Phoenix Foundation
Encyclopedia
The Phoenix Foundation is a libertarian
foundation
that has supported numerous attempts which at times have been violent to create independent enclaves based on libertarian principles and tax haven
s. The foundation was a started by Nevada based real estate millionaire Michael Oliver
, his friend James Murt KcKeever, and investment advisor Harry D. Schultz.
In 1972 the Foundation began to construct a platform in the South Pacific
. Part of a reef, normally a meter below sea level at high tide, was piled high with sand and a small stone platform was erected carrying the flag of the Republic of Minerva
a white torch on a blue background. the 'President of Minerva,' Morris Davis, declared at the time: "People will be free to do as they damn well please. Nothing will be illegal so long it does not infringe on the rights of others. If a citizen wishes to open a tavern, set up gambling or make pornographic films, the government will not interfere." The republic was short lived, as Tonga
sent men to take down the Minervan flag and annex
the area in June 1972.
The Foundation's next attempt was in 1973 on the island of Abaco
in the Bahamas. The Bahamas were about to gain independence from the United Kingdom, but a number of white settlers did not approve of living under black rule. In June 1973, one month before the intended independence, the Foundation financed Chuck Hall and Bert Williams' Abaco Independence Movement
(AIM) which attempted to make Abaco independent from the Bahamas, hoping to create a libertarian region. With the financial support of the Phoenix Foundation the AIM published a newsletter, The Abaco Independent. The plot was foiled by the independent Bahamas government.
The Foundation's most recent attempt happened in 1980 when Vanuatu
was about to gain its independence. Oliver allied with Jimmy Stevens
of the New Hebrides Autonomy Movement
, which had been unsuccessful in elections. NHAM (or MANH) declared an independent Republic of Vemarana in the island of Espiritu Santo
. The government of Vanuatu applied for aid from Papua New Guinea
that sent a battalion of soldiers to stop the rebellion
.
During the attempt in Vanuatu, NPR labelled the Phoenix foundation “a sinister right-wing organization”. According to the Instituto del Tercer Mundo (Third World Institute), "Jimmy Stevens received $250,000, arms and a radio from the Phoenix Foundation, an ultra-right US organization, in return for concessions to install a casino and, allegedly, cover for illicit activities from Stevens’ Republic of Vemarana."
Libertarianism
Libertarianism, in the strictest sense, is the political philosophy that holds individual liberty as the basic moral principle of society. In the broadest sense, it is any political philosophy which approximates this view...
foundation
Foundation (charity)
A foundation is a legal categorization of nonprofit organizations that will typically either donate funds and support to other organizations, or provide the source of funding for its own charitable purposes....
that has supported numerous attempts which at times have been violent to create independent enclaves based on libertarian principles and tax haven
Tax haven
A tax haven is a state or a country or territory where certain taxes are levied at a low rate or not at all while offering due process, good governance and a low corruption rate....
s. The foundation was a started by Nevada based real estate millionaire Michael Oliver
Michael Oliver (real estate)
Michael Oliver is a Lithuanian immigrant of Jewish descent, Las Vegas real estate millionaire, and political activist. He was the founder of the micronation project the Republic of Minerva, a failed attempt to create a sovereign state in the South Pacific in 1972.In the following decades, Oliver...
, his friend James Murt KcKeever, and investment advisor Harry D. Schultz.
In 1972 the Foundation began to construct a platform in the South Pacific
Pacific Ocean
The Pacific Ocean is the largest of the Earth's oceanic divisions. It extends from the Arctic in the north to the Southern Ocean in the south, bounded by Asia and Australia in the west, and the Americas in the east.At 165.2 million square kilometres in area, this largest division of the World...
