SIX international observers at the trial of Catalan pro-independence leaders have criticised the court for allowing some of the defendants’ rights to be ignored.
In their report into the first week of the trial, which resumes today, they said members of the extreme-right Vox party were in charge of organising the crowds attempting to get into the Spanish Supreme Court in Madrid.
READ MORE: Jordi Cuixart: Catalan trials will judge Spanish democracy
On the second day following a number of complaints, the police took over that task, but the observers said that strengthened their earlier call for space to be set aside for them.
The group said the charges faced by the politicians and activists did not take into account that their actions could be protected by fundamental rights – such as freedom of expression, association and assembly – in which case the defendants would have committed no crime. Prosecutors also minimised the severity of injuries sustained by would-be voters as a result of police violence during the October 2017 referendum and said the group introduced new “facts” as they questioned the accused at the start of the trial.
The observers pointed out that the court’s refusal to suspend the trial to allow defence lawyers access to all available documentation, could be detrimental to the accused, although they would continue watching to see if it affected the defence case.
SNP MP Douglas Chapman, who was an international observer at the referendum, said the “show trial” should be dissolved.
“Whether Catalonia becomes independent is a matter for Catalonians to resolve, but they should have the right to decide for themselves and not have their democratically elected politicians put into jail or convicted by a court where they have done nothing wrong other than represent the views and demands of their constituents,” he said.
“The show trial must be dissolved, and the Spanish Government must find a way to restore the issue of the Catalan self-determination in a much more respectful and non-violent manner.”
Catalan President Quim Torra and his predecessor Carles Puigdemont, meanwhile, last night hosted a gathering in a Brussels hotel after European Parliament chief Antonio Tajani blocked a bid for them to use one of the institution’s offices, citing “security threats”.
Earlier yesterday, Torra and his foreign minister Alfred Bosch were refused permission to use officers from the Catalan police force, Mossos d’Esquadra, for protection on their Belgian trip.
The Spanish Government has to give permission for law enforcement officers to work abroad and, despite this being an official trip, it vetoed their request.
Why are you making commenting on The National only available to subscribers?
We know there are thousands of National readers who want to debate, argue and go back and forth in the comments section of our stories. We’ve got the most informed readers in Scotland, asking each other the big questions about the future of our country.
Unfortunately, though, these important debates are being spoiled by a vocal minority of trolls who aren’t really interested in the issues, try to derail the conversations, register under fake names, and post vile abuse.
So that’s why we’ve decided to make the ability to comment only available to our paying subscribers. That way, all the trolls who post abuse on our website will have to pay if they want to join the debate – and risk a permanent ban from the account that they subscribe with.
The conversation will go back to what it should be about – people who care passionately about the issues, but disagree constructively on what we should do about them. Let’s get that debate started!
Callum Baird, Editor of The National
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules hereLast Updated:
Report this comment Cancel