2014/09/10

Flags of our parents


Agustí Colomines i Companys

University of Barcelona

On September 11th 1976 was Saturday. That day became doubly festive. It was because then almost nobody used to work on Saturdays, and because for the first time since 1939 the National Day of Catalonia (La Diada) was able to be celebrated. Since then, we write the date in capital letters: September Eleventh. It had been only three years of the coup that brought down that day the democratic government of Chile, but still many years before the U.S tragedy on the 9/11.


Those who were young in 1976 – Myself turned 19 three months after – experienced that journey in a very special way.  It was our first “legal” National Day, although the still Francoist authorities made heaven and earth to reduce the impact of the demonstration. Until the night of September 9th, the civil governor of Barcelona and the September 11th Commission failed to agree whether celebrate or not the National Day and where.  The regime authorities decided that the demonstration would be held in Sant Boi del Llobregat, a town of Baix Llobregat, the working-class region par excellence, to avoid Barcelona, the capital city of Catalonia. However, the organizers choose well, symbolically at least, since in Sant Boi is where Rafael Casanova is buried, the great defender of the Catalan national rights in 1714 in front of the Franco-Spanish Bourbon attacks.


Despite the obstacles, Sant Boi was occupied by thousands of people who arrived from around Catalonia with senyeres[1] and flags of any kind. According to the Constrastant group, the number of the protester might reached 27,374 people, many people considering the circumstances. Those who were there know that the most important was the political impact of that act which opened a democratic transition that brought us to the present time. We took up again the flags of our parents singing "Freedom, Amnesty and Statute of Autonomy," which was the motto of the Assembly of Catalonia, the main platform of opposition to the regime.


This is the deeper meaning of the National Day this year. After thirty-six years a new era is opened, leaving behind the autonomy to bequeath to our children the flag of sovereignty so that Catalonia becomes a new state in the United Europe which unites Catalans with Germans, Italians or Spaniards, but also with the Britons, Sardinians and the Bavarians. Catalonia in the future should be nationally free to govern its destiny economically and as a differentiated identity in a world of languages and cultures. This is the only way to ensure the well-being of the people and of the national culture in a globalized world.


The sovereign Catalonia began to react that hot Saturday in 1976. It did as it was needed, demanding autonomy. Nowadays, however, after many failures to ensure the self-government, most of the people are calling for Catalan independence, albeit with the limitations imposed on all EU member states. Just who has a chair in the governing institutions of the EU can survive as a people.

First published on 09/10/2012


[1]     Senyera is the name given to the Catalan flag.

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2012/11/19

Video by Wall Street Journal: Catalonia Flies Flag for Secession from Spain

"Many people in Catalonia, a province known as "the factory of Spain," feel that the rest of the country has become an economic millstone. They're pushing for an independent Catalonia. WSJ's Matt Moffett reports from Barcelona." Clear words from Wall Street Journal.

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2012/10/07

BBC report: Will Catalonia say goodbye to Spain?

The prestigious British Broadcasting Corporation just released a report about Catalonia's push for independence, titled Will Catalonia say adios to Spain? Adios is the spanish word for goodbye, the Catalan word being adéu. BBC explains that there is “a serious bout of seccessionist fever,” in Catalonia, and it includes a few interviews. A very important part of the report explains the threats by some Spanish military, like Colonel Alamán—as Help Catalonia strongly dennounced recently. We are glad that news media abroad are finally noticing the ways in which the Spanish government is threating Catalonia‘s peaceful and democratic aspirations. Catalan online media outlet Vilaweb took care of subtitling the report in Catalan.

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2012/09/23

Independence Rally Organizers Meet with Catalonia’s President



Carme Forcadell, the president of ANC said, “We have told President Mas that our main objective is independence.”



On Friday 09.14.2012, a delegation of the Catalan National Assembly (ANC) and the president of Catalonia, Artur Mas, met after the big demonstration held on September 11th. The meeting was used to explain the ANC's roadmap, adopted on March the 10th at the general meeting held at Palau Sant Jordi. This roadmap includes the holding of a referendum in 2014.

Forcadell also told the president that “as long as they give unambiguous steps for independence,” they will have all the support of the ANC, and that “the next elections have to be plebiscitary: the next Parliament has to guide us to the independence of our country.”

Moreover Forcadell also declared that, starting on September 12th, ANC has started to work to “expand the pro-independence social majority” in the country. “We want to work to influence all the undecided people.” Forcadell also emphasized that this path has to be followed by the government, town councils, and society as a whole together and that “this can’t be long postponed in time.”

