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It’s early evening when a purple flare rocket goes up in sky. The smoke swaths do not extend to very top of 30th floor of office tower at Barcelona’s Olympic port. There is German Consulate General, one of aims of demonstrators who have gared in several places in Barcelona since early afternoon. They are also pushing ahead with representation of Spanish Government in Eixample and on Rambles, main promenade in city centre.
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Thousands draw towards harbour, mood is irritated. “There are just too many in prison,” an elderly man calls into microphone. He doesn’t want to call his name. “Orwise y’ll put me in custody too.” The news of Carles Puigdemonts arrest in Germany deals here all. Later in evening re will be clashes with police, especially in front of government office. Officials drop warning shots into air and use batons. More than 50 people are injured, three demonstrators arrested.
Already on Friday, retrial detention for five Catalan politicians, including presidential candidate Jordi Turull, had caused considerable displeasure. In protest, thousands of people were drawn to representation of Spanish Government in evening, and it came to wrangles with police – with 35 injured. The plenary session on which election of presidential candidate should go to second round was cancelled.
In Parliament, independence parties and deputies of links alternated Podemos variant mutations, President of parliament Roger Torrent campaigned for a broad democratic alliance. And next day: Roadblocks, furious chanting, and again and again loud calls to Vaga general, a general strike.
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On a poster of demonstrators Angela Merkel is seen with Hitler beard. On anor, in German: “Never Again”. The fact that Puigdemont was arrested in Germany, arouses many historical associations. In 1940 Gestapo had extradited Catalan President Lluis Companys to Spain.
Companys had declared short-lived Catalan Republic on October 6, 1934, fled to France in civil War. After his delivery, he was sentenced to death by a quick court and executed. “I hope story is not repeated,” says Marc Renau. The musician lived in Essen for eight years. “That’s all so depressing.”
Turning point in Katalonienkonflikt
In fact, detention of Puigdemont is a turning point in Katalonienkonflikt. Not only because mood on street is more irritated and demonstrations have nothing to do with merry happenings of last years, where hundreds end Estelades, Catalan flag, waved. But also because it will show how far strategy of separatists is going.
Puigdemont and or Catalan politicians had deposed to Belgium to raise conflict to an international level. They were successful at first. Because Pablo Llarena had withdrawn European warrant at beginning of December. At that time, Belgian judiciary had probably signalled that extradition was not possible on basis of rebellion and incitement to revolt. The independence movement cheered: that is proof that accusations are untenable. and Carles Puigdemont used his freedom of travel in last few weeks for a publicity-rich European Tour for Catalan cause: a lecture in Denmark, an appearance at a film festival in Switzerland, a visit to fellow parliamentarians In Finland.
But on Friday, after retrial detention of five Catalan politicians, including presidential candidate Jordi Turull, Llarena has re-enforced European arrest warrant. Puigdemonts Brisk travel activity became a risk sport.
The arrest warrant reached Carles Pugidemont in Finland. Why did Puigdemont travel back to Belgium in car, where he wanted to give his lawyers authorities? From recklessness? Or did he provoke his arrest to force an influential European state to act? There are also guesswork in Catalonia.
