Who am I?

A Pole who has lived in Catalonia for three and a half years. Or perhaps I should say polaca, because most citizens call me like this, both Spanish and Catalan. And I want to be and would be proud to be Polish, like French or English. I´m tired of repeating to everybody that I am not a polaca, but a Pole, but I have to say polaca to mention a small detail of my origin. I am a linguist and a project manager fascinated by Catalan language and culture, a fairly normal human being. Perhaps the other inhabitants of Catalonia would see me differently when they knew that just after three years of living here I got what many people who live here do not have: the Catalan language certificate, level C. In my free time I write articles about my experiences here, about politics and the Catalan case. I like to share reports about this country. It has suffered greatly throughout its history, but this does not justify that it is still a place where sometimes things that happen are so strange that it is hard to believe. But it is also an incredible nation, with a sophisticated culture and many noble people.

I do not take possession of the right to be infallible: I'm wrong like everyone else.

Anita Janczak

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From Terrorism to Fraud

It is of vital importance that the Government of Catalonia calls a Parliamentary session in order to solemnly declare Catalonia’s political rupture with the highly discredited ‘Spanish Empire’, adhere to the International Law –there is Life outside the ‘constitution’- and set a date for immediate elections to take place, so that the people of Catalonia can finally vote for their Independence with a formal request abroad, to ensure that the world keeps a watchful eye over the whole process. 

In the meantime, our political representatives should assign a prestigious panel of judges who, alongside the process, present before the Tribunal of The Hague a report against the Spanish State for GENOCIDE! Long overdue war compensations should be claimed from: Spain, Germany and Italy. And, at the same time, demand a new Nuremberg to judge the only existing regime which, to this day and in the hands of the Nazis and the assassin General Franco, no-one has yet condemned! 

Once all the cards are on the table, Catalans will cease to feel ridiculed and the ‘hidalgos (Spanish nobles), despots, inquisitors, villains and informers’ from the ‘Imperial Castille’ – the only remaining dregs of their rotten ‘empire’- will once and for all cease to ‘dance mockingly’ in front of us! 

Do I hear you say that things should not be done like this? Do I hear you say that this is not the way to solve things? Do I hear you say we need to maintain certain decorum? And who, then, will talk of substance? One thing is to avoid confrontations with colonizers, whether they appear dressed in civilian clothes or in uniform, and another very different thing is to trivialize the Independence of Catalonia!! It is not a matter of taking us all out to ‘pasture’ every September 11th. What we really need is to have politicians with character, capable of making decisions and able to defend our dignity. The tendency to make a pact, establish a dialogue, reach an understanding or an agreement with the ‘empire’ who, throughout history and at the present time, treats our country as a colony, is only accepted by politicians like Cambo and his ‘political descendants’. And here we must ask ourselves: when facing the truth, where were the ‘fathers’ of the present style of politics they so much praise? 

They were obviously occupying the Francoist ranks, providing funds for the ‘Empire’s national cause for God and for the indivisible and indissoluble unity of Spain’. It is understood, of course, that here there is only one country: Theirs! The rest are just provinces: ‘Conquered land!. 

Furthermore, when that nazi died many of us, willingly or not, swallowed the new idea that we were being driven towards a democracy! Some of us asked ourselves: how could we build a democratic society by following the will of a dictator who shoved down our throats the idea of a monarchy without ever taking it to the ballot box? Now, however, many of us have finally uncovered the farce. 

Meanwhile our politicians still intend to persuade us that we can still negotiate, establish a dialogue and reach an agreement with a people who are yet to condemn the old regime! If they are not willing to repent, how are they going to change their peculiar vision of the imperial Spain? What can we negotiate with people who are proud of their ‘crusade’? When the dictator died, they successfully persuaded us that our executioners had changed; now, however, after thirty-five years of scandals, pedagogies and mockeries, do they really think they can still cajole us? Do they take us for fools? Will the new negotiations be carried out in the same style of servitude like the one that has so far driven us to complete failure? Isn’t it the case that when one fails one tries to rectify the old mistakes? With the succulent salaries they receive and yet they still haven’t been able to shrug off the look of the butler who is proud to serve in a good home? They talk as if they are afraid to open their mouths and thus offend their master. They look like puppets pulled by strings. How was Jesus able to bring down an empire in a world without loudspeakers? 

Just as observed by Carles M.Espinalt in his book ‘The Written Work’ when citing Demostenes: ‘It is not possible to make a powerful speech without a firm intention of throwing a tirade’ Since they are so obsessed with maintaining their social standing, why don’t they learn to speak in public! Telling the truth through big loudspeakers requires standing! Lowering the voice so that the audience won’t hear you is a form adopted only by slaves! 

Therefore, insisting on maintaining one’s standing while, at the same time, offering an open hand, as Mr.Artur Mas said he would do shortly after the parody displayed in the Congress of the Spanish Empire, is an attitude particular of a slave! 

The depth of his talk, if it had any, evaporated in an instant. Or is it perhaps that they do not remember the shooting of people such as Carrasco Formiguera, Ildefons Sunyol or none other than our very own President Lluis Companys? Have they also forgotten that the Spanish language was enforced in our land with spilt blood? 

Is it up to these state terrorists who govern the ‘Empire’ by means of putrefied laws and who protect a corrupted monarchy as well as the will of a bloodthirsty nazi under the umbrella of their ‘sacrosanct constitution’ to legalize a collective survey (not through elections) for the Catalans? With whose moral authority? Have our politicians not understood the command given by the People of Catalonia? Have they not realised that we are offering them the opportunity to redeem themselves for all their wrongdoings? 

