theage.com.au - AUSTRALIA

Catalans vote in symbolic referendum

December 13, 2009

AFP
Some 170 towns and villages in Catalonia vote in symbolic independence referendums on Sunday, as a debate rages nationwide over how much autonomy the wealthy Spanish region should be allowed.
"Do you agree that Catalonia becomes a social, democratic and independent state, and member of the European Union?" will be the question put to some 700,000 eligible voters, or about 10 per cent of Catalonia's population of over seven million.
A sizeable minority in Catalonia would like to see the northeastern region, which accounts for 25 per cent of Spain's gross domestic product and which has its own Catalan language, achieve independence from Spain.
In a referendum last September in the small town of Arenys de Munt, 96 per cent of residents voted in favour of secession. Turnout was 41 per cent.
Sunday's vote also comes as Spain's Constitutional Court prepares to rule on the legality of the region's statute of autonomy, with fears that a negative decision could fuel further separatist sentiment.
The statute, approved by the Spanish parliament and endorsed by Catalan voters in a 2006 referendum, expanded the powers of the regional government, which, like other Spanish regions, already controlled most aspects of government.
Sunday's referendums organised by local associations and supported by some political parties and unions are non-binding, as Spain's constitution only allows such polls if they are mandated by the central government.
The statute has the support of the vast majority of political parties in the region and they have threatened to stage massive street demonstrations if any changes are made to it.
Further referendums are planned in other parts of the region, including the capital of Barcelona, and the cities of Girona and Lleida on February 28 and April 25.

13'D - ABCnews - AUSTRALIA

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Catalans vote in symbolic independence referendum

Posted Mon Dec 14, 2009 1:22am AEDT
Updated Mon Dec 14, 2009 1:37am AEDT

Catalans have gone to the polls in an informal referendum over possible independence from Spain. (Reuters: Gustau Nacarino)

People in Catalonia voted in symbolic referendums on Sunday that organisers hope will be a step towards eventual independence from Spain for the wealthy northeastern region.

Some 700,000 Catalan residents in 166 towns and villages, or almost 10 per cent of the region's population, were called on to answer the question: "Do you agree that Catalonia become a social, democratic and independent state, and member of the European Union?"
The polls, of members of local associations and supported by some political parties and unions, are non-binding as Spain's constitution only allows referendums if they are mandated by the central government.
Spanish Prime Minister Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero said in Brussels on Friday that the referendums "are not going anywhere."
But organisers hope that a result in favour of independence, and with a turnout of at least 40 per cent, will push the issue up the political agenda throughout Spain.
"The turnout has been good," Uriel Bertran, the spokesman for the organisers, said at around midday.
"Tomorrow Catalonia will awake as if it is another country, with new hope."
A sizeable minority in Catalonia would already like to see the region, which accounts for 25 per cent of Spain's gross domestic product and which has its own Catalan language, achieve independence from Spain.
"Catalonia is dying, they are killing it and we must react," Joan Laporta, the chairman of Barcelona Football Club, told the newspaper El Pais on Sunday.
"No Catalan can accept the fiscal pillaging that we are suffering nor the attacks on the rights and freedoms of Catalonia."
In a precursor to Sunday's vote, 96 per cent of residents in the small town of Arenys de Munt voted in September in favour of Catalan independence. Turnout was 41 per cent.
On Saturday, Sant Jaume de Frontanya, the smallest village in Catalonia, held an early referendum, with 18 of its 21 registered voters backing independence.
Further referendums are already planned in other parts of the region, including the capital of Barcelona, and the cities of Girona and Lleida, early next year.
Sunday's vote also comes as Spain's Constitutional Court prepares to rule on the legality of the region's statute of autonomy, with fears that a negative decision could fuel separatist sentiment.
The statute, approved by the Spanish parliament and endorsed by Catalan voters in a 2006 referendum, gave the regional parliament enhanced powers in taxation and judicial matters as well as more control over airports, ports and immigration.
Catalonia, like other Spanish regions, already controlled most aspects of government, including health and education.
Most controversially, the statute describes the region as a "nation" within Spain.
The conservative opposition Popular Party called on the Constitutional Court to review the document.
A rejection of the statute "would be an unacceptable humiliation for Catalans," said Laporta.
Teams of international observers from regions of the world with independence or secessionist movements are attending Sunday's vote.
They include a representative of the Scottish National Party, Christopher White, a member of Ireland's Catholic republican Sinn Fein party, Joe Reilly, and others from Italy's South Tyrol region, the French island of Corsica, Belgium's Flemish region and from the province of Quebec in Canada.
Also observing the vote are political representatives from Spain's Galicia and Basque regions, which both have independence movements.
- AFP

13'D - The Sydney Morning Herald

Catalans vote in symbolic referendum

December 13, 2009

AFP
Some 170 towns and villages in Catalonia vote in symbolic independence referendums on Sunday, as a debate rages nationwide over how much autonomy the wealthy Spanish region should be allowed.
"Do you agree that Catalonia becomes a social, democratic and independent state, and member of the European Union?" will be the question put to some 700,000 eligible voters, or about 10 per cent of Catalonia's population of over seven million.
A sizeable minority in Catalonia would like to see the northeastern region, which accounts for 25 per cent of Spain's gross domestic product and which has its own Catalan language, achieve independence from Spain.
In a referendum last September in the small town of Arenys de Munt, 96 per cent of residents voted in favour of secession. Turnout was 41 per cent.
Sunday's vote also comes as Spain's Constitutional Court prepares to rule on the legality of the region's statute of autonomy, with fears that a negative decision could fuel further separatist sentiment.
The statute, approved by the Spanish parliament and endorsed by Catalan voters in a 2006 referendum, expanded the powers of the regional government, which, like other Spanish regions, already controlled most aspects of government.
Sunday's referendums organised by local associations and supported by some political parties and unions are non-binding, as Spain's constitution only allows such polls if they are mandated by the central government.
The statute has the support of the vast majority of political parties in the region and they have threatened to stage massive street demonstrations if any changes are made to it.
Further referendums are planned in other parts of the region, including the capital of Barcelona, and the cities of Girona and Lleida on February 28 and April 25.

David Carroll, Director of Carter Center to To Alfons Lopez Tena.

---------------------------------

DEMOCRACY PROGRAM
ONE COPENHILL · 453 FREEDOM PARKWAY · ATLANTA, GEORGIA 30307 · (404) 420·5188 · FAX (404) 420·5196


December 2, 2009

Alfons Lopez Tena
Chief Executive Officer
Osona Decideix

To Alfons Lopez Tena:
Thank you for your letter to President Carter inviting The Carter Center to observe the upcoming referendum in Catolonia December 13, 2009. As you may know, the Carter Center uses several criteria to determine whether or not to observe an election. Generally, we only observe elections in countries where the elections represent a critical transition for the country, where it appears that the Center’s presence may be critical to the success of the election, and where the major political parties and the electoral authority request or welcome our involvement. In such circumstances, and depending on existing commitments, the time remaining before the elections, and available funding levels, the Center then decides whether to accept an invitation to observe the electoral process in question.

Given the short timeframe, as well as our ongoing involvement in Sudan, Bolivia, Cote d’Ivoire, Nepal and the Palestinian Territories, circumstances preclude us from accepting your invitation at this time. Nonetheless, we appreciate your interest in inviting international observers and in having explored a role for the Carter Center.

The Carter Center has collaborated with the United Nations Secretariat, the National Democratic Institute, the European Union, and other international election observers to adopt a Declaration of Principles and Code of Conduct for International Election Observers. This document was endorsed at the United Nations in New York on October 27, 2005. The Declaration provides important guidelines for election observers and stands as a common basis upon which all international observers may be accountable (the text is available in all official languages of the UN at www.cartercenter.org). Some of these endorsing organizations may have plans to observe the elections in Catalonia and could provide the independent and non-partisan evaluation that you seek.

The Center wishes the best for Catalonia and will continue to follow events with interest.

Sincerely,

Dr. David Carroll
Director

in defence of democracy and freedom for Catalonia.

