On Tuesday, 17th September, at approximately 10:30 CET, in the full light of day, a dramatic incident unfolded that has left the community of Marina Mateos, Liberland’s pioneering settlement, both shocked and outraged.
In the Marina, five bicycles stood parked— legally positioned and owned by Mr. Mathias, a respected local settler. Far from being abandoned, these bicycles were not just personal property; they were essential tools of daily life in the settlement. Mr Mathias had plans to use one that very day and to lend the others to fellow settlers.
Enter a group of individuals whose actions would soon belie any semblance of lawfulness. These men, bearing a striking resemblance to employees of Hrvatske Šume d.o.o., a state-run enterprise, seemed determined to seize the bicycles by any means necessary. They committed an act of theft and, worse, robbery.
We delved into the Law on Forests, which ostensibly governs the activities of Hrvatske Šume d.o.o., and found absolutely no legal basis that would permit such brazen acts of theft in a forest setting. The question then arises: What could possibly justify this blatant disregard for personal property and the rule of law?
The forest robbers’s audacity was only heightened by the presence of other men who appeared to be Croatian Border Police. As Mr Mathias and his friends called out for assistance, the men in dark blue uniforms remained eerily silent, offering no intervention as the group, armed with a lorry, advanced toward the bicycles and a defiant Mr Mathias.
What transpired next is captured in the following video that is going viral on YouTube and other media. We invite you to watch this eye-opening footage and join the conversation about this unsettling event. Please help us spread the video showing to the world who the robbers are, and help justice be served!
In response to the incident, Liberland is taking a dual approach to justice that underscores our commitment to the rule of law and property rights. Firstly, we are reporting the incident to the Croatian police, as the stolen bicycles were taken into Croatian territory. This is mainly aimed at recovering the stolen property.
Concurrently, we are initiating proceedings within Liberland’s own judicial system, which is designed to uphold the principles of freedom and fairness that are the bedrock of our emerging nation. Those found guilty of infringing upon others’ property rights will face penalties, including the forfeiture of Liberland Merits, our national cryptocurrency. We have successfully established the identities of some of the individuals involved in the robbery and will be issuing them summons to appear before the Liberland court.