Brief: if we Catalans tolerate our political representatives to disgrace themselves in such a way it is only because we have neither shame nor dignity. Our plea aims to neither seek economical retribution, nor any bureaucratic nature, nor are we requesting any kind of protection. We are demanding JUSTICE! In short, when the existing laws are inspired by war criminals, these are not changed or agreed or even re-interpreted; instead, they are opposed! POLITICAL RUPTURE NOW!.

Encarna Parreno

Disciple of Prof. Carles M.Espinalt 

Psychoesthetics

* Translated by Josepa Gomis

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Catalonia is beting for Freedom and Democracy

All human beings and nations deserve freedom and must be free in to be considered as such. Everybody, including Catalans, of course, knows that. But most Catalans, if not all of us, are also fully aware that our current drive for freedom and democracy is not in the least aimed against the Spanish people in general nor against the Spanish language, culture or way of being. That would be a tremendously unfair mistake. We, Catalans, know this as well. So let us insist, once more, on this matter—a worthy enterprise. Let us explain the true reasons for why we, as a people, are betting on self determination. Why so many Catalans today want to have an independent state? Why should we be as independent and free as all the other nations in the world today?

Well, the reasons have to do first of all with the traditionally unfair treatment that we Catalans get from the Spanish state, and it also has to do with our own dignity as an old, distinct nation. They have to do especially with an obviously obsolete centric vision of the state developed by the political and economic Spanish elites, which have always managed to control it and are, therefore, absolutely opposed to the linguistic, cultural and national diversity which is still present within Spain. And they have everything to do, finally, with the prolonged fatigue and profound deception caused by countless decades of constant political, economic, linguistic, and cultural conflicts between Spain and Catalonia. These are the true motivations that really explain why so many want to recover their own sovereignty.

Yes, that is why a large majority of Catalans—even among those whose parents came from other parts in Spain—are now completely convinced that there is no need for Catalonia to maintain a political bond and relationship which is so unsatisfactory, humiliating and deeply frustrating. All the more when the political maturity and educational development of the Catalan society make it possible to have an independent state in which Catalonia’s national and cultural personality will be allowed and preserved, as well as its economic and social welfare.

But the “Catalan problem,” as they call this in Madrid, does also unveil and underline the malfunctioning of the Spanish state, whose serious symptoms (stiff constitution, degraded monarchy, conditioned judiciary power, including the Constitutional Court, main political parties undermined by corruption scandals, politically biased media, and outrageously high unemployment rate) have recently become much more evident. Surprisingly enough, though, only a few signs of support from Spain have come so far to show us some understanding from those who are still supposed to be our fellow citizens. It is especially significant the deafening silence we hear from Spanish thinkers and intellectuals. Where on Earth are they? Do they not have anything to say? The debate is only taking place seriously in Catalonia, and the only thoughts we can hear coming from Madrid are most arrogant disqualifications or just some kind of repetitive legalist litany. Not even one single argument, not a single calm reasonable thought at all. The unionist flimsiness is really quite alarming.

Despite all this, we are not alone. We must thank, for instance, all deputies of Izquierda Unida, because they have never voted in Congress against our right to self determination. Furthermore, the majority of the delegates present at the last IU conference, held in Madrid last January, voted against submitting the Catalan referendum for the Spanish government approval. There have been also several honorable individuals, such as filmmaker David Trueba, and famous journalist Iñaki Gabilondo, who certainly did show some love for us Catalans in public. Even some notorious constitutionalists and law experts did so. To all of them, among other Spanish friends, we kindly say thank you so much.

Joan Torres Nalda

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Catalans going abroad

When you go out of Catalonia to travel around the world, it is easy to realize that most of the people you find in your way have not the slightest idea of the name of your country. Well, thankfully the ignorance of some people justifies many things, some do not either know about Croatia, Kosovo or Lithuania... For Catalans when we travel and somebody asks us “where do you come from?”, we found ourselves in front of several options, unfortunately. One of the options is to say you come from Barcelona, it does not matter you live in Tortosa or Manresa, even if you live in the Pyrenees, it does not matter, the brand of Barcelona sells. Not sure it is for FC Barça, for Gaudí or for the city itself... And indeed it sometimes turns out to be the best option to help your ignorant audience identify Barcelona citizens as different than the Spanish to start with.

The second option is to be persistent and insist that Catalonia is a nation, with a milenary culture, a language, a gastronomy... but when you get to the geographical points, and mention the Mediterranean and Barcelona, you go again to the first option, along with all the touristic spots like Lloret de Mar, Blanes or Sitges. The third option is to say you are Spanish, but of course, this one does not work for those who believe that Catalonia deserves to be a state too as well as the international recognition as a nation of this planet. Nevertheless, in the very first conversation with any new stranger around the world, we Catalans are inevitably obliged to take political position about the current situation of our country. Though for those who believe Catalonia should be free and independent, it is also the best oportunity to create some awareness about Catalan identity around the globe.

I admit that some years ago, when I worked from Barcelona but travelled mostly for business, I used Barcelona branding on the first place a lot. I must confess I still use it in front of analfabetized absolutists or in potenially conflictive professional encounters (like for example, a visit to clients in Madrid). But for over 4 years I decided to be determined in explaining the whole thing to each single individual, also because it bugs me to be called Spanish all the time... Here is an example of what I must explain to those who are completely ignorants most of the times:

-Where are you from?

-I'm from Catalonia; 

-Hmm, Catalonia? Where is that? 

-In Europe, by the Mediterranean, like Italy, but on the other side...

-Oh, really? I don't recall I have heard of it, where is it exactly? 

