The British newspaper The Guardian has produced a very interesting interactive map based on the newly released "Peoples Under Threat" index from Minority Rights Group International (MRG). This index is an annual report that uses statistical data to identify situations around the world where communities are at risk of mass killing. It is generated from 10 indicators such as good governance, rule of law, prevailing conflict, international trade risk, and previous experience of genocide, or political mass killing. They reflect the fact that communities are more at risk in closed states with poor governance, prone to conflict, and with a record of previous killings. They comprise more than 200 indigenous and minority populations in 70 countries. Of course the minorities that are more in danger are in Africa, Asia, and America, being Sudan the worst state. Peoples at most risk are in Somalia, Afghanistan, Myanmar, Democratic Republic of Congo, Nepal, Georgia, Colombia, Kenya, and Mali. These include Hazara, Pashtun, Tajiks, Uzbeks, Turkmen, Baluchis, Kachin, Karenni, Karen, Mons, Rakhine, Rohingyas, Shan, Chin, and Wa; the Hema and Lendu, Hutu, Luba, Lunda, Tutsi, Batwa, the Adzhars, Abkhazians, and South Ossetians, the Borana, Kalenjin, Kikuyu, Luyha, Luo, Muslims, Turkana, Endorois, Masai, Ogien, and the Tuareg.
It might surprise some people, but the European Kingdom of Spain is also mentioned in this map. Minority Rights Group identifies the Catalans, as well as the Basques, and the Roma as peoples under threat by the Spaniards. It is not a surprise, given the repression and violence that the different Spanish governments have carried against these people. The recent linguicide campaign being carried by the Spanish ruling party is one of the examples. The rank of risk is not high for two reasons: European standards are higher than the rest of the world, and the Catalan and Basque nations have structures to defend themselves after having survived three decades of a terrible dictatorship.
At last the world seems to be getting the message that Catalunya needs to be free.
Per fi, el món sembla estar rebent el missatge que Catalunya necessita estar lliure.
The problem is'nt that Catalonia is independent or not. The real problem is that Spain not only despises the Catalan people treating them as second class citizens, but also reacts violently by denying the separatist fact and trying to coerce citizens.
If Spain about treating everyone equally, the Catalan separatist fact have much less importance and the great majority of the citizens of Catalonia would feel comfortable living in a common Spain.