The Salamanca Documents

After 75 years, Catalonia still awaits the return of the documents. Here three articles about this topic:

From Pillage to Reparation: The struggle for the Salamanca papers

It is a great pleasure to have been asked to talk to you today about the case of the so-called "Salamanca Papers". I greatly appreciate Professor Preston's invitation. I think that there are a couple of things I should say to introduce myself. I have only ever spoken in public in England once before. That was thirty-one years ago, in 1975, at a meeting held in Oxford in protest over the last death sentences decreed by the Franco regime. I hate to think what I must have said. I was born and brought up in England, my father having been a London-born ex-RAF pilot and my mother -still alive and kicking- the eldest daughter of a Catalan surgeon, Josep Trueta. Like several hundred thousand fellow Catalans and Republicans, he went into exile in February 1939, at the end of the Spanish Civil War. His exile in England was prompted not  read more..

A tale of two archives

As Viewpoint's Special Correspondent in Catalonia, I am moved to get into print a version of a talk I gave a few months ago to my old Department, the School of Modern Languages. The topic is one that I have been involved with a little over the past year or so, and it has given me reason to recall with nostalgia the exemplary manner in which, over the past twenty years, the University has become a renowned repository of historical archives, thanks, in particular, to the initiative of former Vice-Chancellor John Roberts in obtaining the deposit of the Wellington Papers in the early 80s and to the vision, commitment and expertise of former Librarian Bernard Naylor and (still going strong) Archivist Christopher Woolgar. The Hartley Library is now a major centre for the study of 19th- and 20th-century British history and Anglo-Jewish relations.  Contrast the way in which the owners of family and institutional papers have entrusted them to the expert care of the Hartley Library read more..

Salamanca Documents Not Yet Returned

After years of non-compliance, the Spanish Minister of Culture promised that the Spanish State would return to Catalonia, by 30th June 2012, all the documents that were looted by Spain during the war and stored at the Spanish Civil War Archive in Salamanca. Months after this deadline, the documents that belong to individuals and to private organizations and were meant to be sent to the Catalan government never made it back. It seems history will repeat itself as with the previous shipment promised by the Spanish Minister of Culture under Spanish president Zapatero, when everything was ready for the return of the documents and the Spanish administration stopped the shipment.

Yet hundreds of boxes full of documents are pending return. For this reason, when on the 26th of April the Spanish Minister of Culture told his Catalan peer that the documents, filed as “war booty” in the General Spanish Civil War Archive in Salamanca, would be returned before the 30th of June, we breathed a sigh of relief.

After facing year after year of non-compliance and delays, Mr. Wert's words were welcome. In this context, it must be taken into account that the last Minister of Culture read more..

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Barcelona Moves Forward in Participation, Democracy

Recent years have seen Barcelona gain growing international exposure, while gradually leaving behind any temptation to try to be Spain's second city, acting instead as the capital of a nation working to recover her sovereignty. Under a new administration, small yet significant steps have taken place. They include frequent trips to the United States by Mayor Trias and a renewed drive, working in tandem with the Catalan Government, to secure intercontinental flights and break the Spanish blockade on rail connections between the city's harbour and the European railway network. Following his trip to Ireland and Portugal, Help Catalonia talked with Carles Agustí, commissioner for citizens participation and associations at Barcelona City Council. 

1.- Help Catalonia:  Big cities can be anonymous and distant from citizens. What is Barcelona doing in order to avoid this?

Thinking of persons. Our project is “the city of persons” and everything revolves around this concept. For example, since we are the world mobile phone capital, and we top the rank of the Smart Cities, our goal is to secure services aimed at improving quality of life for citizens.

2.- Help Catalonia: What are the main concerns that Barcelona Local Council hears from people and associations?

The different, overlapping, crisis that we are suffering.  The economic crisis, of course, which is giving a lot of people a hard time. Also the political crisis, though, with a great mistrust by citizens toward the ruling institutions. The national crisis too, with exhaustion concerning coexistance with Spain, and mutual fatigue in relations between Catalonia and Spain.

3.- Help Catalonia: Concerning this effort to get closer to citizens, to grant them a role in the city's governance, is it related to the gradual taking root of the democracy – right to self-determination duet?

It is all democracy.  Involving citizens in the city's governance, what we call “ruling with the people,” is democracy. So is, obviously, the right to decide, the right to self-determination. In other words the right to vote, which is democracy's core.

4.- Help Catalonia: You have recently travelled to Ireland and Portugal. Is Barcelona's experience in the field of citizens participation prompting any interest?