“In spite of the crisis, we succeeded in generating hope,” said the president of the ANC, who highlighted that Mas asked the assembly to “keep their hopes up.” The ANC delegation was composed of Marc Ricart, Soledat Balaguer, Ricard Gené, Blanca Serra, and Carme Forcadell.

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Video (subtitled in English): ¡Escucha España! (Listen up, Spain!)

"Listen, Spain, you still have not understood that the negotiation, rationality, and good faith that should have established our relationship are not a symptom of weakness but rather of political and intellectual maturity, and in the same way, domination and constant abuse and irrational animosity are not a symptom of power but a clear manifestation of your final decadence."

The text in the video was translated by Elizabeth Castro.

 

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2012/09/21

Pep Guardiola Votes for Independence too (video)


Former F.C. Barcelona soccer coach voted for Catalonia's independence from New York.

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2012/09/20

Catalans also demand independence in Dublin / Baile Átha Cliath




Last Tuesday, September 11th, Catalans took to the streets in Barcelona to demand their government begin a process of secession from Spain. In Baile Átha Cliath (Dublin), Ireland, a crowd of 150 Catalans took the historical place of GPO (General Post Office) sited in the centre of O'Connell Street where Irish independence was proclaimed in 1916. The slogans used were both in Irish Gaelic as well as English: Catalonia, the next State in Europe/An Chatalóin, an chéad Stát eile san Eoraip. Catalans from all walks of life gathered beneath one of Ireland's best-recognised places in order to join their fellow citizens into press their home government to go beyond the current unsatisfactory home rule, and to work towards Catalonia's own state.

Links:

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2012/09/19

A letter of three catalan MEPs to the European Parliament


Dear colleagues,

We would like to draw your attention to the demonstration that took place yesterday in Barcelona, where 1.5-2 million people marched in support of the independence of Catalonia. See here for video images and for photos.

1. Catalonia's society is undergoing a process towards pro-independence views which has widespread popular support; it is an inclusive, democratic and pro-European movement.

2. The slogan of the demonstration was 'Catalonia, new state of Europe' and EU fags were profusely waved.

3. The Catalan independence process is certainly going to be complex, but now for many commentators in Catalan and international newspapers it also seems unstoppable.

4. A vast majority of Catalans are persuaded that having their own state will allow them to face the current economic challenges (Catalonia has been contributing more than 8% of its GDP -around 16 billion euros annually- to the Spanish state for the last few decades);

5. There seems to be no willingness in the Spanish government and its political class to understand Catalonia's urge for a new and fair fscal agreement to give Catalonia powers to collect all taxes . This would enable Catalonia to protect its welfare system and to have a fairer distribution of the burden of the economic crisis between Catalans and the rest of Spain.

6. Many Catalans also believe that they would also be better represented politically in the EU with their own state; and that internally there would be more cohesion and they would be able to promote more effectively their language and culture.

7. In case Catalonia needs to hold a referendum on independence, as it is clearly the will shown by its citizens yesterday, we would like to have your democratic support and understanding for this process.

8. Catalonia is willing to be fully responsible and a committed partner in the EU. Catalans have the right to build a new socially fair, economically prosperous and environmentally sustainable state within the EU.

If you need more information, don't hesitate to contact us.

Warm regards,

Ramon Tremosa (CiU)
Ana Miranda (BNG and on behalf of ERC)
Raül Romeva (ICV)

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2012/09/18

'Le Monde' accuses Spanish media of hiding Barcelona rally's success

The French newspaper 'Le Monde', digital edition, opened with an article that accuses the Spanish media of hiding the Barcelona rally's success. In contrast to international media like the BBC and Al-Jazeera, which highlighted yesterday's huge rally in favor of Catalonia's independence, 'Le Monde' points out that in the Spanish press, coverage of the event (where some million and half people demanded independence) "seems less obvious."



'The [Spanish] conservative press, ... downplayed the events, while Catalan media offered a maximum coverage of the day'

The article also looks at the peculiar treatment of the conservative newspapers 'La Razón' and 'ABC', where news of the demonstration are nowhere to be seen, and points out how Rubio's editorial spins the facts to their own political agenda.

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Catalan Independence Support from Around the World (video)

We're attaching a video with a series of demonstrations of support for Catalonia's independence from Catalans all over the world. Enjoy!



