Freice

Country of Freice Tehua oe Faio'se (Freician) 並外民国 (Hoterallian)
Flag Emblem
Anthem: Riamo Will Be There Island anthem: Te ma Haimoa Mulo'i "The Island Song"
Status	Recognised as a country of Riamo with independence in foreign relations de jure; operating as an independent state under Riamese protection de facto (since 1980).
Capital and largest city	Sekapa
Official languages	Freician (national) Common Language Hoterallian
Ethnic groups (2021)	78.2% Freician 12.3% Hoterallian 4.6% Riamese 4.9% other
Religion (2021)	78.4% Christianity 10.3% Gaoism 5.1% Homara Aio 3.6% Not declared 2.6% others
Demonym(s)	Freician Muloan (colloquial)
Sovereign state	Riamo
Government	Unitary parliamentary democracy under a federal monarchial republic
• Monarch	Diana II
• Sovereign's Representative	Ailu Apoka Semeia
• Keomoru'lu	Kana Tenqel
Legislature	General Kiuva
Country of Riamo
• Self-government	1 February 1969
• Country status	1 March 1980
• Recognition of independence in foreign relations	28 November 1992
• SP member state	23 June 2021
• Current constitution	11 April 2022
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
Currency	Hoterallian gen (HTG)
Time zone	UTC+5:00
Driving side	left
Calling code	+451
Internet TLD	.fa

Freice, officially the Country of Freice, 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 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 has been continuously inhabited since the first century AD. 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. In 1969, Freice became an autonomous republic within the Riamese Federation, becoming a Country of the Federation (Freician: Tehua oe te ma Tehua Kahe) in 1980. A coup d'état in 2021 led to political turmoil, resolved with the passage of a new constitution and the reform of the island's political system.

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. 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. Freician nationals, however, remain Riamese citizens and certain federation-wide laws apply in Freice.

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. 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.

History

Early history

Historical affiliations

Colony of Freice Island 1753-1911

• Hoterallian Mandate for the Governance of the Freice Island 1911-1931
• Colony of Freice Island 1931-1969
• Autonomous Republic of Freice 1969-1980
• Country of Freice 1980–present

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. 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.

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. However, the Faio also involved themselves in continental trade, with small trading posts established on the island to host traders from the mainland continent. 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.

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. 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.

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. The island served largely as a military base for its strategic location in the Kaldaz, with native Freicians seeing little interference in their lives. 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. 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. 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. 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.

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.

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.

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. 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. 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. 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. 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.

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.

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.

1969-present

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).

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.

In 1980, Freice became a 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.

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.

In 2021, Aniara Neileka was elected the first woman president and initiated reforms known as the 'external focus'. 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. 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.

A new assembly was created, elected in January 2022, with Aniara returning as head of government. It approved a new constitution in April 2022.

In 2023, a series of referendums saw the public vote to restore the Talitai'ama, to adopt the Hoterallian gen, and to recognise Hoterallian and the Common Language as co-equal alongside Freician. The subsequent constitutional amendments entered into force in February 2023.

With the merger of 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.

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 Oratite 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. This includes Far Rock (Freician: Tora Matakita), located off the coast of Roheo Radei Oratite, which was historically considered a holy site.

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

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. 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.

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.

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.

Climate data for Freice
Month	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec	Year
Record high °C (°F)	30.0 (86.0)	29.8 (85.6)	28.0 (82.4)	27.0 (80.6)	21.7 (71.1)	18.0 (64.4)	17.3 (63.1)	19.0 (66.2)	21.6 (70.9)	24.8 (76.6)	26.6 (79.9)	28.8 (83.8)	30.0 (86.0)
Average high °C (°F)	19.9 (67.8)	20.1 (68.2)	18.7 (65.7)	16.3 (61.3)	13.7 (56.7)	11.6 (52.9)	10.9 (51.6)	11.6 (52.9)	13.1 (55.6)	14.7 (58.5)	16.4 (61.5)	18.4 (65.1)	15.5 (59.9)
Daily mean °C (°F)	16.4 (61.5)	16.6 (61.9)	15.4 (59.7)	13.4 (56.1)	11.1 (52.0)	9.0 (48.2)	8.3 (46.9)	8.9 (48.0)	10.2 (50.4)	11.6 (52.9)	13.1 (55.6)	15.0 (59.0)	12.4 (54.3)
Average low °C (°F)	12.9 (55.2)	13.1 (55.6)	12.1 (53.8)	10.4 (50.7)	8.3 (46.9)	6.4 (43.5)	5.6 (42.1)	6.1 (43.0)	7.2 (45.0)	8.5 (47.3)	9.9 (49.8)	11.7 (53.1)	9.4 (48.9)
Record low °C (°F)	3.8 (38.8)	4.9 (40.8)	4.3 (39.7)	2.3 (36.1)	0.7 (33.3)	−0.4 (31.3)	−0.3 (31.5)	−0.4 (31.3)	−0.1 (31.8)	0.9 (33.6)	1.4 (34.5)	3.1 (37.6)	−0.4 (31.3)
Average rainfall mm (inches)	77.2 (3.04)	76.7 (3.02)	85.5 (3.37)	100.6 (3.96)	120.4 (4.74)	132.1 (5.20)	135.7 (5.34)	125.2 (4.93)	100.5 (3.96)	110.0 (4.33)	91.2 (3.59)	91.7 (3.61)	1,250.1 (49.22)
Average rainy days (≥ 0.7 mm)	6.9	6.6	7.9	9.1	11.3	13.0	13.1	12.8	10.8	11.1	9.3	8.8	124.0
Average relative humidity (%)	79.1	81.2	81.8	82.4	84.0	85.7	85.5	84.0	80.3	80.0	78.7	79.4	81.9
Mean monthly sunshine hours	238.3	205.4	193.7	154.1	126.3	102.1	112.2	137.0	162.3	191.1	209.3	222.6	2,057.8
Percent possible sunshine	50	52	49	46	40	35	36	40	44	45	46	46	44
Source: Riamese Meteorological Service

