Afghanistan: Located in South-Central Asia, Afghanistan has been under UK & US occupation since 2001. The invasion was launched following the September 11th terror attacks which the US blamed on Afghan based Al Qaeda militants. Currently, Taliban and Afghan fighters continue to carry out daily attacks on US, UK, NATO and pro-US Government forces.
Basque Country - The Basque Country is located in the north of the Iberian Peninsula. The majority of the territory is located in Spain with a small amount in France. The Basques are one of Europe's oldest people's with their own language and culture. The armed sepearatist group (currently on ceasefire) has waged a 40-year military campaign in support of Basque Independence. Around 50% of the Basque population support independence although a much smaller amount support violence as a means of obtaining it.
Brittany - Brittany is a peninsula in north-western France. It is one of the six Celtic Nations (The others being Ireland, Wales, Cornwall, Isle of Man and Scotland). The area has it's own distinct language and culture. The largest Breton nationalist movements are traditionally left-wing however there are also extreme right-wing nationalist movements which are generally much smaller. There have also been a small number of Breton militant groups which have carried out attacks on French government targets.
Catalonia: Catalonia is a territory mainly based in southern Spain, the Balearic Islands and a small part of south-west France. The support for Catalan independence is strong and demands for a referendum on independence have increased in recent years. Catalan nationalism has rarely resulted in militant actions.
Chechnya - Chechnya is an independent republic located in the southern Caucasus Mountains. The state declared independence during the break-up of the Societ Union in the early 1990's. In 1994 a massive Russian military invasion to recapture the republic took place. Against all odds, the Chechen rebels managed to expel the invaders in 1996, killing over 6,000 of their troops. Around 100,000 Russian and 40,000 Chechen civilians were killed. Russian re-invaded Chechnya in 1999, losing over 10,000 troops in the initial period. The war continues at a much reduced pace with rebel forces using guerrilla tactics.
Colombia - Colombia is a country located in South America. It has been in a constant state of civil war since 1964 between government forces, Revolutionary Forces of Colombia (FARC) guerrilla's and the National Liberation Army (ELN). The FARC and ELN are made up of mainly peasant farmers while the Government Forces are backed by the USA. FARC and ELN guerrilla's are fighting to create a Marxist Colombia. They control large swathes of the country.
Cornwall - Cornwall is located in south-west Britain and is officially part of England. The territory has it's own unique language and culture. Originally the country was an independent Duchy and later incorporated into England. However it's territorial status is disputed by many who point out to technicalities in a charter from 1337 which states that the area should be self governing. The majority of the Cornish population support increased autonomy within the United Kingdom and recognition as a constituent country. A smaller number support complete independence.
Corsica - Corsica is an island located in the Mediterranean sea. It is currently part of France, although in it's history it has also been controlled or occupied by Italy, Germany, Britain, Spainand the USA. Since the mid-1970's the National Liberation Front of Corsica (FLNC) has waged an armed campaign to force a French withdrawal. The FLNC usually targets property rather than individuals although on rare occasions it has attacked and killed police officers and government officials. Around 50% of the Corsican population support independence and the FLNC's political wing has continued to make large gains in the regional government.
Dagestan - The Republic of Dagestan is located in the north Caucasus, to the east of Chechnya. Since 2000 Dagestan has been the scene of fighting between separatist rebels and Russian forces. In 1999 Dagestani rebels called in legendary Chechen commadner Shamil Basayev in to help them drive the Russians from their territory. Violence has continued ever since.
Easter Island - Easter Island is a small island with a population of around 4,000 people located in the Pacific ocean. In 1888 the island was annexed by Chile against the wishes of the local population. There is large support amoung the indigenous population for independence.
Galicia - Galicia is located in the extreme north-west of the Iberian Peninsula, just north of Portugal. It is currently part of Spain. Support for Galician independence has grown steadily in the late 1900's and currently Galician nationalist parties receive over 20% of the vote. There have also been a small number of militant groups who have carried out arson attacks on Spanish government owned property. The Galician language is similar to Irish and Scottish.
Ingushetia - The Republic of Ingushetia is located in the north Caucasus, located between Chechnya and Dagestan. The Republic is one of Russia's poorest regions and also it's smallest administrative region. Many Ingush people fought alongside the Chechen rebels in their victory over Russian in the 1994-1996 war. The first combat incident of the second Chechen war took place in Ingushetia when 18 Russian troops were killed in a rebel ambush. The area is currently the most heavily militarized in all of the Caucusus.
Iraq - Iraq is located in the Middle-East south of Turkey and west of Iran. It is currently under occupation by US and UK forces since 2003. It is estimated that since the initial invasion, upwards of 1 million people have been killed in the war. The majority of those are civilians.
Isle of Man - The Isle of Man is a small island located in the Irish sea between Britain and Ireland. It is currently a UK Crown Dependency. This means that the country has a form of home rule where it has total control of it's internal government but where it's foreign relations and security are the responsibility of Britain. Many Manx citizens wish to see a completely independent state. Support for independence is very hard to judge as the Isle of Man is one of the very few countries in the world where almost all electoral candidates run as independents.
