Scotland has taen a bauld stap by beginnin a campaign tae eyn its ties tae external rule. On 7 Mairch, a group representin mair nor 17,000 memmers o Liberation Scotland sent an Advance Notice o Petition tae the UN Special Committee on Decolonisation. The petition, alang wi supportin scrievins, is noo on view at www.liberation.scot.

The petition argues that Scotland haes bin denied its richt tae self-rule. The legal case rests on UN General Assembly Resolutions 1514 (XV), 1541 (XV) an 1654 (XVI), plus Chapter XI o the UN Chairter. Thir rules gie fowk the richt tae choose their ain wey an tae shak aff foreign rule. The claim is that the UK government haes stapped Scotland fae makkin its ain chyces. Ae passage in the supportin papers notes that “aw fowk hae the richt tae self-determination” an that the “subjection o fowk tae alien subjugation, domination an exploitation constitutes a denial o fundamental human richts.”

Professor Alf Baird, a leadin vyce for the campaign, explained, “Scotland’s political an constitutional status aligns wi the established international criteria for recognition as a Non-Self-Governing Territory. The forthcomin petition aims tae rectify Scotland’s exclusion fae the UN decolonisation agenda by formally requestin its inclusion on the list o Non-Self-Governing Territories, thereby initiatin the process for Scotland’s recognition as a territory entitled tae self-determination an independence unner UN owersicht.” He added, “This is a momentous development but necessary due tae the undemocratic naiture o wir political system whaur successive elected majorities o nationalist politicians in Scotland hae failed tae deliver independence, an wi the UK Government continuin tae block the inalienable richt o Scots tae self-determination. There is the realisation that colonial exploitation an domination o Scotland an its fowk maun be ended an can be, via the UN decolonisation process Liberation Scotland haes initiated. Awmaist aw former colonies that hae become independent kintras syne the creation o the United Nations in 1945 hae daen sae throu the UN self-determination an decolonisation process.”

Sara Salyers, Director Salvo Scotland o the campaign group, described the historical ties wi the UK in sombre terms. “Contrary tae whit we in Scotland – as weel as the warld at lairge – hae bin led tae believe, the historical incorporation o Scotland intae the United Kinrick in 1707 didnae constitute a voluntary pairtnership. It wis nivver an expression o self-determination, but a process merked by political coercion, by threits o economic sanctions an military invasion an by bribery. Ultimately, it saw the abandonment by England o the Treaty o Union in favour o the annexation an ongaun colonisation o Scotland. The dissolution o Scotland’s independent governance structures follaed, alang wi the displacement o the indigenous population, the suppression o Scotland’s cultures, an the colonial exploitation o Scotland’s maritime an territorial assets. The denial o Scotland’s democratic richts has continued iver syne. By misrepresentin Scotland as a voluntary pairtner in the creation o a new state, raither than a dependency o the English Croon, the UK government haes failed tae meet its responsibility unner the criteria set forth by the United Nations unner Resolution 1541 (XV): Principles that should guide Members in determinin whither or no an obligation exists tae transmit the information cawed for unner Airticle 73e o the United Nations Chairter. Whit Liberation Scotland noo sikks is baith internationally lawfu, an a fundamental human richt. It is simple justice for oor nation an lang owerdue.”

Sharof Azizov, Executive Director o Justice pour Tous Internationale, spak on the strenth o the legal case. He noted, “The Advance Notice o Petition convincingly argues that Scotland lost its political autonomy an becam a colony unner Westminster’s governance an that this an ither institutions o the state hae systemically eroded Scotland’s constitutional distinctiveness an suppressed Scotland’s richts tae self-determination.”

The petition maks clear that evidence shaws Scotland still bides unner rules set by an external pouer an lacks a fu measure o self-rule. The petition awaits further steps fae the UN Special Committee on Decolonisation. In time, a formal request will be made tae include Scotland on the list o Non-Self-Governing Territories. This legal muive micht appen the wey for Scotland tae gain true self-rule unner UN owersicht.