Politics and foreign relations

Main article: Politics of Freice

Freice is a monarchial republic (constitutional monarchy), with Diana II, Queen of the Riamese serving as head of state, represented by a Sovereign's Representative. The Constitution Act 2022 vests executive authority in the Cabinet of Ministers (known as the cabinet), headed by the Keomoru'lu. 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. The Head of Government is directly-elected every year, whilst ministers are members of the General Kiuva, the island's parliament.

The General Kiuva (Common: General Meeting) consists of 21 members, elected annually at the same time as the head of government. 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. 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

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.

The 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".

Administrative divisions

Districts

Freice consists of nine districts:

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:
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:

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.

Freice operates as a de facto independent state, with subsequent agreements largely limiting Federation Law's application to Freice to only certain primary areas. 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. 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. 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.

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 citizens, are able to access Riamese federal programs, and are represented in the Riamese legislature by non-voting delegates. 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. 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. 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".

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. Population figures for before colonisation are largely unknown, with records either minimal in detail, destroyed, or never created.

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. Men constitute 56% of the population (7,292 people) and women 44% (6,229 people).

Languages

The sole official language of Freice is Freician, a Kaldaic language. It is spoken by approximately 96% of the population. The Freician language is unique in that, although a natural, non-auxiliary language, many of its rules have been standardized to promote uniformity. Efforts at creating a standardised system of grammar emerged in the nineteenth- and twentieth-centuries to promote literacy and ease teaching. 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. 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.

Ethnic map of Freice (2021).

Hoterallian is spoken by about 10% of the population, predominately amongst the Hoterallian community. 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 Future Citizens, to make it an official language.

A small community of Gassasinian speakers is present, as are Vultesian speakers, the latter largely confined to the Vultesian military base.

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.

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. Despite this, provisions are limited and the majority of patients can only access the services they need in Gran Rugido, Hoterallia, or Riamo proper.

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. 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.

Ethnic Groups in Freice (2021 Census)
Ethnic Groups			percent
Frecian			74.2%
Hoterallian			12.3%
Riamese			7.4%
Anahuense			3.3%
Pohnpenesian			1.5%
Gassasinian			0.9%
Vultesian			0.1%
Mixed			0.2%
Other			0.1%

A minority of the Freician population are from other ethnicities, being immigrants or the descendants of immigrants. The largest minority group is Hoterallian (12.3%), with the majority being descendants of immigrants who came to Freice during Hoterallian governance. Hoterallian culture, language, and customs have had a significant impact on Freician society. 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. The Gran Rudigoan community also has a significant presence, constituting 3.3 of the population.

Religion in Freice according to the Freician Belief Survey

  Orthodoxy (74.8%)

  Gaoist (10.3%)

  Homara Aio (5.1%)

  Silvadian Catholicism (3.6%)

  Other Christian (2%)

  Traditional beliefs (1.1%)

  Islam (0.8%)

  Other (0.7%)

  Not declared (1.6%)

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.

Religion

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. However, the majority of citizens identify as Christian, with the 2021 census recording 79.9% of Frecians as being Christians. Of these, Orthodox constitute the majority (69.6%), followed by Baptists (5.2%) and Silvadian Catholics (3.6%).

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. Communitarians numbered 5.1% of the population in the 2021 census.

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.Atheists and agnostic groups are minimal and no large-scale study has been done to discover the prevalence of non-belief on the island.

Economy

The economy of Freice is small, with a gross domestic product (GDP) 32.7 million ACU in 2020. 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. 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.

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. 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. The majority of Freice's domestic food supply, including fish, comes from such businesses.

Tourism

Tourism is the second-largest industry in Freice, accounting for approximately 40% of the national income in 2020. The island has been a popular tourist destination amongst Riamese since the handover of sovereignty in the 1930s, with the novelty of the handover spurring interest in Freician culture and society. 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.

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. 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 Ministry of Education. 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.

Infrastructure

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. 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.

Unpaved roads are common in Freice, with urbanisation limited to major towns and cities only.

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.

Telecommunications and media

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. 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.

Radio is the most common form of media consumed by Freicians, with television used only by the richer and more affluent. 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).

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. On 10 January 2022, the two newspapers announced a merger. 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.

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. 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."

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. 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.

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.

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).

Education

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). There are schools located across the island, although secluded areas often struggle to gain access.

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. 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.

Schooling is conducted in the Freician language. All children learn the Common Language as standard, with many schools also teaching Hoterallian.

Sport

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.

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.

See also

• Politics of Freice
• Flag of Freice
• Education in Freice
• Culture of Freice

External links

• Official government website
• Ratona Tama