Catalan Riot Ask Referendum for Independence
Catalan Riot Ask Referendum for Independence
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CATALONIA - Spanish national police launched a widespread crackdown on Catalonia's disputed independence referendum Sunday, raiding polling stations and firing rubber bullets in a concerted attempt to deny the vote legitimacy.
In scenes that reverberated around Spain, riot police smashed their way into some polling locations and beat back voters with batons as they attempted to take part in the referendum. Hundreds of injuries were reported.
![Catalan Riot Ask Referendum for Independence]()
Catalan President, Carles Puigdemont condemned "indiscriminate aggression" against peaceful voters. Spanish authorities appeared determined to prevent as many people as possible from casting ballots in the referendum, which Spain's top court has declared illegal.
In the early evening as the close of voting approached, the mood on the streets of the regional capital, Barcelona, was tense.
The Spanish Interior Ministry said authorities had succeeded in closing down 92 of about 2,300 polling stations. It was unclear whether and how police would attempt to stop the vote being counted after polls close at 8 p.m. local time (3 pm ET)
The national government is implacably opposed to any breakaway moves by the northeastern region. In a press conference in Madrid Sunday, Spanish Deputy Prime Minister Soraya Sáenz de Santamaría blamed the violence on the "crazy rush" of the Catalan regional government to hold the "unconstitutional" vote.
"The referendum couldn't be held, and it's not been held. To carry on with this farce makes no sense, it doesn't lead anywhere," she said.
Defending the national police actions, Saenz de Santamaria said their objective had been to seize material associated with the referendum and not to target Catalans.
She called on the Catalan government to halt its "irresponsible behavior" and call off the vote. "Despite the blatant illegality of this, they wanted to continue, using children and old people recklessly."
![Catalan Riot Ask Referendum for Independence]()
Catalan authorities said Education Minister, Clara Ponsati i Obiols was forcibly removed from her polling station.
Regional government spokesperson, Jordi Turull told a press conference in Barcelona two hours after polling began that despite the Spanish government's efforts, 73 percent of the polling stations, 4,661 in total, were open.
He accused Madrid of being responsible for "a state violence unknown to Spain since the age of Franco," referring to the former military dictator Francisco Franco who ruled the country with an iron fist for 36 years until 1975.
Turull added that "the violation of fundamental rights in Catalonia is not an internal problem of Spain, it is an internal problem of the EU, and we Catalans are citizens of the EU."
When asked by a reporter if it was all worth it, he replied, "Defending democracy will be always worth it."
In a tweet, the Catalan administration called on the Spanish government representative in the province to resign.
In scenes that reverberated around Spain, riot police smashed their way into some polling locations and beat back voters with batons as they attempted to take part in the referendum. Hundreds of injuries were reported.
Catalan President, Carles Puigdemont condemned "indiscriminate aggression" against peaceful voters. Spanish authorities appeared determined to prevent as many people as possible from casting ballots in the referendum, which Spain's top court has declared illegal.
In the early evening as the close of voting approached, the mood on the streets of the regional capital, Barcelona, was tense.
The Spanish Interior Ministry said authorities had succeeded in closing down 92 of about 2,300 polling stations. It was unclear whether and how police would attempt to stop the vote being counted after polls close at 8 p.m. local time (3 pm ET)
The national government is implacably opposed to any breakaway moves by the northeastern region. In a press conference in Madrid Sunday, Spanish Deputy Prime Minister Soraya Sáenz de Santamaría blamed the violence on the "crazy rush" of the Catalan regional government to hold the "unconstitutional" vote.
"The referendum couldn't be held, and it's not been held. To carry on with this farce makes no sense, it doesn't lead anywhere," she said.
Defending the national police actions, Saenz de Santamaria said their objective had been to seize material associated with the referendum and not to target Catalans.
She called on the Catalan government to halt its "irresponsible behavior" and call off the vote. "Despite the blatant illegality of this, they wanted to continue, using children and old people recklessly."
Catalan authorities said Education Minister, Clara Ponsati i Obiols was forcibly removed from her polling station.
Regional government spokesperson, Jordi Turull told a press conference in Barcelona two hours after polling began that despite the Spanish government's efforts, 73 percent of the polling stations, 4,661 in total, were open.
He accused Madrid of being responsible for "a state violence unknown to Spain since the age of Franco," referring to the former military dictator Francisco Franco who ruled the country with an iron fist for 36 years until 1975.
Turull added that "the violation of fundamental rights in Catalonia is not an internal problem of Spain, it is an internal problem of the EU, and we Catalans are citizens of the EU."
When asked by a reporter if it was all worth it, he replied, "Defending democracy will be always worth it."
In a tweet, the Catalan administration called on the Spanish government representative in the province to resign.
(rnz)
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