That the only powers granted to King James III of Scotland in 1469, when he accepted these islands as security in the matter of payment of a marriage dowry, were those of trustee. His Majesty was holding them in trust until they were redeemed by King Christian of Denmark and Norway or his successors. Part of his obligation was to preserve the existing language and laws. The Plenipotentiaries of Europe confirmed in the 1667 Peace and Treaty of Breda that these arrangements remained in full force at that time and nothing has happened since then to give the monarch any further rights or powers. Especially, those powers were limited to the Crown alone and nothing has occurred to give the government any powers whatsoever.

That King Charles II confirmed in 1669 that the inhabitants of these islands were to have an immediate dependence upon His Majesty and his officers and the islands were erected into a Stewartry, answering directly to His Majesty and to the exclusion of Parliament.

That King Charles II declared that in the event of a general dissolution of His Majesty’s properties, such as happened in 1707 with the Act of Union, these islands were not to be included, but were to remain in direct dependence to His Majesty.

That Queen Anne ignored the provisions laid down by King Charles II and illegally incorporated Shetland into Great Britain with the 1707 Act of Union.

That in 1975 the government of the United Kingdom forced these islands, to their great disadvantage, to remain in the European Economic Community, and later the European Union, against the clearly stated will of the people.

That the government of the United Kingdom, without any prior right, appropriated the fishing and other rights, in the seas around these islands and gave them to foreign powers.

That the government of the United Kingdom, without any prior right, appropriated the seabed around these islands for the purposes of oil extraction.

That the government of the United Kingdom demands rents for the use of seabed around Shetland, to which they have no right or title.

That the Shetlands Islands Councillors and their legal department, having been advised of these issues and having chosen to take no action, thereby make themselves complicit in illegal acts.

Accordingly I, Stuart Alan Hill, being the udal and ultimate owner of the island of Forvik, do declare that the said island of Forvik owes no allegiance to any United Kingdom government, central or local, and is not bound by any of its statutes. I offer my services as Steward to Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II and acknowledge her rights as being the same, and not more, than were originally granted to King James III in 1469.

Further:I hereby invite residents of Shetland to join with me to set up a true and just administration, based on principles of democracy that will ensure the elected representatives carry out the wishes of the people and that will serve as a model which the rest of Shetland could adopt if it so wishes.

Further:I hereby invite residents of Shetland to join their properties with that of Forvik in a federation under such new administration.

Further: I also invite anyone from any country in the world, who supports these aims, namely to become free of liars, thieves and tyrants in government, to become an honorary citizen of Forvik.

It is my earnest desire that Forvik will provide an example for Shetland to follow and that Shetland in turn will provide an example for other countries and regions, the people of which would prefer a system where their politicians represent, rather than rule them.

Stuart Hill
Forvik
21st June 2008