Friday, 13 November 2009
Armistice Day


Ninety-one years ago, November 11th 1918, in a train carriage in the Compiègne Forest, the Armistice between France and Germany was signed. Curiously, the place is not far from where the War had begun four years before. The signature of the Armistice meant the end of the hostilities in the Western Front and was signed by Marshall Foch, the Allied Commander-in-Chief, and Matthias Erzberger, representative for Germany.

The treaty observed the end of warfare in all remaining fronts at 11:00 hours of that day, hence the saying "eleventh hour of the eleventh day of the eleventh month", although the definitive peace between the Allies and Germany was not signed until a year later in Versailles, Paris. The Armistice established a monthly self-renewal clause unless Germany resumed hostilities, to which the Allies would respond in 48 hours.

Here is the account by Col. Gowenlock, who served as an intelligence officer for the US Army, and was at the front line that very same day.

"On the morning of November 11 I sat in my dugout in Le Gros Faux, which was again our division headquarters, talking to our Chief of Staff, Colonel John Greely, and Lieutenant Colonel Paul Peabody, our G-1. A signal corps officer entered and handed us the following message:

Official Radio from Paris - 6:01 A.M., Nov. 11, 1918. Marshal Foch to the Commander-in-Chief.

1. Hostilities will be stopped on the entire front beginning at 11 o'clock, November 11th (French hour).
2. The Allied troops will not go beyond the line reached at that hour on that date until further orders.
[signed]
MARSHAL FOCH
5:45 A.M.


Although Spain had remained neutral, there were Catalan volunteers fighting in the French Foreign Legion. The exact numbers are still uncertain. It had been speculated with figures between 10 and 20 thousand volunteers but following investigations by David Martinez i Fiol, who searched through Joan Soler i Pla's studies and French Foreign Legion archives, rather obscure and confusing, and concluded the real figure was 954 volunteers, including 48 Northern Catalans from Rosselló. Such discrepancy in the numbers would be caused by the Catalan nationalists willing to appear important, the conception that only anti-Catalan nationalists would negate the figures and the cruel death toll of the Influenza Pandemic of 1918, which was especially increased in Spain. Martinez i Fiol sustains that a mix up in the figures of both, along with more political reasons, had originated the discrepancy.

However meagre the number of volunteers might seem, the political repercussion within Catalonia was very notable. Important nationalist political figures of the time, Domènec Martí i Julià and Antoni Rovira i Virgili, among others, considered that Catalonia ought to have independent political relationships with the rest of the world to become independent from Spain. Even Francesc Cambó, leader of the "Lliga Catalanista" gave this cause some support, quickly withdrawn after taking possession of a Ministry in Madrid. Also, the French victory at the Battle of the Marne, 1914, which stopped the German advance in Europe, leaded by the Northern Catalan Marshal Josep(h) Joffre, made the Allied cause very popular among Catalans from the South of the border.

To help Catalan Volunteers in the Front, it was created the "Comitè de Germanor dels Voluntaris Catalans", supporting committees for the Catalan volunteers in the trenches. They even minted the "medal to the Catalan Volunteers", to be given to Catalan survivors of the War. Several Catalan politicians gave them support, but the death of J. Ferrés-Costa and Camil Campanyà during the Battle of the Somme, in 1916, the two more popular members of the contingent, frustrated the creation of a solid link among the soldiers and the politicians. The disturbances of the General Strike in Spain, the fall of the Unió Catalanista, the suspension of the Courts by Dato, the death of Martí i Julià and the Russian Revolution, all in 1917, decreased the popular support to the Volunteers too. The Russian Revolution caused the French High Command to be sceptical about the political aspirations of the Catalans, considering they were revolutionaries.

One of the Catalan personalties that took a significant support for the Allies was Francesc Macià. He covered the Battle of Verdun, late 1916, for the newspaper "La Publicidad" and gave the readers a very graphical description of the causes of the conflict, life in the trenches, and the destruction caused by the war. The months that Macià spent in France had great impact in his future political thought, strengthening his nationalism. The future Catalan President, and who proclaimed the Catalan Republic independent from Spain in 1931, returned to Catalonia certainly radicalised from what he had seen in France. Just a few years later, in 1922, Macià created Estat Català, the organization in which modern Catalan support for independence is based on.

In order to never forget who has given their lives in defence of democracy and freedom for Catalonia, to recognise the significance of a war that caused around 15 million dead and 21 million wounded, let this article be a small homage from Catalunya Acció to all who gave everything in "the war to end all wars".

Jordi Margalef i Turull
Catalunya Acció UK

Treaty of the Pyrenees; 350th anniversary of the partition of Catalonia between Spain and France.

Thursday, 5 November 2009
Treaty of the Pyrenees; 350th anniversary of the partition of Catalonia between Spain and France


The Treaty of the Pyrenees -or Peace of the Pyrenees- was signed on November 7, 1659, by the representatives of Philippe IV of Castile and III of Aragon, Luis de Haro and Pedro Coloma, and the representatives of Luis XIV of France, Cardinal Mazzarin and Hugues de Lionne, on the Pheasants Island (Bidasoa River, at the limits of the Northern Basque country), and ended the conflict of the Thirty Years War. One of the consequences of this Treaty was the transfer of the county of Rousillon and part of the Cerdanya to France.

Philip IV negotiated this Treaty without consultation to the Catalan Court nor the affected. In fact, he hid it from them, and did not officially inform Catalan institutions until the Courts in 1702. The affected territories conspired for years to reunite again with the Principality, and the Catalan authorities resisted to accept partition, that was not effective until 1720.

The Catalan territory was divided against the will of the Catalan institutions, against the Oath for the Islands, from which the territories of the former Kingdom of Majorca could not be separated from the territories of the Crown of Aragon, by the will of the Hispanic monarchy to hand over the territories of the North of Catalonia in exchange for keeping the possessions in Flanders. Differently from Gibraltar or Minorca, handed over to England in 1713 by the Treaty of Utrecht, not one Spanish government has reclaimed the devolution of the Northern Catalan territories handed over in the Treaty of the Pyrenees. Usually this Treaty is considered a part of the Treaties of Westphalia, from which it is considered a consequence.

Background

France entered the Thirty Years War after the Spanish victories against the revolted Dutch, in 1620, and against the Swedish at Nördlingen in 1634. In 1640, France started interfering in the Spanish politics, positioning in favour of Catalonia during the Reaper's War, while Spain gave them support during the Fronde in 1648. In the negotiations of the Peace of Westphalia, in 1648, France won the territories of the Alsace and Lorena and cut the access of Spain to Holland from Austria. This caused the War between Spain and France. After 10 years, France –allied to England- won the battle of the Dunes, in 1658, and peace was signed in 1659.

The negotiations

During the negotiations to delimit the border, Luis de Haro, Philip IV's representative, tried to preserve the counties of the Rousillon and Cerdanya for the Crown. French negotiators presented a line for the border very favourable to their interests, while the Castilian representatives, ignoring the characteristics and customs of these territories and the illegality of the separation -Oath for the Islands-, preferred to defend the positions in Flanders before keeping territorial unity in The Principality.

The fact that the skilful negotiators chosen by Louis XIV, Cardinal Jules Mazzarin, Pèire de Marca, Plessis de Besançon and Ramon Trobat had great knowledge of the land and history of Catalonia, unlike the negotiators chosen by the Spanish monarch, while holding the talks behind the Catalan government backs, had a very negative influence in the results of the Treaty for Spain. Mazzarin defended, as indicates in a letter still kept, speaking about Monts, “j'ay fait expliquer que ce sont ceux qui separent de toutte ancianneté des Gaules d'avec les Espagnes”, “… the Pyrenees separated the Gaul from Spain since ancient times”, skilful historical vaguish that fed Spanish vanity, keen on building her own History, but that created to successive problems of definition that had to be resolved in successive Treaties.

The Treaty that established that, from the County of Cerdanya, thirty-three towns had to be handed over to France. These were defined in 1660, at the Conference of Ceret and at the definitive Treaty of Llívia, under which the new border between the territories of the two crowns was drawn and were the Philip IV’s representatives got to retain Llívia with the argument that it was a “village” and not a “town” –see the note about Llívia and the extract of the text.

