Spain jails Catalan separatist leaders for independence bid, protesters take to streets

Nine separatist leaders from Catalonia sentenced to prison in failed independence bid in 2017

MADRID, Oct 15 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Spain’s Supreme Court on Monday sentenced nine separatist leaders from Catalonia to between nine and 13 years in prison for sedition over their role in a failed bid for independence in October 2017.

The three other defendants in the landmark ruling, which stemmed from the holding of a referendum that had been banned and a short-lived independence declaration, were found guilty only of disobedience and not sentenced to prison.

All defendants were acquitted of the gravest charge, rebellion.

“What happened on Oct 1 was not just a demonstration or a massive act of citizen protest. If that had been the case, there would have been no criminal sentencing. It was a tumultuous uprising encouraged by the accused, among many others,” the Madrid court said in its ruling, delivered in writing rather than in an open session.

The former head of Catalonia’s regional government, Carles Puigdemont, said the prison sentences for the separatist leaders were an “atrocity”.

Puigdemont was the head of the Spanish region at the time of the independence-bid but was not part of this trial because he fled to Belgium, where he now lives in self-imposed exile.

“Today we are all condemned, not just 12 people. This sentence is an attack on democracy and the rights of all citizens,” said the head of Catalonia’s regional parliament, Roger Torrent.

The longest prison term – 13 years – went to the former deputy leader of the Catalan regional government, Oriol Junqueras.

The court convicted Junqueras and eight other leaders on charges of sedition and four of them of misuse of public funds, the court ruling showed.

After the ruling was published, the CDR grassroots movement tweeted: “It’s time to rise up against the authoritarian fascism of the Spanish state and its accomplices. It is time for the #RevoltaPopular (popular revolt).”

Separatist protests have been largely peaceful but police sources have said authorities are prepared for any violence.

Spanish authorities have deployed hundreds of extra police to the region in anticipation of the ruling.

The government and the Spanish opposition have welcomed the court’s decision.

“The sentence must be carried out and complied with,” Jose Luis Abalos, the acting public works minister told public broadcaster TVE.

“In Catalonia, there is a need for clear and responsible leadership on behalf of separatists.”

The leader of the opposition People’s Party said that Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez must affirm that he “will not pardon those convicted” and that he would on the side of the government “preserve public order and to avoid violent attitudes in the streets”.

The government has said it is ready to take direct control of Catalonia as it did in 2017 if secessionist leaders break the law.

The ruling is likely to colour a national election on Nov 10, Spain’s fourth in four years, and influence the direction taken by the separatist movement.

All nine sentenced were banned from running or participating in public office – as well as the other three defendants who will face a nominal ban for 10 months.

Outside the Lledoners prison in the Catalan town of Sant Joan de Villatorrada where the leaders were being held, men embraced after learning the Supreme Court’s verdict.

Protesters have hit the streets in north-eastern Spain after the country’s Supreme Court on Monday sentenced nine of the 12 accused Catalan separatist leaders to between nine and 13 years in prison.

Protesters blocked five regional roads across Catalonia, officials at the Catalan road traffic agency said on Monday.

Several streets in Barcelona were also blocked by protests, including parts of Diagonal avenue, which crosses the whole city, local police said. There were also protests in several big Catalan municipalities, such as Girona and Lleida.

Train tracks were briefly blocked outside Girona, a separatist stronghold, rail operator Rodalies said on Twitter.

In the coming days, demonstrators will march from five towns towards Barcelona where they will congregate on Friday, when a general strike has been called. — NNN-AGENCIES