The GUM’s Darkest Hour: Bullying, Mismanagement, and the Silencing of Allegations

On Sept. 18, 2024, at midnight, then Acting Prime Minister Andrew Creed withdrew the Empire of Austenasia from the Grand Unified Micronational (GUM), an organisation it had been part of for 15 years. The decision followed allegations of harassment and bullying, claims that GUM’s permanent Director General, Adam Belcher, called “unsubstantiated” in an article regarding Creed’s earlier dismissal of the Austenasian GUM delegates in the Adammic Express. However, a substantial body of corroborating evidence from the GUM Discord server has uncovered a deeply troubling history of harassment and bullying dating back to 2019. These actions escalated to the extent that several members were either pushed out or opted to leave, citing a loss of trust in the organisation. Meanwhile, recruitment has declined sharply, reaching a six-year low and further exacerbating concerns about the organisation’s future. Despite contacting Adam Belcher, who also serves as GUM delegate for Adammia, for clarification on his comments that the claims of harassment and abuse are “unsubstantiated” and “utterly unfounded”, no response was received by the time of publication. GUM Leadership Instructed Chair to Dismiss Concerns from Non-Members According to the leaks, senior officials within the Grand Unified Micronational instructed then-Chair Tyler Mullins to ignore any concerns or complaints raised by individuals outside the organisation. This directive raises serious implications for safeguarding and welfare within the broader micronational community. Critics argue that such a policy fosters a closed environment where potential safeguarding issues risk being dismissed simply because they come from non-members. The refusal to engage with external concerns may contribute to a lack of accountability, leaving individuals – especially younger or vulnerable participants – without a clear avenue to report misconduct or seek support. A Culture of Bullying and Falsehoods The evidence exposes a pattern of deliberate attacks on Austenasia’s reputation, and others, including individuals associated directly or indirectly. One target of bullying included a 60-year-old micronationalist, about whom a GUM delegate remarked they “felt sorry for […] but he’s probably a paedophile”. Several individuals were accused of having fascist sympathies, without any evidence. Additionally, a Japanese micronationalist seeking GUM membership was allegedly subjected to racist remarks, including mockery of their mistranslated English. Delegates were subjected to verbal abuse by members associated with the so-called ‘Würtige Bloc’, with insults such as “dipshit” and demands to “go fuck [themselves]” being directed at them. However, this only scratches the surface, as far more significant cases of targeted harassment and bullying have been discovered across various channels within the GUM Discord server. Exposing GUM Coordinated Attacks on Austenasia James Bornstein, the GUM delegate for New Virginia, was the source of rumours in 2022 that Lord Andrew Creed was suffering from ‘bone cancer,’ spreading them using a burner account within the MicroWiki@Discord server. While previously undisclosed, it has now been revealed that Creed suffers from MGUS (Monoclonal gammopathy of undetermined significance), a rare condition that increases the risk of developing cancer. It requires constant monitoring through regular blood tests to detect early signs of progression into serious illnesses such as multiple myeloma. Bornstein continued to joke about this incident, sparking outrage and was issued a warning by then GUM Chair Tyler Mullins, which was later overturned by a Quorum vote. In response to this warning, former GUM Chair Henry Clémens published a 21-page dossier accusing the Austenasian Government of direct interference within the GUM, alleging that Lord Jonathan Austen, former Emperor of Austenasia, and Creed had conspired with GUM Chair Tyler Mullins and Vice Chair Jan Stastny to expel members of the so-called ‘Würtige Bloc’, of which the Commonwealth of New Virginia is a member. An Austenasian Cabinet member responded to the dossier, describing it as “an obsession,” noting that Clémens appeared “convinced” that Austenasia was scheming against him. The Cabinet member further remarked that the dossier resembled “the rantings of a schizophrenic“, citing that Clémens’ first example of Austenasia’s so-called ‘interference’ was Lord Jonathan correcting an article about Diplomabear – a stuffed teddy bear. GUM Chair Tyler Mullins resigned amidst calls for a no-confidence vote. The Times reached out to Mullins for comment, who responded to the accusations of conspiracy and manipulation, stating: “It’s all a bunch of nonsense. They accused me of leaking messages, which I didn’t, then cited the fact that I heard complaints from Austenasians as proof that I was a secret agent loyal to Austenasia and tasked with influencing the GUM. […] If I wanted to kick all of them out, I would’ve done it when I had the chance, especially given how they were bullying Austenasian Prime Minister Andrew Creed and participating in a joke that Adam had already outlawed with the threat of suspensions two years ago.” Newton von Uberquie, delegate for Würdigeland and Acting Vice Chair of the GUM, also persisted in making jokes at Creed’s expense, with no intervention from higher-ups. He referred to Creed as a “weak, jelly bones guy,” seemingly mocking the harassment. Another GUM official remarked that they were “really, really beyond caring about the crazy bones stuff,” underscoring the organisation’s indifference to the issue. This evidence lends significant weight to the allegations, revealing that Austenasia was not the first target of coordinated attacks by certain GUM delegates. These attacks aimed to tarnish the reputation, honour, and character of Austenasia, her people, and anyone associated with them. The findings vindicate the decisions made by the Austenasian Government and others to sever ties with the GUM and directly challenge the smear campaigns directed at those who recently left the organisation. Editor’s note: The article was amended for clarity and to remove any mention of specific instances of harassment or bullying to protect the individuals involved from potential reprisals. The Austenasian Times apologises for any distress caused.