Kabardino-Balkaria - The Kabardion-Balkar republic is located in the north Caucasus and is currently a federal republic under Russian control. Since 2005 there have been sporadic attacks against Russian security forces by militants. Many of the attacks have been blamed on Chechen separatists however local muslims who are in favour of an independent state have engaged in acts of violence against Russian forces. In the most serious incident, KB separatist group Yarmuk Jamaat carried out an offensive on the town of Nanchik. 132 Russian soldiers and 37 rebels were killed along with 16 civilians.
Karabakh - Nagorno-Karabakh is a landlocked region located in Azerbaijan. In 1988 it launched a war of independence. The separatists were backed by Armenian government and succeeded in driving Azerbaijan's forces from the region. Upwards of 100,000 people were killed until a ceasefire was signed in 1994. The ceasefire is still in effect and although officially still part of Azerbaijan, Karabakh has been a de-facto part of Armenia for the last 16 years.
Kashmir - Kashmir is located in the Indian subcontinent. Currently it is split between both India and Pakistan who have, since 1947, fought four seperate wars over the region. Since the 1980's a large number of rebels and insurgents have carried out separatist campaigns on both the Indian and Pakistan sides of the border.
Korea - Korea is a peninsula in eastern Asia. It is currently divided into two states. The northern state is Communist and backed by Chine while the southern state is capitalist and backed by the USA. The two states were created after World War II. In 1950 a Communist government was created in the Soviet occupied north. The Communists then invaded southern Korea resulting in three year war which killed upwards of 600,000 people. The war has technically never ended despite an armistace in 1954.
Kurdistan - Kurdistan is a territory located in northern Iraq, southern Turkey and northern Iran. The Kurdish have faced severe repression by both the Iraqi and Turkish governments. Since the 70's the Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK) have launched a violent separatist campaign against the Turkish state. The part of Kurdistan located in northern Iraq is under de-facto PKK control and has it's own local parliament.
Northern Ireland - Northern Ireland is located in the north-eastern part of the island of Ireland in western Europe. It is currently occupied by Britain and is officially part of the UK. Following the Anglo-Irish war of 1921, most of Ireland gained independence. Altough the British retained the north-eastern part where a mjority of their settlers resided. Between 1969 and 1998 the Provisional Irish Republican Army (IRA) carried out a military campaign to force the British to withdraw and to united Ireland as one republic. In 1998 a peace deal was signed which gave the southern Irish state a say in the government of the north and established a power-sharing government between the political wing of the IRA and pro-British unionists, It also created a legal framework for the reunification of Ireland should the majority in the northern state wish it. Small IRA splinter groups who oppose this agreement continue to carry out smallscale campaigns though the mainstream IRA supports the peace agreement.
Palestine - Palestine is located in the middle-east and consists of two areas, the Gaza Strip and the West Bank. Palestine has been the scene of violent confrontations between the Palestine Liberation Organisation (PLO) and the Israeli military, backed by the USA. The Israeli government frequently launches large scale offensives and bombing raids. Israeli has consistently denied Palestinians the right to an independent state and builds illegal settlements on Palestinian land. Israel also frequently targets Human Rights Activists who aid Palestinian civilians.
Sardinia - Sardinia is an island in the Mediterranean sea. It is located south of Corsica and is currently a devolved part of Italy with it's own parliament. A number of different languages are spoken on the island including Italian, Sardinian, Corsica, Catalan, Istriot and Ligurian. There is moderate support in Sardinia for complete independence.
Scotland - Scotland is located in northern Britain and is officially part of the UK. Scotland has it's own regional assembly with the pro-Independence Scottish Nationalist Party holding the largest number of seats. Over the years, small militant groups have carried out sporadic attacks on British government facilities. A referendum on Scottish independence is expected in 2011.
Sri Lanka - Sri Lanka is an island located in the Indian Ocean. Since 1983 it has been in a state of civil war between the Sri Lankan government and the minority Tamil Tiger Rebels who were fighting to create an independent Tamil state in the north of the island. The war officially ended in 2009 when a large scale government offense finally captured the last rebel held city. Sporadic violence still continues however.
Wales - Wales is a constituent country of the United Kingdom located in western Britain. The country has it's own regional assembly and Welsh Nationalist parties hold around 25% of the seats. Historically, Wales has had a number of militant separatist organisations such as the Free Wales Army, however there are currently no active militant groups although arson attacks on English owned holiday homes continue.
Western Sahara - Western Sahara is located in north-western Africa and is a disputed region according to the UN. Originally a Spanish colony it was occupied by Morocco following Spanish declonisation. Since the late 1960's, Morocco and local Sahrawi rebel groups have fought for control of the territory until a UN brokered ceasefire in 1991. Currently 81 states recognise the rebel government and country as an official entity while France and the Arab league support Moroccos claim.
