SPAIN has again clamped down on the Catalan independence movement with its national court sending seven activists to prison without bail.
They were among nine people arrested in Catalonia on Monday when more than 500 Spanish Civil Guard officers made a series of raids. All were said to be members of local CDR (Committee for the Defence of the Republic) groups – a network of activists set up ahead of the independence referendum in 2017.
They faced charges of belonging to a terrorist organisation, possessing explosives and conspiring to cause criminal damage.
READ MORE: Human rights abuses in Catalonia should concern everyone, says MSP
Judge Manuel García Castellón said evidence suggested that the accused belonged to a “hierarchical organisation aiming to establish a Catalan republic by all means, including violent”.
Yet in the years since Spanish courts revoked the Catalan statute, the independence movement has not committed a single act of violence. Castellón justified prison on the “severity of the alleged crimes”, the ability of the accused to destroy evidence and risk of flight and repeat offences.
There was speculation last night that the other two accused were Spanish agents who had infiltrated the CDR after they sacked the collective’s lawyers and asked for lawyers from Madrid, where the court is based.
Last night, they were free.
Quim Torra, the Catalan president, said: “Repression is the only answer of the Spanish state.
They are trying to build a story of violence before the sentences [of the political prisoners who have been on trial]. They will not succeed.
“The independent movement is and will always be pacific.”
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