18 February 2008
Written by Rainer
Lapland and Åland also striving for independence
Finland expressed “deep concerns” regarding Kosovo’s one-sided independence declaration. Finland is a Northern European country with two different separatistic areas Åland and Lapland who both have tried to declare independence several times in the past, but the acts have so far been crushed by the efficient and well trained Finnish Army as well as fast reacting and internationally lobbing Finnish political figures.
Åland’s status was stabilized on UN mandate on 1945 after the long war and near genocide between Finland and Åland. The archaic swedish dialect speaking inhabitants of Åland who mostly live with their traditional trade of potato chips have been declared as “endangered species” by the UN. Åland also continues offering their shores as a safe haven for international ships trying to sell tax-free alcohol and tobacco.
Åland is an island in the Baltic sea with no natural resources and temperate climate.
Lapland’s efforts to declare independence have so far died on the oppression coming also from neighboring countries Sweden and Norway to whom’s areas the Lappish inhabitants have also spread. Finland, Sweden and Norway are afraid of “domino-effect” which could follow if Lapland would declare independence. “Next thing you know Jylland and Skåne declares independence as well and we didn’t conquer half of Europe several centuries ago to see our proud Svealand crumble into peaces now!” the Swedish Minister of Defense Sten Tolgfors explained.
The independence struggle of Lapland and Åland have received international attention of and are backed up by EU states such as France and Spain as well from countries such as Russia and China.