international position for the purpose of its political, economic, and cultural development in consultation with and on the advice of the Federation Government; this right shall not provide any ability for Freician governing authorities to pursue or promote positions contrary to the interests of the Federation, unless empowered so to do in consultation with the Federation Government.<ref name="Fifth">[https://i.imgur.com/LJrd3HN.jpg/ "Country of Freice (International Affairs) Act 1991"] (PDF). ''Federal Assembly of Riamo''. 19 June 2008. Retrieved 2 August 2017.</ref></blockquote>
Freice operates as a de facto independent state, with subsequent agreements largely limiting Federation Law's application to Freice to only certain primary areas.<ref>[https://i.imgur.com/LJrd3HN.jpg/ "Agreement between the Federation Government and the Government of the Country of Freice in Relation to the Application of Federation Law in the Country].''Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Riamese Federation''. 18 March 2013. Retrieved 7 June 2017 - "The parties agree to respect the autonomy of the Country of Freice and to recognise its international position as an sovereign personality for the purposes of international law in relation to the power to enter into diplomatic relations with other States. Federation Law shall apply only in areas of high importance for the security, unity, and development of the Federation, and to the relations between the Country and the Federation proper."</ref> It currently maintains Representative Offices in four countries: [[Gassasinia]], [[Gran Rugido]], [[Hoterallia]], and [[Riamo]]. It is also an independent member of the [[Saltstil Pact]], having attained membership in its own right on 23 June 2021.<ref>[https://i.imgur.com/LJrd3HN.jpg/ "Member state governments welcome Freician representative"].''Saltstil web portal''. 25 June 2021. Retrieved 9 July 2021.</ref> Prior to this, the island was represented in the organisation by the Riamese government.
 
Freice does not maintain an independent military force, with RRAF Yaqia in the southeast of the island providing principal defence. A paramilitary unit of the [[Royal Freice Police Service]] existed until its abolition in 2023.
 
===Political status===
Riamo remains officially responsible for the defence and foreign affairs of Freice, but these responsibilities can only be exercised at the request of the Freician government. Freice is not officially recognised as a sovereign state under international law, but has been recognised as having independence in foreign relations since 1992.<ref name="Fifth">[https://i.imgur.com/LJrd3HN.jpg/ "Country of Freice (International Affairs) Act 1991"] (PDF). ''Federal Assembly of Riamo''. 19 June 2008. Retrieved 2 August 2017.</ref> As such, although not sovereign, Freice does maintain independent representation in certain states and organisations separate from Riamo, and has the capacity to sign treaties in its own name.<ref name="Fifth">[https://i.imgur.com/LJrd3HN.jpg/ "Country of Freice (International Affairs) Act 1991"] (PDF). ''Federal Assembly of Riamo''. 19 June 2008. Retrieved 2 August 2017.</ref>
 
However, neither the Freician nor the Riamese government asserts the island to be an independent state, with both acknowledging the ultimate sovereignty of the Riamese federal government. Consequently, Freicians are automatically [[Riamese passport (Freice)|Riamese citizens]], are able to access Riamese federal programs, and are represented in the Riamese legislature by non-voting delegates.<ref name="21Cen">[https://i.imgur.com/LJrd3HN.jpg/ "Freice and the Federation: A Partnership for the Twenty-First Century"] (PDF). ''Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Riamese Federation''. 14 May 2019. Retrieved 7 June 2019.</ref> Some scholars, however, argue that Freice operates more as an independent state, despite formal assertions to the contrary; it has an independent government with the capacity to represent itself, its own laws, an international personality distinct from Riamo, separate membership of the [[Saltstil Pact]], and a legitimate claim to nationhood.<ref name="Seventeenth">Samuels, J.R. (2019), 'Freician claims to nationhood and the changing nature of sovereignty', ''International Relations Quarterly'', 8(21), pp.88-112</ref><ref name="Eighteenth">Richardson, R. and Saomaia, E.T. (2022), 'Federal or Confederal? The Riamese nation in the twenty-first century', ''Riamese Political Studies'', 17(3), pp.192-212</ref> For this reason, John R. Samuels suggested that the political model used in Freice is more akin to a protectorate, in which Riamo is responsible only for broad external issues and Freician sovereignty largely unaffected in domestic and certain foreign affairs issues.<ref name="Eighteenth">Richardson, R. and Saomaia, E.T. (2022), 'Federal or Confederal? The Riamese nation in the twenty-first century', ''Riamese Political Studies'', 17(3), pp.192-212</ref> The Saltstil Pact, likewise, formally recognised Freice, on its membership to the organisation, as an "independent territory within and under the protection of the Riamese Federation in purposes established by mutual agreement of the two parties".<ref>[https://i.imgur.com/LJrd3HN.jpg/ "Member states > COUNTRY OF FREICE].''Saltstil web portal''. 10 July 2021. Retrieved July 19 2021.</ref>
 
==Demographics==
{{See also|Freicians}}
The 2021 census found the population to be 14,158, with about 62% living on the island's west coast, and about 20% living in [[Sekapa]] alone.<ref>Iqe, Pagei, A. ''The National Encyclopedia of Freician History and Culture''. p.XII</ref><ref name=":census">[https://i.imgur.com/LJrd3HN.jpg/ "TESAGENA 2021 / CENSUS 2021"] (PDF). ''Government of Freice''. 10 April 2021. Retrieved 20 August 2021.</ref> Population figures for before colonisation are largely unknown, with records either minimal in detail, destroyed, or never created.<ref>Harman, ''Riamo and Empire'', p.310</ref>
 
A large minority of the people live in small villages of between 50 and 300 people, most of which are located in the west central regions of the island. In these villages, economies are largely subsistence-based, with additional food and other goods produced to be sold to the bigger townships. Most are farmers, weavers, and husbandmen.  Around 55-60% live in larger townships, which are more heavily urbanised and connected to the national economy.<ref name=":censusRiamo">[https://i.imgur.com/LJrd3HN.jpg/ "Report on the Social Conditions in the Country of Freice"] (PDF). ''Federal Assembly of the Riamese Federation''. 1 June 2020. Retrieved 17 August 2020.</ref><ref name=":census">[https://i.imgur.com/LJrd3HN.jpg/ "TESAGENA 2021 / CENSUS 2021"] (PDF). ''Government of Freice''. 10 April 2021. Retrieved 20 August 2021.</ref> Men constitute 56% of the population (7,292 people) and women 44% (6,229 people).<ref name=":census">[https://i.imgur.com/LJrd3HN.jpg/ "TESAGENA 2021 / CENSUS 2021"] (PDF). ''Government of Freice''. 10 April 2021. Retrieved 20 August 2021.</ref>{{efn|The Freice Trans and Non-Binary Association have campaigned for a change to the census to allow respondents to disclose another sex other than male or female, describing the current system as discriminatory towards intersex persons. Whilst it is not believed that the population of such people is significant, records relating to the sex of persons may not fully accurate.}}
 
===Languages===
The sole official language of Freice is Freician, a Kaldaic language. It is spoken by approximately 96% of the population. The Common Language is also recognised as a language of government and commerce, although only around 5-6% are able to communicate fluently in the language. Previously, the language was an official language alongside Freician, but was assigned a new status in the 2022 constitution.<ref name=":meetingconstitution">[https://i.imgur.com/LJrd3HN.jpg/ ''Island Meeting passes new constitution'']. Radio and Television Freice. 2 April 2022. Retrieved 4 April 2022.</ref> Common is predominately spoken by the Riamese population on the island, and by government elites. A Common creole, known as Freician Pidgin, is more prevalent, being spoken by around 40-50% of the population.<ref name=":commlang">Aznar, Juan, ''Pidgin Languages: Development and Utility'' (San Jorge Xayacatlán: Publicaciones del rey, 2016), p.88.</ref>
[[File:Ethnic Map of Freice.jpg|222px|thumb|left|Ethnic map of Freice (2021).]]
 
