Catalonia: 'The People vs the State'

'Rubber bullets fired by Spanish police

'YESTERDAY, El Pais the Spanish newspaper ran a headline 'La Generalitat lanza a la poblacion contra el Estado' - 'The Generalitat (local government) sets the people against the State'

Last night there were reports of the the police under orders from the central government in Madrid had taken control of the Barcelona.  This coming 80-years after the Barcelona police in the Spanish Civil War seized control of the telephone exchange from the workers of the CNT trade union, is a grim reminder of the days of Franco and the communist dirty tricks which took place following the so-called May Days of 1937.  Much of which was documented by George Orwell in his book 'Homage to Catalonia'.

As I write this there are reports on Twitter of a Civil Guard in Barcelona firing on crowds of Catalans trying to vote in the referendum.

Northern Voices' contact in Spain, Carlos Figueroa, has told us in an e-mail from Madrid:

'I hope you can understand the whole thing...Read público.es y la vanguardia(catalan newspaper).

El País is not anymore a right place to be informed...'

The Scottish first minister Nicola Sturgeon has condemned the violence, and has called on the Spanish government to let Catalans vote peacefully:
 Nicola Sturgeon ✔ @NicolaSturgeon

1/2 Increasingly concerned by images from #Catalonia. Regardless of views on independence, we should all condemn the scenes being witnessed

Minutes ago it was reported on videos of 'police brutality' against voters are going viral on social media.  Spanish journalist Héctor Juanatey has posted footage of police forcibly removing voters outside a polling station at Guinardò market in Barcelona.

Another video shows police dragging a voter out of a polling station by their hair at Ramon Llull school in the Catalan capital.

 An hour ago the Catalan president, Carles Puigdemont, has told reporters that “violence will not stop Catalans from voting”.  The Catalan government says 38 people have been treated by emergency services in the disorder. 

Earlier this morning the Barcelona’s mayor, Ada Colau, has called on the Spanish prime minister, Mariano Rajoy, to resign and demanded police stop using violence against voters.

Police action against the peaceful population must stop. Today, in Catalonia and in the state, we have to demand it. #ResignRajoy

There are several reports on social media of Spanish police firing rubber bullets at people queuing to vote in the referendum.

Princeton researcher Jordi Graupera posted a video of what appears to be a member of the Guardia Civil firing at a crowd.
Minutes ago footage has emerged showing firefighters in Catalonia protecting voters from police violence by forming a barrier between officers and the crowds.
  L'Accent‏ @laccent

Els bombers protegeixen la gent de la violència de la Guardia Civil mentre els mossos s'amaguen #1oct

Ion Telleria Barrena

1:27 am - 1 Oct 2017

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