CIVIL STRIFE AND VIOLENCE IN CATALONIA

Catalonia Spain

The Basilica Sagrada Familia in Barcelona, Catalonia, Designed by Antoni Gaudi

Unfortunately, over 100 people were injured, when police clashed their way into polling stations, trying to stop an illegal independence referendum, in Catalonia, the wealthy Northeastern region of Spain.

The police used extreme measures by firing rubber bullets on the protesters, dragging women by the hair and verbally insulting them and hitting old people with batons until they bled.   Barbaric, violent scenes in a country of the European Union, in 2017.

Why do 50% of Catalonians wish to be separated from Spain?   Ever since 1714, when King Philip V captured Spain's small neighbour, the Principality of Catalonia, there have been "grievances, complaints and demands for freedom" by the local population.  Sometimes more emphatic, occasionally less.

Analysts believe that the credit crunch has rekindled nationalistic tendencies.  As Catalonia has a very robust economy, it produces a fifth of the country's wealth, locals feel it is unfair that they should be burdened with an inexcusably large percentage of Spain's liabilities.

Also, differences in language, memories and scars of the Spanish Civil War and Franco's junta, political ambitions, augmented by biassed news media on both sides, have brought on this very dangerous situation.

The Spanish Prime Minister, Mr Rajoy said that "holding the October 1st vote, in violation of the Spanish Constitution is a totalitarian act" and that "disobedience to the law, by part of the political power, is the opposite of democracy".

Also, King Felipe of Spain, in a forceful televised address, accused the Catalan government of fracturing "the unity of Spain" by their aspiration for independence, which could endanger the"country's social and economic stability".  He added that the Catalan population of 7.5 million, were equally divided into "seccionistas" and "unionistas".

The European Union stated that the country's constitution must be respected.  Later, the EU economic Commissioner Mr. Moscovici said that "An independent Catalonia cannot be a member of the EU" ...."Brussels recognises only one member state, and that is Spain."

As I am very much against fragmentation, on the 22nd June 2016, in a post called PLEASE BREMAIN, I had implored our British friends to remain in Europe, because UNITY IS STRENGTH.   Likewise today, I beseech our Catalan friends to remain united.   Let them not be misled that they will be better off if they leave Spain because, obviously, it'll be the just the contrary, as large construction companies and banks are threatening and planning to transfer their headquarters to other parts of the country.    Unfortunately, if partition occurs, there is no going back.  Britons have, already, deeply regretted their 2016 decision.

Thousands took to the streets of Barcelona, last Tuesday, protesting against "police brutality".   It was a large, peaceful procession, against Saturday's events.   But, as the Catalans are politically sophisticated citizens, I hope and believe that the differences between the two sides will soon be solved, through fruitful dialogue.

After writing this post, millions demonstrated, on Saturday the 7th October. in small towns and cities, all over Spain, including Barcelona.   People, dressed in impartial white, protested against partition under the slogan Hablemos/Parlem (let us talk).

On Tuesday night, the Catalonian leader Carles Puigdemont addressed Parliament with a "perplexing speech"  in which he seemed to declare independence, before "immediately suspending the decision to allow for more dialogue" with Spain, thus deepening the political confusion.

And something I must mention.  The Spanish newspaper El Pais compares Carls Puisdemon to Alexis Tsipras who in 2015 made a "KOLOTUMBA", a Greek "political expression indicating a 180-degree turn" against the will of the people.  The Greek Prime  Minister was, then, blamed for changing the referendum results by making a "kolotumba". which has, since, become an intentional expression, as Brussels is already referring to the Catalan Kolotumba.


(Most of the information for this post was from the press and the mass media such as The Guardian, Express app, Kathimerini, Estia, El Pais, BBC, CNN, France 24 and many Greek talk-shows, to all of which I am extremely grateful.)




Here is a recipe for Sangria to toast all Spaniards.




                                                    SANGRIA

Salud!

 Here is a classic recipe for Sangria.


1/2 lemon, thinly sliced
1/2 lime, thinly sliced
1 orange, thickly sliced
1 apple, cored. halved and thickly sliced
80 g (4 oz) caster sugar or more if preferred
1 bottle of Marques de Murrietta Gran Reserva or any other red wine of your choice
3 tbsp brandy
500-750 ml(2-3 cups)  chilled soda water
Mint sprigs for garnish


Place the sliced fruit in a large jug, add half the sugar, pour in the wine and brandy and stir with a long-handled spoon until the sugar melts.   Taste and add more or all the remaining sugar and stir vigorously.

Refrigerate until thoroughly chilled.   Just before serving, add the chilled soda water, stir and serve, immediately. into iced wine-glasses, garnished with mint sprigs.