Hoterallian is spoken by about 10% of the population, predominately amongst the Hoterallian community.<ref name=":census">[https://i.imgur.com/LJrd3HN.jpg/ "TESAGENA 2021 / CENSUS 2021"] (PDF). ''Government of Freice''. 10 April 2021. Retrieved 20 August 2021.</ref> However, due to the strong cultural, economic, and political ties between Freice and Hoterallia, a large proportion of non-Hoterallians in Freice have limited knowledge of the language, with loan words used on an imformal basis. There are proposals, supported by [[List of political parties in Freice|Future Citizens]], to make it an official language.<ref name=":Langoff">[https://i.imgur.com/LJrd3HN.jpg/ "KTM puts support behind Hoterallian language status"] . ''Radio and Television Freice''. 4 September 2022. Retrieved 10 September 2022.</ref>
 
A small community of Gassasinian speakers is present, as are Vultesian speakers, the latter largely confined to the Vultesian military base.<ref name=":census">[https://i.imgur.com/LJrd3HN.jpg/ "TESAGENA 2021 / CENSUS 2021"] (PDF). ''Government of Freice''. 10 April 2021. Retrieved 20 August 2021.</ref>
 
===Health===
There is only one hospital in Freice, the Sema Taupai Anamia Hospital in Sekapa, which is the primary provider of medical services throughout the country. There are also town medical centres that offer advice and limited medical provision. All medical services on the island are offered through the Public Health Service (Freician: Ratona Sanra Homa'me; RSH), which operates as an independent agency within the Ministry of Health, Education and Culture.<ref name=":Health1">[https://i.imgur.com/LJrd3HN.jpg/ "Freice minister - health services under pressure"] . ''Riamo News''. 24 October 2019. Retrieved 18 May 2021.</ref>


HIV/AIDS remains a significant issue in Freice. In 2022, it was reported that approximately 400-500 people (amounting to around 3 percent of the overall population) are HIV positive.<ref name=":HIV">[https://i.imgur.com/LJrd3HN.jpg/ "HIV/AIDS campaigners push for reform"] . ''Radio and Television Freice''. 12 November 2022. Retrieved 12 November 2022.</ref> Despite this, provisions are limited and the majority of patients can only access the services they need in Gran Rugido, Hoterallia, or Riamo proper.<ref name=":HIV">[https://i.imgur.com/LJrd3HN.jpg/ "HIV/AIDS campaigners push for reform"] . ''Radio and Television Freice''. 12 November 2022. Retrieved 12 November 2022.</ref>
{| class="wikitable sortable"
! No. || District || District town || Area<br>(km<sup>2</sup>) || Population<br>(Census 2021) || No. of<br>towns
|-
| 1 || Dukoraani || Kapia || align="right" | 18 || align="right" | 1,439 || 2
|-
| 2 || Koimuk || Puti || align="right" | 7.2 || align="right" | 1,381 || 2
|-
| 3 || Maraana || Hamia || align="right" | 13.1 || align="right" | 1,352 || 3
|-
| 4 || Maatta || Matta || align="right" | 12.3 || align="right" | 907 || 2
|-
| 5 || Peeka || Soni || align="right" | 9.4 || align="right" | 1,503 || 3
|-
| 6 || Iisa || Tuhee || align="right" | 15.1 || align="right" | 1,343 || 3
|-
| 7 || Nogupi || Nogupi || align="right" | 32.6 || align="right" | 402 || 2
|-
| 8 || Sekaapa || Sekaapa || align="right" | 3.5 || align="right" | 3,810 || 3
|-
| 9 || Sekaapa Alut || Maui || align="right" | 10.1 || align="right" | 2,021 || 3
|-
|- style="background: #CCC;" | class="sortbottom"
|  || '''Freice''' || Sekaapa || align="right" | 121.3 || align="right" | 14,158 || 23
|-
|}


==Population==
===Ethnicity===
===Ethnicity===
Freician is the most commonly reported ethnicity amongst the island's population, with around 78 percent of the population claiming to be of Freician heritage.<ref name=":census">[https://i.imgur.com/LJrd3HN.jpg/ "TESAGENA 2021 / CENSUS 2021"] (PDF). ''Government of Freice''. 10 April 2021. Retrieved 20 August 2021.</ref><ref name=":WEAP">[https://i.imgur.com/LJrd3HN.jpg/ "REPORT: Ethnic groups and government responses"] (PDF). ''Government of Freice''. 4 July 2020. Retrieved 22 July 2020.</ref> According to the Freician government, the Freician ethnicity traces its heritage to the Faio peoples that inhabited the island and from whom much of the population today is descended. Although constituting a majority of the population, the majority of ethnic Freicians live overseas, with the majority living in Riamo, [[Gran Rugido]], and [[Hoterallia]].
As of 2019, the population of Freice was 14,158. Of these, approximately 95 percent were ethnic Freicians, of whom around 98 percent were born in Freice. The remaining five percent consist of other Kaldaic peoples (3 percent), other Olivacians (1 percent) and a small number of Riamese nationals (1 percent). Freicians are a Kaldaic ethnic group closely related with Pohnpenesians. According to Freician custom and tradition, persons born to one Freician are considered fully-Freician and are counted as such in censuses rather than as mixed race.
{{bar box
{{bar box
|title=Ethnic Groups in Freice (2021 Census)<ref name=":census">[https://i.imgur.com/LJrd3HN.jpg/ "TESAGENA 2021 / CENSUS 2021"] (PDF). ''Government of Freice''. 10 April 2021. Retrieved 20 August 2021.</ref>
|title=Ethnic Groups in Freice (2021 Census)
|titlebar=#ddd
|titlebar=#ddd
|left1=Ethnic Groups
|left1=Ethnic Groups
Line 389: Line 298:
|float=right
|float=right
|bars=
|bars=
{{bar percent|Frecian|darkgreen|74.2}}
{{bar percent|Frecian|darkgreen|95}}
{{bar percent|Hoterallian|red|12.3}}
{{bar percent|Other Kaldaic|blue|3}}
{{bar percent|Riamese|red|7.4}}
{{bar percent|Other Olivacian|violet|1}}
{{bar percent|Anahuense|violet|3.3}}
{{bar percent|Other|purple|1}}
{{bar percent|Pohnpenesian|purple|1.5}}
}}
{{bar percent|Gassasinian|black|0.9}}
From 2015, a small number of Leogrian and Riojanian workers came to Freice as part of a Riamese-initiated program of infrastructure development. The vast majority of these workers had left the island by 2019, although a small number remain in Sekaapa.
{{bar percent|Vultesian|darkblue|0.1}}
{{Historical populations
{{bar percent|Mixed|Violet|0.2}}
| title= Historical population
{{bar percent|Other|maroon|0.1}}
| percentages = pagr
| 1877 | 2129
| 1909 | 4829
| 1919 | 5739
| 1929 | 7192
| 1939 | 7619
| 1949 | 8261
| 1959 | 8928
| 1969 | 10005
| 1979 | 10872
| 1989 | 12029
| 1999 | 12881
| 2009 | 13429
| 2019 | 14158
}}
}}
===Languages===
Freice has two official languages: Freician and the Common Language Freician is a Kaldaic language, closely related to Pohnpenesian. Due to the influence of the Riamese, it has borrowed a number of terms from the Common language, with the former significantly influencing Freicians’ grammar.
The Freician language is spoken by the vast majority of islanders, and is recognised in Freice’s constitution as the island’s “national language”. Whilst the Common Language was, historically, a lingua franca for communication between island and Riamese authorities, it has since become the most prevalent second language. The Common Language has been an official language since 1969 upon full independence.
Estimates claim the number of people who speak Freician worldwide to be around 30,000. Freician television and radio transmits Freician-language programming, with specialist providers offering some services in Freician in Riamo, Anahuac, and Pohnpenesia.


