Press Release from August 2, 2001

Occurrence on July 12, 2001: Utterance by the journalist and vice-editor-in-chief of the Bild-Zeitung, Berlin-Brandenburg Edition, Mr Michael Sauerbier: “We will finish you off!"

Acrobat Reader required!

Diplomatic Mission of the Principality of Sealand in the German Empire

Occurrence on July 12, 2001: Utterance by the journalist and deputy editor-in-chief of the Bild-Zeitung, Berlin-Brandenburg Edition, Mr. Michael Sauerbier: "We will finish you!"

Since our internet publication started the Sealand Trade Corporation had been in negotiation with a well-known media company about the marketing of the media rights in possession of the Sealand Trade Corporation concerning the Amber Room and other items. The Bild-Zeitung and the journalist Michael Sauerbier had somehow learnt of this and now tried to get this "story” before any contract was signed. The journalist and deputy editor-in-chief of the Bild-Zeitung, Berlin-Brandenburg Edition, Mr. Michael Sauerbier, tried for several days during July 2001 to get an appointment with the Diplomatic Mission of the Principality of Sealand in the German Empire and asked Mr. Johannes W. F. Seiger: "How much cash should we bring along?

A meeting finally took place on July 10, 2001 at the Diplomatic Mission of the Principality of Sealand in the German Empire. An interview was granted provided that the representative of the Bild-Zeitung, Berlin-Brandenburg Edition, Mr. Michael Sauerbier, would confirm in writing that "any publication of their information gained, whether from our internet presentation or from the interview, is subject to our approval. Thus we insist that all information and all reports to be published have to be checked by us. At the same time we would remain open-minded to any critical reporting that sticks to the facts. Should these prerequisites be contravened or should disadvantages result from misleading/incorrect reporting, we will claim compensation amounting to millions and will also hold you personally responsible.

Despite changes made to this caveat in handwriting, Mr. Michael Sauerbier refused to sign it. So Mr. Seiger ended the interview and asked the journalist Michael Sauerbier and the accompanying photographer to leave the premises of the Diplomatic Mission.

One day later, on July 11, 2001, the first article about Sealand and Mr. Seiger appeared in the Bild-Zeitung, Berlin-Brandenburg Edition.

Two days later, on July 12, 2001, Mr. Michael Sauerbier from the Bild-Zeitung, Berlin-Brandenburg Edition, tried to enter the buildings of the Diplomatic Mission by force. By a concerted effort this could be prevented. In front of several witnesses, but mainly aimed at Mr. Seiger, the journalist Michael Sauerbier said before the entrance: "We will finish you!"

During the Bild-Zeitung "siege” of the Diplomatic Mission the journalist Sauerbier said something to the tune of "I have approval from the Ministry of Justice".

The police from Ludwigsfelde that we had called to help came about half an hour later with two cars and a number of police officers.

The same day we immediately brought criminal charges against Mr. Sauerbier and others. These charges are still under investigation at the Potsdam Office of the District Attorney, Luckenwalde branch, under the file number 4150 Js 11178/01.

(Please also consult the letter to the Axel-Springer Publishing Company, dated July 16, 2001)
(in German: Brief des Generalbevollmächtigten des Deutschen Reiches (SHAEF-Gesetzgeber USA) an den stellvertretenden Chefredakteur der Bild Zeitung Herrn Michael Sauerbier wegen Lands- und Hochverrats vom 16. Juli 2001.)

Up to July 14, 2001, a total of four articles about Sealand and Mr. Seiger appeared in the Bild-Zeitung, Berlin-Brandenburg Edition, which we would rather not comment upon.

We then had to realise that following this, but also before, telephone calls, e-mails and mail has demonstrably been kept from reaching us, which we regard as a repeated attempt of preventing communication with interested persons and organisations.

In this context we expressively apologise if inquiries etc. have not been addressed and answered. We would ask those directly affected by the interrupted communication links to try to contact us again.

Download Press Release as Word file

Diplomatic Mission of the Principality of Sealand in the German Empire

Ahrensdorfer Strasse 7,
D-14959 Trebbin/Löwendorf

Telephone: +41 (0) 55 240 71 05
Hans Jürgen Sauerbrey
Email: sbc-info@principality-of-sealand.ch