Government in exile
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
A government in exile is a political group that claims to be a country's legitimate government, but for various reasons is unable to exercise its legal power, and instead resides in a foreign country. Governments in exile usually operate under the assumption that they will one day return to their native country and regain power.
Governments in exile frequently occur during wartime occupation. For example, during the German expansion of the Second World War, numerous European governments and monarchs were forced to seek refuge in the United Kingdom, rather than face certain destruction at the hands of the Nazis.
Contents |
[edit] Current governments in exile
Currently, there are few governments in exile. They include:
Chechen Republic of Ichkeria. The government is largely based in Western Europe, Arab nations, and the United States. Some members are fighting in the rebel movement against the Russian Army.
Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic (SADR) of Western Sahara is headquartered in the Tindouf region in Algeria.-
The Free Aceh Movement, a government in exile for the Aceh special territory of Indonesia, is headquartered in Sweden. 
The administration of the Belarusian National Republic exiled since 1920 and currently led by Ivonka Survilla in Canada, see History of Belarus: BNR.
The Central Tibetan Administration of His Holiness the Dalai Lama, a government in exile led by the Dalai Lama in India, claiming to be the legitimate ruler of the historical Tibet.
The Government of Free Vietnam is led by General Nguyen Khanh, former chief of state of South Vietnam.
The government of the pre-World War II Republic of Estonia, appointed by Kalev Ots, headed by Ahti Mänd.
The Government of Abkhazia-in-exile, a pro-Georgian government claiming to represent the breakaway autonomous republic of Abkhazia is currently located in the Georgian-controlled part of this region, the Kodori Valley.
The Progress Party of Equatorial Guinea has proclaimed Severo Moto Nsá "President" in Madrid exile.
The National Coalition Government of the Union of Burma is led by Sein Win. It is composed of members of parliament elected in 1990 but not allowed by the military to take office.
The Gabonese Government of National Salvation led by "Prime Minister" Daniel Mengara.
The Republic of Serbian Krajina Government in Exile was led since 26 February 2005 in Belgrade by the remains of the Government of the Republic of Serbian Krajina after Croatian forces overran the internationally unrecognised entity in 1995 during Operation Storm, restoring Croat government control to Croatia's international borders at the end of the Croatian War of Independence.
The Republik Maluku Selatan, in exile from the South Moluccas, Indonesia, in the Netherlands since 1950.
The Monarchy of Iran, led by Reza Pahlavi.
The Republic of Cabinda was invaded by Angola in in year 1975. Cabinda had been a Portuguese protectorate, while Angola had been a colony.
[edit] Actions of governments in exile
International law recognizes that governments in exile may undertake many types of actions in the conduct of their daily affairs. These actions include:
- becoming a party to a bilateral or international treaty
- amending or revising its own constitution
- maintaining military forces
- retaining (or "newly obtaining") diplomatic recognition by sovereign states
- issuing identity cards
- allowing the formation of new political parties
- instituting democratic reforms
- holding elections
- allowing for direct (or more broadly-based) elections of its government officers, etc.
However, none of these actions can serve to legitimatize a government in exile to become the internationally recognized legal government of its current locality. By definition, a government in exile is spoken of in terms of its native country, hence it must return to its native country and regain power there in order to obtain legitimacy as the legal government of that geographic area.
[edit] Past governments in exile
- Provisional Government of the Republic of Korea
- Crown Council of Ethiopia, led by H.I.M Prince Ermias Sahle Selassie and based in the Washington D.C. area, claimed that the Emperor was still the legal head of Ethiopia.
- The government in exile of the Free City of Danzig
- Spanish Republican government in Exile after Francisco Franco's coup d'état. Based in Mexico City from 1939 to 1946 when it was moved to Paris where it lasted until Franco's death.
- Government of the Democratic Republic of Georgia in Exile after the Soviet invasion of Georgia of 1921.
- Government of the Ukrainian People's Republic in Exile after the Soviet invasion of Ukraine.
[edit] World War II
Many countries established a government in exile after loss of sovereignty in connection with World War II:
- Belgium (invaded 10 May 1940)
- Czechoslovakia (established in 1940 by Beneš and recognised by the British government)
- Free France (after 1940)
- Greece (invaded 28 October 1940)
- Luxembourg (invaded 10 May 1940)
- Netherlands (invaded 10 May 1940)
- Norway (invaded 9 April 1940)
- Poland (see Polish government in exile)
- Yugoslavia (invaded 6 April 1941)
- Commonwealth of the Philippines (invaded 8 December 1941)
The Provisional Government of Free India (1942-1945) was established by Indian nationalists in exile during the war.
Other exiled leaders in England included King Zog of Albania and Emperor Haile Selassie of Ethiopia.
Notable examples of occupied countries which retained partial sovereignty through their overseas territories included Belgium, Vichy France and Free France.
[edit] The Danish exception
Denmark's occupation (9 April 1940) was administered by the German Foreign Office, contrary to other occupied lands that were under military administration. Denmark did not establish a government in exile, although there was an Association of Free Danes established in London. The King and his government remained in Denmark, and functioned comparatively independently for the first three years of German occupation. Meanwhile, Iceland and the Faroe Islands were occupied by the Allies, and effectively separated from the Danish crown.
[edit] External links