Emperor chairs GUM summit in London

Yesterday saw an international summit organised by the Grand Unified Micronational (GUM) held in London, chaired by Emperor Jonathan I. The GUM, founded in 2009, is the oldest and largest international organisation for small unrecognised independence movements and “micronations”. The Emperor took office as Chair of the GUM on 6 September earlier this year – the fourth time he has held the position – after winning a snap election called after the resignation of the previous Chair following a chaotic time in the organisation. Jonathan I was elected on a platform of restoring order to the GUM – a task which it is fair to say has been achieved – as well as on several specific pledges, foremost of which was organising an in-person summit before his term ended with the New Year. The GUM ordinarily conducts its meetings – formal sessions of official business being called Quorums – online, and has only held two in-person summits in its history. The first took place in July 2012, immediately following the famous PoliNation summit in London. Representatives of several GUM member states were gathered in one place, and took the opportunity to hold a physical Quorum. The second was a less spontaneous affair, held in Birmingham in 2019, and was organised by Adam I, Emperor of Adammia, the then Chair. It had been proposed for the Birmingham summit to inaugurate a tradition of annual meetings, but this hope was dashed due to the Covid-19 pandemic. With life now returning to normal, Jonathan I was able to organise yesterday’s summit, and chair the third in-person GUM Quorum. The summit was held at Grove Vale Library in East Dulwich, London. Four GUM member states were represented in person: Austenasia (by Jonathan I), Adammia (by Adam I), and also the Serene Beaconite Republic (by James Frisch) and Elmwycke (by Larry Martin). Also in attendance was Lord Mike Lewis, Prime Minister of Lundenwic, a nation which is no longer a GUM member but has been in the past and is interested in re-applying for membership. A higher turnout was expected, but some prospective attendees had to drop out, including the Emperor’s Vice-Chair, Newton von Uberquie. The minimum number of delegations required for a Quorum meeting to take place is eight; with only four member states present, a “hybrid” Quorum was held, with the summit meeting being livestreamed and delegations able to participate online. The formal Quorum meeting held during the summit addressed some routine votes on membership issues, and also discussed a possible replacement for Diplomabear (a toy animal posted between different countries on a “diplomatic tour”) and campaigning regulations for future GUM elections. The summit also saw two presentations, one on early Adammic history and its legacy, and one on the flag of Elmwycke. Emperor Jonathan I is the only person to have been present at all three in-person Quorums, and Adam I and Lord Lewis the only other two people to have been present at more than one.

Treaties signed at London meeting

Yesterday saw Emperor Jonathan I sign treaties of mutual recognition with Mercia and with Mekniy-Lurk at an informal summit in central London. His Imperial Majesty the Emperor met with Austenasian senator Lord Karl Friedrich, who had travelled to the UK from the Czech Republic. Lord Friedrich serves as Governor of Aurora, and has previously held various Cabinet positions. He jointly owns MicroWiki along with Jonathan I. However, in addition to his role in Austenasia, Lord Friedrich also serves as joint head of state of two other countries – Mercia and Mekniy-Lurk – both of which have diarchal governments. Austenasia has held friendly informal relations with Mercia for almost a decade, and extended formal recognition in 2016, but the two countries had never formally signed a treaty. Although the government of the nation has been inactive for some time, Mercia has never been formally dissolved and remains a source of national identity for its citizens. A state visit from Lord Friedrich to Austenasia in his role as Lord Temporal of Mercia to sign a treaty of mutual recognition had been planned for August 2020, but was cancelled due to the Covid-19 pandemic. By the time this visit came about, Lord Friedrich had also become co-ruler of Mekniy-Lurk, a highly-developed small nation which declared independence from the Czech Republic in 2009. The treaties were signed in the grounds of St. Paul’s Cathedral in central London. Also there to greet Lord Friedrich to the United Kingdom were James Frisch and Newton von Uberquie, who formerly held office in Mercia as Speaker of Parliament and as First Minister respectively. The four dignitaries met at Monument station, and visited several nearby landmarks including the eponymous Monument to the Great Fire, the Tower of London, the aforementioned St. Paul’s Cathedral, and London Stone. After eating lunch together, the dignitaries parted ways, with the Emperor accompanying Lord Friedrich to the correct train station for him to continue his travels, via more sightseeing at Westminster and Whitehall. During the course of the meeting, Lord Friedrich made a donation of several coins and banknotes to the Imperial Numismatic Museum. Notable among these are a Roman denarius of Septimius Severus minted in AD 194-195, and a rare commemorative coin minted by Mekniy-Lurk.