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2012/09/16

2012/09/15

2012/09/13

Video calling to the mass gathering in Barcelona in English

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2012/09/12

International Press about the rally: a roar (1)

aerea.jpg


Financial Times


Transit


Irish Times


Washington Post

Miami Herald

Repubblica


BBC


France Info


Le monde
Economia & Negócios



UK News


Ahram Online


Chicago Tribune


Al Jazeera


New York Times


Telegraaf


Franfurter Allgemeine


Algheronotizie


Jornal de Noticias


Correio de Manha


Dn Globo


La Presse


Eesti Paevaleht


Dagbladet


Die Welt









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2012/09/11

The March in Nine Pics

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Carme Forcadell speech to the demonstrators in Barcelona

The President of the Catalan National Assembly, Carme Forcadell, adresses the demonstarators at the huge rally after being received by Núria de Gipert, the President of the Catalan Parliament, and representatives of the political parties in the chamber.

"Citizens of Catalonia: there are more of us than ever who want independence.

Today we have shown our Goverment and the world that we want to be a new European State. We have completed the “Marxa cap a la Independència” (Marches towards Independence) in an extraordinary way, through many of our villages, towns and cities. You have responded massively to a pacific, collective call, with the largest, most important demonstration in our history, coming to our Parliament to demand from our institutions the initiation of a secession process.

We have just submitted to the President of the Catalan Parliament a letter from our Mayors, as well as the Catalan National Assembly’s manifesto. We have also requested her to emplace the President of Catalonia to receive us within the next two days, since Catalonia cannot wait any longer.

Today, we have accomplished the first step on our road to liberty and we will keep working with tenacity, perseverance and hope to reach our goal: the freedom of our country.

The Catalan National Assembly calls upon the people to continue alert and ready to struggle until we attain the independence of Catalonia.

Mr. President: listen to the voice of the people. Yesterday, in your institutional address, you declared that our plea is also yours, and that you wanted full sovereignty and freedom for our country. We will be at your side if you take this path.

It is now up to you to show that you have heard the Catalan people and that you are ready to make Catalonia the next European State."

Picture by 'Nació digital'

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The largest secessionist rally in Catalonia’s history

Press release by Catalan National Assembly:




- A human tide marches towards the Catalan Parliament
in favour of independent statehood.

- One and half milion Catalan people expressed their
wish for independence.


Unprecedented mobilization in Barcelona: a human tide has filled the
Catalan capital under the slogan 'Catalonia, a new state of Europe'. The
march has exceeded all expectations to the point that the head of the
demonstrations could hardly move.

Later, a delegation of representatives of the Catalan National Assembly
(ANC) and the Association of Municipalities for Independence (AMI) have
met the President of the Catalan Parliament, Mrs. Núria de Gispert, asking
her to convey the plea of the people to the Catalan Government to formally
initiate the process of secession from Spain.

Afterwards, the president of the ANC, Carme Forcadell, declared that "the
people have taken the streets of Barcelona asking for national freedom"
and the songwriter Lluís Llach said "This is the first day of a new era."

Journalist Jordi Margarit and actress Txe Arana hosted a rally where those
attending voiced that Catalonia will become the next European State,
symbolically raising green cards creating a green tide of democracy and
freedom. Catalans living around the world were shown raising their green
cards, including the former coach of FC Barcelona Josep Guardiola raising
their green cards.

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Carme Forcadell (ANC): "This Will Be the Most Important March in Catalonia's History"

The president of the Catalan National Assembly (ANC), Mrs Carme Forcadell, has stated at a press conference that the March for Independence to be held today in Barcelona will be "the most important march in our history". The demonstration is taking place on the occasion of Catalonia's national day, 11 September, and is demanding independence for Catalonia under the slogan "A New State in Europe".

Around 1,000 people have participated in the organisation, in addition to a legion of volunteers who have contributed to put together an enormous social mobilisation. Ferran Civit, event coordinator, said that the public response will be massive:  "All available coaches in Catalonia have been hired to travel to Barcelona from all corners of the country, including Northern Catalonia, Valencia and the Balearics Islands. In total, 1,111 coaches will be coming to Barcelona".

According to Andreu Porta, international coordinator of the ANC, the impact of this event in the world media will be huge. All the important media from Europe, the Americas and Asia are covering the march. Over 300 journalists have been accredited by the ANC. The media that haven't been able to come to Barcelona may follow the march through TV3's Internet broadcast. In addition, the ANC has created a Twitter address, @assemblea_int, to provide a feed in English and Spanish during the day. Help Catalonia will also be broadcasting the march live throughout the day, both on the web and on Twitter.

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