A minority of the Freician population are from other ethnicities, being immigrants or the descendants of immigrants. The largest minority group is [[Hoterallia|Hoterallian]] (12.3%), with the majority being descendants of immigrants who came to Freice during [[Hoterallian Occupation of Freice|Hoterallian governance]]. Hoterallian culture, language, and customs have had a significant impact on Freician society. [[Pohnpenesia|Pohnpenesians]], genetically and culturally similar to Freicians, represent 1.5% of the population, the majority being wealthy expatriates. Riamese people also constitute a large proportion (3.6%), although this has declined in recent years.<ref>Uqai, J.N.. et al. (2018) ''Impact of Riamese immigration in Freice'' (Portington: Portington University Press). Retrieved 9 April 2018.</ref> The Gran Rudigoan community also has a significant presence, constituting 3.3 of the population.<ref name=":census">[https://i.imgur.com/LJrd3HN.jpg/ "TESAGENA 2021 / CENSUS 2021"] (PDF). ''Government of Freice''. 10 April 2021. Retrieved 20 August 2021.</ref>
===Religion===
The Riamese Orthodox Church is the largest religion in Freice, with adherents comprising about 76% of the population. The Constitution of Freice guarantees freedom of religion, including the practice and changing of religion, and prohibits the government from promoting one religion over others. Other Christian groups include the Silvadian Catholic and Methodist communities, which represents much of the remaining Christian population. There are also small groups of Seventh-Day Adventists and Christadelphians.
{{Pie chart
{{Pie chart
| thumb = left
| thumb = left
| caption = <center>Religion in Freice according to the Freician Belief Survey<ref name=":census">[https://i.imgur.com/LJrd3HN.jpg/ "TESAGENA 2021 / CENSUS 2021"] (PDF). ''Government of Freice''. 10 April 2021. Retrieved 20 August 2021.</ref><ref name=":awenas">[https://i.imgur.com/LJrd3HN.jpg/ "Survey of personal belief"] (PDF). ''Government of Freice''. 7 July 2021. Retrieved 13 July 2021.</ref>
| caption =  
| other =  
| other =  


| label1 =Orthodoxy
| label1 =Christian
| value1 =74.8
| value1 =85.2
| color1 =Darkblue
| color1 =blue


| label2 =Gaoist
| label2 ="Spiritual"
| value2 =10.3
| value2 =9.9
| color2 =Pink
| color2 =yellow


| label3 =Homara Aio
| label3 =Traditional beliefs
| value3 =5.1
| value3 =0.8
| color3 =lightblue
| color3 =lightblue


| label4 =Silvadian Catholicism
| label4 =Other/none
| value4 =3.6
| value4 =4.1
| color4 =Red
| color4 =black
}}
There is a large number of people who identify as "spiritual" and avoid direct participation in organised religion. Although many believe in God, and a large number believe in the Christian doctrine, self-declared spiritual people identify more with a personal relationship with God that bypasses ordained clergy and defined practices of worship.
 
The introduction of Christianity to the island largely ended traditional religion and the worship of other deities. However, there have been many attempts at reviving traditional religion to varying degrees of success. Today, around 1% of the population identify as professing a traditional religion, although religious scholars have pointed out that the link between today's traditional religion and pre-Christian practices is weak. Much of traditional worship in modern Freice is more akin to Christianised spiritualism, leading some to argue that such practices come under the "spiritual" heading.


| label5 =Other Christian
===Health===
| value5 =2
Life expectancy of the people of Freice in 2019 was 68 years for men and 72 years for women. Historically, infant mortality was high due to a lack of infrastructure and limited knowledge of good medical practice. However, since the 1980s infant mortality has been reduced from 37 to 20 per 1,000 live births.
| color5 = brown


| label6 = Traditional beliefs
The Sekaapa General Hospital is the only hospital in Freice, and is the primary provider of medical services A number of villages and towns host medical centres staffed by both qualified practitioners and volunteers, offering consultations and limited medical provision.
| value6 =1.1
| color6 =yellow


| label7 = Islam
Since the 1980s, the most significant health problems in Freice are related to HIV/AIDS. Freice faces a generalized epidemic, with approximately 3 percent of adults aged 15 to 49 infected. In the 21st century, this rate has declined and stabilised, reducing from an historic high of 11.1% in 1998. A renewed focus on combating the virus in the 2020s has prompted an international response, with medical aid coming from Riamo, Leogria, and Anahuac. HIV prevalence is higher in rural areas than in urban areas, arising from a greater prevalence of prostitution and limited knowledge of safe-sex practices.
| value7 =0.8
| color7 = green


| label8 = Other
===Education===
| value8 =0.7
Education in Freice is free and compulsory between the ages of 4 and 17. The Ministry of Public Health, Education, and Social Services oversees education on the island, with the primary agency being the Commission on Education Standards and Testing.
| color8 =purple


| label9 = Not declared
Freicians enjoy a relatively high level of education when considering its income level and development, with a 97.9% literacy rate.
| value9 =1.6
| color9 =White
}}
Relations between the majority Freician and minority Riamese ethnic groups continue to be strained due to the history of Riamese colonisation and the enforcement of its culture on the ethnic Freician population. Although today the two groups live largely in peace, small outbreaks of violence against Riamese businesses and people have persisted.<ref>[https://i.imgur.com/LJrd3HN.jpg/ Anti-Riamese protest ends in three injuries]. ''Tama Adune oe Faio''. 4 March 2012. Retrieved 28 March 2015.</ref>


=== Religion ===
Each district has at least one primary school, with boarding schools more common in isolated areas where transportation links are more limited. Previously, a majority of schools were operated by the Riamese Orthodox Church, but most of these have since fallen under the operation of the national government.
Freedom of speech, thought, and belief are protected rights in Freice, and therefore no religion is promoted more so than any other, and nor has any state religion been adopted. The constitution explicitly states that the state does not provide for the establishment of a state religion.<ref name="const.">[https://i.imgur.com/LJrd3HN.jpg/ "Constitution of Freice"] ''General Kiuva''. 19 June 2022. Retrieved 17 July 2022.</ref> However, the majority of citizens identify as Christian, with the 2021 census recording 79.9% of Frecians as being Christians.<ref name=":census">[https://i.imgur.com/LJrd3HN.jpg/ "TESAGENA 2021 / CENSUS 2021"] (PDF). ''Government of Freice''. 10 April 2021. Retrieved 20 August 2021.</ref><ref>[https://i.imgur.com/LJrd3HN.jpg/ Christianity in Freice]. ''International Christian Foundation'' 9 May 2018. Retrieved 22 June 2018.</ref> Of these, [[Riamese Orthodox Church|Orthodox]] constitute the majority (69.6%), followed by Baptists (5.2%) and Silvadian Catholics (3.6%).<ref name=":census">[https://i.imgur.com/LJrd3HN.jpg/ "TESAGENA 2021 / CENSUS 2021"] (PDF). ''Government of Freice''. 10 April 2021. Retrieved 20 August 2021.</ref>


Considered distinct from but associated with Christianity is Homara Aio (Common: Holy Community). A monotheistic religious movement founded in 1922, it combines traditional Freician culture and customs with Christian theology. Adherents, known as ''Homa'me Homara'' (Communitarians, literally: Community People), believe the Christian God, recognise Jesus Christ as the Messiah, and celebrate Christian holy days and festivals. They combine this with a belief in traditional Freician holy figures, regarded as "lesser messiahs", appointed by God to spread the gospel in Freice.<ref name=": 12Ahesldren">Fautaime Aotemai (2019), 'Homara Aio: Christian Religion or Native Mysticism?', ''Journal of Oriental Religious Studies'', 22(8), pp.32-55</ref> Communitarians numbered 5.1% of the population in the 2021 census.<ref name=": 12Ahesldren">Fautaime Aotemai (2019), 'Homara Aio: Christian Religion or Native Mysticism?', ''Journal of Oriental Religious Studies'', 22(8), pp.32-55</ref><ref name=":census">[https://i.imgur.com/LJrd3HN.jpg/ "TESAGENA 2021 / CENSUS 2021"] (PDF). ''Government of Freice''. 10 April 2021. Retrieved 20 August 2021.</ref>
There are two tertiary institutions on the island: University School of Medicine, Sekápa, and the Freice Institute of Science, Technology, and Engineering (FISTE). The majority of students study abroad, predominantly in Riamo and Anahuac.


Other Christian denominations include Protestants, Adventists, and Quakers, which are primarily practiced by immigrants and their descendants. A small Islamic community also exists amongst the Gasassinian community, as well as a Gaoist community amongst Hoterallians.<ref name=":peace">[https://i.imgur.com/LJrd3HN.jpg/ "Preliminary Paper: Ensuring peace and friendship between the religions of Freice Island"] (PDF). ''Federal Government of the Riamese Federation''. 7 July 2008. Retrieved 12 March 2015.</ref>Atheists and agnostic groups are minimal and no large-scale study has been done to discover the prevalence of non-belief on the island.
Culturally, scholarship is held in high esteem. The body of academic knowledge created by Freicians has been collected and preserved at the Institute of Education and Learning in Sekápa. This includes all doctoral and master’s dissertations written by any ethnic Freician in any country, as well as all scholarly works published by or about Freicians. Since 2012, these have been made publicly available at no cost.


