Freice
Kingdom of the Island of Freice Fése Tehua’kalá Tehua á’ie Má’itanále (Freician) | |
|---|---|
| Anthem: Ati Faio'se, ma seia ka likoa (Freician) My Freice, gallant and free  | |
.png) Location of Freice in the Kaldaz Ocean | |
| Status | Amicable protectorate of the Riamese Federation |
| Capital and largest village | Sekápa |
| Official languages | |
| Ethnic groups |
|
| Religion (2021) |
|
| Demonym(s) | Freician |
| Government | Unitary parliamentary constitutional monarchy |
• Monarch | Kána'tápi |
• Prime Minister | Aváma Sopalé |
| Legislature | House of Assembly |
| Independence from Riamo | |
• Declared | 1 February 1969 |
| Area | |
• Total | 121.3 km2 (46.8 sq mi) |
• Water (%) | negligible |
| Population | |
• 2021 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) |  0.640medium |
| Currency | Freician pe'iara |
| Time zone | UTC+5:00 |
| Driving side | left |
| Calling code | +451 |
| Internet TLD | .fe |
Freice (FREE-EES; Freician: Fése), officially the Kingdom of Freice (Freician: Fése Tehua á’ie Má’itanále) and also referred to in the constitution as the Kingdom of the Island of Freice (Freician: Fése Tehua’kalá Tehua á’ie Má’itanále) is an island country in the Kaldaz Sea, part of the continent of Olivacia. It lies about 936 km (582 mi) from mainland Olivacia, and consists of a single island and a series of small rocks, amounting to a total land area of approximately 121 km2 (47 sq mi). About 26% of the islands population of 14,158 live in the capital, Sekápa, and its surrounding villages, and a large part of the remaining population living on the west coast.
Freice was first inhabited by Kaldaic people, who settled on the island around the first millennium. The population of the island had established a stable and comparatively complex system of government by the time of contact with colonial powers in the eighteenth century. The Má’ita ruled the island as absolute monarch, elected from amongst the island's chiefs. Interactions with the Riamese in the nineteenth century led to the creation of a number of institutions modelled on their Riamese counterparts, including a constitution, a Court of Justice, and a House of Elders that functioned as a pseudo-legislature.
From 1872 until 1969, Freice was a protectorate of Riamo, which handled its foreign affairs and defence under a Treaty of Alliance, Cooperation, and Friendship. Although Freice never formally ceded its sovereignty, it was largely governed through the influence of a series of Riamese resident ministers, who encouraged Riamo-friendly policies from the local government. In 1921, Freice assumed the status of a kingdom, and in 1969, achieved full independence from Riamo. In 1982, the island took a decisive step away from its traditional governing institutions with the promulgation of a new constitution, reducing the powers of the king and replacing the House of Elders with a fully-elected House of Assembly.
Geography
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
Freice has been governed as a constitutional monarchy since 1982, with the King of Freice as head of state. The executive branch consists of the Prime Minister as head of government, who chairs the cabinet. Before 1982, the prime minister was only an adviser, appointed from the House of Elders to act as a link between the Crown and the elders. With the creation of a constitutional monarchy and the establishment of the House of Assembly, prime ministers are now appointed by virtue of their ability to command the confidence of the House of Assembly. On 6 May 2022, King Kána'tápi appointed Aváma Sopalé to the office.
The House of Assembly is the unicameral legislature of Freice, consisting of 19 members elected for four-year terms. 15 are elected through a majority electoral system in single-member constituencies, and 4 are elected by proportional representation to represent a multi-member whole-island constituency. All legislation requires the approval of the House of Assembly and assent by the King. All cabinet members are appointed from the House of Assembly, with ministers responsible to both the king and their fellow legislators.
