Scattered Islands status referendum, 1743

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1743 AN/RP 2621 Scattered Islands status referendum

17-24.VII.1743 AN/14 April RP 2621
Organic Law of the Scattered Islands (SIOL) Referendum OPTION A I support separate from the Oriental Hispanioéire Taemhwan with giving the Scattered Islands autonomy by adopting the Organic Law, with the Scattered Islands citizens still becoming citizens of Phinbella without the right to abode in the OTH-SAR. OPTION B I support complete and unconditional separation for the Scattered Islands by rejecting the Organic Law as a state on an equal basis with the other governorial and monarchial states in accordance with the Constitutional documents of the FRP. OPTION C I support the Scattered Islands rejecting the Organic Law and remain a part of the Oriental Hispanioéire Taemhwan SAR.
Location of the core territory of the Scattered Islands
Results
Result not yet known Registered voters/turnout 2,894,001 0%
Kéijō joining the Scattered Islands State
For   0% Against   0%
Anyer joining the Scattered Islands State
For   0% Against   0%
Sendai joining the Scattered Islands State
For   0% Against   0%

The 1743 AN/RP 2621 Scattered Islands status referendum (Sangunese: 1743/2621年散在諸島の地位に関する国民投票, translit.: 1743/2621-nen Sanzai-shotō no chii ni kansuru kokumin tōhyō, Phineaner: Referendum status Kepulauan Tersebar 1743/2621) is an upcoming referendum held in four bilingual Phineaner-Eurphinonesian and Sangunese-speaking districts of the Oriental Hispanioéire Taemhwan SAR, namely the Scattered Islands of the Ieu'ryïan Strait and Isla del Tropico, in the municipality of Amsterdam Islands of Héi'an and part of the Ssamaritan Islands, as well as the scope of the said region. This referendum will decide to secede from Oriental Taemhwan and handover to the federation as a new single territory of Phinbella, also ratifying the Organic Law of the Scattered Islands to directly form the Scattered Islands Special Self-Governing Territory, a new proposed special self-governing territory (known as second term of "state", not a special administrative territory like Oriental Taemhwan). It is being organized by the government of the Oriental Hispanioéire Taemhwan Special Administrative Region and is expected to be held in 17.VII to 24.VII.1743 AN or 14 April RP 2621. This referendum will be held after Ïeu'ryádoche was separated from its parent region, transferred to the federation and became the eighteenth territory of Phinbella. The government of the Oriental Hispanioéire Taemhwan SAR has given the opportunity to any administrative division in the region to determine the fate of the districts themselves whether to transfer their sovereignty to the federation or remain within the special administrative region.

Under the organic law, the both Federal and Taemhwanian government must hold a referendum in the areas specified in this law no later than 120 days from signing the SIOL into law (18.III.1740 AN) but no earlier than 60 days from signing the law. Voters in both the Scattered Islands and Isla del Tropico districts voted on the ratification of the SIOL, the residents of Kéijō, Anyer and Sendai voted for or against the inclusion of their towns in the then proposed territory, as did voters in the municipality of Amsterdam Islands and three islands and two atolls in the Ssamaritan Islands voting for or against the inclusion of their islands in the Scattered Islands Special Self-Governing Territory.

Background

Undang Undang Organik Kepulauan Tersebar
Parliament of Phinbella
Collapse Long title Suatu Akta untuk Memperuntukkan Undang-undang Organik bagi Kepulauan Tersebar di Selat Ieu'ryïan, memansuhkan bagi dua tujuan Akta Taemhwan No. 95 dan No. 96 tahun RP 2616, bertajuk “Suatu Akta untuk Memperuntukkan Status Autonomi Kepulauan Tersebar” dan “Suatu Akta untuk Memperuntukkan Status Autonomi Isla del Tropico,” sebagai Wilayah dan Negeri yang Kepulauan Tersebar di Selat Ieu'ryïan dengan status pemerintahan sendiri yang istimewa (Law No. 48/RP 2620/1739 AN on the Scattered Islands Special Self-Governing Territory)
Citation	Law No. 48/RP 2620/1739 AN
Territorial extent	Plebiscite: Scattered Islands of the Ieu'ryïan Strait · Isla del Tropico · City of Kéijō · City of Anyer · City of Sendai · 6 islands in the municipality of Amsterdam Islands · 5 atolls and islands in the Ssamaritan Islands · And areas contiguous to the above Post ratification: Scattered Islands Special Self-Governing Territory
Passed by	House of Majilis
Passed	28 December RP 2620 (RP 2620-12-28) (18.XIV.1739 AN)
Enacted	28 December RP 2620 (RP 2620-12-28) (18.XIV.1739 AN)
Enacted by	Legislative Council of the Taemhwanian SAR
Enacted	4 January RP 2621 (RP 2621-01-04) (20.II.1740 AN)
Assented to	27 December RP 2620 (RP 2620-12-27) (5.XIV.1739 AN)
Signed by	Muhammad Furkorn Mat Jeen (after enacted)
Signed	6 January RP 2621 (RP 2621-01-06) (18.III.1740 AN)
Legislative history
First chamber: House of Majilis
Bill title	RUU Wilayah Pemerintahan Sendiri Khas Kepulauan Tersebar (Bill on Scattered Islands Special Self-Governing Territory)
Introduced	14 August RP 2620 (RP 2620-08-14) (17.VII.1735 AN)
Repeals
Taemhwanian Act No. 95/RP 2616 (Act of Autonomous Status of the Scattered Islands) Taemhwanian Act No. 96/RP 2616 (Act of Autonomous Status of Isla del Tropico)
Status: Pending referendum

