Saturday, September 14, 2013

Catalan Way

From Wikipedia:
"Catalan Way"
 
The Catalan Way (Catalan: Via Catalana), also known as The Catalan Way towards Independence (Catalan: Via Catalana cap a la Independència), was a 400-kilometre (250 mi) human chain in support of Catalan independence. It was organized by the Assemblea Nacional Catalana (ANC), and took place in Catalonia on 11 September 2013, which is the National Day of Catalonia. Catalonia's Department of the Interior estimated the number of participants at about 1.6 million.The protest was supported by 14 nongovernmental groups. The human chain followed the ancient Via Augusta, from El Pertús (Vallespir) up to Alcanar (Montsià). According to Carme Forcadell, president of the ANC, it was "a symbol of the unity of Catalan people to achieve national sovereignty". Plans for the Catalan Way were presented for the first time on 19 June 2013, at the Museu d'Història de Catalunya; the inspiration for these was the 1989 Baltic Way. On 23 August 1989, the Baltic Way was organized by the people of Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania. This human chain linked the capitals of the three countries in favour of their independence from the Soviet Union. The three republics became independent in August 1991, after the Moscow coup d'état attempt on 21 August 1991. According to the Baltic Way's manifesto, "A common European home can only be set up if all European nations are granted a free right to self-determination". The presentation included Henn Karits and Ülo Laanoja, two members of the organization which staged the Baltic Way. Three weeks before the event, more than 350,000 people had registered to participate. In total, the organizers mobilized about 1,500 buses and 30,000 volunteers to help organize the event.  The Catalan movement for self-determination defines itself as a peaceful, broad, social movement which does not depend on political parties. Two huge protest marches took place in Barcelona. The first one, in 2010, was attended by around 1 million people; the second, in 2012, by around 1.5 million, making it one of the largest to ever take place in Europe. There have also been many civil society campaigns: despite legal restrictions, 890,000 citizens participated in unofficial referendums held in towns throughout Catalonia. Local town halls have passed resolutions in favour of independence: currently 671 have done so (70.9% of the total). Together, these protests have changed the political landscape in Catalonia. Following the Catalan elections in November 2012, the Spanish media made much of the fact that the ruling party lost votes and seats. But the key issue was whether a referendum on independence should be held. And with a record level of participation of 70%, parties supporting a referendum (irrespective of whether they would vote for independence or for federal reform) won 74% of the vote. Parties against it won 20%. In March 2013, a resolution calling on the Catalan Government to negotiate with the Spanish Government in order to hold a referendum was supported by 77% of the MPs in the Catalan Parliament. As for support for independence itself, the polls have shown consistent results since summer 2012. For example, a survey by the Catalan Agency for Public Opinion (Centre d'Estudis d'Opinió), published in June 2013, found 55.6% of respondents would vote "yes" if a referendum was held tomorrow; 23.4% would vote "no"; 15.3% would not vote; and the rest were undecided.
 
In Catalonia:
The human chain followed the old Via Augusta, crossing the following 86 towns and municipalities (sorted from North to South): El Pertús, la Jonquera, Pont de Molins, Figueres, Santa Llogaia d'Àlguema, Bàscara, Orriols, Sarrià de Ter, Sant Julià de Ramis, Girona, Fornells de la Selva, Riudellots de la Selva, Tordera, Pineda de Mar, Calella, Sant Pol de Mar, Canet de Mar, Arenys de Mar, Caldes d'Estrac, Sant Andreu de Llavaneres, Mataró, Vilassar de Mar, Premià de Mar, El Masnou, Montgat, Badalona, Sant Adrià de Besòs, Barcelona, l'Hospitalet de Llobregat, Esplugues de Llobregat, Sant Just Desvern, Sant Feliu de Llobregat, Molins de Rei, Sant Vicenç dels Horts, Cervelló, Vallirana, Ordal, Cantallops, Sant Cugat Sesgarrigues, Olèrdola, Vilafranca del Penedès, Santa Margarida i els Monjos, la Ràpita, l'Arboç, Castellet i la Gornal, Bellvei, el Vendrell, Roda de Berà, Creixell, Clarà, Torredembarra, Altafulla, Tarragona, Reus, Riudoms, Montbrió del Camp, Mont-roig del Camp, l'Hospitalet de l'Infant, l'Ametlla de Mar, El Perelló, l'Ampolla, Camarles, l'Aldea, Amposta, Sant Carles de la Ràpita and Alcanar.  In Barcelona, the path ran along several main streets, such as avinguda Diagonal, plaça de Sant Jaume and Eixample.
Branches out of Catalonia:
Two extensions of the Catalan Way, one up to el Voló, France, and the other one down to Vinaròs, Comunitat Valenciana, were made. The Northern Catalonia ANC territorial assembly was responsible to extend the Catalan Way from Pertús to el Voló, and several civic and political Valencian organizations, coordinated by Acció Cultural del País Valencià, prepared an extension from Vinaròs.
International Catalan Way:
The Foreign Assemblies of the ANC organized more than 116 Catalan Ways carried out mainly between 1 August and 11 September 2013 in major cities around the world "to support the democratic independence process of Catalonia". More than 8,000 Catalans and supporters of Catalonia's independence participated in the International Catalan Way.
 
