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The Dominion of Melchizedek is a micronation widely linked to fraudulent banking activities.
It was created in 1986 by Evan David Pedley and Ben David Pedley (who later legally changed his name to Tzemach David Neter Korem). The Pedleys were responsible for publishing a bible translation known as the Melchizedek Bible several years previously.
Melchizedech claims to be an "ecclesiastical state" or "ecclesiastical sovereignty," akin to Vatican City, with Jerusalem as its capital, however the legal basis to that claim is uncertain, and the "dominion" does not appear to have formal ties to any of the world's major religions, although its flag incorporates Christian, Jewish and Islamic symbols.
During the 1990s Melchizedek claimed a number of mostly uninhabited Pacific islands, all of which were already the possessions of recognised states, including the Marshall Islands, Colombia and France. Melchizedek's claims include Taongi Atoll, Malpelo Island (inhabited by a Colombian military garrison), Karitane Shoal, Solkope Island and Clipperton Island.
Melchizedek also claims a large section of Antarctica and lands on the Fijian island of Rotuma.
Frauds linked to Melchizedek
According to John Shockey, former special assistant, U.S. Comptroller of the Currency, in an address to the 4th International Financial Fraud Convention in London, 27 May 1999: "The Dominion of Melchizedek is a fraud, a major fraud, and not a legitimate sovereign entity. Persons associated with the Dominion of Melchizedek have been indicted and convicted of a variety of crimes." The "government" of Melchizedek is allegedly based in the Australian capital city of Canberra, where it maintains a post office box address.
There is a web site for its government purporting it to be real. However, various media outlets, including Forbes magazine and The Washington Post, call it a ruse. Over 300 would-be investors have lost money in investments run by several banks licensed by Melchizedek.
Marshall Islands statement
It claims several atolls and islands in the Pacific, one atoll near the Republic of the Marshall Islands. In 1998, the government of the Marshall Islands stated:
The Government of the Republic of the Marshall Islands condemns the claims and activities asserted by (alleged) representatives of the "Kingdom of EnenKio" and the "Dominion of Melchizedek". The representatives making claims of separate sovereignty are not citizens of the Republic of the Marshall Islands and have no right to make claims on behalf of Marshallese landowners. Furthermore, these representatives are making fraudulent assertions that violate the Republic of the Marshall Islands's constitution. The area of land and ocean which the "Kingdom of EnenKio" asserts as a sovereign nation separate from the Marshall Islands and (some of) the area of land and ocean which the "Dominion of Melchizedek" is asserting control over are areas within the geographical and political boundaries of the Republic of the Marshall Islands.
Subsequent to this diplomatic memo by the Marshall Islands to other nations, wherein it encouraged nations friendly to it not to recognize claims of Melchizedek in the Marshall Islands, the recognized Iroijlaplap of Taongi announced on film that he granted to Melchizedek a 50 years sovereign lease over Taongi Atoll.
Recognition
An article in the Washington Post notes that The Dominion of Melchizedek was "recognized" by the Central African Republic, in 1993, however it is unclear what the nature of this recognition might be. As far as is known, Melchizedek does not maintain a diplomatic mission or any other form of representation in the Central African Republic, nor is there any other evidence confirming the existence of a formal bilateral relationship of any substance. Melchizedek's web site claims that it has since been "recognised" by several other African nations, including Burkina Faso under similar terms.
See also
External links
- Official site
- Debunking article
- Warning from the US Comptroller of the US Treasury Dept.
- 1999 US Securities and Exchange Commission civil case involving bank purportedly licensed by the Dominion of Melchizedek