Wednesday, December 16, 2009

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

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.
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.

Friday, December 04, 2009

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


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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

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