In total, French crown won the territories of the County of Rosselló –that included the Vallespir, Conflent and Capcir- and half of the Cerdanya; Artois, Luxembourg and Flanders. The border with the Spanish crown was fixed following the Pyrenees only in part, except the “village” of Llívia. If the line of the Pyrenees had to be followed, by the Corberes, all the Northern Catalonia had not passed to France. In return, the French returned the Charolais and the conquests of Italy to Spain.

The Treaty previewed the marriage between Louis XIV of France and Maria Theresa of Austria, daughter to Philip IV of Castile. Maria Theresa had to renounce to her successor rights to the Spanish throne, in exchange for an economical compensation that had to form part of the dowry. This compensation was never paid and was one of the factors that concluded in the Spanish Succession War, 1702.

Consequences to Catalonia

Catalonia was a very important piece in the chequer of the international politics since the Reaper’s War. She has demonstrated largely her capacity to destabilize Spanish monarchy. Catalonia had the disgrace to be the hinge between the two great powers of the time.

The territories of the Northern Catalonia annexed to France with the Treaty (Rosselló, Conflent, Vallespir, half Cerdanya and Capcir) have reminded under French dominie since then.

The Treaty included to preserve all Catalan institutions Northern from the Pyrenees, but this part was not respected by the French King Louis XIV –the simple-. A year later from the signature, Catalan institutions were dissolved –Generalitat, consulates, etc- despite the Treaty said to conserve them.

A Royal Decree, on April 2nd 1700, to be applied from May 1st of that year, prohibited the use of Catalan language in official acts of any kind. From then, French is still the only official language and the only one that is being used in the public education. Recently, France has modified her Constitution, including in the 2nd article “la langue de la République est le français”, the language of the Republic is French. This article is often used to negate grants or to refuse the presence of the Catalan language in the bureaucracy.

After the Treaty of the Pyrenees, there are the following years of war: 1667-68, 1673-78, 1680-84, 1689-97. In all those periods, the Treaty of the Pyrenees has no effect. The very Cerdanya passed from one hand to the other in numerous occasions. There, the Church border did not coincide with the real border until 1802. Thirty-three towns of French Cerdanya still belonged to the Bishop of Urgell.

The nearest weekend to November 7th has become, every year, the date chosen for Catalans to demonstrate in Perpinyà, in favour of Catalonia and the Catalan language.

Extract

“Having convened within the negotiation that began in Madrid in 1656, about the foundation of which is this Treaty, that the Pyrenees mountains, that commonly have always been held by division between the Spains and the Gauls, were from here and always the division of the same kingdoms too”.

Article 42:

“Has been convened and accorded that the Mr King Chr will remain possessing and will effectively enjoy all the County and vegueries of the Roussillon, and the County and vegueria of Conflent, and that to Mr Catholic King has to remain the County of Cerdanya and all the Principality of Cataloina […]; well understood that if there were places of such County of Conflent only, not Roussillon, that would be found to be within such mount Pyrenees, in the Spanish part, would remain to the Catholic Majesty; as well as if there are places and the vegueria of Cerdanya only, that would be within said mountains, will remain to Majesty chris”.

References

Èrika Serna i Coba, "Aproximació a l'estudi del Tractat dels Pirineus: les conferències de Figueres (1660-1666)", Annals de l'Institut d'Estudis Empordanesos, 21 (1988), 111-134.

External links

El Tractat dels Pirineus al Museu d'Història de Catalunya
El Tractat dels Pirineus a El Talp.
La duana de Sant Lllorenç de la Muga i el Tractat dels Pirineus article de Marià Baig.
(francès) Text complet del Tractat transcripció dels arxius nacionals de França (en PDF)
Carta Europea de les Llengües Regionals o Minoritàries
Resolució del Parlament Europeu de 30 d'octubre de 1987 sobre les llengües i cultures de les minories regionals i ètniques de la Comunitat Europea

Published by radiocatalunya.ca

" En Catalonha e tanben en Occitania sèm adultes per caminar sols. Volèm daissar d’éstre colonias."

Tot això ho ha proclamat públicament Enric Garriga, president del CAOC, a Carcassona, pel matí del 24 octubre 2009 a l’entarimat de la plaça Chenièr:



Discors d’Enric Garriga a Carcassona:

Los pòbles se bolegan perqué las personas n’an un sadol de las messorgas dels estats colonizaires que nos volon far desaparéisser coma pòble e coma nacion.

En Catalonha e tanben en Occitania lo monde vòl prendre en man sa destinada e son futur.

Sèm adultes per caminar sols. Seguir aquesta dralha nos farà liures e capables de salvar la nòstra lenga, la nòstra cultura e lo nòstre biais de viure. Volèm gerir lo fruch del trabalh dels òmes de la nòstra terra per arribar a viure amb dignitat e libertat en Catalonha e Occitania. Volèm daissar d’éstre colonias.

Los catalans sèm arribats a Carcassona perqué lo vòstre combat tanben es lo nòstre combat.

Visca Occitània

Visca Catalonha

Catalonia. Independence and immigration.

Wednesday, 21 October 2009

Independence and immigration


"Independence is impossible, there is too much immigration." Here we have it. The mother of all lies. How many times have heard, especially (what a coincidence) from who would want us believing that we live in a fragmented country? On one hand there are those who disgustingly discriminate between immigrants (xarnegos –from Spain-, Moors or sudaques –from South America-) and Catalans at its root, ignoring many previous waves of immigration. But others bent on maintaining economically, not just philosophically, a fictional Andalusian collective (as if everyone thought the same or belonged to the same herd) as FECAC and other mafias. Even some people want us to believe that there is a language conflict, such as the virtual Catalan vs Valencian, when the only real problem is that Spanish is still, unfortunately, official language enforced to all Catalans. Yes, Spanish is my mother tongue, but is as foreign as English in the Netherlands, Turkish in Germany or Spanish to Portugal itself. It is no coincidence that these are precisely the most manipulative of all immobilizers. What makes so much fear to change ? That instead of Andalusian collective become Catalans? That we became normal people like any other in Europe? That, without distinction as to origin or family origin, everyone wants to free the land of welcome?

Well, a Catalan writes to you , son and grandson of people from Andalusia, this Baix Llobregat massively populated by immigrant people (now or 30 years ago, the concept is the same) and their descendants. This lie about immigration is about to end it once and forever. To begin, groups such as Catalònia Acord or, in the scope language, Veu Pròpia, are causing a mental short circuit to a more than one brain of the country, because of their clarity and forcefulness. Their words can be summarized as follows: "integrated newcomers and their descendants are simply Catalans. Full-stop. We are part of one nation: the Catalan. We do not need any protection from Spanish gangs or its patrons who live installed decades within our governments”.

Non-generalizing, my particular way, I think is quite significant. In primary school I was lucky that the history teacher hit my child's brain –about 12 years of age- with the phrase: "Obviously that Catalonia is a country!". We all were spoken in Catalan (we were Catalan). Later, however, the high school I was amazed that the course of history only in the Spanish speaking (I'm afraid it still does, but that needs go change it, and quickly). Gradually, that seed planted by that teacher was germinating. Knowing Catalan history is necessary but not sufficient. Fortunately, one (only one!) of my Catalan classmates spoke the language of the Catalans to me, perhaps only because he considered me a real Catalan. It was just so I could practice it enough to become a proper speaker . And get to college, finally I could make all social life entirely in Catalan, as should be, regardless of my mother tongue or childhood surroundings. Finally after all this process of maturation and have good eyes open to everything happening around me, obviously I am Catalan, I feel like a Catalan, I suffer like a Catalan, but I also have an enormous enthusiasm in the Catalan future than any other who knows to live in a colony and not just want our country be free, sovereign, independent, mature, prosperous, but also takes action to achieve it.

Thus, in many cases the same as mine, these new Catalans, only have the name, the mother tongue and (currently) Spanish passport. Incidentally, there is a clear symptom of the disease in the country regarding immigration: each day, knowing my name, many lifetime Catalans will address to me in Spanish. I, with my Spanish name intact, answer in Catalan them voluntarily to create them a mental short circuit. It will be through mental short circuits, then, that we progress. I do not believe that I will ever translate my name, as, in fact, is not prompted to a son of Germans, Russians or Senegal, with foreign name to do so. Therefore always be a Catalan with foreign names, particularly Spanish. And what that has to do with the future I want for my country? The answer is easy: nothing. For independence is neither necessary nor wanted to change his name, nor have great-grandparents of Cerdanya, or vote ERC , or stop having friends in Spain or France, or to speak Catalan own family coming from 30 years of Andalusia, China and Ecuador. Wishing for independence just needs loving the country and want it completely free. Nothing more.

