UK NEWS

CROFTERS ‘SHOULD GET NATIVE PROTECTION’

Crofters

Friday April 18,2008

By Rod Mills

They may be half a world apart, but yesterday it emerged Scotland’s crofters could be given the same protection enjoyed by Maoris and Aborigines.

A new report by the Scottish Crofting Foundation has claimed members should be given “indigenous people” status, just like natives in New Zealand and Australia, and the US’s Native Americans.

The foundation plans to present its case to the United Nations, using international law to preserve the disappearing way of life. If the plans are approved, crofters could even end up having their own parliament.

SCF chief executive Patrick Krause said: “In the past central government has called all the shots – but always used a central belt benchmark. What we are saying is that the Highlands and islands have a distinct culture which should be recognised as different.

I remain to be convinced the indigenous people’s thesis they are developing is the right one

Drew Ratter, chairman of the Crofters Commission

“Urban people making rules for rural people doesn’t work.”

Crofters suffered a hard existence, eking out a living from small plots of land, which were constantly subdivided. Landlords could raise their rents at any time, and families constantly faced losing homes.

As roads improved, feudal landowners forced them off their lands to make way for sheep during the Highland Clearances. The report claims all crofters should be regarded as “indigenous”.

Drew Ratter, chairman of the Crofters Commission, has agreed to respond to the recommendations. “But,” he said, “I remain to be convinced the indigenous people’s thesis they are developing is the right one.”