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Community => Politics and Government => Topic started by: Lana Reverse on October 01, 2017, 02:58:07 pm

Title: Violent Clashes during Catalan Referendum
Post by: Lana Reverse on October 01, 2017, 02:58:07 pm
https://www.nytimes.com/2017/10/01/world/europe/catalonia-independence-referendum.html?mcubz=3 (https://www.nytimes.com/2017/10/01/world/europe/catalonia-independence-referendum.html?mcubz=3)

Quote
BARCELONA, Spain — Catalonia’s defiant attempt to stage an independence referendum descended into chaos on Sunday, with hundreds injured in clashes with police in one of the most serious tests of Spain’s democracy since the end of the Franco dictatorship in the 1970s.

National police officers in riot gear deployed in thick phalanxes as they fanned out across Catalonia, the restive northeastern region of Spain, to shut down polling stations and seize ballot boxes.

Over the course of the day, the referendum took on an almost surreal cast. The voting went ahead in many towns and cities, with men and women, young and old, singing and chanting as they lined up for hours to cast ballots, even as confrontations with the police turned violent elsewhere.

The police, sent by the central government in Madrid from other parts of Spain, used rubber bullets and truncheons in some places. The clashes quickly spoiled what had been a festive, if expectant, atmosphere among voters, many of whom had camped inside polling stations to ensure that they would remain open.

¡Ay, caramba!
Title: Re: Violent Clashes during Catalan Referendum
Post by: ironbite on October 01, 2017, 03:25:26 pm
Yeah if anyone wants to see fascism in action, look no further then Spain.

Ironbite-this will not end well.
Title: Re: Violent Clashes during Catalan Referendum
Post by: Art Vandelay on October 01, 2017, 08:10:43 pm
Spain really really really does not want to lose their most (I think) productive and profitable region. Especially now when their economy is in the shit heap.
Title: Re: Violent Clashes during Catalan Referendum
Post by: Tolpuddle Martyr on October 01, 2017, 10:14:48 pm
Catalonia is essentially Spain's Northern Ireland.
Title: Re: Violent Clashes during Catalan Referendum
Post by: dpareja on October 01, 2017, 11:59:03 pm
Catalonia is essentially Spain's Northern Ireland.

Except without a body of water separating them and without a country right next door that they'd probably join should they gain independence.

But anyway, WTF Spain? The courts said that the referendum had no legal status, so where's the fucking harm in letting them vote? Seriously, this looks way worse than letting them vote and then ignoring the result--especially if, as a lot of people expected, the vote was boycotted by those opposed to Catalan independence.
Title: Re: Violent Clashes during Catalan Referendum
Post by: Tolpuddle Martyr on October 02, 2017, 12:20:01 am
Warning, scenes may cause distress and/or a desire to throw Spanish police into the sun.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GI49YSCruwY
Title: Re: Violent Clashes during Catalan Referendum
Post by: RavynousHunter on October 02, 2017, 12:21:49 am
And, no doubt, some folks are sitting here, dumbfounded as to why Spain is going down the shitter faster than a case of Taco Bell-induced brown thunder.
Title: Re: Violent Clashes during Catalan Referendum
Post by: Tolpuddle Martyr on October 02, 2017, 05:59:33 am
Quote
The Spanish prime minister, Mariano Rajoy, speaking on Sunday night, said the government had done what it had had to do and thanked the police for acting with “firmness and serenity”. (https://www.theguardian.com/world/2017/oct/01/dozens-injured-as-riot-police-storm-catalan-ref-polling-stations)
Title: Re: Violent Clashes during Catalan Referendum
Post by: Lana Reverse on October 02, 2017, 09:37:26 am
Catalonia is essentially Spain's Northern Ireland.

I thought that was Basque Country.
Title: Re: Violent Clashes during Catalan Referendum
Post by: Askold on October 02, 2017, 02:01:38 pm
Violent voting suppression was just idiotic.

They had already decreed that the vote was illegal and that the locals had no legal right to announce independence even if they win the vote. Which means that as far as Spain sees this matter they had no need to stop the non-binding vote. All it did was create sympathy for the Catalans (and violate laws I think?)
Title: Re: Violent Clashes during Catalan Referendum
Post by: dpareja on October 02, 2017, 03:28:52 pm
Violent voting suppression was just idiotic.

They had already decreed that the vote was illegal and that the locals had no legal right to announce independence even if they win the vote. Which means that as far as Spain sees this matter they had no need to stop the non-binding vote. All it did was create sympathy for the Catalans (and violate laws I think?)

I don't think it violates Spain's laws. It might violate EU laws.
Title: Re: Violent Clashes during Catalan Referendum
Post by: Askold on October 02, 2017, 03:42:15 pm
Beating up people who aren't a threat? Police brutality pretty damn well should be against the laws in Spain.
Title: Re: Violent Clashes during Catalan Referendum
Post by: Tolpuddle Martyr on October 02, 2017, 04:20:25 pm
Catalonia is essentially Spain's Northern Ireland.

I thought that was Basque Country.
Point, and it might be a rather pointed warning to them not to try the same.
Title: Re: Violent Clashes during Catalan Referendum
Post by: Sigmaleph on October 02, 2017, 09:28:54 pm
Violent voting suppression was just idiotic.

They had already decreed that the vote was illegal and that the locals had no legal right to announce independence even if they win the vote. Which means that as far as Spain sees this matter they had no need to stop the non-binding vote. All it did was create sympathy for the Catalans (and violate laws I think?)

Also made sure that the people who showed up to vote were disproportionately those that felt strongly about independence, making the result 90% in favour of Yes, while opinion polls were much more balanced.

Um. Good job, Spanish government. You sure accomplished all your goals.
Title: Re: Violent Clashes during Catalan Referendum
Post by: dpareja on October 03, 2017, 09:05:17 pm
https://www.theguardian.com/world/video/2017/oct/01/catalan-referendum-hundreds-injured-as-police-attack-protesters-video

https://www.theguardian.com/world/video/2017/oct/01/riot-police-attack-protesters-as-violence-breaks-out-in-barcelona-video

https://www.theguardian.com/world/video/2017/sep/20/pro-independence-protesters-rally-after-catalan-officials-arrested-video-report

Some video of what went on in Catalonia.