The Catalan identity is merely a way of thinking, understanding and acting in the world around us. It is purely mental and, contrary to what some would like us to believe, is not genetic. This way of thinking and living that make up the life of the party (generally called the Catalan people), eventually becomes dominant in each of the individuals who are born, grow up or spend a significant part of his life in. The daily experience, how people interact, socio-economic structure and the physical environment in which we move, end up determining the formation of this way of thinking and acting (ie, of being) make, for better or for worse, different from the rest of the world. In this sense, indeed there is more than the Catalans now have it explicitly clear. Catalan is because, simply, anyone who thinks and acts (ie, who is) the Catalan way.

Right now, hundreds of Catalans should be doing like me the whole process of integration, so spontaneous and natural. However, with a normalized environment (ie with their own State as other people have) would make virtually all descendants of immigrants, or at least thousands, or hundreds of thousands ... What is wrong then? What are we doing wrong? Well this answer is too easy: almost everything. Because we do not have our own State, nor act against the phenomenon of immigration as we should act while we have not.

Not having a State means that Catalan people do not have their own space where to work naturally, relaxed, their way of structuring society, to integrate newcomers, not to alienate their offspring, leaving them in no-mans Land to develop their culture and show it to the world with pride. Someone will respond to all this, to some extent, as is done now. Well, at least try. With the continuous interference of the invader, Spain, a lot of energy is wasted to perform all this work of integration. Just as they wasted on thousand other fronts that we address incorrectly as separate; defence of the language; protest against tax plundering suffered by all of the Catalan population (including Spaniards who live there!); demand own sporting teams, voice and vote in international organizations, labelling, judgments, software, audiovisual entertainment in Catalan ... (and will not end up ever). From all this, why not directly achieve independence? The integration of immigrants as Catalans would also be positively affected having their own state, because the methods and objectives would be decided by us instead of the Spaniards, who is now trying to turn immigrants into Spaniards.

With immigration, we are already making mistakes now. It is not possible to refuse up front as Catalans those who do not speak Catalan. Because we adopt the language as a natural consequence of considering becoming a member of that different group. It is a step but not the cause. Not necessarily speaking Catalan makes one Catalan. Instead, being conscious or feeling Catalan yes it does, sooner or later, to adopt Catalan, it is only a matter of time. Because the Catalan language is obviously the most appropriate, to best express the Catalanity, namely, the fact of thinking and acting in the Catalan way, ie, be and feel Catalan. The nuance is needed, however, that progress in any of the other two fields provided, is fed to one another. The fact that you are spoken in Catalan (and therefore that is conducive to you speaking it in the long term) facilitates the fact of beginning to feel really Catalan, acts as a throttle for the entire process. Recall again my mate in high school that spoke to me in Catalan. If I had not sensed like being considered Catalan probably would not have been speaking in Catalan now, probably would not have adopted the language that to me, then, was neither mother nor social but only the school (and a little by TV3). If we do not consider newcomers and their descendants real Catalans, and we do not speak Catalan to them, they note that they are just being refused to be Catalans. And finally, they are rejected as Catalans will become something else (for example, are Spanish).

This is, summarized, the tragedy we suffer. This whole process that should happen more naturally having their own state, because we have not, is not happening yet. And if does not happen naturally, then in theory should make it happen consciously, voluntarily and everyday, but we do not. Because, over time, is simply exhausting. You can not always blame the people not to continuously and consciously do what the rest of the world's people do naturally and effortlessly because they have a State. But we can blame all together to not focus our energies on achieving it. Because not only do, but we regret that, day in and day out, the consequences of not having this status. Do not put a start to achieve it, and also we lose ourselves in the desert wrapped in our own miseries.

And bound to the principle for the construction of this new State not only can not leave out the newcomers for their own moral dignity, but they and their descendants are absolutely essential. Especially for the enormous wealth of pure winning character off those entrepreneurs, who for ambition or need, and unlike others who remain, leave everything behind in their homeland and are able to take roots and integrate to the land of welcome, living there, having descendants and assimilating their way of thinking and acting (exactly what the Catalan identity is), and ultimately succeed in the goal with the initial fear of the unknown. And this is precisely what is needed to achieve independence, do we realize? Character winning decision, assumption of risk in exchange for the option for a better and more dignified future than that of the submissive slave, because the gains are usually proportional to the risk assumed in the bet.

To conclude, once again I will use my own example. My parents came here because they wanted to have a prosperous future, and I also had too, and every opportunity in life. Well, one of the biggest reasons why I work to achieve independence is that I do not like to find myself soon in the same situation as them 30 years ago. They came to stay, and I do not want to have to go to another country for my children if I ever have all chances. The Catalans are still able to make our country prosperous for many decades if we take the independence we have now more than ever at your fingertips and abandon forever this nightmare.

Imagine the extraordinary and overwhelming positive feedback from a moral and collective enthusiasm at the beginning of this enterprise that will become common in our society. Nobody is aware of that involved in this spiral of positive energy, so the result of a referendum will not be more than simply a logical and natural to join this national cohesion and winning character, ie the the recovery of the Catalan spirit.

Therefore, the Catalans, started on the path towards independence, towards a country, adult, responsible and better. It is not only imperative but also an indication, an announcement: we have already begun the journey. And above all, we are starting together all Catalans, old and new.

Juan Manuel Rodriguez
Councillor Catalunya Accio

--------------------------------------------

http://catacciouk.blogspot.com/2009/10/independence-and-immigration.html

--------------------------------------------

Catalunya Acció - UK
CATALONIA THE NEXT STATE IN EUROPE

The ideal of Catalonia (Santiago Espot Executive Chairman of Catalunya Acció)

Monday, 19 October 2009

The ideal of Catalonia

Politics become something amorphous, routine and far from people’s feelings without it. Naturally, those who do not even want to talk about that are always saying “we must resolve the real problems of the people” or “the most important is being good managers”. They do not know nor want to go beyond this and are incapable of conceiving any encouraging idea to go past the clichés that they have minted to justify their intellectual and dialectical poverty. Talking in these terms means to possess the concept that the people behave like pigs, only thinking of eating, sleeping, and sitting down and getting fatter. Are Catalans like this? Are we only worried of paying the mortgage, going away for the weekend and eating good shellfish?

Surely that an important part of those who are in charge of the rudder of the country would like to see us reduced to such poor condition. It would the guarantee to perpetuate in power such alarming mediocrity that, among a lot of people, the idea of having to pass a test is necessary for everybody who wants to have any post with responsibility. We cannot tolerate any longer that “being the son of …”, “brother of …”, “partner of …” or “best friend of …” is the warrant to take possession of a chair. This fact is especially alarming in Catalonia, because we have always been a Nation that have valued the effort and talent of the protagonist, no matter who he or she is. We only need to see the statues at the façade of the Town Hall in Barcelona, James I and Joan Fiveller, put up asymmetrically, equalling Kings and subjects at the time of reckoning successes. This is the way to demonstrate carelessness regarding the person’s origins when the matter is to honour the defenders of the national freedom. Favouritism disgusts us because we put it to the Antipodes of our collective and most appreciated values. If we talk about politician leaders, we especially value perseverance, humanism and resolution to confront injustice. I doubt that what I have just said has anything to see with the fact that even today, we perceive President Macià –in the picture- as model of Catalan politician to imitate. Nevertheless, even for the most interested in reducing politics to a emotionless game, people, always, as said by John F. Kennedy “demand their leaders to act with courage and integrity”.

However, it must be said that these things are not easily applied to day-to-day reality. To begin with, the ideal cannot be bought at the first corner shop we find nor may be provided by any electoral campaign strategist or any expert in political marketing. It is not a simple slogan, a webpage, Facebook or a multicultural festival. A real ideal is forged within the minds of who want it materialized. Furthermore, it takes roots with time and life experiences through challenges derived from its defence; and it is impossible to build among chairs, government commissions or general secretaries. Who politically is born among all this might be able to manage more or less successfully a budget but, do not fool ourselves, will never shake anybody’s soul and will be unable to interpret and shape collective feelings, which are what move the spirit of a nation. Perhaps would be a “technician”, at worst would be a bureaucrat.