==Economy==
==Economy==
The economy of Freice is small, with a gross domestic product (GDP) 32.7 million ACU in 2020.<ref name="21Cen">[https://i.imgur.com/LJrd3HN.jpg/ "Freice and the Federation: A Partnership for the Twenty-First Century"] (PDF). ''Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Riamese Federation''. 14 May 2019. Retrieved 7 June 2019.</ref> The majority of Freice's economy rests on fishing and subsistence agriculture, with Riamese and Hoterallian financial aid contributing significant sums to the Freician government's budget.<ref name=":budget">[https://i.imgur.com/LJrd3HN.jpg/ "Budget 2016"] (PDF). ''Government of Freice''. 10 June 2018. Retrieved 14 September 2019.</ref> Freice's main export is fish and other agricultural goods, such as the katahana fruit, a fruit native to Freice and which is an important part of the nation's diet.<ref name="21Cen">[https://i.imgur.com/LJrd3HN.jpg/ "Freice and the Federation: A Partnership for the Twenty-First Century"] (PDF). ''Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Riamese Federation''. 14 May 2019. Retrieved 7 June 2019.</ref>
The economy is strongly affected by the island’s geography. Freice is isolated from most foreign markets, lacks in modern infrastructure, has very few natural resources, and has little capacity for manufacturing. Consequently, most income comes from tourism, which makes up approximately 71.2% of the country’s GDP. Foreign aid, largely from Riamo but also from Pohnpenesia and [[Anáhuac]], also makes up a significant part of the island’s budget.
 
Per capita income has seen a significant increase in the last twenty years, primarily the result of a diversification of the economy and a shift away from government employment towards private sector employment. Per capita income in 2020 was 2,312 ACU, compared to 1,201 ACU in 2000.<ref name=": Lalala">[https://i.imgur.com/LJrd3HN.jpg/ "Economy of Freice"]. ''World Economic Factbook''. 4 March 2020. Retrieved 29 May 2020.</ref> Enabled by increased tourism and business arrivals, private businesses are now a significant sector within the Freician economy.


The majority of the Freician population is employed in community-owned agricultural businesses. Community co-operatives are the dominant form of private enterprise found on the island, with most businesses operating on the basis of community ownership and collective decision-making.<ref>Ibid.</ref> The majority of Freice's domestic food supply, including fish, comes from such businesses.
Freice forms part of the Riamo-Kaldaz Customs Agreement (RKCA), with unfettered trade to and from Riamo and a common tariff on imports. Suggestions of a new agreement, particularly one that gives Freice control over import tariffs, have been raised on several occasions. As part of this, Freice is a party to a number of free trade agreements negotiated by the Riamese federal government.


===Tourism===
Despite this, a significant part of Freice’s export market is in Anahuac (26.6%) and Leogria (18.3%). Because of this, Freice enjoys a strong economic relationship with the two states.
Tourism is the second-largest industry in Freice, accounting for approximately 40% of the national income in 2020.<ref name=": Tourism">[https://i.imgur.com/LJrd3HN.jpg/ "Assembly meets amid budget crisis"]. ''Radio and Television Freice''. 9 June 2020. Retrieved 21 June 2020.</ref> The island has been a popular tourist destination amongst [[Riamo|Riamese]] since the [[Hoterallian Occupation of Freice|handover of sovereignty]] in the 1930s, with the novelty of the handover spurring interest in Freician culture and society.<ref name=": Tourism2">[https://i.imgur.com/LJrd3HN.jpg/ "The Grand Tourers - Riamese elites and holidaymaking"]. ''HistoryToday Online''. 9 August 2019. Retrieved 14 January 2020.</ref> Today, the majority of visitors are from [[Riamo]], [[Gran Rugido]] and [[Hoterallia]], with additional visitors from other [[Saltstil Pact]] member states as well as [[Gassasinia]] and [[Kentalis]].<ref name=": Tourism1">[https://i.imgur.com/LJrd3HN.jpg/ "Tourism numbers down, but govt. remains optimistic"]. ''Radio and Television Freice''. 14 February 2018. Retrieved 29 April 2018.</ref>
[[File:Le chalutier Le Miquelon (1).JPG|thumb|left|Sekaapa Marina.]]
The island is a member of the Oriental Trade Alliance (OTA) within the Saltstil Pact, which provides for a reduction of quotas and tariffs amongst member states and simplifies processes for the movement of goods, services, and people across the Oriental Trade Area.


Popular tourist destinations include the Etuenao Rocks, the beaches that surround the island, Freice Zoo, and the number of small village communities that operate tours and accomodation.<ref name="Visit">[https://i.imgur.com/LJrd3HN.jpg/ "Sites and Scenes"]. ''www.visit-freice.faiose''. 8 June 2018. Retrieved 18 August 2019</ref> Most tourist attractions are operated and run by the Freician government, with historic sites run Freice Heritage, a non-governmental organisation under the authority of the [[Politics_of_Freice#Executive|Ministry of Education]].<ref name=": Tourism3">[https://i.imgur.com/LJrd3HN.jpg/ "Government Services > Ministry of Education > Freice Heritage"]. ''Government of Freice''. 8 January 2018. Retrieved 21 May 2020.</ref>  A number of smaller business, including gift shops, restaurants, hotels, and tour bus operators, are private businesses. There are no hotel chains on the island, operated instead by individual owners.
The Comprehensive Action Plan for a 21st Century Freice (CAP) is a government initiative created to develop Freice’s economy and reduce the island’s dependence on foreign aid and tourism. The plan sets national priorities for social and economic development, including the modernisation and expansion of infrastructure, the promotion of the private sector, and the construction of a number of new commercial centres. The Freice Chamber of Commerce, a not-for-profit organisation of Freician businesses, is a major participant in the CAP.


===Infrastructure===
===Transport===
Transport services on the island are limited outside of major urban areas and infrastructure remains highly underdeveloped, with the majority of roads unpaved and transport relying on un-maintained dirt roads, tracks, and other clearings. Consequently, many communities remain isolated save for one or two roads.<ref name="AID">[https://i.imgur.com/LJrd3HN.jpg/ "Resident Minister meets with assembly members to discuss infrastructure"]. ''Riamo in Freice''. 7 June 2019. Retrieved 28 August 2019.</ref> Freice does not have any railroads, with the majority of transport done by horse-drawn carriages and by foot, with cars rare on the island compared to other countries.
Transport services in Freice are limited, although recent efforts have been made to modernise and expand roads as part of the CAP initiative. The A1 is the main road on the island, starting at Mattá in the northwest and progressing along the island's western, southern, and eastern coasts to Álui in the northeast. The A2 crosses the country east-to-west, linking Sekápa to Nána. The Sekápa Tramway is the only railroad on the island, opened in January 2023 following the redevelopment of the old railway opened in 1901.
[[File:Freice mud road.jpg|thumb|Unpaved roads are common in Freice, with urbanisation limited to major towns and cities only.]]
[[File:Vehicle registration plate (Freice).png|thumb|right|[[Vehicle_registration_plates_of_Freice|Riamese vehicle registration plate for use in Freice]], including a variant of the [[Flag and coat of arms of Freice|coat of arms of Freice]].]]
There is one ports in Freice, Sekapa Port, which caters to the majority of import and export services. Air travel is served by the island's sole airport, the Sekapa International Airport, which was built in 1928 during the Hoterallian occupation.<ref>[https://i.imgur.com/LJrd3HN.jpg/ "About us"]. ''airport.faiose''. 4 May 2016. Retrieved 19 June 2017.</ref>
A number of roads are unpaved, with the limited number of paved roads causing congestion to be an issue at certain peak times in major urban areas.