-It's between France, Spain and the Mediterranean... do you know the city of Barcelona?

-Oh yes, I love Barcelona!

-Barcelona is the capital of Catalonia, my country.

-Oh, I did not know it was a country, I though it was Spain!

-Oh, no, it's not. Barcelona is not in Spain, but in Catalonia.

-You mean Catalonia is a region of Spain?

-Well, no, I mean Catalonia is a nation but not a state, like the Scottish with the United Kingdom.

-I had no idea of such thing hapening in Spain; so you do not have a Spanish passport?

-Well, yes, actually my country is not allowed to have passports for our people, so we have no choice but to use the Spanish one if we want to travel. 

-So you have a Spanish passport but you are not Spanish?

-Exactly, but we will have Catalan passport soon because we are voting for having our own state this year. We are to have a referendum 9th of November to decide if we want to be an independent state and there is a high chance yes wins.

-What? Well I'm sorry to tell you, but until you win, you all are Spanish. Furthermore, I have been in Barcelona, and the food was Spanish tapas everywhere... 

-Well, that is the food for tourists, in Catalonia we have an impressive gastronomy the size an importance of the French or Italian cuisines; some of the best chefs in the world are Catalan, do you know Ferran Adrià?

-No, I'm sorry, but I know Gaudí...

-Gaudí was an architect and a visionaire, not a chef, and you must know Gaudí was Catalan not Spanish.

-But what is the difference right now?

-There is a huge difference. It is not a state that defines a person's nationality. I am Catalan, that is my nationality. I have a Spanish passport because I am not allowed to have a Catalan one, which is unfair. Palestine is a nation but inside the state of Israel, and nobody dares to call them Israelís, right?

Such conversation can go on until the person you are talking to comes to terms of understanding and agrees not to call you Spanish anymore. Yet they will be tempted to tease you by calling you Spanish now and then, just because they know you do not like it. You will need to be patient and follow four simple tips if as a Catalan you feel in need to defend your true nationality: 

1.Give examples of other nations without state or states without nation in the current times. Recalling the difference between nation a state is essential. 

2.Then identity: Gaudí, el Barça, the culture and geography and gastronomy, do not forget to mention some internationally known Catalan personalities.

3.Later, history: explain how we fell into Spanish domination and plundering for 300 years. If necessary, recall Franco and that nobody in the world has judged in an international court the war criminals for facism in Spain, while the world did so with the nazis in Germany.

4.And for the last, the future: we want a new country in a new state through a democratic process, we want freedom!

Cooperating with this blog by translating, adapting and writing articles in English is hopefully a good way to explain many other people of other countries what is really going on in Catalonia, condemn all Spanish abuses publicly and obtain support from all those people living in the world that believe in democracy and human rights.

Help Catalonia!

Deborah Jusmet, Netherlands

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Spain, leave us to make our own way : we have every right in the world

My name is Rita Bocca, I was born on the 25th of November 1967 in San Sebastiano Po, a town in the province of Turin (Italy) where I studied for a degree in political science. At 25 I moved to Castelldefels in Catalonia, where thanks to my languages (Italian, French, Catalan and Spanish) 'so far' it has not been hard to find work. I have now been living in Calafell for 10 years.

Since July 2013 I have been collaborating with www.helpcatalonia.cat (doing translations of articles from Catalan/Spanish to Italian, all of them about what is happening in Catalonia). In October 2013 I became a full member of the ANC and have collaborated with 'translators for independence.' In December 2013 I took over as regional treasurer for the ANC campaign 'sign a vote'.

Whilst living in Italy, I hardly knew that Catalonia or Catalan existed. I remember, in 1993, watching TV and not even knowing if it was in Catalan or Spanish, as I did not know either of those languages at the time. I have a special interest in languages and, amongst other things, I have obtained the DELE ( Diploma of Spanish as a Foreign Language ) and C-level Catalan .

Only a couple of years ago I said 'enough is enough'. I was fed up that I was seeing all kinds of news about the relationship between Catalonia and Spain, which to me, was just not convincing . My husband (a catalan from Perpignan in Northern Catalonia) always said that Catalonia is the last colony of Spain and I thought, 'What an exaggeration! What makes you say that? It can not be.' But yes, last summer I read 'Delenda Est Hispania' by Albert Bridge and I could not believe it. I could not believe how a country like Spain, which is defined as a democracy could lie to us even in history books. The history that you learn in Catalonia is not the same as that taught in rest of Spain. Obviously, ours is not 'objective', in the opinion of Spain.

When I heard that the Catalan language was banned, not 100 years ago, but much less, I thought this is too much. Knowing another language enriches you and also helps you learn more languages.... ! So say the experts and I can speak from experience .

But language is not the only thing that made me want to be an 'independentista'. I am an animal lover and I can not feel part of a country where there are tortures such as the 'Bullfights'. To those who say it is part of history and culture, I always say that in that case, why do the Italians not continue to have fights between gladiators, or between men and lions or tigers? Isn't that history and culture, too? I think, fortunately, countries evolve, or should evolve!

To conclude , I think it has become clear that I decided to give a helping hand to translate articles into Italian for Help in Catalonia because I want the people of my country to know what is happening here.

Why is Catalonia so important to me? Why do I want to do whatever I can to help Catalonia to be an independent and democratic state, as the people ask, because Catalonia is much more than my host country, I feel at home here and I want to fight because, for me, everyone has at least the right, to the power to decide to return to the State it once was. In my mind I can not understand why they don't want to let us decide. Is this democracy? I ask nothing more than that they set us free, we are mature enough to go it alone.