Flag of the Scattered Islands Creole community.

Autonomous territorial unit

The Scattered Islands of the Ieu'ryïan Strait, Isla del Tropico, Héi'an, Yapreay Islands and Tanah Adélie were merged to form an autonomous territorial unit known as the Taemhwanian Frontier Settlements Area as a result of a RP 2600 referendum, with the capital in Kéijō, distinguishing the territorial unit from the Taemhwanian Mainland. The Ssamaritan Islands, including five islands and atolls, were also previously included in the core area of ​​the territorial unit, but they opted not to join the territorial unit. In October RP 2616, the government of the territorial unit was dissolved, and at that time acts regarding the autonomous status of the five districts were passed and enforced. In 1.I.1725 AN, the entity of the territorial unit was finally dissolved and the five districts were made into the administrative district, along with the Spitsbergen Islands and Islas Kelvina District are formally established as the autonomous territorial unit.

Proposed special autonomy

The Federal Government and the Taemhwanian SAR Government have entered into an agreement on the future of the archipelago, including its core territory, including the "Constitutional Framework for Special Autonomy for the Scattered Islands" as an annex. The framework would cede the Scattered Islands to the Federation through a referendum and establish an entity referred to in the Organic Law published after this agreement, in the Free area of the Federation as a territory and state with this special autonomous status.

The Special Self-Governing Territories of the Scattered Islands will include an executive branch consisting of a territorial governor (elected by the President) and an advisory board; a legislative branch including a State Legislative Assembly; an independent judiciary including a Court of First Instance, Court of Appeal and Public Prosecutor's Office; and a regional police agency.

The Federal Government would only retain control of defense and foreign relations, Taemhwanian employment laws would continue, the state governments would determine their own economic and fiscal policies including the imposition of limited taxes in the territory, while Federal and Taemhwanian laws already in force would continue in the territory. The autonomous government will have competence in all matters not reserved for the Federal Government and the Taemhwanian Government, including the right to adopt the state flag, coat of arms and official anthem as symbols of identity. It will be able to designate people as having a "Scattered Islands identity". Local parties established in the Scattered Islands that advocate for the fate of the territory are allowed to sit in Parliament if constituencies are established in the territory and can form a bloc representing the territory, may also join the government or opposition bloc. The traditional civil code may also be adopted.

Challenges

The first internal challenge to secede from Oriental Hispanioéire Taemhwan SAR and join the Federation as the new territory came and grew from inter-local political struggles in those districts.

Organic Law

The Organic Law of the Scattered Islands (SIOL; Phineaner: Undang-Undang Organik Kepulauan Tersebar), also known as the Scattered Islands Fundamental Law, and officially enacted as Act No. 48/2620/1739, is a Phinbellan law that provides for the establishment of the Territory and State of the Scattered Islands or the Special Self-Governing Territory of the Scattered Islands. This Organic Law is divided into 39 parts and consists of 240 sections.

As an organic act, the basic law provided that the core areas of the Territory would be detached from the Oriental Hispanioéire Taemhwan SAR and transferred sovereignty to the Federation, and provided for the basic structure of government for this territory, following the agreements set out in the Most Points Agreement between the Federation and Oriental Hispanioéire Taemhwan.