===Telecommunications and media===
The only airport on the island is Sekápa Airport. Passenger services is provided by Freice Airlines, the flag carrier airline for Freice. Flights operate four days a week to Hernández de Córdoba International Airport, with chartered flights available for Guri and Harpan.
The Freice Telecommunications Corporation (Faiose'i Kapahaika Kahanikago'me; lit. ''Freice's Communications Corporation'') is a state-owned enterprise that provides fixed-line telephone lines to the island's populations, as well as mobile phone services in cooperation with the Riamese government.<ref name=": AID">[https://i.imgur.com/LJrd3HN.jpg/ "Services"]. ''fkk-ftc.faiose''. 6 June 2019. Retrieved 22 November 2020.</ref> The Freice Telecommunications Corporation is also responsible for distributing Riamese television services on the island. Satellite dishes are used for telephone and internet access, although their relative scarcity renders many communities isolated from communication to outside areas. Connections are slow and services are often limited due to high demand.<ref name=": Lalala">[https://i.imgur.com/LJrd3HN.jpg/ "Economy of Freice"]. ''World Economic Factbook''. 4 March 2020. Retrieved 29 May 2020.</ref>


Radio is the most common form of media consumed by Freicians, with television used only by the richer and more affluent.<ref name="21Cen">[https://i.imgur.com/LJrd3HN.jpg/ "Freice and the Federation: A Partnership for the Twenty-First Century"] (PDF). ''Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Riamese Federation''. 14 May 2019. Retrieved 7 June 2019.</ref> The principal radio station is ''Radio and Television Freice'', which is fully owned by the government through [[Radio and Television Freice]] (Faiose'i Lerika ka Paasukase).<ref>[https://i.imgur.com/LJrd3HN.jpg/ "Services"]. ''Radio and Television Freice''. 22 May 2020. Retrieved 14 October 2020.</ref>
The Sekaapa Marina provides sea access. In recent years, the marina has been modernised in recent years, including expansion and the improvement of roads linking it to the A1. The marina is an important import/export hub, as well as the home of a limited number of civil vessels.
 
There were formerly two newspapers on the island: Tama Adune oe Faio'se, a daily newspaper, and the Weekly Bulletin, a Sunday roundup of the weeks news. Tama Adune oe Faio'se was temporarily closed down after the 2021 coup d'état but was reopened on 10 August 2021.<ref>[https://i.imgur.com/LJrd3HN.jpg/ "Service resumed"]. ''Tama Adune oe Faio'se''. 8 September 2021. Retrieved 10 September 2021.</ref> On 10 January 2022, the two newspapers announced a merger.<ref>[https://i.imgur.com/LJrd3HN.jpg/ "Tama and Bulletin to merge"]. ''Radio and Television Freice''. 8 January 2022. Retrieved 12 January 2022.</ref> ''Kaposa Tama''  (“Home Reporter”) entered into publication on 30 January 2022. This was replaced by ''Mulo'i Puineta'' ("Island Bulletin"), in the form of a new weekly issue, on 16 December 2022.<ref>[https://i.imgur.com/LJrd3HN.jpg/ "First Edition: It's Time for a Change"]. ''Tueia Nalikine''. 16 December 2022. Retrieved 20 December 2022.</ref>


==Culture==
==Culture==
Freician culture is heavily dominated by the island's remote location in the Kaldaz Sea. The country's economy, literature, cuisine, and politics are all influenced to varying extents by the Kaldaz.<ref>Ferrant, Victor R. ''The Forgotten Island'', p.400.</ref> Although official government policy is that full equality exists between the sexes, matrilineal practices continue. Upon self-government in 1969, inaugural President Sema T. Anamia remarked that Freice was the "child of the Kaldaz and the jewel in the Kaldaic crown."<ref>''Ibid'', p.405.</ref>
===Language===
 
The official languages of Freice are Freician and the Common Language. Although the Common Language is commonly used in politics and business, it is rarely spoken on a day-to-day basis amongst ordinary Freicians. The Common Language is spoken by approximately two-in-ten Freicians.
===Cuisine===
Freician cuisine is primarily a fish and meat-based diet, with the surrounding ocean and animal husbandry informing the diet that the local population has ready access to. Fruit, including the katahana fruit, is also an important part of the Freician diet, which is regularly eaten as a breakfast dish, as a snack, and as a dessert dish.<ref name=": FD">[https://i.imgur.com/LJrd3HN.jpg/ "Food and Drink"]. ''www.visitfreice.faiose''. 1 May 2016. Retrieved 22 June 2018.</ref> However, Riamese cuisine and, to a lesser extent, Rugidoense cuisine are increasingly popular amongst younger generations, many of whom have traveled and have brought back foreign foods to the island. Hoterallian cuisine is also commonly found on the island in both Hoterallian and native Freician households.<ref name=": Home">[https://i.imgur.com/LJrd3HN.jpg/ "Supporting Hoterallian cuisine"]. ''Hoterallian Civic Centre in Freice''. Retrieved 29 November 2020. 14 January 2021.</ref>
 
Potatoes and other imported foods have emerged as a popular food on the island, and have been incorporated into many dishes.


Some local foods include an alcoholic drink made from fermented fruit, which is popular amongst all generations of society and is regularly offered to visitors as a sign of welcome.<ref name=": Cult">[https://i.imgur.com/LJrd3HN.jpg/ "Culture"]. ''www.visitfreice.faiose''. Retrieved 4 May 2016. 23 June 2018.</ref>
Freician is a Kaldaic languages and is related to Pohnpenesian, although many of its characteristics are sui generis. It is the principal language of communication for the majority of Freicians and is used for all road signs and forms of public communication. Freician is regulated by the Freice Language Commission, which publishes the ''Official Dictionary of the Freician Language'' and works to protect the integrity of the language.


The presence of meat in Freician dishes differs based on the context of the dish. Historically, pork and other meat were consumed only on important days, with national celebrations often accompanied by the mass slaughter of pigs and other animals. Today, meat is consumed more often and has, to an extent, replaced certain fish dishes (such as shellfish).<ref name=": FD">[https://i.imgur.com/LJrd3HN.jpg/ "Food and Drink"]. ''www.visitfreice.faiose''. 1 May 2016. Retrieved 22 June 2018.</ref>
Amongst Freicians, the most common greetings ''tai baas'' ("Good day") and ''deei taitamee teeiaga'' ("God bless your day").  


===Education===
===Media===
Education in Freice is compulsory, but access to primary education among school-age children has only reached high levels in the last twenty years. In 2020, 89.1 percent of school-age children had access to primary education (up from 80.4 in 2000 and 62.7 in 1980).<ref name=": EduDep1">[https://i.imgur.com/LJrd3HN.jpg/ "Report on Standards of Education in the Country of Freice"]. ''Government of Freice''. 10 August 2020. Retrieved 19 September 2021.</ref> There are schools located across the island, although secluded areas often struggle to gain access.<ref name=": EduDep2">[https://i.imgur.com/LJrd3HN.jpg/ "Report: Right to education on slippery slope in Freice"]. ''Riamese Human Rights Campaign''. 6 June 2018. Retrieved 4 March 2019.</ref>
The Freice Broadcasting Commission is the national broadcaster of the island, owned by and operated through the Ministry of Finance, Infrastructure, and Sustainable Development. It broadcasts domestic programs as well as certain programs from Anáhuac, Riamo, and Ponhpenesia, and also provides radio and limited internet services. There are also a small number of private commercial radio stations, which also carry some programming from Riamese and Anáhuaca stations.
[[File:Freician school girl.jpg|thumb|left|There has been a steady increase in the number of girls in formal education.]]
Schools include both public and private institutions, with public institutions a combination of federal and Freician-operated. Education is divided into pre-school (kerna aua), primary school (kerna uahi), and secondary school (kerna ruu). There is one university on the island - the [[University School of Medicine, Freice]] - which has campuses across the island and which is the primary source of undergraduate and postgraduate courses.<ref>[https://i.imgur.com/LJrd3HN.jpg/ About]. ''University School of Medicine, Freice''. Retrieved 8 November 2019.</ref> The Sema T. Anamia Community College in Sekapa provides some further and higher education courses, with further undergraduate, graduate and professional programs necessitating travel abroad. Universities in Riamo, Gran Rugido, and Hoterallia are the primary locations for Freician university students.<ref name=": EduDep2">[https://i.imgur.com/LJrd3HN.jpg/ "Report: Right to education on slippery slope in Freice"]. ''Riamese Human Rights Campaign''. 6 June 2018. Retrieved 4 March 2019.</ref>


Schooling is conducted in the Freician language. All children learn the Common Language as standard, with many schools also teaching Hoterallian.<ref name=": EduDep1">[https://i.imgur.com/LJrd3HN.jpg/ "Report on Standards of Education in the Country of Freice"]. ''Government of Freice''. 10 August 2020. Retrieved 19 September 2021.</ref>
There are a small number of newspapers in circulation on the island. The most popular is ''E Tai Seelit'' (Common: ''The New Day''), which was founded in 1948. Newspapers continue to be one of the main methods of consuming news on the island, particularly in areas where radios and televisions are less common.


