Catalonia independence movement

Hope this forum is ok, just saw this article and did not find it on the search.

Catalan leader goes on Trial

The former head of Catalonia's regional government went on trial in Barcelona on Monday accused of defying the authority of the Spanish state and organising a vote on the region's independence. The five-day trial is likely to inflame longstanding tensions between the central government and the supporters of separatism in the wealthy northeastern region of 7.5 million people. “I was responsible for the whole thing,” Artur Mas, who stepped down as president of the regional government last year, responded to his defence lawyer after refusing to answer questions from the prosecution in Catalonia’s supreme court.

This has been a simmering issue for some time, and I cant see how this will do anything other than add fuel to the fire.

Mr Mas faces a 10-year ban on holding public office if found guilty of disobeying legal authority, abuse of office and misuse of public funds in going ahead with the ballot after Spain’s constitutional court had ruled that it was illegal.

Yes the punishment is not really that bad, but its the fact that the federal government has told the people in this area suck it up we do not care what you want.

There are certain kinds of people in this world that do not like being told shut up and color inside the lines no questions.

The trial comes at a moment of extreme tension as the Catalan government plans another attempt to hold a referendum the Spanish government considers illegal. Government sources have told The Telegraph that they will fight any attempt to hold a ballot on independence “to the bitter end”. “We will do everything in our power to prevent the referendum. The public workers who open up schools to be used as electoral colleges will understand that their job is on the line, and the Catalan ‘Mossos’ police force also know they are a state body, and they have to apply the law,” the sources said.

So instead of talking to the people and seeking a peaceful end, this just looks like pouring gasoline on a forest fire.

Anyone got first hand information from the area?

a reply to: Irishhaf

Mr Mas faces a 10-year ban on holding public office if found guilty of disobeying legal authority, abuse of office and misuse of public funds in going ahead with the ballot after Spain’s constitutional court had ruled that it was illegal.

No kidding, I didn't know they put him on trial.

Banned from public office. Does that include public speaking?

That s*** made Hitler famous. Europeans will never learn.

originally posted by: intrptr
a reply to: Irishhaf

Mr Mas faces a 10-year ban on holding public office if found guilty of disobeying legal authority, abuse of office and misuse of public funds in going ahead with the ballot after Spain’s constitutional court had ruled that it was illegal.

No kidding, I didn't know they put him on trial.

Banned from public office. Does that include public speaking?

That s*** made Hitler famous. Europeans will never learn.

It's a long running sore in Spanish history for over a century, not really a European thing, the Spanish government refuses to accept the idea of a separate Basque nation.

originally posted by: uncommitted

originally posted by: intrptr
a reply to: Irishhaf

Mr Mas faces a 10-year ban on holding public office if found guilty of disobeying legal authority, abuse of office and misuse of public funds in going ahead with the ballot after Spain’s constitutional court had ruled that it was illegal.

No kidding, I didn't know they put him on trial.

Banned from public office. Does that include public speaking?

That s*** made Hitler famous. Europeans will never learn.

It's a long running sore in Spanish history for over a century, not really a European thing, the Spanish government refuses to accept the idea of a separate Basque nation.

I know that. Sorry I wan't more clear. The control freaks will never get that martyring the opposition will only make them stronger...

originally posted by: uncommitted

originally posted by: intrptr
a reply to: Irishhaf

Mr Mas faces a 10-year ban on holding public office if found guilty of disobeying legal authority, abuse of office and misuse of public funds in going ahead with the ballot after Spain’s constitutional court had ruled that it was illegal.

No kidding, I didn't know they put him on trial.

Banned from public office. Does that include public speaking?

That s*** made Hitler famous. Europeans will never learn.

It's a long running sore in Spanish history for over a century, not really a European thing, the Spanish government refuses to accept the idea of a separate Basque nation.

Important to note for other people, Basque and Catalonia are different places.
It's been over 500 years since Castile united with the Kingdom Aragon(Aragon+Catalonia) and 500 years since Spain annexed navarre(Basque).
You would think this would be Multicultural heaven and they would all love each other.

originally posted by: jellyrev

originally posted by: uncommitted

originally posted by: intrptr
a reply to: Irishhaf

Mr Mas faces a 10-year ban on holding public office if found guilty of disobeying legal authority, abuse of office and misuse of public funds in going ahead with the ballot after Spain’s constitutional court had ruled that it was illegal.

No kidding, I didn't know they put him on trial.

Banned from public office. Does that include public speaking?

That s*** made Hitler famous. Europeans will never learn.

It's a long running sore in Spanish history for over a century, not really a European thing, the Spanish government refuses to accept the idea of a separate Basque nation.

Important to note for other people, Basque and Catalonia are different places.
It's been over 500 years since Castile united with the Kingdom Aragon(Aragon+Catalonia) and 500 years since Spain annexed navarre(Basque).
You would think this would be Multicultural heaven and they would all love each other.

Yeah, some feelings run deep though don't they?

a reply to: Irishhaf

Catalonia stenches theoretically (like Basque country) across the Pyrenees Moutains in both France and Spain. Separatist feelings are much stronger in Spain and on the side, the separatists just lost their biggest ally : Manuel Valls, the former socialist prime minister who just happen to lose the primary in France.

Add to that, the fact that Spanish Catalonia has territorial views over French Catalonia in the name of the so-called 'cultural protection' of the Catalonian language (Will they invade as well the Principality of Andorra, the only country in the world who happens to have Catalonian as offical language ...).

Just like Calexit the main criterias for separatism, hidden behind cultural arguments, are that the region is wealthier than its neighbours, and much more industrialized. But once again, they may well fail to assess properly the real costs of an independence.

a reply to: theultimatebelgianjoke

Will Catalonia extend their aragonese claims to Southern Italy and Sicily as well?

a reply to: jellyrev

I don't know how far they will want to look back in their history to back their territorial claims.
Hope it's not 2000 years back ...

They have views over the French city of Perpignan.
French cities are the northernmost on this map, coloured in light gray.