On 17.VII.1735 AN, the House of Majilis submitted the "Bill on the Special Self-Governing Territory of the Scattered Islands". The main contents of the bill are:

1. Demarcation of the area of the Scattered Islands Special Self-Governing Territory.
2. The special rights of the Scattered Islands in controlling their economy.
3. Special taxes in the Scattered Islands Special Self-Governing Territory.
4. The Taemhwanian education system is maintained.
5. Local cultural rights are continued.
6. The main spoken languages ​​in the territory are honored and preserved through a language regulatory body under the territorial government.

When the law was finally passed by the Parliament of Phinbella (18.XIV.1739 AN) and the Legislative Council of the Taemhwanian SAR (20.II.1740 AN), most of its contents were revised from the original bill and included in this Organic Law. Apart from the six contents in the bill that have been included, other major contents that are not found in the bill are the Formation of Agglomeration Regional Councils, and Limited Autonomy for the future local government of the Scattered Islands.

Design competition

This one of the proposed flags are being selected to be a flag of the Scattered Islands.

After the Organic Law was passed by Parliament, the Referendum Committee held a design competition for a new flag for the Scattered Islands, along with a competition for a new anthem and coat of arms for the territory. It was held on 20 January, and 48 participants participated in the design of the flag. Equal representation of the Scattered Islander ethnic and tribal groups was a priority in the flag adoption process. On 14 February, the Scattered Islands Grand Council selected a flag resembling the Taemhwanian and Kōkainese flags without any of their symbols as the official flag of the Scattered Islands, and it will be used as the symbol on the referendum ballot paper along with the Taemhwanian and Kōkainese flags. Meanwhile, the selected flag will be re-adopted after the referendum by the Scattered Islands Transition Authority if the Scattered Islands opt for separation from Oriental Hispanioéire Taemhwan SAR and become the new territory of Phinbella.

Scope

Scattered Islands State 'core' area

Voters in the areas mentioned in this organic law, referred to as the core areas of the proposed Territory and State of the Scattered Islands are eligible to participate in this referendum. The core areas of this new territory covering:

• Current territory of the Scattered Islands of the Ieu'ryïan Strait District, includings;
  • Glorioso Islands
  • Yeop Takiyouki Island
  • Eureka Island
  • Bassas da Íeu'ryïan
  • Saint Croix
  • Tromelin Atoll
• Current territory of the Isla del Tropico District
• City of Anyer in the Isla del Tropico District
• City of Kéijō in the Tromelin Atoll
• Sendai City in the Ssamaritan Islands
• 6 islands in the municipality of the Amsterdam Islands in Héi'an (*) — Île Amsterdam, Île Tiosori, Île Ranai, Île Jemberana, Île Kyuka-i and Île Suzukawa
• 5 islands and atolls in the Ssamaritan Islands (*)
  • Sendai Atoll
  • Karayuki-san Atoll
  • Coëtivy Island
  • Kagayan de Ssamaritan Island
  • Taiping (Tepen) Island

Voters in all provinces/districts of Héi'an and the Ssamaritan Islands will also need to vote if they agree to the separation of the areas from their parent provinces/districts (Héi'an and the Samaritan Islands, respectively) and from the Oriental Hispanioéire Taemhwan SAR to join the proposed Territory and State of the Scattered Islands.

Other areas

Of the entire area in the Ssamaritan Islands, only six areas had their petitions approved in this referendum, while the entire area of ​​the Ssamaritan Islands other than these six areas had registered the petition, but as a result, the petitions for other areas in the islands were not approved.

Preparations

Members of the Grand Councils of the Scattered Islands, Isla del Tropico and the Ssamaritan Islands together with village chiefs and district officials in the core region held a meeting to prepare for the referendum at the Kéijō City Center Building, on 8.VIII.1741 AN.

Voters' registration

The Election Commission stated that residents in the core region of the Scattered Islands State who are 16 years of age and above have been automatically registered, including those who have voted in the 1741 Phinbellan presidential election and the 1728 Phinbellan general election. In addition, residents can also correct their registration, whether their registration can be corrected to have their records attached or reinstated. However, residents who do not have valid identification documents can register manually at the regional Election Commission branches or at 18 satellite centres designated by the EC. Satellite voter registration for those who do not have valid documents was held for four days (48 Norton days) from 13.VIII to 20.X.1741 AN.

