Catalan - Protesters Erupt As Two Separatist Leaders Jailed.
Barcelona: Catalan protesters are calling for the release of two men they consider the first "political prisoners" in their quest for independence.
Jordi Cuixart of Omnium Cultural and Jordi Sanchez of the National Catalan Assembly (ANC) were imprisoned without bail in Madrid on Monday, pending a trial on charges of sedition in relation to their separatist organising efforts.
The group of 50 met with a larger block of protesters at the beginning of Diagonal, one of Barcelona's main thoroughfares.
Though the demonstration is blocking the traffic, drivers honked in support.
By the time the CDRs and other groups reached the Spanish delegation, their numbers were in the thousands.
Demonstrators halted in front of the delegation and lit candles. Chants of "Freedom" rang out intermittently.
Xavier García Albiol tweeted.
The imprisonment of Cuixart and Sanchez is the latest development in a heightening political crisis in Spain.
The Spanish constitutional court ruled the October 1 Catalan referendum unlawful, with Madrid ordering police to stop the poll while respecting voters.
But Spanish National Police and the Civil Guard, a military body tasked with law enforcement, used "excessive force" to stop the vote, according to rights groups.
Catalans voted to secede from Spain, but turnout was reportedly lower than 50 percent.
On October 10, Carles Puigdemont, Catalan president, declared an independent Catalan state and then suspended the effects of the declaration. He says his intent was to foster dialogue with Madrid.
Spanish Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy then gave him until Monday morning to clarify whether or not independence was declared., warning that he would enact Article 155.
Referred to as the "nuclear option", Article 155 of the Spanish constitution has never been used before and allows the central government to take control of Catalonia's regional government.
Image / Reuters.
Barcelona: Catalan protesters are calling for the release of two men they consider the first "political prisoners" in their quest for independence.
Jordi Cuixart of Omnium Cultural and Jordi Sanchez of the National Catalan Assembly (ANC) were imprisoned without bail in Madrid on Monday, pending a trial on charges of sedition in relation to their separatist organising efforts.
The group of 50 met with a larger block of protesters at the beginning of Diagonal, one of Barcelona's main thoroughfares.
Though the demonstration is blocking the traffic, drivers honked in support.
By the time the CDRs and other groups reached the Spanish delegation, their numbers were in the thousands.
Demonstrators halted in front of the delegation and lit candles. Chants of "Freedom" rang out intermittently.
Xavier García Albiol tweeted.
Spanish Justice Minister Rafael Catala said the Catalan leaders' imprisonment represented the "normal functioning of Spanish justice", adding, "we can talk about prison policy, but not political prisoners".@tv3cat la TV pública que pagamos todos los catalanes poniendo todo su esfuerzo y atención en “lo suyo”. pic.twitter.com/WptWbMWH2V— Xavier García Albiol (@Albiol_XG) October 17, 2017
The imprisonment of Cuixart and Sanchez is the latest development in a heightening political crisis in Spain.
The Spanish constitutional court ruled the October 1 Catalan referendum unlawful, with Madrid ordering police to stop the poll while respecting voters.
But Spanish National Police and the Civil Guard, a military body tasked with law enforcement, used "excessive force" to stop the vote, according to rights groups.
Catalans voted to secede from Spain, but turnout was reportedly lower than 50 percent.
On October 10, Carles Puigdemont, Catalan president, declared an independent Catalan state and then suspended the effects of the declaration. He says his intent was to foster dialogue with Madrid.
Spanish Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy then gave him until Monday morning to clarify whether or not independence was declared., warning that he would enact Article 155.
Referred to as the "nuclear option", Article 155 of the Spanish constitution has never been used before and allows the central government to take control of Catalonia's regional government.
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