Tens of thousands poured onto the streets of central Barcelona and further afield in Catalonia,
outraged at the escalating crackdown on a separatist-led referendum on
independence for the region on 1 October that saw 14 local government
officials arrested, including the region’s deputy vice president.
According to police, about 4,000 demonstrators gathered near the office of vice president Josep Maria Jove, who is also secretary-general of Catalonia’s economic affairs, to chant “we will vote” in a referendum deemed illegal by the central Madrid government and Spain’s constitutional court.
Outside the headquarters of pro-independence party Popular Unity Candidacy (CUP), riot police were called to control thousands of mainly young demonstrators who cried “occupation forces out” and “the streets are ours”.
The arrests were carried out by Spain’s Civil Guard rather than the Catalan regional Mossos d’Esquadra force, who received widespread praise for their quick response to a pair of terrorist attacks last month. Police said they staged 22 search operations in total.
Tense scenes ensued outside one of the region’s principal local government buildings, as sit-in protesters impeded the Civil Guard from leaving the scene.
Spanish Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy called for “a return to normality and a return to common sense”.
However, his government’s heavy-handed approach has only stoked the fires of those seeking independence for Catalonia.
“They made a big mistake; we wanted to vote and they declared war,” said president of the influential pro-independence citizens’ organisation, the Catalan National Assembly.
According to police, about 4,000 demonstrators gathered near the office of vice president Josep Maria Jove, who is also secretary-general of Catalonia’s economic affairs, to chant “we will vote” in a referendum deemed illegal by the central Madrid government and Spain’s constitutional court.
Outside the headquarters of pro-independence party Popular Unity Candidacy (CUP), riot police were called to control thousands of mainly young demonstrators who cried “occupation forces out” and “the streets are ours”.
The arrests were carried out by Spain’s Civil Guard rather than the Catalan regional Mossos d’Esquadra force, who received widespread praise for their quick response to a pair of terrorist attacks last month. Police said they staged 22 search operations in total.
Tense scenes ensued outside one of the region’s principal local government buildings, as sit-in protesters impeded the Civil Guard from leaving the scene.
Spanish Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy called for “a return to normality and a return to common sense”.
However, his government’s heavy-handed approach has only stoked the fires of those seeking independence for Catalonia.
“They made a big mistake; we wanted to vote and they declared war,” said president of the influential pro-independence citizens’ organisation, the Catalan National Assembly.
0 comentaris:
Publica un comentari a l'entrada