===Sport===
===Arts===
Sport on the island is primarily water-based, with scuba diving, swimming competitions, and boat races dominant. Races with traditional Freician raft crafts are particularly popular, and the annual race held every July is one of the most important cultural activities of the year.<ref name=": t2d">[https://i.imgur.com/LJrd3HN.jpg/ Things to do]. ''www.visitfreice.fa''. Retrieved 23 June 2018.</ref>
Arts and crafts play an important role in Freician culture. Predominant among this is boat building, a practice long associated with the island's seafaring culture. This includes both boats and seafaring accessories, including ornately-decorated oars. The giving of nautical crafts, most commonly a small boat, is a common sign of appreciation or affection, usually given to confirm or affirm a friendship.


Other sports, such as football and basketball, have become popular in recent years as their presence has been introduced by recent waves of immigration and emigration.
Most Freicians have some experience in crafting these objects, with a significant informal economy operating around the buying and selling of these items. The Freice National Arts Centre, located in Sekápa, includes an extensive display of arts and crafts, which is an important tourist attraction.


==See also==
==See also==
* [[Politics of Freice]]
* [[Politics of Freice]]
* [[Flag of Freice]]
* [[Monarchy of Freice]]
* [[Education in Freice]]
* [[Culture of Freice]]
 
==References==
{{Reflist|30em}}


==Notes==
==Notes==
{{notelist}}
{{notelist}}
{{reflist|group=note}}


==External links==
==External links==
* [https://i.imgur.com/LJrd3HN.jpg/ Official government website]
* [https://i.imgur.com/LJrd3HN.jpg/ Official government website]
* [https://i.imgur.com/LJrd3HN.jpg/ Ratona Tama]
* [https://i.imgur.com/LJrd3HN.jpg/ Freice Broadcasting Commission]
{{Template:Anteria info pages}}
{{Template:Anteria info pages}}
{{Template:Freice topics}}
{{Template:Freice topics}}

Latest revision as of 16:47, 29 December 2023

Country of Freice
Feese Kaaunga (Freician)
Motto: Kalaa ata Lavaae (Freician)
(Common: "Separate and Free")
Anthem: Tasaam Feese (Freician)
(Common: "The Freician Song")
Federal arms
Coat of arms of Freice (Riamese variant).png
Freice on the globe (Kaldaz Sea centred).png
Capital
and largest city
Sekaapa
Official languages
  • Freician
  • Common Language
Ethnic groups
(2019)
Freician (95%)
Other Kaldaic (3%)
Other Olivacian (1%)
Other (1%)
Demonym(s)Freician
GovernmentRegional assembly-independent democracy under a federal monarchial republic
• Monarch
Diana II
• Maaita
Kaana Tenkel
• Regent
Makeeia Taaguvigi
LegislatureRepresentative Council
Establishment
• Riamese protectorate established
1878
• Constitution
1 September 1925
• Current status
3 April 1972
Area
• Total
121.3 km2 (46.8 sq mi)
• Water (%)
negligible
Population
• 2019 census
14,158 (not ranked)
• Density
117/km2 (303.0/sq mi) (not ranked)
GDP (nominal)2020 estimate
• Total
32.7 million ACU
• Per capita
2,312 ACU
HDI (2021)Increase 0.640
medium
CurrencyFreician hull[a]
Riamese hull
Time zoneUTC+5:00
Driving sideleft
Calling code+451
Internet TLD.fe

Freice (/friːs/ fr-EE-s; Freician: Feese [feɪeɪsə]), officially the Country of Freice (Freician: Feese Kaaunga) is an island country in the Kaldaz Sea, approximately 936 km (582 mi) southeast of mainland Olivacia. The country, consisting of a single island that forms part of the wider Pohnpenesian Island group, has a land area of 121 km2 (47 sq mi) and a population of 14,158 people as of 2019. The capital and largest city is Sekaapa.

Freice was first inhabited by Kaldaic people in the first millenium, with a stable and comparatively complex system of government established by the time of colonial contact in the eighteenth century. The Riamese first landed on the island in 1871, making contact with the local chiefs. In 1872, a Riamese protectorate was established, with the indigenous rulers allowed to retain control of internal government. In 1972, Freice assumed full self-governance as a Country of the Riamese Federation, with Riamo retaining control over defence and foreign affairs.

Today, Freice remains one of the poorest countries in the world, despite Riamese financial aid. In the early twenty-first century, tourism steadly grew and is now one of the main sources of income for the island's small economy. The island's culture remains tied to its Kaldaic traditions, with minimal residents coming from mainland Olivacia, Riamo, and the other Pohnpenesian islands.

History

Riamese Era (1878-1972)

Between 1878 and 1972, Freice was a protectorate of the Riamo. In Freician historiography, this period is known as the "Riamese Era" (Freician: Teeia Ramiotam). During this period, Freice remained a nominally independent state, with its foreign affairs and defence the responsibility of the Riamese Government as part of a Treaty of Friendship and Amicable Relations. In 1878, the Maaita Tuaa Savou signed the treaty under pressure, with implied threat of full annexation if he resisted. Despite promises of domestic autonomy, the Freician government came under increased Riamese influence through the presence of a number of Resident Ministers.

In 1893, a number of Freician chiefs unsuccessfully sought to rebel against Riamese hegemony, resulting in the execution of five chiefs in what has subsequently been called Black November (Freician: Neeia Nogutumaa). In 2003, the Riamese government apologised for its role in these executions. By 1900, with Christianity well-established as the religion of the majority of Freicians, Maaita Teeakaala Neeiet proclaimed Riamese Orthodoxy the state religion.

Beginning in the 1910s, the Riamese government placed growing pressure on the Freician government to introduce some form of representative body to avoid a second rebellion amongst the chiefs. In 1923, the Maaita's Council was established as an advisory body. This was replaced, in 1928, with the Representative Council, which consisted of all the chiefs and representatives of other senior groups. This body was largely hereditary, with the Maaita appointing additional members at their discretion.

Throughout the 1930s, Freice embarked on a series of social reforms to align it with Riamo. This included a new criminal code, a codified constitution, a form of state welfare, and elections to the Representative Council on a limited suffrage. Under the brief rule of Leiseini Mataasat (1943-1945) and his son Jalimateki Leiseini (1945-1953), restrictions on the press were lifted and universal suffrage was finally introduced.

Recent history

In the 1960s, the Riamese federal government requested that the Freician Representative Council discuss and decide on Freice's future political status. The government gave the Council three options: full political independence, integration into Riamo proper, or associated status within the Federation. From 1966, the Freician government supported a policy of association, maintaining political and constitutional links with the Riamese Crown and government whilst maintaining its unique form of self-governance.

On 3 April 1972, the Freice Act formalised the island's political status and clarified debated aspects of its relationship with Riamo. The act formally recognised Freice as a "Country under the Jurisdiction of the Riamese Federation" and granted the Riamese federal government responsibility for the island's foreign affairs and defence. A subsequent bilateral treaty granted the federal government further powers over fiscal and some monetary policy areas. Nonetheless, Freice assumed greater rights of self-government, including (from 1999) the unrestricted right to sign treaties and join international organisations.

In the 1980s, successive Freician governments sought to reduce Freice's economic dependency on Riamo. New agreements with Anahuac and Leogria, as well as greater cooperation between Freice and Pohnpenesia, led to a greater diversification in the economy. By 1992, Freice's exports to Riamo fell as a proportion of national income by a quarter. However, Riamo continued to be the destination of over 60 percent of Freician imports until the late 2000s, when further economic agreements substantially increased Freician exports to non-federation markets.

In 2003, Maaita Tenkel Maairai publically congratulated Diana II on the occasion of the 30th anniversary of her accession. This was the first time that a Maaita affirmed their loyalty to the Riamese Crown, with predecessors avoiding a direct statement of allegiance in favour of "respectful reverence." E Tai Seelit suggested that the change in stance reflected a "greater sense of self-confidence within government circles." Tenkel's son and successor, Kaana Tenkel, echoed his father's comments during the Queen's golden jubilee.

In 2011 council elections, a record number of women were elected, with 7 women elected to the 20-member body. In 2017, the council became majority-female for the first and only time, with 11 women elected. In 2021, the Elections (Gender Balance) Act was passed and requires a minimum of 8 members to be women.

Geography

Etuenao Rocks, located in Northwest Freice.

