A PRO-independence website on which more than 1,000 academics have signalled their support for the October 1 referendum in Catalonia has been shut down following a series of cyberattacks.
Signatories including university professors, researchers, managers and technicians – mostly working in Catalonia but also in establishments around the world – had backed a manifesto calling for a Yes vote in the poll.
However, error message displayed on the site said that new endorsements had been temporarily suspended because of a “massive attack of false registrations”.
The signatories include the economist and former Catalan minister Andreu Mas-Colell, Princeton University professor Carles Boix and the Dean of the University of Barcelona Faculty of Economics, Elisenda Paluzie.
“We want Catalonia to be among the most scientifically and technologically advanced nations, which contribute with their efforts to make the world – the entire world – a better place to live in,” reads the manifesto.
“In order to build a better future for ourselves and our children, we ask our fellow citizens to vote ‘yes’, and ignore the threats from those whose sole argument is the irrational use of force.”
It came as another manifesto – signed by almost 1,000 Spanish intellectuals, artists and other professionals – protested at what they called the “anti-democratic conditions” of the independence poll.
The document, printed in the Spanish newspaper El Pais, called for a boycott of the vote, branding it “anti-democratic fraud”.
Their manifesto gives five reasons for their opposition to the referendum.
They cite a lack of transparency, the lack of a minimum participation threshold and the alleged sidelining of the opposition parties, along with the speed with which the referendum and transition laws were approved in the Catalan Parliament and the “unilateral actions and lack of agreement with the Spanish Government”.
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