 
Reactions against:
Initially, 12-O Moviment Cívic called for a demonstration in the Sagrada Família square to circle around this monument, show their support for the "unity of Spain" and "break the pro-independence chain". However, the Ministry of the Interior of the Government of Catalonia ruled that this demonstration could not be at the same time of the human chain, both in time and in place, for security reasons.  This, together with the limited support of the unionist political parties, led the organizers to call off the event and invited unionist catholics to go to the Temple to pray and postponed an answer to the Catalan Way on 12 October, the Fiesta Nacional de España.
Fifteen far-right people with with pre-constitutional, Falange, National Alliance flags assaulted the official ceremony of the Catalan National Day in the Catalan Government Centre in Madrid. They attacked those present, including the MP Josep Sánchez i Llibre, caused damage to furniture and threw pepper spray, shouting "We deceived us, Catalonia is Spain".  Medical services looked after to a person with mental breakdown, another for bruise, and the other for eye irritation.
Political consequences:
The Catalan National Assembly claimed that the day after the Catalan Way the Catalan government should set the date and the question of self-determination referendum in Catalonia, that "should be able to answer with a yes or no".  The Minister of the Presidency and spokesman of the Government of Catalonia Francesc Homs said the day after the Catalan way that "before the end of the year there should be a date and a question". The Deputy Prime Minister of Spain, Soraya Sáenz de Santamaría, said the day after that the executive had an obligation "to listen to all Spaniards", both "the people coming out" and the "silent majority" that "stay at home", who also "entitled" to ensure "for their freedoms and their views". For its part, the Spain's Minister of Foreign Affairs José Manuel García-Margallo, admitted that the Catalan Way was a "success of call, organization, logistics and communication", although he said that Spain would never accept a referendum agreed with Catalonia. European Commission spokesmen showed "great respect" for the Catalan Way and said they were "aware of its importance", although they recalled that the EU executive "can not interfere" in the internal affairs of member states.  Latvia's PM Valdis Dombrovskis said it would recognize Catalonia as independent state if declared in a legitimate process. Mr. Dombrovskis said: "If there is a clear will of the people and need for a referendum, we need to take that into account and seek means to make it real" [...] "Provided there is legitimacy of the process, I would say, theoretically, why not?".  Spanish government reacted asking to call the Latvian ambassador in Madrid to explain the prime minister's statements.
 
   ^ I do not see any reason why places like: Catalonia, Quebec, Scotland, etc) shouldn't be allowed to be independent if the people there vote for it. I do understand that in the case of Catalonia it is a rich area of Spain that sends most of its money to Madrid who in return sends it to poorer Spanish provinces. The same thing is done with Quebec - they send their money to Ottawa who sends it to poorer provinces. If these places think they can sustain themselves on their own then they should be allowed to. I have the feeling that many places would run back to their former status quickly. With regards to the Catalan Way I see it is an important event (more important than when the Baltic Way was held in the USSR since the Soviet officials could and did censor the demonstration.) I have many relatives in Catalonia and know that several participated in the Catalan Way. They want to become an independent country which they see as a way to make sure the anti-Catalan laws under Franco and the Spanish Government's poor handling of its economy and budgets will never affect them again. I am curious to see if Catalonia will hold an independence vote and if the people there vote with a majority to leave Spain if the Spanish Government and Monarchy will allow it. ^

     

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Catalan_Way
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