Campaign and referendum period

The Phinbellan Election Commission has set the campaign period for the Scattered Islands status referendum to begin on February 20 and end on April 12. The voting for the referendum took place on April 14 or 17-24.VII.1743 AN as per an en banc decision by the Election Commission. During that period, the 1742 AN Phinbellan population census was also held, and during the same period, residents attending the campaign were only allowed to bring lunch supplies except for Umraists, because the daytime campaign did not provide food. Meanwhile, the nighttime campaign was only allowed to be held after the Tarawih prayer. In celebration of Eid al-Fitr, the Election Commission suspended campaign activities for almost two days (22 Norton days) starting on the night of 34.XV.1742 AN until the night of 20.I.1743 AN and resumed on 22.I.1743 AN. During this period, the campaign was conducted as a regionally administered election campaign within the Taemhwanian region, all campaign expenses had to be authorized and accounted for under three umbrella committees, namely the "Regional Committee for Supporting Organic Law" (campaign option A), the "Taemhwanian Unconditional Secession Committee" (campaign option B) and the "Scattered Islanders' Committee to Oppose Secession from Oriental Taemhwan" (campaign option C). Each committee had an authorized budget of ðƒ1.85 million. Campaign expenses by any person or group other than the official committee were illegal after the official start of the referendum campaign. The matter has been included in the Taemhwanian Referendum Act 2003.

Following the agreement reached on 14 February, the "Option A" campaign will be led by François Izana Puigdemont, while the "Option B" campaign will be led by Charles Tio Kit Pheng. The official "Option C" campaign will be chaired by Politario leader Zarukashi Izukawa.

During the campaign, which took place during the holy month, Umraists in the surrounding area were not allowed to participate in the campaign at closed campaign venues during the day, and a firearms ban was imposed in the areas designated for participating in the referendum campaign. During the campaign period, the following actions are also prohibited during this period: the establishment of new polling districts or the alteration of existing districts, the transfer or detailing of civil service officers and personnel, the organization and maintenance of "strike squads" or similar entities that threaten public safety, and the suspension of any elective public official from the mukim to the district or provincial levels including independent elective officials. The Phinbellan Election Commission is also tasked with assisting in the organization of information campaigns in each participating local government unit and authorizing the conduct of information dissemination and public advocacy events by other government agencies, non-governmental organizations and private individuals in relation to the referendum. Each settlement and village is also directed to hold at least one rally during the campaign period, either indoors during the day or outdoors at night, to inform voters about matters relating to the Scattered Islands Organic Law.

The campaign officially began on 20.X.1741 AN, with speeches on local television stations by all three leaders. Puigdemont emphasized that he believed this might be the last chance for secession from Oriental Taemhwan SAR and the acquisition of good autonomy within the Federation for the foreseeable future, while Izukawa chose to predict the uncertainty that a vote for "Option A" could spark various speculations, and he also predicted that other parts of Oriental Taemhwan would follow suit to secede from their parent region after they voted for "Option A" or "Option B".

During the campaign period in 1742 AN, as of 22.XI.1742 AN, a total of 134 Umraist residents in the archipelago were accused of participating in a closed campaign during the day, and 105 of the 134 people were suspected of breaking their fast. Those who participated in the closed campaign were detained by the Taemhwanian Umraist Affairs Department in a hearse and will be charged and sentenced to a fine of ðƒ1,500 or six months in prison.

According to the Taemhwanian Referendum Act 2003, all three committees were required to contribute to a leaflet sent to each voter explaining their position. The "Option A" leaflet stated that if this option was chosen, it would be said that the islands would be a distinct community from the parent Phinbellan and Taemhwanian community, and the Scattered Islands would enjoy full autonomy in the area of ​​territorial jurisdiction within the federation. While the "Option C" leaflet stated that Oriental Taemhwan would grant special autonomy to the islands if it chose that option, however, Puigdemont, speaking at an open campaign rally in Anyer, challenged Izukawa to tell voters that, if "Option C" won, the Taemhwanian government in Prizren would withdraw from all territorial jurisdiction over the districts in the strait, leading to a mixed response from the "Option C" campaign. The "Option B" pamphlet states that wanting to secede from the Taemhwanian mainland is permissible but there is no need to request any privileges from the Federation.

Meanwhile, at the same time, according to the same act, they can distribute official "Yes" and "No" leaflets in the three cities and additional areas specified in the Organic Law. The official leaflets of both campaigns are written by the campaigners including several political parties that support either "Yes" or "No".

Question

Ballot paper samples for the referendum from left to right: For voters in the Scattered Islands, Core cities of Kéijō, Anyer and Sendai, and the rest of Isla del Tropico except city of Anyer.

