Husum, Monday, 05 February 2007 by Onno P. Falkena   

A group of North Frisians from all political parties have started a movement with the aim to prevent the forced redivision of counties in the northernmost German land of Schleswig-Holstein.

Inspired by their neighbours, the Low-Saxon speakers of Dithmarschen, the North Frisians recently launched an on-line petition in order to prevent the plan of the government in Kiel to reduce the number of counties (Kreisgebietsreform). According to the government proposal the number of Kreises (counties) could be reduced from 11 to 4 or 5 in the year 2010. North Friesland on the westcoast of Schleswig-Holstein would then merge with at least one of the counties on the eastcoast. There is no proposal yet for the exact borders of the new counties. The government is expected to publish a first draft proposal next month. The final decision should be made in 2009.

According to the North Frisians the plan would further weaken the small North Frisian language and culture. In North Friesland 10,000 people out of the total population of 150,000 speak one of the eight varieties of North Frisian.

As well as Frisian and German,  Low-Saxon (Plattdeutsch), Danish and Southjutlandic or Soderjysk are also spoken in the multilingual border region. Tourism is important in North Friesland and in the past the area has been promoted as 'Sprachenland-Northfriesland' (Language land-North Friesland).

President Jörgen Jensen Hahn of the Friisk Foriining last week asked all North Frisians to support the internet campaign to help save North Friesland.  North Friesland is already one of the largest counties of the republic. The existing borders fit very well with the historic identity of its population. It is obvious that the preservation of North Frisian unity would serve the interests of the North Frisians best.''

On a legal point, the eventual merging of North Friesland with neighbouring counties may contravene the Charter for Regional and Minority Languages of the Council of Europe, Article 7.1.b., where the geographical area of the language must be respected. The Charter has been signed and ratified by the German Republic.

According to the North Frisian proposal the counties may be dissolved only if the population accepts. If the North Frisians succeed in collecting enough signatures the Parliament of Schleswig-Holstein (Landtag) is obliged to discuss the proposal not to change the borders of North Friesland against the wishes of the population.

If the Landtag in Kiel does not accept the proposal of the North Frisians and their neigbours from Dithmarschen, they intend to continue to collect signatures in order to force the government to organise a referendum on the issue. For this 100, 000 signatures are needed. (Eurolang 2007)

Websites:
www.wir-sind-nordfriesland.de The on-line petition of the Northfrisians (German).
www.wir-sind-dithmarschen.de The on-line petition of Dithmarschen (German).
www.friiske.de website of the Friisk Foriining (Frisian, Danish, English, German).

Boarne: Eurolang, 05-02-2007[digitaal berjocht]

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