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The Dominion of Melchizedek (DoM) is a micronation that has been accused of being linked to large scale banking fraud in many parts of the world.

Origin and Status

The DoM was founded in 1991 when its constitution was signed by eight individuals creating the "House of Elders" and other branches of its government. However, Evan David Pedley conceived of it in the 1950s and and his son, born, Mark Logan Pedley became its leader in 1990 when it opened its first "Embassy", a mailing address, in Washington, D.C. The latter changed his name to Tzemach David Netzer Korem, and also uses a number of pseudonyms, including "Tzemach Ben David Netzer Korem" and "Branch Vinedresser" (which is a rough English translation of the Hebrew). The Pedleys have published a translation of the Bible known as the Melchizedek Bible. During the 1980s the Pedleys were convicted and imprisoned unrelated to DoM for multiple financial-related frauds.

Supporters of DoM assert that it is an "ecclesiastical sovereignty," similar to Vatican City. While its flag incorporates Christian, Jewish and Islamic symbols, DoM has no established church or formally constituted religion, and many external observers reject the assertion of ecclesiastical sovereignty.

DoM also claims Jerusalem as its "homeland." The claim is based on the Biblical legend of Melchizedek, who is said to have been priest-king of Salem. However, as no person associated with DoM is known to reside in Jerusalem, and as the DoM apparently has no recognized means of enforcing its claim, this claim is also likely to be generally rejected.

During the 1990s DoM began to claim sovereignty over a number of Pacific islands, all of which were already the possessions of recognized states. DoM's claims include Taongi Atoll (an uninhabited region of the Marshall Islands); Malpelo Island (a possession of Colombia, inhabited by a military garrison); Karitane Shoal (a reef submerged under 9 metres of water, exclusivley claimed by DoM); Solkope Island (an uninhabited, autonomous, dependency of Fiji); and Clipperton Island (an uninhabited dependency of France). DoM also claims a large section of Antarctica. None of these claims seem to be recognized by any established government.

The Dominion of Melchizedek website claims that it is a recognized sovereign entity. However, mainstream media outlets, including Forbes magazine and The Washington Post, have characterized it as a "dubious" country, and entiled one article "Ruse that Roared,". When brining a lawsuit against a New York lawyer, the Dominion of Melchizedek was described as "non-existent" by the United States Securities and Exchange Commission. . Subsequently, when the SEC settled that case, it wrote that the "Dominion of Melchizidek has a website promoting itself as a sovereign entity, recognized by certain governments."

Recognition

An article in the Washington Post reported that DoM was "diplomatically recognized" by the Central African Republic, in 1993, but commented "you get the feeling" that that nation would "recognize the State of Denial if it had a letterhead." It has also been noted, outside the media, that "Melchizedek has apparently obtained some sort of recognition from some smaller states ... all of which are notable for their corruption. Claims that the DoM has received recognition from any major government are purely lies."

As far as is known, DoM does not maintain a diplomatic mission or any other form of representation in the Central African Republic, nor is there evidence confirming the existence of a formal bilateral relationship of any substance. DoM's web site claims that it has since been "recognized" by several other African nations, including Burkina Faso.

Marshall Islands statement

In response to one of DoM's territorial claims, the government of the Republic of the Marshall Islands issued the following statement:

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.

The Marshall Islands has issued a diplomatic note to other nations, urging nations friendly to it not to recognize claims of DoM in the Marshall Islands. The recognized Iroijlaplap (chief) of Taongi was later quoted on an Australian television current affairs programme as saying he had granted DoM a 50-year "sovereign lease" over Taongi Atoll. However, as sovereignty over the atoll (as opposed to land title) belongs to the Marshall Islands, the Iroijlaplap's action is generally considered to be a nullity.

Frauds linked to the Dominion of Melchizedek

Over 300 investors claim to have lost money in purported investments run by several banks licensed by DoM, including one operated by a supposed "diplomatic representative" of DoM.

In an address to the 4th International Financial Fraud Convention in London, 27 May 1999, John Shockey, a former special assistant in the office of the U.S. Comptroller of the Currency, stated: "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 U.S. Comptroller of the Currency website is less vocal and only refers to Melchizedek as a "non-recognized sovereignty" that "licensed" Caribbean Bank of Commerce.

At one stage in the early 2000s, DoM maintained a post office box address in Canberra, the capital of Australia. Coincidentally, one of the individuals identified by Philippine authorities in November 1998 as the ringleader of a series of frauds perpetrated in the name of DoM was John Gillespie, a former Australian felon who was convicted on the basis of his involvement in the Fine Cotton horse substitution racket during the 1980s. According to a media report originally published in The Nation (Bangkok) on 30 May 1999, "hundreds of Filipinos, Chinese and Bangladeshis paid up to US$3,500 to Gillespie's gang for worthless Melchizedek travel documents," and some had also paid significant amounts of money to obtain "government jobs" on one of the uninhabited Pacific islands claimed by DoM. The total amount defrauded was estimated at one million dollars. While the other gang members were arrested and released, Gillespie himself eluded capture.

See also

• Kingdom of EnenKio
• Micronations

External links

• Official site
• Cyberfraud: The Fictitious Dominion of Melchizedek - Article detailing some of the colorful history of Melchizedek, its founders and associates.
• Dominion of Melchizedek as a Scam - Collection of all negatigve articles and opinions about Melchizedek and its founders, quoting only the negative aspects, and the criminal activities of the banks it licensed.
• Warning from the Comptroller of the US Treasury Department.
• 1999 US Securities and Exchange Commission civil case involving bank licensed by the Dominion of Melchizedek

• Micronations