Talking about Catalonia, we would see that all that means doing collaborationist politics with Spain is seen lacking of idealism. The main characters justify themselves saying is the only possible, although the truth is that when we see how they work, we cannot stop thinking about the phrase “when foxes cannot reach the grapes, say that they are not ripe”. Then, it is not strange that their defenders are always seen by us like people who want to take profit of something without facing the enemy. Their option is the easiest and the least compromised and then, has the courage to make us believe that have achieved a big victory for Catalonia. But the reality is that we all well know that the only fact that can shake the collective soul of our people is the ideal of freedom, that is nothing else than her independence. This is the ideal of Catalonia.


Santiago Espot
Executive Chairman of Catalunya Acció.

Scotland in process of independence (Alex Salmond)

Scotland in process of independence


Opening the SNP’s 75th Annual conference in Inverness today (Thursday) at the Eden Court Theatre, the Leader of the SNP and First Minister for Scotland, Alex Salmond MSP MP said Scotland was now in an irreversible process of independence.



Commenting Mr Salmond said:

“Fellow delegates, it is five years since conference has been to Eden Court and the Highland Capital.

“I hope you noticed, but there have been one or two advances and changes for the better since then – and I don’t just mean the refurbishment of this magnificent venue!

“Five years ago, I pledged to conference that I was running to be First Minister, and take the Scottish National Party into government for the first time in our history.

“Today, I am proud to be addressing you as First Minister on behalf of a successful and popular SNP administration – delivering for the people of Scotland.

“Scotland is a great nation, and is even better with the policies we have already introduced in our first two years – freezing the Council Tax, recruiting 1,000 more police, saving A&E units, restoring free education, and moving quickly in the downturn to implement an economic recovery plan that is protecting 15,000 jobs.

“We are on a journey to make Scotland the best nation we can be. That is our purpose – and we’ve got what it takes to achieve it.

“And our national journey involves three stages. Step one was the restoration of the Scottish Parliament after three centuries – the nation’s democratic heartbeat – and the SNP played our full part in the Yes-Yes campaign.

“Within a decade of the new Parliament, step two was the election of an SNP administration to provide bold and effective leadership – recognising that Scotland needs a real Government, not a peely-wally ‘Executive’.

“And step three is achieving the full opportunities and responsibilities that come with independence. And that too will be achieved, because we are now in an irreversible process of independence, and closer to it than ever before.

“We have delivered good government in the devolved areas – and no-one can now argue against Scotland’s ability to be equally well governed in ALL areas. And the London parties cannot sustain their position of refusing the right of the people to choose Scotland’s future in a referendum. If these parties will not give the people a vote, the people will not give them their votes.

“Delegates, we have work to do – first, in Glasgow North East, and within a few months at the General Election.

“And our objective is clear. By winning a platform of 20 Scottish National Party MPs, we can transform the terms of politics.

“I want a hung parliament because a Westminster parliament that is hung on Scottish votes will at long last swing in Scotland’s direction.

“Let me give you a clear example. Only yesterday, the Prime Minister wrote to me refusing the reasonable request of the Scottish Government to have ministerial representation at the Copenhagen Summit as part of the UK delegation – despite the world-leading climate change legislation that Scotland has passed.

“The Prime Minister conceded that Jack McConnell attended a sustainable development conference in Johannesburg in 2002 within the UK delegation – but he did give a very full explanation for this total inconsistency. The reason for the difference, Mr Brown said, is that the issue is ‘not the same’. So that’s clear then!

“Delegates, things will not be ‘the same’ if we deliver 20 SNP MPs next year – things will be much, much better, and the SNP will use our clout to Scotland’s maximum advantage. Instead of saying ‘No’ to Scotland’s reasonable requests, Westminster will start saying ‘Yes’.

“That is our goal for the by-election and the General Election. That is Scotland’s opportunity. And the work begins at this conference.

“We’ve got what it takes.”

Alex Salmond,
the Leader of the SNP and First Minister for Scotland

A Public Reply to The Guardian

http://emma-col-cat.blogspot.com/2009/10/public-reply-to-guardian.html

A Public Reply to The Guardian


Dear Sirs,

We have noticed in your article on bullfights in Barcelona (“Bullfighting finds a messiah as ban in Barcelona looms”, Sunday 11 October) an unattributed quote – a misquote in fact – from a letter that we sent as a reply to an earlier piece in the New York Times. This is the full text of that letter, with the relevant parts in highlighted:

“We find Michael Kimmelman’s story about bullfighting in Barcelona (“In a Spanish Region, a Twilight of the Matadors”, September 30, 2009) objectionable on many counts.

For one thing, it is troubling to see a NYT correspondent shamelessly take the side of those who find pleasure in watching the methodical torture and death of a frightened and disoriented animal. Tradition can be no excuse for cruelty. Not so long ago public executions were considered an acceptable form of entertainment in many parts of the world, but all enlightened nations have come to reject such barbaric pastimes. The mere fact that a given practice has been going on for a long time is no reason to condone it. Female genital mutilation is no less ingrained in certain cultures than bullfights are in Spain, but no one expects the NYT to mourn its disappearance.

It is also mistaken to put the widespread hostility to bullfighting in Barcelona down to a desire of Catalan nationalists to mark their distance from all things Spanish. If nationalism is part of the equation, the fault is mainly on the other side. It was the Spanish nationalists who in the mid seventies sought to revive what was by then a dying form of public recreation and turn it into a much-needed symbol of the regime that was being installed. Now the contour of a bull is often seen on the national flags waved by those making a show of their Spanish chauvinism in political rallies or international soccer games.

It doesn’t say much for Spaniards that, in an effort to stress their singularity, they could only find an ethnic totem in a tradition that is considered repulsive by most Europeans. National feelings aside, many Catalans share that assessment and it is to their credit that they should want to put an end to such a shameful custom in their own part of the world.

So we’re afraid that your correspondent has got it all wrong this time. For a more knowledgeable treatment of the whole question from an American point of view, we suggest that interested readers turn to Ms. Jodi Neufeld’s reply of October 3, 2009, to Mr. Kimmelman’s deplorable article.”

The quote was probably picked from a Spanish newspaper and then retranslated into English and put out of context. We would also like to point out that we are not “a group of supporters of the ban”. Col.lectiu Emma is a network of Catalan professionals living in different countries who have made it their job to try and set the record straight on news items published in the international press relating to different aspects of the Catalan economy and society.

ronda de contacte amb forces polítiques, socials i sindicals per tal de construir 'un estat i una estratègia independentista eficaç'

DIMARTS, 13/10/2009 - 19:33h
La policia espanyola deté Arnaldo Otegi
També ha detingut altres independentistes bascos per ordre del jutge Garzón

La policia espanyola ha detingut l'ex-portaveu de Batasuna, Arnaldo Otegi, i, com a mínim, quatre persones més en una operació a Sant Sebastià contra una suposada nova direcció de l'esquerra independentista basca, segons fonts policíaques. Les detencions han tingut lloc per ordre del jutge Baltasar Garzón a la seu del sindicat LAB a Sant Sebastià. Entre els altres detinguts hi ha Rufi Etxebarria, Rafa Díez, Arkaits Rodríguez, Sonia Jacinto.

A hores d'ara, la policia registra el local i també alguns domicilis particulars.

Poc després de les eleccions al País Basc, Otegi va anunciar que l'esquerra independentista basca començaria una ronda de contacte amb forces polítiques, socials i sindicals per tal de construir 'un estat i una estratègia independentista eficaç' i va reclamar un canvi polític i treball comú entre totes les forces.

* Etxaide: "Se responde con represión a la oferta de la izquierda abertzale"

GARA > Azkenak > Euskal Herria

OFENSIVA CONTRA EL INDEPENDENTISMO
La Policía española detiene a una decena de independentistas, entre ellos Otegi, Díez y Etxeberria, en la sede de LAB

Agentes de la Policía española han entrado en la sede de LAB en Donostia y han detenido a Arnaldo Otegi, Rafa Díez, Rufi Etxeberria, Sonia Jacinto y Arkaitz Rodríguez, También han sido arrestados Amaia Esnal, Txelui Moreno, Mañel Serra y Miren Zabaleta. Sobre las 21.20, la Policía ha sacado esposados a los detenidos en la sede de LAB.