It is. However, Barcelona is such an international brand that our model prompts interest in whatever field. Also, of course, when it comes to citizens participation. This is an area where we have a concrete model, which we want to export to the world while enriching it with experiences from abroad. All of this is easier thanks to the fact that Barcelona hosts the international headquarters of the main network of cities in the field of citizens participation, the IOPD (International Observatory on Participatory Democracy).  Actually, the IOPD acts as the international organization in this field.

5.- Help Catalonia: On the other hand, which experiences from other cities would you stress?  Have you observed any that Barcelona may be pondering to adopt?

Porto Alegre, the capital per excellence of participatory democracy since it set up participatory budgets. Also different open government experiences such as those from some US and Basque cities, in addition to London.

6.- Help Catalonia: Spain is considered to be a backward, little competitive, corrupt country, with a weak work ethic, obsessed with getting subsidies, unconcerned about international security, freedom of navigation, and the rule of law at sea, and a not very trustworthy ally. In international meetings such as those you have recently attended, how does Barcelona Local Council manage to avoid being tainted by that image?

We travel representing Barcelona, which sports its own brand, and a very powerful one. We try to associate Brand Catalonia to it, in order to promote it. Brand Catalonia remains unknown in a great deal of the world. We do not need any other brand.

7.- Help Catalonia: More generally, despite the impact of the 9/11 Catalan National Day demonstration in 2012, and the 2013 Catalan Way (mass human chain), many tourists and business visitors still associate the Catalan capital with Spain. How can the local council help promote an alternative image, based on modernity and Catalan identity?

I would answer with the same arguments explained in the reply to the previous question. That is, betting on brand Barcelona itself and linking it to Catalonia, the latter standing behind brand Barcelona. Catalonia must gradually get to be known internationally. Plus, actually stressing the distinctive values making up both brands, such as their Mediterranean, European, entrepreneurial nature and the presence of a strong civil society and popular culture, among others.

 

8.- Help Catalonia:  In the case of tourism, Madrid's anti-Gibraltar campaign is prompting a growing number of calls for a tourist boycott against Spain.  Julie Girding, a member of the European Parliament, has issued one such call, while making it clear that she recommended travelling to Catalonia. What can Barcelona Local Council do to ensure that British tourists are not confused and stop visiting Catalonia's capital?

I believe that precisely concerning this issue, Catalonia's and Barcelona's own position has been made clear, different from that of Spain proper.  Our position is far from the ancient claims by others. On the contrary, it is based on respect and solidarity toward the people of Gibraltar's right to self-determination. They also have that right.

9.- Help Catalonia:  In your recent trip to Ireland you had a meeting with Taoiseach Enda Kenny. What were the main issued discussed?

First of all, Barça. He is a football fan and appeared most happy with FC Barcelona. It was a trip with the Leading Cities network of municipalities, led by Boston and where Barcelona plays a significant role. As a result, the rest of the exchange dealt with Ireland's economic recovery model, based on betting on new technologies. This has born fruit, since a large portion of the world's main enterprises in the technology industry have their European or global headquarters in Dublin. Google and Linkedin among them.

10.- Help Catalonia:  Is there any interest in Ireland in Barcelona City Council's citizens participation policies?

Yes, above all those concerning co-innovation and co-creation. We have a number of precedents under our belt, and a certain experience in this field. This was of interest to the Irish, and to other members of the Leading Cities network.

11.- Help Catalonia:  At the Portuguese city of Cascais you co-chaired the 13^th IOPD Conference on “Citizenship for Sustainability”. Could you tell us a bit about the issues discussed and the participants' conclusions?

This was the IOPD World Congress, which I referred to earlier. Thus, participants discussed all sort of issues connected to citizens participation. Above all participatory budgets, this is the most widespread experience at the world level, but also open government case studies. One of the conclusions was the need to coordinate among ourselves in making known this sort of experiences. Also a warning on the risk of supranational institutions having excessive power to impose their thesis, something that was considered to be able to weaken the democratic mechanisms whereby citizens may express themselves.

12.- Help Catalonia: The suggested theme for the 14th IOPD Conference is “A radicalization of democracy and citizen participation”. Can we say that it is further evidence that democracy, and associated concepts such as participation and self-determination, are gradually moving forward in the world agenda? What contributions can Barcelona make in this coming conference?

We are contributing our model of citizens participation, called “Ruling with the people”, which is Barcelona's answer to the crisis in citizens' trust in politics, and which is based on involving them in the tasks of government.  The neighbourhood councils, the management of local council facilities by popular entities, the strength of civil society, and electronic participation, are part of the model which Barcelona is exporting, which also includes Catalonia's right to self-determination.