For me, Catalonia is a wonderful country, not only for the mountains or the sea, but because there are exceptional people. For example, I was operated on for skin cancer at the Hospital de Bellvitge and I assure you that I found wonderful people and professionals with whom I never felt that I was just a number, and that is priceless and I will appreciate that for the rest of my life .

Catalonia I love you! Long live Free Catalonia!

Rita Bocca

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We need to make the world understand

I am Catalan, I have lived in England for 25 years and I am a volunteer for Help Catalonia. My work consists of translating into English and editing articles that have been translated from Catalan or Spanish into English so they are ready for publication and broadcasting internationally.

Help Catalonia tries to explain the situation of Catalonia to the world.

I think that the countries that form the international community have a concept of Spain which is often based on their own democratic principles. It is believed that Spain is a state that respects its nations within -but it never has. When Spain started –at least in name– its democracy in 1978, the people of Catalonia cherished the hope that the democratic process would eventually lead to a real recognition of the Catalan nation within Spain, but unfortunately that has never been the case. Spain, underpinned by its "national psyche" is still insisting and hoping that Catalonia and the other nations within Spain just manifest the Castilian culture with the addition of some regional peculiarities which are to be condescendingly tolerated (having tantrums, growling and mocking when it's disobeyed). Spain continues to be synonymous with "Castille" in most respects, and is a country ruled by a self-interested paternalistic oligarchic caste and a Lerrouxist state that is intolerant towards plurinationality. In the case of Catalonia, Spain has tried and is still trying to wipe out, or at any rate limit, its identity and culture, and has done and carries on doing everything possible to keep it subjugated. Spain has always defined Catalonia as a "problem" for having its own identity.

Current polls show that over 80% of Catalans wish to vote for self-determination, but Spain –a supposedly democratic country which signed the UN treaty– forbids it, claiming that this right is not an option in the Spanish Constitution; a constitution that was drafted in 1978 by the military, among others, and which confirmed the establishment of a monarchy headed by a king that had been chosen by the dictator Franco himself. Also, especially in recent years, Spain has launched a dirty war to discredit the Government of Catalonia and manipulate the public by means of the sinister Centro Nacional de Inteligencia. Together with a corrupt and biased media it works to confuse, frighten and divide us, all with the aim of making us forsake our aspirations for independence.

In many ways, the volunteers of Help Catalonia work hard to report to the world how Spain is actually operating and how this is affecting Catalonia. Hopefully when the time comes and we vote for the independence of Catalonia and Spain wants to crush us and repress us (yet again) for wishing to express our democratic right, there will be countries that have understood our cause, and therefore will support and help us safeguard our right to self determination.

Francesc Xavier Canals

@frantasticfx

Catalan version

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What is this, Catalonia?

When I first came here 3 years ago, I didn't have the slightest idea about the existence of Catalonia. It was really confusing for me to hear two languages everywhere – at the stations, on the beaches, on TV... I was also pleasantly surprised how drivers respectfully stopped letting me cross the street, how passers-by smiled and sometimes even said “hola”, how there was calm and peace, how people were friendly in shops, at any information desk – everywhere!..


A month later I came back, and then again after two months, in winter. I went to discover the Catalan Pyrenees for myself – I wanted to see the whole country which had already captured my heart... It became my second home, and when I was in Moscow, I missed it.


By that time I had met many people, Catalans and Spanish, and I could see the difference between them, between these nations. The culture of Catalonia is very rich and diverse, there are some traditions which can ONLY be found here, like the Castellers human towers, the Sardana, an old, well-known dance, the unusual and fun Christmas Eve tradition of Cagatio, and so on... The Catalan language also has its own history and many years of existence and is spoken by about 7 million people around the world.


I met my husband here, I now live in Catalonia and I definitely appreciate my luck! I'm proud to be among the Catalans – no regret! I see the patriotism of the Catalans and I would like to fight with them. They have to be free. They must have a chance to choose their own future, to continue their old traditions and to have all the rights for their peaceful existence.


Let´s help the magnificent world – Catalonia! The world of happiness, great culture, lovely people and delicious food!


Catalonia is not Spain! People have to know it!



Natalia Zakirova

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The Catalan issue

Some of you might be aware of the rebellion that is going on in Catalonia (currently an autonomous region of Spain) in favour of full independence. There are many reasons why this is happening and there’s much information in the media about some of the economical and social reasons involved. However, there are some more subtle things going on that understandably are more difficult to grasp for the general worldwide population, as they don’t have a deep understanding of the Catalan issue and the way the Spanish deal with it.

Ever since the loss of our political liberty nearly 300 hundred years ago after a defeat against a Coalition of a Spanish-French Army, the aim of the Spanish government has always been to obliterate any trace of difference of the Catalan people by all means necessary (including violence).

Can you imagine which of these traces is the most distinctive? Well, language, of course. The Catalan language is a millenarian Latin-derived language spoken by 10 million people. Curiously, and as a reminder of the medieval expansion of the Catalan nation, this language is spoken far beyond what is strictly the “region” of Catalonia today. The other areas are: the Valencia region, the Balearic Islands, a strip of land in the Aragon region, Andorra, the south eastern region of Rousillon (France), and the city of Alghero in Sardinia (Italy).

A subtle way in which Spain has attempted to minimize Catalonia’s cultural and economical influence has been the actions it has carried out to dismantle its foremost witness, the language itself.

The first one is imposing Spanish in all areas and making it difficult for new generations to fully use the Catalan language. This has been somewhat overcome in Catalonia itself by establishing Catalan as the language of communication in the schools. That is not the case in the rest of territories where Catalan language is spoken.