* Etxaide: "Se responde con represión a la oferta de la izquierda abertzale"

13/10/2009 19:02:00

DONOSTIA-. La Policía española ha detenido a Arnaldo Otegi, Rafa Díez, Rufi Etxeberria, Sonia Jacinto y Arkaitz Rodríguez en la sede de LAB de Donostia, en el polígono Igara, en el transcurso de una operación ordenada por el juez Baltasar Garzón contra lo que él califica como "la nueva cúpula de Batasuna".

Poco antes, los uniformados han arrestado en Hernani a Mañel Serra cuando se dirigía a la ikastola Langile de la localidad. En el marco de la misma operación también han sido arrestados, aunque se desconoce en qué lugar, Amaia Esnal, Txelui Moreno y Miren Zabaleta.

La décima detención se ha producido en un registro. Según han señalado las agencias citando al Ministerio de Interior, se ha arrestado a Ainara Oiz Elgorriaga en el portal de la vivienda de Miren Zabaleta cuando portaba "documentos y efectos extraídos del domicilio" de de esta detenida.

EiTB ha indicado que hay ocho órdenes de registro en Gipuzkoa. Antes, las agencias habían indicado que se estaban produciendo registros en Nafarroa y otros lugares de Euskal Herria y presagiaban una larga noche.

Según han relatado trabajadores que se encontraban en la sede, agentes de la Policía española han irrumpido en las instalaciones de LAB pasadas las 18.30 horas, ha identificado a los que allí se encontraban y han trasladado a los trabajadores a una habitación, donde les han tenido retenidos hasta las 20.00 horas.

En esas identificaciones primeras Rafa Díez se encontraba hablando con otros sindicalistas y los uniformados han vuelto a por él y le han trasladado a donde mantenían a Otegi, Etxeberria, Rodríguez y Jacinto.

Para cuando se ha iniciado la operación en Igara, ya había periodistas y cámaras de televisión.

"Nueva cúpula de Batasuna"

La agencia Efe, citando fuentes policiales, ha difundido que las detenciones se enmarcan en una operación contra "la reconstituida dirección de la izquierda abertzale". La operación está ordenada por el juez Baltasar Garzón.

Según ha divulgado Europa Press, citando fuentes policiales, los detenidos formarían "parte de lo que sería la nueva cúpula de Batasuna", que "organizada en torno al nombre Bateragune" habría mantenido reuniones en los últimos meses. Hoy estarían reunidos en la sede de LAB, que ha sido registrada.

El abogado Iñigo Iruin ha señalado que sólo conoce la "parte dispositiva" del auto de Garzón en el que "se acuerda la entrada y registro" a la sede del sindicato "al objeto de proceder a la intervención de documentación y efectos" que pudieran estar "manejando los integrantes del denominado 'Bateragune', así como a su detención".

Las inmediciaciones de la sede sindical han estado acordonadas desde el inicio de la irrupción policial.

Aralar: "Es muy grave que se detenga por hacer política"

Aralar ha considerado "muy grave que se detenga y encarcele a personas por hacer política".

En un comunicado ha manifestado que "siempre es reprobable la detención de personas por hacer política" y ha instado a los que están en contra de estas prácticas a que las denuncien. "Creemos que se deben abrir las vías a la política, garantizando la participación política a todas las personas y a todas las ideas", ha agregado.

Ha aseverado que "no se puede aceptar la"persecución y criminalización de las ideas". "Las detenciones de hoy también son una consecuencia de la Ley de Partidos", ha denunciado, por lo que se reafirmado en la idea de que "hay que derogar inmediatamente esa ley".

Pastor: "Indicios probatorios"

El portavoz del PSE en el Parlamento de Gasteiz, José Antonio Pastor, considera que si el juez Garzón ha adoptado la decisión de detener a los independentistas es porque "tiene indicios probatorios que le hacen actuar de esa forma".

"Por lo tanto, nada que comentar, salvo que el Estado de Derecho siga funcionando y la justicia actúe como corresponda", ha manifestado.

Notícia Retrospectiva: 'Adiós para siempre, España'

Santiago Espot desafía a Vidal-Quadras a debatir en 'El Gato al Agua'Santiago Espot desafía a Vidal-Quadras a debatir en 'El Gato al Agua' sobre la independencia de Cataluña


Madrid.- Santiago Espot, presidente de Catalunya Acció y creador del partido independentista Força Catalunya, ha retado al eurodiputado del PP Alejo Vidal-Quadras y al periodista Miguel Ángel Rodríguez a mantener un debate sobre la situación actual y futura de la relación entre España y Cataluña. Espot ha presentado formalmente su ofrecimiento a Antonio Jiménez, presentador del espacio televisivo "El Gato al Agua" de Intereconomía TV, que se emite los lunes a las 22 horas. En él son contertulios habituales tanto Vidal-Quadras como Rodríguez. El presidente de Catalunya Acció ha propuesto que el debate tenga lugar hoy lunes 28 de septiembre.

Horas antes Espot presentará su libro 'Discursos a la Nació' en el Centro Cultural Blanquerna de Madrid. El acto será presentado por Josep M. Vall, editor de Duxelm, quien leerá unas palabras de adhesión de Iñaki Anasagasti, senador del PNV. Posteriormente, Espot dará una conferencia dirigida a la comunidad catalana de Madrid que tendrá como título 'Arenys de Munt marca el camino hacia la independencia de Cataluña'. El acto finalizará con la lectura de un mensaje dirigido "al pueblo español" y titulado 'Adiós para siempre, España'. Tras el turno abierto de preguntas, los convocantes servirán una copa de cava para celebrar el archivo definitivo de la querella que la Fundación DENAES presentó en la Audiencia Nacional contra Espot como impulsor de la pitada que tuvo lugar el pasado 13 de mayo, en el estadio de fútbol de Mestalla, durante el partido que enfrentó al F.C. Barcelona y al Athletic de Bilbao en la final de la Copa del Rey.

Spain forbids the exercise of democracy by the Catalans and allows the renaissance of fascist violent groups

Monday, 14 September 2009
Spain forbids the exercise of democracy by the Catalans and allows the renaissance of fascist violent groups

CATALONIA THE NEXT STATE IN EUROPE

Initially, the Local Council of Arenys de Munt (Catalonia) had decided to celebrate the first plebiscite for the Independence of Catalonia on September 13th. In that session, the political representatives of this city, democratically elected by its citizens, considered that it was an elementary exercise of democracy. This initiative has begun to spread and, at this moment, more than 50 other Local Authorities in Catalonia are interested in celebrating similar plebiscites.

Once the call for this plebiscite was published, all Spanish alarms sprung out and important politicians -from PSOE and PP, including Spanish vice-president, Mrs Maria Fernandez de la Vega, argued that this plebiscite was not to be celebrated because Spanish law does not allow to do so.

At the same time, Falange Espanola, violent group supporting Fascism that, must be remembered, was the only political party allowed during the Francoist dictatorship (1939-75), pretended to demonstrate on the very same September 13th in Arenys de Munt, coinciding with the plebiscite. At first, the Catalan Home Council rejected the application but Falange Espanola appealed to the Spanish justice.

Equally, the Spanish government, by hand of the State Lawyer, started legal proceedings against the call for this plebiscite. Not long after, it was known that the lawyer for the State, Mr Jorge Buxade Villalba, had been candidate for Falange Espanola in the period 1995-96.

These two proceedings had resulted in the cancellation of the agreement by the Council of Arenys de Munt by the Judge Emilia Gimenez Yuste, thus impeding the consult. On the same September 9th, Judge Pilar Rovira del Canto authorized the protest by Falange Espanola, revoking the decision by the Home Councillor of Catalonia.

