Spanish Government Cracks Down on Catalan Independence Vote

The government of Mariano Rajoy is cracking down on efforts to conduct an independence vote on October 1, but this just increases Catalan opposition to Spain's central government, explains Carlos Delclos

[Telluwide]

If they allowed the Catalonians to vote for independence and subsequently secede from Spain, this would cause a domino effect that could spread to the Basque Country, Galicia and so on. Consequently, this could also cause huge problems for the EU itself....

[LuisAldamiz]

Police and military police are not two distinct entities: as happens in France, Italy, Chile and many other states, there is a military police corps with police role but military organization, in the case of Spain it's called Guardia Civil. There is also another civilian police corps called Policía Nacional. I mention because it seems confusing from Carlos' explanation.

[khaartoumsings]

Thanks for this info on this independence vote. Wonderful reporter Shamini, I love the way she is so level-headed but also has that cheery American way that tells us, "This is bad news but there is hope, even in sharing it!" Super news agency TRNN! ; )K

[watsonroadster]

Catalonia...The home of modern Anarcho-Syndicalism...This is starting to sound like a Spanish Civil War Part 2...

[waroftherainbows]

So far for German ruled "Democratic" Europe! If, as the Catalonian people claim, have their own language why is it that they are not allowed to express their own will. I remember that after WW2 when the then so called colonies had revolted all those fighting for independence were branded "outlaws and illegal!" Wars broke out when Central and Latin America wanted independence! Same goes for the USA. Has Trump forgotten that his countrymen fought against the Colonial powers before USA became idependent? Ex Yugoslovia was ok to break apart into so many countries Why is it that the same does not apply for Catalonia? Couldn't the Spanish government at least disguss offering them more freedom, allowing the referendum to go on and stop acting like dictator Franco? By sending police to opress the people's will they will achieve nothing at all! Whenever we Europeans send in armies it's ok but when other countries do the same they are Dictators! Remember there had been referendums in Quebec and Scotland but noone tried to send police in those countries!
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REPLY

[arthurlewis]

EU will never allow this. The people can never be allowed to decide.

[golgarisoul]

Madrid will never let their money making vassal go without a fight.

[Telluwide]

Spain could give them the referendum, if Catalonia declares independence Spain could easily block their membership of the EU and even enact Visa restrictions if things got nasty. They could even offer the people individual dividends based on Catalonia's net contribution to the Spanish budget. Put some cash in people's pockets and you'd see how quickly their independence ambitions would fade.

Those sticks and carrots alone would discourage an independence vote. Military and Police intervention is stupid and unnecessary, especially given Spanish history. Just shows how out of touch and inept the Rajoy government really is.

[ryanoneill]

Give catalonia there freedom spain is just acting like a dictatorship.

[edwardmiessner]

I saw a photo of what a rubber bullet can do... in this case it was aimed for the victim's face and what happened is too grisly for me to describe. You guys can figure it out.

[LuisAldamiz]

I would say that the conflict in Catalonia has already gone past the point of no-return. Catalans, if they cannot vote, will have to rely on their only representative body: the Catalan Parliament, whose majority is clearly pro-independence. This Parliament will probably push for unilateral independence, to what Spain will react with effective occupation (but it is a country of 7.5 million people, 16% of the Spanish population, and the cost of such takeover would be huge).

Spain has many other problems: Basque separatism is right now "dormant" (because the right-wing PNV does not dare to posit the challenge, Basque autonomy is much much larger than Catalan, also Basque corruption is much larger and closely associated to that of Spain) but there are large sectors that would gladly push for it at any moment. More important maybe is the issue of class war: Spanish real economy is devastated by the crisis, austericide and corruption and people is suffering it very badly everywhere. The political situation is extremely unstable because the government does not even muster a majority in Congress (and much less in voter percentage) and the credibility of the whole post- or neo-francoist "democracy" is under question in all fronts.

We're focusing in Catalonia, logically, but there are riots and protests right now in Murcia and at any moment they can happen almost anywhere on any pretext. It's one of those moments in which the past hasn't died yet and the future hasn't been born either but must happen at any time. The only question is when and how exactly?

[randallhahn]

Again... This young man gets it wrong... They are not military police ... Just police.

[jacobopm]

Legally there can't be a vote without the agreement with the central government and the rest of the parties. To do one with "ilegal" laws by the Catalan house is just the worst case escenario for the Catalans and it says a lot about the people organising the vote and the respect for democracy

[christopherrose]

This issue is not primarily about left or right; it is about basic freedoms and the right of any free community to choose its future. Madrid's denial of this right is transparently undemocratic and revives the spirit of Francoist oppression. The Madrid government claims that the Catalans are undemocratic because they are acting in opposition to the law. This is like saying that if the law instructs you to kill people, you are being violent if you DON'T; it is patently ridiculous, as any sane and fair-minded person understands. The hypocrisy of the Spanish government is almost as repellent and contemptible as its fear of being left to manage without the vital support of Catalonia to its pitiful, mismanaged economy.

[montanoify]

¡VIVA PUERTO RICO ESPAÑOL!¡VIVA ESPAÑA, VIVA HISPANOAMÉRCA!

[jacobopm]

You can't compare Cataluña to Quebec because Cataluña has more autonomy than Quebec.
Also, as said by the sociologist in the report the Basque "Cupo" that he is referring to as an alternative was offered in the 80's to the then president of Cataluña Jordi Puyol and he reject it. Still all parties need to speak and talk more, but right now they are all emotionally impaired by their ideology. At the end the people will suffer

[thegeneralstrike]

The Real News
Many Thank Yous, and ALL OUR LOVE!
Please continue your inspirational, and intelligent, work.
Viva Catalan!!! Fight the good fight of faith!

The maniacal bourgeoisie are on their heals, grasping at straws, their fear is showing.

We are with you, hold fast help is coming.
We are working in the dark,
bringing truth to light.
We do not forgive.
We do not forget.
EXPECT US.

ALL LIFE is PRICELESS in EVERY MIRACULOUS WAY!!!
Do NO HARM to my SISTERS, and BROTHERS, it may COST you MORE then YOU are willing to PAY.
Those that do harm for international oligarchy remember you are expendable to them, you are priceless to us.

[ameighable]

Yes, Spain's constitution does say that Spain is indissoluble, but it also says that any interpretation of the constitution must be in conformity with the Universal Declaration of Human rights as well as any treaties that Spain has ratified. Spain is a signatory of the U. N. that specifically states that member nations must not deprive autonomy to any group of people, and in fact, must aid in that independence when sought by the people of a region in question.. That court decision was in error.

[mig]

Испанцы, о чем вы думали когда вступали в ес и нато? это последствие вашего тогдашнего безразличия((

[cava-ftvi]

when u reach a point that the will of people become so strong..laws become meaningless..nothing will be illigal anymore..madrid doesnt recognize their thoughts..catalans do not recognize madrid laws anymore..people will win..people desire will be stronger then few signatures put on a paper