Freice is an island nation in the Kaldaz Ocean, 936 km (582 mi) from the nearest point on mainland Olivacia. It is located in the south-centre of the Olivacian plate, and so is geologically considered part of the continent. It is located at latitude 92°E and longtitude 52°S. The island is approximately 47 km (29 miles) in length and 26 km (16 miles) wide, covering an area of 121.3 km2 (46.8 sq mi) in the general shape of the letter 'L'.

The island's geography is divided between hilly terrain in the north-east of the island, and flat plateaus and west and south. There, the terrain is generally flat and fertile, and which is where the vast majority of the population resides and economic activity takes place. The north-west of the island is dominated by the Eastern Highlands, which includes the Nogupi Hills. The area surrounding the range constitutes a National Nature Reserve and is protected by law.

There are a number of small rocks off the coast, which are nature reserves and host to a number of birds and sea species. All are located within five miles off the shore.

Freice is home to a large variety of flora and fauna, with around 19 mammal species, 10 amphibian species, 8 reptile species, and around 150 species of fish native to the island and its surrounding waters. Historically, Freice was host to a number of endemic bird species and subspecies, but these have since become extinct following decades of hunting and land clearance from the 1820s to the 1960s.

Climate

Freice has an oceanic climate (Koppen: Cfb), characterised by relatively frequent rainfall and a narrow temperature range. The highest recorded temperature in Freice (36.3 °C) was in Sekápa on 3 January 2010. Average temperatures range between 15 and 20 °C (59 and 68 °F) in summer, and between 2 and 10 °C (41 and 50 °F) in July, with the climate broadly characterised as cool, wet, and windy. Snow is rare, recorded only in the highland hills in the island’s northeast, usually once every few decades.

Climate data for Freice
Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Year
Record high °C (°F) 36.3
(97.3)
34.6
(94.3)
33.6
(92.5)
25.5
(77.9)
20.2
(68.4)
15.1
(59.2)
16.6
(61.9)
19
(66)
25.5
(77.9)
29.1
(84.4)
31.3
(88.3)
35.1
(95.2)
36.3
(97.3)
Average high °C (°F) 19.9
(67.8)
19.4
(66.9)
17.9
(64.2)
15.1
(59.2)
12.5
(54.5)
9.8
(49.6)
9.5
(49.1)
10.8
(51.4)
12.7
(54.9)
14.8
(58.6)
16.3
(61.3)
18.2
(64.8)
14.8
(58.6)
Average low °C (°F) 10.2
(50.4)
10.1
(50.2)
8.8
(47.8)
6.6
(43.9)
4.8
(40.6)
2.7
(36.9)
2.4
(36.3)
2.8
(37.0)
4.1
(39.4)
5.5
(41.9)
7.2
(45.0)
8.8
(47.8)
6.2
(43.2)
Record low °C (°F) 3.1
(37.6)
3.2
(37.8)
1.6
(34.9)
0.9
(33.6)
−1.4
(29.5)
−2.5
(27.5)
−2.6
(27.3)
−1.5
(29.3)
−0.5
(31.1)
0.0
(32.0)
0.1
(32.2)
3.1
(37.6)
−2.6
(27.3)
Average rainfall mm (inches) 41.7
(1.64)
35.8
(1.41)
35.0
(1.38)
40.6
(1.60)
37.2
(1.46)
44.0
(1.73)
42.5
(1.67)
61.0
(2.40)
52.6
(2.07)
50.8
(2.00)
48.7
(1.92)
51.0
(2.01)
540.9
(21.30)
Average rainy days (≥ 0.2 mm) 8.5 8.1 10.3 10.1 11.0 11.4 13.1 14.3 14.7 14.0 12.5 10.7 138.7
Average afternoon realative humidity (%) 51 52 52 56 58 64 61 56 53 51 53 49 55
Mean monthly sunshine hours 257.3 226.0 210.8 177.0 148.8 132.0 151.9 179.8 195.0 232.5 234.0 248.0 2,393.1
Percent possible sunshine 59 62 57 59 53 49 53 58 59 58 56 53 56
Source: Riamse Meteorological Office

Politics

Alongside Pohnpenesia, Freice is one of the last remnants of the Riamese Empire still under a form of Riamese sovereignty. Freice is officially designated a "Country under the Jurisdiction of the Riamese Federation" and has a relationship with the Riamese federal government based on a series of bilateral treaties. Since 1999, Freice has maintained a separate personality in international law, although the Freician government continues to allow the Riamese government to legislate in foreign affairs on its behalf.

The Public Building Complex houses the Representative Council of Freice.

Freice's government follows a mixed system, combining elements of democracy and aristocracy. The Maaita is the hereditary chief of the island, a position shared between the inheritors of three original claimants. Prior to 2001, the Maaita was the head of government; laws required the Maaita's approval and it was the Maaita that appointed government officials. Since the enactment of a new constitution, the Maaita's functions are now largely ceremonial. The current Maaita, since 30 January 2023, is Kaana Tenkel, who is the 6th Maaita of his Tuaa share. His wife, Makeeia Taaguvigi, serves as regent since 22 December 2023.

The Representative Council is the unicameral legislature. 20 members are elected every three years through plurality block voting. All legislation requires the approval of the Council and the Maaita promulgates all laws. As part of the committee-based system used in Freice, councillors are appointed to one or more committees, which serve as equivalent to ministries, and which oversee and coordinate policy in a given area. The Policy Development Committee is the most important committee, consisting of a president, the chairs of the committees, and a number of ex officio members. The president of the Policy Development Committee is analogous to a prime minister.

Judiciary

Freice's legal system consists of traditional Freician Customary Law overlaid with principles and practices taken from Riamese law and statute law passed in the Representative Council. The Courts of Freice are responsible for the administration of justice, which are independent from the executive and legislative branches.

The principal court is the Island Court, which exercises jurisdiction over civil and criminal cases. The Island Court is the highest court of appeal, with the the power to interpret law and to reexamine the facts of a given case. The President of the Island Court is the head of the island's judiciary and is usually a Riamese jurist appointed with the approval of the local government. Other courts include the District Court, which deals with serious criminal matters, and the Summary Court, which deals with minor criminal matters and civil cases. Land Courts are specially-formed courts to hear disputes over land ownership.

The Federal High Court (FHC) and the Federal Supreme Court (FSC) are the final courts of appeal in certain cases. The two federal courts have the power of appeal only in cases relating to good government and human rights, as well as in cases reserved for the federal government.

Administrative divisions

Freice is divided into nine administrative districts. Each district is governed by an elected mayor and district council, which have some jurisdiction over local matters.The most populous district is Sekápa, with 3,810 residents. The following table shows the population of each district according to the 2019 census.

No. District District town Area
(km2)
Population
(Census 2021)
No. of
towns
1 Dukoraani Kapia 18 1,439 2
2 Koimuk Puti 7.2 1,381 2
3 Maraana Hamia 13.1 1,352 3
4 Maatta Matta 12.3 907 2
5 Peeka Soni 9.4 1,503 3
6 Iisa Tuhee 15.1 1,343 3
7 Nogupi Nogupi 32.6 402 2
8 Sekaapa Sekaapa 3.5 3,810 3
9 Sekaapa Alut Maui 10.1 2,021 3
Freice Sekaapa 121.3 14,158 23

Population

Ethnicity

As of 2019, the population of Freice was 14,158. Of these, approximately 95 percent were ethnic Freicians, of whom around 98 percent were born in Freice. The remaining five percent consist of other Kaldaic peoples (3 percent), other Olivacians (1 percent) and a small number of Riamese nationals (1 percent). Freicians are a Kaldaic ethnic group closely related with Pohnpenesians. According to Freician custom and tradition, persons born to one Freician are considered fully-Freician and are counted as such in censuses rather than as mixed race.

Ethnic Groups in Freice (2021 Census)
Ethnic Groups percent
Frecian
95%
Other Kaldaic
3%
Other Olivacian
1%
Other
1%

From 2015, a small number of Leogrian and Riojanian workers came to Freice as part of a Riamese-initiated program of infrastructure development. The vast majority of these workers had left the island by 2019, although a small number remain in Sekaapa.

Historical population
YearPop.±% p.a.
1877 2,129—    
1909 4,829+2.59%
1919 5,739+1.74%
1929 7,192+2.28%
1939 7,619+0.58%
1949 8,261+0.81%
1959 8,928+0.78%
1969 10,005+1.15%
1979 10,872+0.83%
1989 12,029+1.02%
1999 12,881+0.69%
2009 13,429+0.42%
2019 14,158+0.53%

Languages

Freice has two official languages: Freician and the Common Language Freician is a Kaldaic language, closely related to Pohnpenesian. Due to the influence of the Riamese, it has borrowed a number of terms from the Common language, with the former significantly influencing Freicians’ grammar.