The crafting of the questions used in this referendum by the Election Commission was finalized in VI.1741 AN.

In VIII.1741 AN, the core areas designated for the Special Self-Governing Territory of the Scattered Islands reported that voters there chose one of three options, two of them are to choose to separate from the parent region by adopting (i.e. option A) or rejecting (i.e. option B) the Organic Law of the Scattered Islands. While Option C was to directly reject the Organic Law and remain under the administration of the Oriental Hispanioéire Taemhwan SAR. They were asked to answer one of the three options if they approved or not while in the surrounding areas and non-core areas, voters were asked a "double" question, with the second question giving two options either "Yes" or "No" to join the proposed territory.

The referendum questions were in Phineaner and Sangunese; both languages ​​are used in the existing Scattered Islands and Isla del Tropico districts while only Phineaner is used in the other referendum scopes. No ballot papers with questions in Taesongean or the other Phinbellan national languages, as well as Istvanistani, were printed.

Voters in the existing districts of the Scattered Islands and Isla del Tropico had to answer one question with one option. The options was presented as follows:

Option and Symbols		Description of Status
Option A		The Scattered Islands will maintain autonomy in education, healthcare and labor issues as enshrined in the Organic Law. It means it will adopt the Organic Law. It can be distinguished or compared with two other special self-governing territories by the law. The Scattered Islands would also get to keep its own language policies with Istvanistani, Phineaner and Sanguese as official languages. With high amounts of autonomy as the "Special Self-Governing Territory", the Scattered Islands would consequently have a reduced representation in the Parliament of Phinbella, being allocated eight to fifteen seats in the House of Majilis in the first post-merger Parliament. All citizens of the Scattered Islands still citizens of Phinbella, but does not have the right to abode in the OTH-SAR.
Option B	(equivalent) (equivalent)	The Scattered Islands would enter on terms no less favourable than the other special self-governing territories such as Kōkai and Turku and Hōri by law. This would put the Scattered Islands on an equal footing as the other Phinbellan governorate and monarchical territories, with no more autonomy than the other Phinbellan territories. Taesongean would added to be the official languages, after Phineaner and Sangunese. Only those born in the Scattered Islands or descended from the Scattered Islands-born still become citizens of Phinbella, but does not have the right to abode in the OTH-SAR. There would also be proportional representation in Parliament from the Scattered Islands.
Option C		The Scattered Islands would remains part of the Oriental Hispanioéire Taemhwan SAR. Only those born in the territories or descended from the Scattered Islands-born would automatically become citizens of Phinbella in the Oriental Hispanioéire Taemhwan SAR, and had a right of abode in the SAR.

Voters in Isla del Tropico and Tromelin Atoll were asked whether they wanted to include the city of Kéijō and Anyer in the proposed Scattered Islands Special Self-Governing Territory in addition to the question above regarding their stance on the ratification of the SIOL. The options was presented as follows:

Option and Symbols		Description of Status
YES		The city of Kéijō/Anyer/Sendai will being part of the Scattered Islands Special Self-Governing Territory and maintain autonomy in education, healthcare and labor issues as enshrined in the Organic Law. All citizens of the city of Kéijō/Anyer/Sendai still citizens of Phinbella, but does not have the right to abode in the OTH-SAR.
NO		The city of Kéijō/Anyer/Sendai would remains part of the Oriental Hispanioéire Taemhwan SAR. Only those born in the territories or descended from the city of Kéijō/Anyer/Sendai-born would automatically become citizens of Phinbella in the Oriental Hispanioéire Taemhwan SAR, and had a right of abode in the SAR.

Voters in the cities of Kéijō, Anyer and Sendai were asked one question: whether or not they were in favor of their locality's inclusion in the proposed Scattered Islands Special Self-Governing Territory.

Organization

The Phinbellan Election Commission held a referendum simulation on 22.XIII.1740 AN at its main office in Nilam Puri, Negara Awan. The printing of ballots began on 19.XIV.1742 AN and lasted for three days. Approximately 2.8 million ballot papers were printed according to the number of registered voters.

The Election Commission has allocated fifteen hours of voting over the seven days of the referendum. Voting is set to begin at 08:00 PPT (CMT+05:20) and close at 22:00 PPT, and voters within 50 metres of the polling area are allowed to vote after 10:00pm. Voting must be done manually with ballots containing questions that can be answered by ticking one of three (or two in the designated areas) options on the ballot paper. Answers made with any other mark such as checking, answering "YES" or thumbs up etc. will not be accepted as valid.