Nations That Have Not Gained Independence Yet

Being independent is being liberal and living with freedom. Independence is a word that strikes patriotism in every person. It shows us the value of the countries that we have fought for and the rights that we have gained. India is a free country. We gained our independence in 1947. This year brought freedom, liberty, and security into the lives of Indian citizens. We were finally free from the cages of British rule. Many other countries in the world get to celebrate their independence as a self-governing nation. Some nations celebrate two independence days like the Czech Republic that was fortified two times under the same colonial power but with a different name. But some nations do not celebrate their independence yet. They are not free and they have fear and anxiety crawling in their hearts. Some of the non-independent countries are:

Palestine aka Gaza

Palestine was captured by Israel after the Six-Day War in 1967. Israel has controlled the borders of Palestine for about seven decades until now. Palestine has never enjoyed its geographical autonomy and Palestinians have not enjoyed their freedom. Palestinians are people who live in Palestine. Unlike others, they have their own dialect, culture, and characteristics but they have not been able to rejoice in their land ever since the war.

Kurdistan

Kurdistan is also a part of the Middle East. Kurds have been living in Turkey, Iraq, and Syria for many years. This is due to the ‘Treaty of Sevres’ that was signed by their political leader prior to WWII. Kurds are not allowed to form any coalition, political parties, and advocacy groups. They don’t even have the freedom of having a flag. Iraqi Kurdistan is the only recognized territory in the region for Kurds since the new Iraqi constitution was formed in 2005.

Tibet

Tibet is a nation found in China. It has been culturally and politically diverse from China and yet has not been recognized as a separate state by the ‘Republic of China’. Tibetans are not allowed to form separatist movements since the 1960s under the rule of Mao Zedong. There was a man who challenged this authority and broke apart from this regime. He was Dalai Lama. Now, The Dalai Lama Office is an institution that aids Tibetans in need. China still disapproves of the Tibetan’s rights to self-recognition.

Northern Cyprus

Turkey had occupied almost 36% of northern Cyprus after the war in 1974. Turkey’s invasions were mainly in effect to the Turkish Cypriots. During the conflict, many Cypriots fled away and others were displaced. The island was partitioned by the UN but the negotiations of Turkish removal of the island are unheard at the moment.

Quebec

Quebecois are the native French-speaking public of Canada. They love their culture and mostly talk in French so as to preserve it. They also have a separatist movement. The French Quebecers have lost the referendums of 1880 and 1995 to gain self-sovereignty. Canada and French Canadians are against having Quebec as a separate nation.

Wales, Scotland, and Northern Ireland

The Welsh, Scots, and the Irish show unflattered feelings towards England and its history. The English media is not sympathetic towards the Celtic nations bordering England. English Cymrophobia is a word for discrimination against the Welsh in England. These nations wish to have their own independent kingdoms and break free from England.

Western Sahara

Western Sahara is a disputed territory between Morocco. It is an issue between Arab countries since it shares many cultural ties. Western Sahara declared itself independent after 1957 and proclaiming it to be a Saharawi Arab Democratic State. But to this day, it is under the rule of the Moroccan Army and has been listed under the non-self-governing territories by the UN.

Kabylia

Kabylia is a distant ethnic group of Arabs. They are non-native Arabic speakers and they have their own language called Taqabilit. The French colonization of Algeria has left the country in an identity crisis. They have also oppressed any non-Arab movement since their independence in 1962. The ‘Berber Spring’ is a movement made by young Berbers (Freemen in English) against the French government to recognize Amazigh(language) as a national language.

Don’t you think it is necessary for each country to have its own freedom and independence?