"Spanish democracy", on one hand, forbids the democratic right of plebiscites and on the other authorizes the demonstration of fascist and violent groups that bear sad memories for the Catalans. Catalans only know too well what dictatorship and fascism mean. The World judged Nazi Germany's crimes. Germany has asked for forgiveness a thousand times, Germans feel ashamed of this stage of their History and Nazi groups are illegal. But the World has not judged Francoist regime, nor has any Spanish government ever apologised. Spain is full of politicians and public officers that belonged to that regime and do not feel guilt from having belonged to it. Furthermore, political parties like Falange are legal in Spain.

For these reasons, we call all Western institutional and non-government institutions, dedicated to analyze the quality of democracy worldwide, to have acknowledged the democratic involution that is happening in Spain and the consequences at European and International level that from it will derivate.

Catalans are a profoundly democratic people, as our own History reflects continuously and we consider that no Spanish law may be above democracy, people expressing their will by voting in peace. Catalans want independence and work with our utmost determination to recover it, always by democratic ways. And nobody will ever stop us from being the next State in Europe.

But despite all Spanish prohibitions and threats detailed above, the citizens from Arenys de Munt were able to vote on September 13th, being the turnout superior to previous "official" elections -European Constitution referendum and European elections, with 41% of inhabitants of Arenys de Munt older than 16 inscribed in the Town Council, participating in this election. The percentage of favourable votes for Independence was 96% (2569 votes against 102). The number of favourable votes for Independence in this town is superior to the number of votes in favour of the increase of the autonomy in the elections celebrated in 2006 (2424 votes in that occasion).

Albert Ubach (Figueres, Catalonia)

The Local Council of Arenys de Munt (Catalonia) had decided to celebrate the first plebiscite for the Independence of Catalonia on September 13th.

Fotographie: Catalonia, Brussel, 2009



Monday, 14 September 2009
Spain forbids the exercise of democracy by the Catalans and allows the renaissance of fascist violent groups

CATALONIA THE NEXT STATE IN EUROPE

Initially, the Local Council of Arenys de Munt (Catalonia) had decided to celebrate the first plebiscite for the Independence of Catalonia on September 13th. In that session, the political representatives of this city, democratically elected by its citizens, considered that it was an elementary exercise of democracy. This initiative has begun to spread and, at this moment, more than 50 other Local Authorities in Catalonia are interested in celebrating similar plebiscites.

Once the call for this plebiscite was published, all Spanish alarms sprung out and important politicians -from PSOE and PP, including Spanish vice-president, Mrs Maria Fernandez de la Vega, argued that this plebiscite was not to be celebrated because Spanish law does not allow to do so.

At the same time, Falange Espanola, violent group supporting Fascism that, must be remembered, was the only political party allowed during the Francoist dictatorship (1939-75), pretended to demonstrate on the very same September 13th in Arenys de Munt, coinciding with the plebiscite. At first, the Catalan Home Council rejected the application but Falange Espanola appealed to the Spanish justice.

Equally, the Spanish government, by hand of the State Lawyer, started legal proceedings against the call for this plebiscite. Not long after, it was known that the lawyer for the State, Mr Jorge Buxade Villalba, had been candidate for Falange Espanola in the period 1995-96.

These two proceedings had resulted in the cancellation of the agreement by the Council of Arenys de Munt by the Judge Emilia Gimenez Yuste, thus impeding the consult. On the same September 9th, Judge Pilar Rovira del Canto authorized the protest by Falange Espanola, revoking the decision by the Home Councillor of Catalonia.

"Spanish democracy", on one hand, forbids the democratic right of plebiscites and on the other authorizes the demonstration of fascist and violent groups that bear sad memories for the Catalans. Catalans only know too well what dictatorship and fascism mean. The World judged Nazi Germany's crimes. Germany has asked for forgiveness a thousand times, Germans feel ashamed of this stage of their History and Nazi groups are illegal. But the World has not judged Francoist regime, nor has any Spanish government ever apologised. Spain is full of politicians and public officers that belonged to that regime and do not feel guilt from having belonged to it. Furthermore, political parties like Falange are legal in Spain.

For these reasons, we call all Western institutional and non-government institutions, dedicated to analyze the quality of democracy worldwide, to have acknowledged the democratic involution that is happening in Spain and the consequences at European and International level that from it will derivate.

Catalans are a profoundly democratic people, as our own History reflects continuously and we consider that no Spanish law may be above democracy, people expressing their will by voting in peace. Catalans want independence and work with our utmost determination to recover it, always by democratic ways. And nobody will ever stop us from being the next State in Europe.

But despite all Spanish prohibitions and threats detailed above, the citizens from Arenys de Munt were able to vote on September 13th, being the turnout superior to previous "official" elections -European Constitution referendum and European elections, with 41% of inhabitants of Arenys de Munt older than 16 inscribed in the Town Council, participating in this election. The percentage of favourable votes for Independence was 96% (2569 votes against 102). The number of favourable votes for Independence in this town is superior to the number of votes in favour of the increase of the autonomy in the elections celebrated in 2006 (2424 votes in that occasion).

Catalunya Acció, UK

Building victory IV ( Albert Ubach, Catalunya Acció)

(Foto. Brussel, 2009)


Sunday, 20 September 2009
Building victory IV

Politics of indigence

During the last years, Catalans have attended to a real and intensive Masters Degree in Political indigence. Since the first “Tripartit” (the coalition of Socialist, Comunists and Republicans in the autonomous Catalan government) proposed to renovate that Spanish Organic Law –otherwise called “Estatut”-, that Catalans have been able to evidence, ashamed, the way the Catalan Parliamentarians have starred an endless vaudeville not outclassed by The Ed Sullivan Show. Because, being frank, in a context of economical and national crisis like the actual, the border between the ridicule and the upsetting to which we have attended the “Estatut” number becomes an insult to Catalans.

It has been since thirty years ago that this country was used to sell successes that have been no more than failures and simple smoke curtains to Catalans. It was the consequence to putting in front of the country some ordinary managers of the political indigence that we have inherited today. But reality is tough and always claims its place. There is time when a lot of Catalans realise that is not true that the linguistic policy was a success, nor that we had the best infrastructures of Spain and France, or that even without State, we could use our Catalan in Europe or having National teams like elsewhere in the World. After thirty years, the mirage of linguistic policies and economic politics, social and cultural policies has vanished as the smoke of a wood shaving fire to which Catalans have attended as spectators.

Is it time, then, to stop being spectators and become actors, makers of our future? We now have the historical opportunity to reverse this situation.

Directive regeneration to independence

They say: renovate or die. When the country wants to push towards a direction but their leaders go towards the other, nobody doubt about it; we either change the leaders or we crash with them.

Here we have one of the fundamental conditions that originated the creation of Catalunya Acció. Once the diagnose of the country was made, some action had to be carried out. The first step, of course, started by the beginning of a much needed political regeneration.

But no real political regeneration may happen without a real regeneration of thought, attitude, style but principally innovation. No. There had to be new fire, new ways, new strategies and contributing with new discourse, touching, able to shake the country's morale. To recover the energy, strength, nerve in the discourse to shake the tamed Catalanism that we had in front of our Nation for the last thirty years.

To substitute this obsolete political class, what sort of leadership has to mark the way to independence? How the speeches to the Nation have to be to start a real break with everything established to date? And, especially, how can we assure that we shall not repeat the ways that have showed flaws? Certainly, political regeneration of a country is such a large range project that requires of a strategy that is not built in a few days, or even improvising.

Because, at the end, what future do we want? To create a new Convergencia or a new Esquerra that were really pro-independence, risking the repetition of organization and strategy models that have failed? No. We must go beyond that; regenerating politics coordinating these two fundamental pillars of the country that claim a change of course and an urgent new national focus. This is the change of mind that we have spoken about at Catalunya Accio, and this is, without a doubt, what will guarantee the authentic winning horse to the next elections in 2010. A Company of Companies with the standard of coordination: the Company of Almogavers of the 21st Century.

Time is not for Catalonia. The responsibility of the actual moment demands the maximal implication of Catalans to initiate the course to the authentic political transition that we provide the country with. The count down has begun. Let’s be worthy of not deceiving the country and return Catalonia the opportunity to build a collective victory that we have at our hand’s reach: Independence.


Albert Ubach

--------------------------------

http://independentistesestranger.blogspot.com/2009/09/building-victory-iv.html

El vecindario de Arenys de Munt, alcalde incluido y la mayoría de las entidades, no discriminaron entre nativos e inmigrantes.