This not being enough, the principle applied is “if you want to weaken a language, make it look smaller than it really is”. Therefore, following this principle, from now on, you, Americans don’t speak English anymore: you speak American. It sounds ridiculous (even if appealing to some of you), but that is exactly what is happening today in the Valencia region. Spanish-oriented politicians there claim -against all linguistic consensus worldwide– that they speak a completely different language than Catalan, e.g. Valencian, and they are trying to come out with a new grammar.

In the Balearic Islands, there are some political movements aiming to do something similar and now they are trying to minimize the use of Catalan language in the schools even though more than 90% want to use it and despite the fact that this goes against the general opinion of the educational professional body.

Nonetheless, recently this frantic struggle reached the height of absurdity. Could you conceive another subtle way to dismantle a language? There is one: simply eliminate its name altogether. Aragon’s region has decided to name the Catalan spoken in the strip of land neighbouring Catalonia something equivalent to “Aragon’s Language Spoken in the Western Area” (LAPAO in its Spanish acronym). Let’s be imaginative. Could you envision a government in Canada passing a law asserting that the Québécois no longer speak French but rather a so-called “Latin Language Spoken in Québec” (LLASIQ) in order to deny any French roots of that region? What would the Québécois and its cultural ally, France, say about that?

The Catalan government and academics are complaining about that decision but nobody listens outside because we, Catalan speakers, don’t count on any State (beside Andorra) to defend Catalan culture as a whole. If Catalonia were a State (as France on the Quebec issue), we could make our voice heard worldwide before such absurdity.

This is just another example among many others of why many of us, the Catalans, want to attain the statehood for our country.

Xevi Aldeguer
Physician, Head of Department of Gastroenterology.
Hospital Doctor Josep Trueta of Girona.

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The Kingdom where convicted coup leaders are pardoned

Let’s take a trip back to 1981. Spain’s so-called democracy is less than 3 years old, and some historical nations are recovering their autonomous governments. Catalonia’s Generalitat had been restored in 1977 and held its first post-dictatorship elections in March 1980, and its Parliament was slowly but surely claiming jurisdiction on a wide array of issues. In a civilized country, this would have been seen as a natural process towards reestablishing the democratic state of things that had been torn apart by the Fascist uprising that led to the Spanish Civil War.

In Spain, this has led to King Juan Carlos and the military designing a coup in order to scare Congress into legitimizing the regime and putting the breaks on further democratic reform. The implication is straightforward: either accept the current pseudodemocracy, with a king annointed by Franco as his heir as Head of State, or we’ll return to a military dictatorship. 

The “failed” coup is led by General Alfonso Armada, who will be annointed President upon its succesful completion. But wait! Here comes King Juan Carlos to save the day and have the rogue servicemen arrested and sentenced to as many as 30 years in jail. Case closed, all hail the King!

Or not. 

The plot thickens. It turns out General Armada had been the King’s assistant for almost two decades. And it turns out Armada had quit in 1977 after disagreeing with the democratic principles of Spain’s new government, but King Juan Carlos had him named second-in-command of the Army a few weeks before the coup. 

Let’s move the clock ahead to 1988. Armada is serving the fifth year of his 30-year bid. Spain’s government is in the hands of the Socialist party, the party who had the most to lose had a Fascist uprising come to fruition. In fact, many Socialist MP’s had been prosecuted, imprisoned, tortured or had lost loved ones during Franco’s dictatorship which Armada and his cronies hoped to replicate. You would think a pardon for Armada is out of the question. It is not. 

In Spain, democracy ranks well below the supremacy of Spanish nationalist principles in the list of government priorities. As an instigator of the coup that temporarily made moderate Catalan nationalists shy away from further demands of autonomy, Armada had earned the respect of Spanish nationalists at either side of the spectrum. With reports pointing to Armada’s deteriorating health, the Spanish government had the perfect excuse to pardon the former General. These pardons are not all that unusual, and are generally granted to criminals suffering an advanced stage of terminal illness. To put it bluntly, these pardons are granted so criminals can die in the company of family and friends. 

Armada certainly died in the company of family and friends. Only it happened yesterday, 25 years after his release, which is about 25 years longer than those who are pardoned because of failing health usually live. Which makes one wonder whether General Armada received his pardon because his health was failing, or whether he received it because Spain’s democratic health failed a mere three years after being born.

Arnau Gomis

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Video: Catalonia, Why not?

This video tries to explain the reality in Catalonia, a region in the north east of Spain.
The 1st part is a compilation of news clips about Catalonia that have appeared on different TV channels during the last year.
 The 2nd part is a personal interpretation from Miquel Sañas of what's going on in Catalonia.

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What is this, Catalonia?

When I first came here 3 years ago, I didn't have the slightest idea about the existence of Catalonia. It was really confusing for me to hear two languages everywhere – at the stations, on the beaches, on TV... I was also pleasantly surprised how drivers respectfully stopped letting me cross the street, how passers-by smiled and sometimes even said “hola”, how there was calm and peace, how people were friendly in shops, at any information desk – everywhere!..

A month later I came back, and then again after two months, in winter. I went to discover the Catalan Pyrenees for myself – I wanted to see the whole country which had already captured my heart... It became my second home, and when I was in Moscow, I missed it.

By that time I had met many people, Catalans and Spanish, and I could see the difference between them, between these nations. The culture of Catalonia is very rich and diverse, there are some traditions which can ONLY be found here, like the Castellers human towers, the Sardana, an old, well-known dance, the unusual and fun Christmas Eve tradition of Cagatio, and so on... The Catalan language also has its own history and many years of existence and is spoken by about 7 million people around the world.