. Part of a reef, normally a meter below sea level at high tide, was piled high with sand and a small stone platform was erected carrying the flag of the Republic of Minerva
Republic of Minerva
The Republic of Minerva was one of the few modern attempts at creating a sovereign micronation on the reclaimed land of an artificial island in 1972. The architect was Las Vegas real estate millionaire and political activist Michael Oliver, who went on to other similar attempts in the following...
a white torch on a blue background. the 'President of Minerva,' Morris Davis, declared at the time: "People will be free to do as they damn well please. Nothing will be illegal so long it does not infringe on the rights of others. If a citizen wishes to open a tavern, set up gambling or make pornographic films, the government will not interfere." The republic was short lived, as Tonga
Tonga
Tonga, officially the Kingdom of Tonga , is a state and an archipelago in the South Pacific Ocean, comprising 176 islands scattered over of ocean in the South Pacific...
sent men to take down the Minervan flag and annex
Annexation
Annexation is the de jure incorporation of some territory into another geo-political entity . Usually, it is implied that the territory and population being annexed is the smaller, more peripheral, and weaker of the two merging entities, barring physical size...
the area in June 1972.
The Foundation's next attempt was in 1973 on the island of Abaco
Abaco Islands
The Abaco Islands lie in the northern Bahamas and comprise the main islands of Great Abaco and Little Abaco, together with the smaller Wood Cay, Elbow Cay, Lubbers Quarters Cay, Green Turtle Cay, Great Guana Cay, Castaway Cay, Man-o-War Cay, Stranger's Cay, Umbrella Cay, Walker's Cay, Little Grand...
in the Bahamas. The Bahamas were about to gain independence from the United Kingdom, but a number of white settlers did not approve of living under black rule. In June 1973, one month before the intended independence, the Foundation financed Chuck Hall and Bert Williams' Abaco Independence Movement
Abaco Independence Movement
The Abaco Islands are a group of islands in the Bahamas.In the early 1970s there was the Abaco Independence Movement which was a separatist organization that tried to initiate a quiet revolution in establishing economic independence from the Commonwealth of The Bahamas...
(AIM) which attempted to make Abaco independent from the Bahamas, hoping to create a libertarian region. With the financial support of the Phoenix Foundation the AIM published a newsletter, The Abaco Independent. The plot was foiled by the independent Bahamas government.
The Foundation's most recent attempt happened in 1980 when Vanuatu
Vanuatu
Vanuatu , officially the Republic of Vanuatu , is an island nation located in the South Pacific Ocean. The archipelago, which is of volcanic origin, is some east of northern Australia, northeast of New Caledonia, west of Fiji, and southeast of the Solomon Islands, near New Guinea.Vanuatu was...
was about to gain its independence. Oliver allied with Jimmy Stevens
Jimmy Stevens
Jimmy Stevens, known as "Moses" , was a Ni-Vanuatu nationalist and politician. As leader of the conservative Nagriamel movement, he declared the independence of Espiritu Santo island as the "State of Vemerana" in June 1980 and referred to himself as "prime minister"...
of the New Hebrides Autonomy Movement
Nagriamel
Nagriamel is a political movement initially based in the northern islands of the New Hebrides during the late 1970s.Nagriamel called for a focus on the traditional, village-centered way of life for the ni-Vanuatu people, though its messianic leader Jimmy Stevens and his compound in the Fanafo area...
, which had been unsuccessful in elections. NHAM (or MANH) declared an independent Republic of Vemarana in the island of Espiritu Santo
Espiritu Santo
Espiritu Santo is the largest island in the nation of Vanuatu, with an area of . It belongs to the archipelago of the New Hebrides in the Pacific region of Melanesia. It is in the Sanma Province of Vanuatu....
. The government of Vanuatu applied for aid from Papua New Guinea
Papua New Guinea
Papua New Guinea , officially the Independent State of Papua New Guinea, is a country in Oceania, occupying the eastern half of the island of New Guinea and numerous offshore islands...
that sent a battalion of soldiers to stop the rebellion
Coconut War
The Coconut War was a brief clash between Papua New Guinean soldiers and rebels in Espiritu Santo shortly before and after the independence of the Republic of Vanuatu was declared on 30 July 1980.- Background :...
.
During the attempt in Vanuatu, NPR labelled the Phoenix foundation “a sinister right-wing organization”. According to the Instituto del Tercer Mundo (Third World Institute), "Jimmy Stevens received $250,000, arms and a radio from the Phoenix Foundation, an ultra-right US organization, in return for concessions to install a casino and, allegedly, cover for illicit activities from Stevens’ Republic of Vemarana."