Madrid’s Violent Tactics See Catalan Independence Voters Switch Sides
The “dreadful” and “unjustified” violence meted out by heavily-armed troops on unarmed and peacefully assembled voters in Catalonia is causing locals to switch sides.
A Catalonian government spokesman stated that over 840 people were injured, many seriously, as police loyal to Madrid used seemingly random and indiscriminate violence against peaceful independence referendum voters on Sunday.
Spanish government security forces fired rubber bullets directly at peacefully assembled voters in Barcelona, and attacked the elderly and many people seated on the ground throughout Catalonia.
Read more at https://sputniknews.com/europe/201710011057855327-madrid-violence-causes-voter-switch/
Pro-independence groups, unions call for general strike Oct. 3 in Catalonia
BARCELONA (Reuters) – Catalonia’s regional leader opened the door to a unilateral declaration of independence from Spain on Sunday after voters defied a violent police crackdown and, according to regional officials, voted 90 percent in favor of breaking away.
Despite Spanish police using batons and rubber bullets to disrupt the banned referendum, which was declared unconstitutional by Madrid, the Catalan government said 2.26 million people had cast ballots, a turnout of about 42 percent.
Read more at http://www.reuters.com/article/us-spain-politics-catalonia/catalan-leader-opens-door-to-secession-from-spain-after-vote-idUSKCN1C60YA?il=0
Spanish PM defends police action in Catalonia: “We did what we had to do”
Mariano Rajoy says rule of law has prevailed; 761 reported injured in clashes. El País English Edition provided live coverage of events
Spanish Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy addressed the nation at 8.15pm on Sunday following a day of street clashes between riot police and Catalans trying to vote in an unconstitutional independence referendum that had been banned by the courts.
With Spain and much of the world in shock at images that were unprecedented in recent Spanish history, Rajoy said that the rule of law has prevailed following an attack by Catalan secessionists against the country’s democratic foundations: “We did what we had to do.”
Read more at https://elpais.com/elpais/2017/09/29/inenglish/1506680598_177837.html