I met my husband here, I now live in Catalonia and I definitely appreciate my luck! I'm proud to be among the Catalans – no regret! I see the patriotism of the Catalans and I would like to fight with them. They have to be free. They must have a chance to choose their own future, to continue their old traditions and to have all the rights for their peaceful existence.

Let´s help the magnificent world – Catalonia! The world of happiness, great culture, lovely people and delicious food!

Catalonia is not Spain! People have to know it!

Natalia Zakirova

Read more »

Are China and Spain such different?

During her journey to China, the general secretary of the Spanish People's Party María Dolores de Cospedal signed a Memorandum of Understanding with some representatives of the Chinese Communist Party. The signature of such an agreement took place in China's eastern city of Suzhou, near Shanghai, as part of a trip whose aims were to promote the Spanish region of Castilla La-Mancha (which is ruled by Cospedal) and to attract Chinese tourists and investors to Spain. Thus the trade between both countries will be increased alongside the collaboration between both parties and different corporations. But is this excellent relationship between them something new? How can two such different political parties strengthen their ties?
Such an understanding between those Spanish and Chinese political parties is not new despite the seeming ideological differences. In fact, diplomatic relations between both countries were established in 1973, when Franco and Mao were still ruling. This was a complicated period for both countries, which were awaiting important changes within their borders and in their international relations. Regarding Spain, the last years of Franco's dictatorship were caracterized by a crisis due to the economic situation and the opposition against his regime. In addition, ETA would murder the person who was supposed to be Franco's right hand, Luis Carrero Blanco, at the end of that year. Thus Francoism would collapse after the dictator died two years later, although the next head of the State (king Juan Carlos, who still holds the position) would be appointed by him. In the case of China, the country was involved in one of the harshest periods of its recent history: the Cultural Revolution. It would lead to a brutal repression of those who were considered "anti-maoists" and intellectuals, whilst the Red Guards (mostly young people, lots of them still teenagers) began a cruel attack against everything which could be related to culture such as books, religious temples and examples of Chinese cultural heritage.
Being both countries involved in such a complex national scenario, other factors were playing a key role in international politics. The Cold War had not still finished and the United States sought new alliances to isolate the Soviet Union, a country with which China had broken relations in the past decade. An example between this approach between the USA and the PRC was Nixon's visit to Beijing 1971. On the other hand, Spain had been an ally for the USA because of Franco's efforts to anihilate any relation with communism. In fact, he called himself the Western Sentinel and offered offered military bases which could be used by the American military aircraft. For these reasons, the United States were interested in gaining the support of both countries and making them allies of each other. In fact, the moment's realpolitik was so powerful that it forced countries of such different ideologies to cooperate and establish diplomatic relations with each other to be kept under the protection of the USA, giving the communist China an opportunity to become part of international organizations like the UN and strenghten ties with many western countries. More information regarding this first agreement between Maoist China and Francoist Spain can be found here.
To date, those countries are celebrating the 40th anniversary of their diplomatic ties, which was commemorated in China with an exchange of congratulation messages between former Chinese President Hu Jintao and ex-Prime Minister Wen Jiabao, and Spain's King Juan Carlos and Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy. Moreover, Xi Jinping reminded the event during his meeting with the recently appointed Spanish ambassador, Manuel Valencia. He also demanded that Rajoy could make a trip to China to celebrate such an important date.
In the past 40 years the cooperation between Spain and China has been specially important in economic issues, mainly after the reforms engaged by Deng Xiaoping after Mao died. In fact, Europe has become a great market in which the Asian country can sell its goods at low prices while importing some luxury products for a growing wealthy class of the country. It has allowed Spain to establish companies that exploit some of the important mineral deposits held by the country, either in Chinese or in territory historically occupied areas during the twentieth century, such as Tibet. Furthermore, one of the most important Spanish businessmen is the chairman of a joint Chinese-Spanish company called Ganzi FerroAtlántica Silicon Industry Co., Ltd., "founded on 17 July 2008 in the city of Kangding, in the Ganzi Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture, in the province of Sichuan, China (sic)". However, Ganzi (Kardze, in Tibetan) has been historically part of the Tibetan region of Kham, which was annexed during the Republican period as part of the province of Xikang and included territories now part from Chamdo prefecture (in the Tibetan Autonomous Region) and Sichuan province. In this way, FerroAtlántica's chairman Juan Miguel Villar-Mir aids Chinese occupation of Tibet with money which comes from the profits of some of his businesses in Spain, including OHL construction company.
To sum up, it is evident that the People's Party and the CCP are not as different as someone could think. The Memorandum remind the circumstances involving the first stablishment of diplomatic relations between Maoist China and Francoist Spain in 1973, when the Cold War forced them to put aside their ideological differences for global stability. Furthermore, the actors of this new agreement are the heirs of the former. On the one hand, PP is a political party which was founded by Manuel Fraga, a Minister during the last years of Francoism. On the other hand, CCP is still ruling in China despite it changed the communist economic system by introducing capitalist reforms. Their recent history shows that either Spain and China have more things in common than differences and that anything goes when it comes to trade agreements or money, even the Ethics and the respect for Human Rights.

UPDATE: According to the documentation related to "Bárcenas Lawsuit", a graft case against Spain's ruling  People's Party which is being investigated by Judge Ruz, Villar Mir was one among many bussinessmen who financed illegally the party by making huge donations. In fact, he had been finance minister between 1975 and 1976 and a close collaborator of former Francoist information minister Manuel Fraga (Fraga would be one of the PP founders), as well as of current Spanish Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy. Because of that, the chairman of Ferroatlántica has been charged on bribery for having gotten many public works contracts for another corporation owned by him in payment for the donations he made. Therefore, the relationship between PP and CCP is more murky than ever. Has this been one of the reasons that made both parties sign such an agreement?

