Freice
Country of Freice Feese Kaaunga (Freician) | |
|---|---|
Motto: Kalaa ata Lavaae (Freician) (Common: "Separate and Free") | |
Anthem: Tasaam Feese (Freician) (Common: "The Freician Song") | |
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| Capital and largest city | Sekaapa |
| Official languages |
|
| Ethnic groups (2019) | Freician (95%) Other Kaldaic (3%) Other Olivacian (1%) Other (1%) |
| Demonym(s) | Freician |
| Government | Regional assembly-independent democracy under a federal monarchial republic |
• Monarch | Diana II |
• Maaita | Kaana Tenkel |
• Regent | Makeeia Taaguvigi |
| Legislature | Representative 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) |  0.640medium |
| Currency | Freician hull[a] Riamese hull |
| Time zone | UTC+5:00 |
| Driving side | left |
| Calling code | +451 |
| Internet TLD | .fe |
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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
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.
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.
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 | ||
|---|---|---|
| Year | Pop. | ±% 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.
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.
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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.
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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
- ↑ Non-circulation legal tender.
External links
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