La primera fotografía corresponde a la Manifestación del 18 de febrero del año 2006 en Barcelona y la segunda fotografía corresponde a la última manifestación por la Independència de Catalunya del pasado 11 de septiembre de 2009.

Diego Arcos:
"Independencia e inmigración, el voto del inmigrante"

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"Es un excelente negocio. Los inmigrantes que estén empadronados en Catalunya, si se llega a concretar la Independencia serán Ciudadanos. Esto en lugar de ser súbditos"

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Diego Arcos ha publicado en el Boletín del Casal Argentino (www.casalargentino.org) este artículo que reproduzco a continuación:

"Independencia e inmigración, el voto del inmigrante"

Los inmigrantes que hemos decidido vivir en el Reino de España "aterrizamos" en una realidad concreta, que esta totalmente determinada por un conflicto histórico entre el Reino de España y las naciones sometidas por la monarquía borbónica: Galícia, Euzkadi y los Países Catalanes (Catalunya, València y las Islas Baleares). Es lo mismo que les sucede a los inmigrantes que han llegado a Escocia o Irlanda.

Este conflicto está allí y no podrán desconocer la realidad que les esperaba al llegar, instalada desde hace siglos. Ante estos conflictos históricos, en algún momento, la población deberá definirse. Como lo hizó el 41 por ciento de los vecinos de Arenys de Munt el 13 de septiembre. Y entre la población estamos nosotros, los inmigrantes, que en Catalunya representamos más del veinte por ciento.

En la consulta del domingo 13 de septiembre, que ya es una fecha para la história de Catalunya y del Reino de España, todos los vecinos del pueblo estaban habilitados para votar. Todos. Incluyendo a los extranjeros, con o sin permiso de residencia.

Los requisitos para votar consistían en tener un documento válido para identificarse: DNI o pasaporte y estar censado en el municipio.

Esta es la realidad. El vecindario de Arenys de Munt, alcalde incluido y la mayoría de las entidades, no discriminaron entre nativos e inmigrantes. Sencillamente, la consulta estaba destinada a todas las personas mayores de 16 años que estuvieran inscritas en el padrón municipal.

En Arenys de Munt se consideró a los vecinos, sencillamente: ciudadanos todos iguales. Mientras el Estado español nos maltrata, nor margina, nos rechaza en sus fronteras con modos carcelarios y racistas, mientras España continua su política de racismo jurídico e institucional, la sociedad catalana, organizada para reivindicar un derecho tan humano y elemental como es el derecho a expresar su opinión mediante una consulta, nos trata como iguales, nos reconoce nuestros derechos y nos invitan a participar de esta consulta.

Alguien podrá decir que el Estado español es un estado de derecho. Y no es así. Es un estado constitucional, dispone de una constitución. Pero este Reino de España es el único estado del mundo que dispone de una ley de Extranjería. Es decir una norma legal que garantiza con la fuerza de la ley la desigualdad entre las personas. Una ley española que mantiene al inmigrante como a alguien de afuera, como extranjero. Los países serios y mas o menos democráticos disponen de leyes de Inmigración. Es decir leyes que regulan como se entra y como se convierte un extranjero en un ciudadano.

Así las cosas, el Estado español nos lo esta poniendo muy claro.

Si tenemos que elegir entre una Republica catalana, que es todavía una realidad lejana y llena de incertidumbres, con algunos riesgos considerables o el Reino de España, visto el trato recibido como inmigrantes, aun hablando en castellano y sin comprender demasiado el tema histórico de Catalunya, para cualquier inmigrante estará claro.

Lo que ofrece el Estado español ya lo conocemos: desigualdad, maltrato y racismo.
Lo que nos ofrece Catalunya: Igualdad y respeto.

Es un excelente negocio. Los inmigrantes que estén empadronados en Catalunya, si se llega a concretar la Independencia serán Ciudadanos. Esto en lugar de ser súbditos del Rey de España.

Es una oferta imposible de rechazar. Pero hay más aún. Cuando a un inmigrante le pregunten: tú que prefieres, España o Catalunya. Una sola imagen aparecerá en su cabeza: la ley de extranjería española y el trato que nos dispensan.

¿Clarito no?

Visca (viva) Catalunya Lliure (libre)

Diego Arcos

La España racista, xenófoba y excluyente

Escrito por Pedro Morón de la Fuente de Catalonia Acord.

España además de ser imperialista, excluyente y falsa (ya que no existe como nación) es también xenófoba y racista. Sálvese quien pueda de de estas fuertes calificaciones, pues siempre queda el pueblo sencillo y llano ajeno a las políticas impositivas de la oligarquía centralista madrileña, que ni sabe ni entiende...

El racismo exacerbado contra Catalunya es promovido sigilosamente por los gobiernos centrales de turno desde hace siglos. Un sigilo que se plasma en titulares de diarios, radios y televisiones que siguen en la caverna y hacen el juego a los que tiran la piedra y esconden la mano. Al juego racista contra Catalunya también se apuntan habitualmente los representantes de la ley, llámense CGPJ, TS, TSJC, TC, policía Nacional o Guardia Civil. Casos concretos atribuibles a cada uno de ellos surgen cada día, y no me hagan hacer la lista porque acapararía todo el artículo.

El fin prioritario de los españoles promotores del racismo, la descalificación y el regodeo humillante al pueblo catalán es hacer olvidar, minimizar y diluir la principal: que nos roban la cartera a diario en formato de impuestos que nunca vuelven a donde se han pagado, y posteriormente se reparten equitativamente a “otras comunidades más pobres en formato de solidaridad interregional.”

A los catalanes nos escatiman el artículo 20 de la Constitución Española, ese que habla de la libertad de expresión. Miran con lupa cuando nos reunimos y cuando nos manifestamos, y tardarán poco en aplicarnos cualquier ley que se inventen para ilegalizar nuestros partidos políticos independentistas que no le sigan el juego del ‘yugo y las flechas’ como ha ocurrido en el País Vasco. La situación es como muy grave, habida cuenta de que en Catalunya nadie utiliza la violencia para proclamar su forma de pensar. En Catalunya se exponen ideas y se utilizan argumentos, no armas. Pero algunos habitantes de la meseta castellana, y otras regiones afines, no soportan que el pueblo catalán manifieste sus ideas aún dentro de la legalidad vigente.

Bien mirado es ‘normal’ puesto que nunca hemos dejado de ser una colonia de España, cuya materia prima a espoliar no es el cobre ni el petróleo, es el dinero que todos ganamos con el sudor de nuestra frente y que, año tras año, se convierte en infraestructuras y equipamientos del Ebro para abajo.

El gobierno centralista español no duda en dar el visto bueno a una manifestación fascista, con el beneplácito del TSJC, de la Falange Española, heredera de aquellos que llegaban a las casas de noche, cargaban el camión y fusilaban a nuestros antepasados en las tapias del cementerio y otros lugares lúgubres, algo ya inaudito en los países civilizados de la Europa de los 15.

El gobierno centralista español no duda en poner todos los palos posibles en las ruedas de aquellos que, dentro de la legalidad, manifiestan su nacionalidad catalana o sus ideas independentistas, como si fuese un crimen de lesa majestad, y valga la retrógrada expresión. Algo así como intentar prohibir el libre pensamiento, el libre albedrío de los ciudadanos. Declararse independentista o nacionalista en el Estado Español es como declararse demonio peludo, rojo, masón, con cuernos y rabo, como en los mejores tiempos del franquismo.

Una de las principales condiciones para que un país sea democrático es la libertad de expresión, reunión y asociación. Parece ser que en Catalunya aún no ha llegado la democracia. Cada vez que se pone en marcha una iniciativa que no sea connivente con la Unidad de España en lo Universal, mande en Madrid quien mande (PSOE o PP), todos los poderes fácticos sacan a la palestra el sagrado e intocable libro de la Constitución Española para aplastar el movimiento. Les va en ello, más que la Unidad de España, la unificación de los presupuestos generales del Estado.

¡Viva Catalunya Libre!

Diada del Onze de Setembre de 2009

Pedro Morón de la Fuente

Escritor y periodista

Presidente de l’Associació Catalònia Acord