Anna Ferrer Gil

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When the State Goes into Hiding

Recently, I was amazed that the person in charge of the opening ceremony at the Swimming World Championships was Catalan PM Artur Mas. The Spanish central state tries to block any international projections of the Catalan government, so it was very surprising that it handed over the leading role to the Catalan PM. The reason for this is the disaster Spain has become. The central government did not show up simply because they did not know who they could send, since there is no representative that could just show up and not be jeered by the crowd.



This fact is significant. I think that this is the first time I see central government official afraid of being seen in public. They simply did not know who to send. Ten years ago the Swimming World Championships opening ceremony was announced by Cristina de Borbón and Iñaki Urdangarín, who obviously could not do it this time. Neither did King Juan Carlos. In fact, he has been hiding as much as possible since the Botswana incident. Prince Felipe could have come, but he got a nasty reception at the opera house not too long ago and a second incident would have been too much for him to bear. So, once discount the royal family, all remaining politicians are simply not very presentable. Spanish PM, Mariano Rajoy, would most probably have gotten the whistle treatment. The minister of sports is infamous Mr. Wert—not a possibility either.



So that’s it in a nutshell. Madrid’s government did not know who to send and this is why they allowed the Catalan PM to have the lead role. Is this all anecdotic? I do not think so. Not in the case of a State that tries to control diplomatic relationships and that is very much against Catalonia’s independence movement. It is rather an example, a very interesting one, of how untenable things are in Spain these days.


Vicent Partal

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The Vice of Incoherence: Western Sahara, Yes. Catalonia, No.

In democracy one of the most common vices is incoherence. When a politician says or does two obviously contradictory things this politician is being incoherent. This is what Mariano Rajoy, Spanish Prime Minister, has just done in his speech to the UN General Assembly in New York when defending the self-determination of Western Sahara, while he is repeatedly denying this same right to the people of Catalonia.


Coherence would be to either deny or defend this right in both cases. The right of self-determination is recognised in the UN Charter. It is not a conditional right, as some argue, only acceptable in processes of decolonisation, but a political right of all peoples in the world, whatever the conditions of their existence might be - as the case of the independence of Norway from Sweden in 1905, Slovenia and Croatia from Yugoslavia and Baltic countries from the USSR in 1990s or Slovakia in 1992 prove. If one accepts this recognition, one has to support it abroad and at home. If one does not honestly accept this recognition, one can just use it for political gain, depending on the context and, if so it's needed, contradictorily.


Incoherence is a vice because it is dishonest. It is the product of an insincere and unprincipled association with an idea - normally a widely respected principle - for personal profit. As in Spain, it seems that this vice enjoys wide acceptance and toleration by the political elites and the populations of many democratic countries. This fact makes more pressing the need to denounce it and fight it at home and abroad, in domestic politics and, perhaps even more insistenly, in international relations.


It is only by this dishonesty that the Spanish government can try to stop the very coherent, democratic and peaceful process of independence of Catalonia. For this process is not only the way of a community of people to survive as such, as a historic, cultural, political and socio-economic community. It is also the way this community is expressing its ethos, with honesty, and, so coherence, at its core. It is the Catalan Way.


On this way, millions of European people have started a journey towards emancipation. Self-determination is a principle, not a compromise. It is not a political tool one uses according to the situation at hand, but a right of any community to be able to exist. Its defence is coherent. Its attack is coherent. Both things simultaneously is not.


The same way one chooses between coherence or incoherence, the governments of other countries have now just two options. Either to support Rajoy's attempts to derail democracy using dishonest means or support all these people on their way, wishing them safe travels and that they reach their destination, whichever this might be, provided they travel in peace and truthfulness. This will be the coherent response of a responsible international community.





Alejandro Ribó

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A Gibraltarian View of Spanish Oppression.

Before I get into the subject of politics, I would like to state a couple of facts about myself.

Firstly, I am a Gibraltarian. I was born and bred in Gibraltar and have lived here my entire life (except for three years where I resided in the UK during my university studies).

Secondly, I love almost everything about Spain. I love most of its culture, its people, its natural landscapes, its opportunities. If it wasn’t for certain Spanish individuals who I have felt so privileged to meet given their kind nature, I would never have accomplished most of my lifelong ambitions. I have them and the Spanish culture and opportunities to thank for this. What’s more, fiercely against the views of the general population in Gibraltar, I supported the Spanish national football team in the World Cup 2010. I enjoyed their football style and that mattered more to me than politics, even if the RFEF was hell bent on using politics as a means to keep the Gibraltar Football Association (GFA) out of UEFA.