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Spanish nationalism is ready to initiate mechanisms of violence in the Catalan society

Javier Nart, the candidate of a Spanish nationalist party in Catalonia, confirms:

"We are heading straight into a social breakdown; there will be occasional acts of violence." The strategy against the democracy of the right of self-determination is to incite violence in Catalonia. 

Javier Nart, lawyer, TV pundit and Catalan by choice, promotes hatred towards Catalonia and incites the use of violence in the Catalan society.

With statements published at the hahstag #ViaUlster, Nart is attempting to become relevant in the Spanish political arena. He’s making a living and building his political career at the expense of degrading Catalonia through the media by stirring up the hate between the Spanish and the Catalans.

In an interview published at one of the most subsidized Spanish media , Nart clearly states he is against the joy of the Catalan Way and the right of self-determination. The unionists, who don’t want to lose and are terrible losers, will act without any legitimacy inciting violence in the Catalan society.

The Spanish Nationalists want to take lies and hatred towards Catalans to the European political arena.

The interview does not hide Nart’s intentions. On the contrary, it reveals hatred towards the right of self-determination. The aim of this former militant of the Spanish socialist party PSOE, full of hate towards the people who welcomed him, is to wage war against democracy.

Some quotes:

"Europe was created precisely against nationalism. It was created with the clarity that there would be no more nationalism –and separatism even less.”

"Catalan nationalism is acting as a sociological Francoism."

"It's very curious that sort of schizophrenic knowledge based on talking about the bombing of Barcelona, but not why they were bombed. They were bombed for the same reasons I would defend, which are not the privileges of Mr. Casanovas. "

“There will be neither shots nor casualties, but there will be social tension. There will be occasional acts of violence. Thank god, no party supports violence in Catalonia. However, exclusion essentialism has these consequences. One thing is that one does not promote it –as no separatist promotes it either– but when they state that unionists are bad Catalans for defending the theft, the looting, the cultural genocide, the oppression and occupation, how do you see me? "

“You will be scared shitless when we arrange an Ulster for you”

Some denied it and keep on denying it, but reality puts everyone in their place. The words of the Spanish nationalist candidate make it very clear. It’s about stirring fear, lies and insults in order to incite violence in Catalan society. But the Catalans Democrats refuse fall into their trap.

Read this article in Spanish, Italian

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Great War Centenary Widening Gap Between Catalonia, Spain

The 100 anniversary of the First World War has already prompted a degree of controversy in a number of countries, often concerning how to commemorate the conflict. In the United Kingdom, some robust exchanges have taken place, involving also whether it was right to join the war. However, while some countries may be discussing how to remember the tragic events of 1914-1918, in Catalonia and Spain the rift goes much deeper and is contributing to a widening gap between the two. While a book on the 12,000 Catalan volunteers who joined the Allies to fight and often die in French trenches was a hit and quickly sold out, prompting a second edition, Spanish authorities remain silent on the subject. No plans have been announced by Madrid to honour their sacrifice, while the Spanish-language media keep an awkward silence on the subject. This stands in stark contrast with the growing interest felt in Catalonia, where many people still know very little about them (even today they do not feature in standard school textbooks) but are eager to learn more.

In 1914 Spain decided to stay neutral, and broadly speaking elites in Spain proper were rather pro-German. In Catalonia on the other hand, public and elite opinion tended to favor the Allies. There were exceptions on both sides of course, but this was the overall picture. This resulted from a combination of factors, chief among them being the identification in the minds of many between Catalan and Anglo-French values (Catalonia's parliament is the oldest in Europe and Catalan constitutional traditions closely resemble Great Britain's), and the view that an Allied victory may facilitate a change in the political status of Catalonia (conquered by Spain in 1714). American entry into the war, and President Wilson's 14 points, reinforced the latter, in particular because one of the points concerned self-determination.

In the ensuing 100 years, many things happened, including tragic episodes like the 1936-1939 Civil War and the long Franco-era night, followed by a transition to democracy which for more than a few Spaniards went too far (by allowing Catalonia to recover a limited degree of self-government, after prime minister in exile Josep Tarradellas came back in 1977) while for a growing number of Catalans amount to too little. Things which did not happen, however, include a real effort to arrive at a consensus concerning the historical past. This includes the Great War. With the death of General Franco, the regime made many concessions, but they did not include a reexamination of the past and its official version. One of the many consequences of this failure to reach a consensus is that Catalans often felt that the way they saw and told their children about historical events was different, and sometimes diametrically opposed, to what their counterparts in Spain proper did.