The constitution of Freice creates a political system that bridges the gap between traditional governance and liberal democracy. Unlike most constitutional monarchies, many of the Crown's prerogative powers are exercised at their discretion, usually on the advice of ministers rather than at their direction. The monarch remains a significant figure in national politics, and their support for legislation is often sought. Although the House of Elders has long since been abolished, many of its members were elected to the new House of Assembly, and the nobility has continued to enjoy a prominent position in island politics. Of the seven prime ministers appointed since 1981, five have been nobles or closely related to them.
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 House of Assembly. Freice has almost complete autonomy over internal affairs, and certain external matters, with the Riamese government granted powers only for international representation and defence. Consequently, Riamese law also applies to Freice in matters which are transferred to Riamo.
The head of the judiciary is the Chief Justice of the High Court, who is presiding officer of the High Court - the supreme court in the island. The High Court is the highest court of appeal in all matters except those for which Riamo is responsible, in which case further appeal is permitted to the Riamese Federal Supreme Court with permission of the court. Other courts include the Court of Appeal, the Criminal Court, the Land Court, and the Summary Court. In addition, twenty honourary justices are elected every four years to serve as a jury in "open air" courts, a traditional form of community punishment now largely confined to minor civil infractions and anti-social behaviour.
The monarch appoints all judicial officers, usually on the advice of the Minister of Justice.
Human rights
Human rights are guaranteed in the Constitution of Freice, and by a number of laws (domestic and international). Although Freice performs adequately in measurements of civil liberties, and peacefulness, there remains issues surrounding internet freedom and democratic governance.
The human rights organisation RightsWatch reported in 2020:
Human rights in Freice are generally respected, but there remain significant problems that undermine the credibility of their constitutional protections. The continued influence of the King in day-to-day politics, as well as the disproportionate role that the nobility play in government, negate claims of democratic government, and several anti-libel laws frustrate a true freedom of the press. Other human rights issues include discrimination and threats of violence against Riamese and other ethnic and racial minorities, usually surrounding land ownership, and continued hostility towards lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and intersex persons.
LGBT+ rights are limited in Freice, although efforts are being made to improve the conditions of the community. Same-sex relations between men have been legal since 1996 (same-sex relations between women have never been illegal) and there have been some moves towards recognition of families headed by same-sex couples.
Administrative divisions
Freice is divided into nine administrative districts, each of which also form electoral constituencies. Each district is governed by an elected mayor and district council, which have some jurisdiction over local matters.The most populous district is Sekāpa, with 3,810 residents. The following table shows the population of each district according to the 2021 census.
| No. | District | District town | Area (km2) |
Population (Census 2021) |
No. of towns |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Dukoráni | Kapia | 18 | 1,439 | 2 |
| 2 | Koimuk | Puti | 7.2 | 1,381 | 2 |
| 3 | Marána | Hamia | 13.1 | 1,352 | 3 |
| 4 | Mátta | Matta | 12.3 | 907 | 2 |
| 5 | Péka | Soni | 9.4 | 1,503 | 3 |
| 6 | I'isa | Tuhé | 15.1 | 1,343 | 3 |
| 7 | Nogupi | Nogupi | 32.6 | 402 | 2 |
| 8 | Sekápa | Sekápa | 3.5 | 3,810 | 3 |
| 9 | Sekápa'alut | Maui | 10.1 | 2,021 | 3 |
| Freice | Sekapa | 121.3 | 14,158 | 23 |
Population
Demographics
As of April 2021, Freice had a population of 14,158 inhabitants. The majority of residents (85%) are ethnic Freicians, a Kaldaic ethnic group descended from continental nomads. Persons claiming part-Freician heritage constitute a further 9.5%. The remaining 5.5% includes Riamese (4.5%), other Kaldaic groups (0.6%) and small groups of Anahuenese and other Olivacian nationalities (0.4%)
From 2015, a number of Leogrian and Riojanian workers were brought in as labour due to insufficient manpower amongst the population. The vast majority of these workers had left the island by 2019.
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.
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 King Káneka'tami General Hospital in Sekapa 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.