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by dkjaudyeqooe 1004 days ago
As a Croatian, I can't do whatever I want (esp. building) with various bits of land I actually own, why should these people get special treatment?

I'm all for liberalisation of land use, and think Croatian bureaucracy and petty corruption are slowly destroying the Croatian state economically, but people acting independent of the law, because they claim they're special, doesn't wash. The tourist angle is a red herring. Tolerating unlawful occupation isn't smart at all.
2 comments
mistrial9 1004 days ago
> Croatian bureaucracy and petty corruption

ok, but you get Kentucky Fried Chicken and 7-11 stores in the current version of things.. right?

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Zak 1004 days ago
What makes this weird is that Croatia says this land belongs to Serbia, but sent police there to enforce Croatian laws against people there.
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dkjaudyeqooe 1004 days ago
What you're saying is repeated constantly through this discussion, but it's very misleading. There is a border dispute and that land is a part of the dispute.

Another reading of the situation is that Serbia can claim that the land is a part of Croatia because they've allowed people to inhabit it and it's contagious to Croatian land, given that 'Liberland' has no legal basis.

Given that Croatia has no good options here, they've chosen the least harmful option.

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Zak 1004 days ago
It doesn't seem like the "Liberland" people have any claim to the territory, but I don't think that makes my point misleading.

If Croatia says the territory belongs to Serbia, then Croatia has no business sending police there outside of very narrow circumstances such as people there launching attacks into territory Croatia does claim. On the other hand, Croatia would probably be within its rights to enforce a border with this territory, as would Serbia. That would rapidly become unpleasant for anyone trying to live there.

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dkjaudyeqooe 1004 days ago
The Liberland people are exactly claiming the land, that's the whole point of what they're doing.

Croatia, even if it claims the land is Serbia, consistent with its border claim, it still administers it as a practical matter, that includes keeping people out of where they shouldn't be.

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