The Freician language is spoken by the vast majority of islanders, and is recognised in Freice’s constitution as the island’s “national language”. Whilst the Common Language was, historically, a lingua franca for communication between island and Riamese authorities, it has since become the most prevalent second language. The Common Language has been an official language since 1969 upon full independence.

Estimates claim the number of people who speak Freician worldwide to be around 30,000. Freician television and radio transmits Freician-language programming, with specialist providers offering some services in Freician in Riamo, Anahuac, and Pohnpenesia.

Religion

The Riamese Orthodox Church is the largest religion in Freice, with adherents comprising about 76% of the population. The Constitution of Freice guarantees freedom of religion, including the practice and changing of religion, and prohibits the government from promoting one religion over others. Other Christian groups include the Silvadian Catholic and Methodist communities, which represents much of the remaining Christian population. There are also small groups of Seventh-Day Adventists and Christadelphians.

  Christian (85.2%)
  "Spiritual" (9.9%)
  Traditional beliefs (0.8%)
  Other/none (4.1%)

There is a large number of people who identify as "spiritual" and avoid direct participation in organised religion. Although many believe in God, and a large number believe in the Christian doctrine, self-declared spiritual people identify more with a personal relationship with God that bypasses ordained clergy and defined practices of worship.

The introduction of Christianity to the island largely ended traditional religion and the worship of other deities. However, there have been many attempts at reviving traditional religion to varying degrees of success. Today, around 1% of the population identify as professing a traditional religion, although religious scholars have pointed out that the link between today's traditional religion and pre-Christian practices is weak. Much of traditional worship in modern Freice is more akin to Christianised spiritualism, leading some to argue that such practices come under the "spiritual" heading.

Health

Life expectancy of the people of Freice in 2019 was 68 years for men and 72 years for women. Historically, infant mortality was high due to a lack of infrastructure and limited knowledge of good medical practice. However, since the 1980s infant mortality has been reduced from 37 to 20 per 1,000 live births.

The Sekaapa General Hospital is the only hospital in Freice, and is the primary provider of medical services A number of villages and towns host medical centres staffed by both qualified practitioners and volunteers, offering consultations and limited medical provision.

Since the 1980s, the most significant health problems in Freice are related to HIV/AIDS. Freice faces a generalized epidemic, with approximately 3 percent of adults aged 15 to 49 infected. In the 21st century, this rate has declined and stabilised, reducing from an historic high of 11.1% in 1998. A renewed focus on combating the virus in the 2020s has prompted an international response, with medical aid coming from Riamo, Leogria, and Anahuac. HIV prevalence is higher in rural areas than in urban areas, arising from a greater prevalence of prostitution and limited knowledge of safe-sex practices.

Education

Education in Freice is free and compulsory between the ages of 4 and 17. The Ministry of Public Health, Education, and Social Services oversees education on the island, with the primary agency being the Commission on Education Standards and Testing.

Freicians enjoy a relatively high level of education when considering its income level and development, with a 97.9% literacy rate.

Each district has at least one primary school, with boarding schools more common in isolated areas where transportation links are more limited. Previously, a majority of schools were operated by the Riamese Orthodox Church, but most of these have since fallen under the operation of the national government.

There are two tertiary institutions on the island: University School of Medicine, Sekápa, and the Freice Institute of Science, Technology, and Engineering (FISTE). The majority of students study abroad, predominantly in Riamo and Anahuac.

Culturally, scholarship is held in high esteem. The body of academic knowledge created by Freicians has been collected and preserved at the Institute of Education and Learning in Sekápa. This includes all doctoral and master’s dissertations written by any ethnic Freician in any country, as well as all scholarly works published by or about Freicians. Since 2012, these have been made publicly available at no cost.

Economy

The economy is strongly affected by the island’s geography. Freice is isolated from most foreign markets, lacks in modern infrastructure, has very few natural resources, and has little capacity for manufacturing. Consequently, most income comes from tourism, which makes up approximately 71.2% of the country’s GDP. Foreign aid, largely from Riamo but also from Pohnpenesia and Anáhuac, also makes up a significant part of the island’s budget.

Freice forms part of the Riamo-Kaldaz Customs Agreement (RKCA), with unfettered trade to and from Riamo and a common tariff on imports. Suggestions of a new agreement, particularly one that gives Freice control over import tariffs, have been raised on several occasions. As part of this, Freice is a party to a number of free trade agreements negotiated by the Riamese federal government.

Despite this, a significant part of Freice’s export market is in Anahuac (26.6%) and Leogria (18.3%). Because of this, Freice enjoys a strong economic relationship with the two states.

Sekaapa Marina.

The island is a member of the Oriental Trade Alliance (OTA) within the Saltstil Pact, which provides for a reduction of quotas and tariffs amongst member states and simplifies processes for the movement of goods, services, and people across the Oriental Trade Area.

The Comprehensive Action Plan for a 21st Century Freice (CAP) is a government initiative created to develop Freice’s economy and reduce the island’s dependence on foreign aid and tourism. The plan sets national priorities for social and economic development, including the modernisation and expansion of infrastructure, the promotion of the private sector, and the construction of a number of new commercial centres. The Freice Chamber of Commerce, a not-for-profit organisation of Freician businesses, is a major participant in the CAP.

Transport

Transport services in Freice are limited, although recent efforts have been made to modernise and expand roads as part of the CAP initiative. The A1 is the main road on the island, starting at Mattá in the northwest and progressing along the island's western, southern, and eastern coasts to Álui in the northeast. The A2 crosses the country east-to-west, linking Sekápa to Nána. The Sekápa Tramway is the only railroad on the island, opened in January 2023 following the redevelopment of the old railway opened in 1901.

A number of roads are unpaved, with the limited number of paved roads causing congestion to be an issue at certain peak times in major urban areas.

The only airport on the island is Sekápa Airport. Passenger services is provided by Freice Airlines, the flag carrier airline for Freice. Flights operate four days a week to Hernández de Córdoba International Airport, with chartered flights available for Guri and Harpan.

The Sekaapa Marina provides sea access. In recent years, the marina has been modernised in recent years, including expansion and the improvement of roads linking it to the A1. The marina is an important import/export hub, as well as the home of a limited number of civil vessels.

Culture

Language

The official languages of Freice are Freician and the Common Language. Although the Common Language is commonly used in politics and business, it is rarely spoken on a day-to-day basis amongst ordinary Freicians. The Common Language is spoken by approximately two-in-ten Freicians.

Freician is a Kaldaic languages and is related to Pohnpenesian, although many of its characteristics are sui generis. It is the principal language of communication for the majority of Freicians and is used for all road signs and forms of public communication. Freician is regulated by the Freice Language Commission, which publishes the Official Dictionary of the Freician Language and works to protect the integrity of the language.

Amongst Freicians, the most common greetings tai baas ("Good day") and deei taitamee teeiaga ("God bless your day").

Media

The Freice Broadcasting Commission is the national broadcaster of the island, owned by and operated through the Ministry of Finance, Infrastructure, and Sustainable Development. It broadcasts domestic programs as well as certain programs from Anáhuac, Riamo, and Ponhpenesia, and also provides radio and limited internet services. There are also a small number of private commercial radio stations, which also carry some programming from Riamese and Anáhuaca stations.

There are a small number of newspapers in circulation on the island. The most popular is E Tai Seelit (Common: The New Day), which was founded in 1948. Newspapers continue to be one of the main methods of consuming news on the island, particularly in areas where radios and televisions are less common.

Arts

Arts and crafts play an important role in Freician culture. Predominant among this is boat building, a practice long associated with the island's seafaring culture. This includes both boats and seafaring accessories, including ornately-decorated oars. The giving of nautical crafts, most commonly a small boat, is a common sign of appreciation or affection, usually given to confirm or affirm a friendship.

Most Freicians have some experience in crafting these objects, with a significant informal economy operating around the buying and selling of these items. The Freice National Arts Centre, located in Sekápa, includes an extensive display of arts and crafts, which is an important tourist attraction.

See also

Notes

  1. Non-circulation legal tender.

External links