Differences over the Great War are thus no exception, but rather part of this trend. Furthermore, they are of course not the reason, nor the main factor, in a growing distancing between Catalan and Spanish public opinion. However, they are a stark reminder that it is very difficult for people to coexist in a single state when radically-opposed views of history clash, leading to mutual fatigue. While many Catalans may find it offensive that Spanish authorities and historians ignore WWI volunteers, many Spaniards rather find it odd that they should be the subject of books and documentaries, or even openly dispute their existence. Something similar happened when a monument to Winston Churchill was inaugurated in Barcelona in 2012, with no Spanish Government representatives present.

Thus, unless a sincere effort is made by both sides to reach a common understanding of the First World War, it is likely that as commemorations in countries like the UK and France proceed, and more and more works appear on Catalan volunteers (hopefully also in English), the gap will just widen. This is just a reminder of how wars do not conclude when guns fall silent, but rather conclude only when all participants (and not just major actors) are able to reach a common understanding of what happened and why. The Great War is not over yet.

Alex Calvo

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5000 castellers in Europe: "We want to vote; help us knit the kernel"

71 human tower groups built castles in 7 European capitals and 41 Catalan towns on Sunday with the slogan “Catalans want to vote”.

Almost 5000 castellers belonging to 71 groups raised human towers on Sunday in seven European capitals, Paris, London, Brussels, Geneva, Lisbon, Rome and Barcelona and in forty Catalan towns to support the right to self-determination.

The president of Omniun Cultural, Ms Muriel Casals, read a manifesto in Barcelona in front of the Sagrada Familia, to explain that this action is “a call to all European citizens” to “let them know who we are, what we want and how we intend to share the future, building the Europe of the XXIst century”. “We want to vote, we want to decide our future in a referendum”, she said, ”that is why we make this call to all the European citizens, the Europe we want to assemble with you, like a big castle, please help us join forces”

The castles were raised in Geneva by the Xiquets de Reus; in Brussels by the Castellers de Vilafranca; and in Paris in front of the Eiffel Tower, by the Colla Vella dels Xiquets de Valls; and in many other cities and towns where the protest took place.

“When we started to plan this action we thought it was important to bring the best we have, the most spectacular. And human towers are the best. An Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity by the UNESCO, spectacular and of great value, as Jordi Bosch, Secretary of Omnium stated at midday in London, trusting the eyes of the world will focus on Catalan demands. “It is the best way to explain to the world who we are and to vindicate our demand for the referendum, to say we want to vote peacefully, joyfully”, he declared.

The whole Casteller world “has given this protest its support”, according to Mr Bosch. “It is the people who demand the vote. We demonstrate it by bringing up to 200 castellers to London, each of them has paid out their own pocket to come here” said Josep Fernández, the president of the Colla Jove Xiquets de Valls.


Italian

French

Spanish

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Let's stop hunger strike: Resistance box, Solidarity made real

691000 €  to express support and solidarity through more than 5600 donations done by thousands of persons understanding teachers fight.

Teacher’s Assembly Resistance Box has arrived to 691000 €. It is considered as an immense exhibition of solidarity from the society towards the teachers. Thousands of people wanted to express their support to the teacher’s fight through the different actions that have taken place during the last months and have had an economic materialisation.

 

There have been a total number of 5615 donations which have been used by the teachers to keep high their fight after 18 days of strike with a very high following never seen before. From one hand, 117 organizations from different associations have contributed to the resistance box with 117000 €. More than fifty activities organized by parents associations,Conservatory, teachers,.... have to be outlined. And also a concert at Palma’s Auditòrium completely full. All these events supposed about 35000 €. It also was organized a historical auction with more than 200 artworks and more than 100000 € for the resistance box. Stand out more than 5285 private contributions that come to 400000 €.

Supportive artists

220 artists have given 260 artworks that represent an example during the last thirty years of art with the different modalities: painting, sculpture, etching, comic,.... We are talking about an historical event realised in a brief period. Authors so renowned as Joan Miró, Jean Marie del Moral, Calder, Català Roca, Bernadí Roig, Humberto Rivas, Josep Maria Subirachs, Josep Guinovard, Ràfols Casamada, Damià Jaume, Ñaco Fabrer, Miquel Barceló, Menéndez Rojas, Riera Ferrari, Joan Ferran Aguiló, Antoni Tàpies, Toni Catany...

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