Now properly moving into politics, where in today’s climate, the Spanish Government has deliberately sought to exert pressure on the people of Gibraltar for merely dropping blocks of artificial reefs into our waters. This is being carrying out by creating excessive and highly unnecessary border queues. Since July when the artificial reef blocks were dropped, queues to both enter and leave Gibraltar have grown on average of up to four hours of waiting time to cross either way. This is because the Guardia Civil have been conducting very thorough searches of each and every vehicle in the queue in search of smuggling attempts…. Or so Madrid says. The facts are that Spain has always created queues in the border at a time when Gibraltar exercises its rights as a self-determined territory. It happened when the UK’s Prince Edward and Princess Sophie visited Gibraltar between June 11th and 13th 2012 to commemorate Queen Elizabeth II’s Diamond Jubilee. Spain was the only kingdom to react negatively by rejecting an invitation to the celebrations in London. Dumping blocks of artificial reefs into our waters in the hopes of a prosperous marine environment seems to have upset Mr. Rajoy and Mr. Margallo even more than the royal visit. Excessive border queues and multiple other serious threats to Gibraltar’s peace and freedom has given even today’s young generation of Gibraltarians (myself included) a taste of what it felt like by older generations to have to live under General Franco’s aggressive tactics. It is appalling that in this century, the Partido Popular of Spain have hardly seemed to have shown a change in political stance. A recent threat since the artificial reef has included an introduction of a 50 Euro fee every time a Gibraltarian/tourist vehicle enters or leaves Gibraltar via Spain, even though such an act is a violation of EU law. Further threats include the blockade of Gibraltar’s bunkering and the closure of Spanish airspace to any flight taking off or landing in Gibraltar. The list of threats over the decades is endless. Is this Democracy? Is this dialogue?

On September 10th, Gibraltar will once again celebrate their National Day, this year with a much stronger passion given the circumstances suffered by us, and also by 10,000 Spanish workers in Gibraltar might I add. There are a few of us here who feel a strong sense of solidarity between Catalunya and Gibraltar. I am one of them. Our aim is to show Gibraltar that Catalunya is a friend of ours and not just some region in Spain. Slowly but surely, Gibraltarians are starting to understand that. Our message to you is to keep fighting for your rights to determine your future! God bless Catalunya, and God bless the REAL good people of Spain!

Jared Baglietto

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Sovereign Catalonia has awoken.

Sovereign Catalonia has awoken from long, imposed nightmare. The intermittent moments when freedom could be tasted have been few and far between, and the citizens of Catalonia are taking steps towards achieving their most coveted, longest awaited demands: the recovery of the rights and freedoms taken away 300 years ago, the right to decide their continuity the Kingdom of Spain, and its recognition as an independent state.

After 300 years the relationship between Catalonia and Spain is none other than the result of a forced annexation, suffered over the years under the cowardly impositions of the centralist State. The Catalan language and culture are still victims in full democracy of the systematic attacks by the Spanish government, and the Catalan people are insulted and threatened by the Spanish authorities and many of the so-called fellow-citizens in the rest of Spain.

If you ask me how long I have felt Catalan, I can only reply forever. If you ask me how long I have demanded full sovereignty for Catalonia, I will reply always. If you ask me how long I have felt scorned and insulted for being Catalan, that'll be constantly.

It's not that I have grown up, it's not that I have matured, it's not that I want a divorce, no! I just wish for the freedom of this little country that I love so to be recognized.

Long live Catalonia, a new independent state!




Núria Juanmiquel Rovira
September 2013, Badalona

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Amid Great Expectation, Last Minute Preparations for 250-Mile Human Chain for Catalan Independence

 

An ever-growing number of estelades (starred Catalan independence flags) are flying on balconies in Barcelona and all over Catalonia. It has been roughly 12 months since the million-man march in Barcelona on September 11 (the country's national day) last year. However, the will of Catalans for self-determination and independence remains unaltered. Not only that, but it actually seems to be growing stronger day by day. The 2012 demonstration meant such a huge push for the national agenda that it turned the path of Catalan politics 180º. This had traditionally been based on finding a comfortable fit for Catalonia within Spain; now the land is heading for a referendum in 2014.

Things seem to be on the right track for pro-independence Catalans, but still there is the feeling that a final push is needed. And so it seems we are up for a comeback. Don't expect a new mass street rally in Barcelona, though. Catalans do indeed have renewed energy, but what is in store this year is somewhat different: a vast 250 mile-long continuous human chain is expected to literally traverse the land from North to South, from the Pyrenees Mountains down to the Mediterranean Sea through more than 80 towns. Roads are expected to be cut some 3 hours before the Human Chain is actually formed at 17:14 (in memory of the 1714 defeat in which Catalan freedom was lost).

These are some of the numbers behind the 400 km human chain: 3 helicopters, 24 ultralight aircraft, 200 world media journalists, 800 photographers, 1.500 coaches (for mobility purposes along the chain), 2.500 police units, 30.000 volunteers (a higher number overall than in the 1992 Barcelona Olympics), more than 400.000 website-registered participants, 500.000 especially designed t-shirts for the occasion sold, and a final number of actual participants that could well add one more digit to the figure – meaning the feat may match or surpass last year's landmark rally. This, out of a population of some 7 million. The stakes are indeed high.

Both local and international press highlight the huge organization skills and efforts in place. Not even rain seems to be a hindrance to the determined Catalans. After some pessimistic early predictions last week the situation is expected to improve. Two days before the event, weather forecasts are more generous than ever: some occasional rainfall in an otherwise rather optimistic outlook for the country's national day.

As mentioned, last year's demonstration set the bar high, and one can feel the expectation and excitement in the air. Many hope that, with secession, things will get better for this traditionally prosperous, historic European nation. For many, if not most, independence increasingly implies the only possible outcome for the country for the everlasting political struggle with Spain. It is also seen as the mid-term goal for an increasing number of citizens. Yet, with a declaration of independence still arguably on the horizon, the immediate goal is clearer: a scheduled date and a fixed question for the referendum. It is simply a matter of democracy and justice, Catalans argue.

Much has changed in Catalonia in recent times. According to all opinion polls, secession is now the preferred option. The estelada is sold out virtually everywhere and has become a widespread symbol. But most relevant is perhaps something less obvious to the eye: the bid to freely and peacefully decide our future is finally being taken seriously, both internally and internationally. And this alone is certainly a game changer.

David Ferrer

 

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