Catalan Solidarity: October 2007

Friday, October 5, 2007

Catalan students in Madrid Protest Against Spanish Repression

The 'crisis of king's burning photos' is not finished, the Spanish special tribunal, that usually deals with 'terrorist activities', has sued 11 demonstrators fro taking part in the burn of Spanish king's pictures, they are accused of 'crown injuries' and face possible sentence of 15 months imprisonment. Mobilizations are organized by Independentist Left.

A group of student’s burnet more images of Spanish king in Autonomous University. There have been demonstrations in Alacant, Girona, Lleida, Tarragona and Valencia

The judge has charged the last 9 sued Independentists for 'injuries to crown' , and released tem on bail.

Judge Fernando Grande-Marlaska has released on bail the nine last activist accused of the burning of the king's pictures. They have participated in a demonstration in Girona last week against the process on other 2 Catalan freedom activists. Police has identified a 10th person who is with the same charges and will have to go to Madrid for declaration.

Lawyer of activists, Mr Benet Salellas, said that judge urged State Attorney to present formal accusation against them.

This wave of repression against antimonarchic acts and free speech has been countered with dozens of solidarity acts in all Catalonia, most of them repeating the with civil disobedience act of the symbolic burning, by the Catalan left-wing Independentists.

More info (Catalan):

http://noalrei.elsud.org/ (Solidarity campaign: "I'm also against Monarchy")
www.endavant.org/ (Endavant, Catalan Socialist organisation for National Liberation)
www.alertasolidaria.org (Catalan Human Rights Organisation)
www.sepc.cat/ (Catalan students organisation)

Related Link: http://noalrei.elsud.org/

Monday, October 1, 2007

‘THEY WON’T CLIP OUR WINGS!’

Last June 17th different Catalan anti-repressive collectives called for a demonstration under the slogan ‘Repression won’t cut our wings off’. This demonstration, as well as the speeches and exhibitions planned for the day, had the aim to defend the freedom to march as a basic element of protest against all kind of power abuses. To be present in the streets, is a basic need for all the social and political movements which must be defended actively.

During the speeches and the setting up of the street exhibitions, there was a heavy police presence which was aim at intimidating all those people taking part: identifications, searches, arrests, etc. When the demonstration started police surrounded the crowd preventing people from walking. This situation lasted for three hours.

These police actions, as an exhibit of the usual routines which breach freedom to protest, and deserves a sturdy answer. In front of these events, the organizing collectives of the demonstration, wanted to carry on denouncing this situation by processing a formal complaint and called for a demonstration in Barcelona on September 29th.

This time the march was able to take but under a heavy police presence and harassment as there were several wounded reported as the marchers arrived at the final point from three different routes. A youth was also arrested while making his way home after the protest and was released the day after with charges of attempting to assault the authorities. Further solidarity actions are planned in solidarity with him.

“Wherever there’s struggle there exists repression,
wherever there’s repression there exists solidarity”

Video clip on the demonstrations: http://www.e-noticies.tv/canal-actualitat/manifestaci%f3-1103.html

Other images of the demonstration:
http://www.moviments.net/tombantirepressiu/imatges.htm

Support that Political Prisoners receive from inside Catalonia

Catalan Solidarity has been inspired by the work of Catalan Anti-Repressive organisations such as Alerta Solidària and Rescat, who were set up with the aim of supporting Catalan people who have been imprisoned by the Spanish government for politically motivated activism. Following mass arrests and imprisonment of activists connected to the independentists and anti-fascist movements an informal collective came together to provide both practical support to prisoners and challenge the media portrayal of such individuals which had been fuelled throughout the Spanish mainland by a government, media and police conspiracy. As well as offering practical support and advice to imprisoned Catalans, their supporters and those awaiting trial, Rescat has been involved in high profile demonstrations, including those in front of the main court in Madrid where people have been judged, actions to support political prisoners who are on hunger strike and events to raise awareness of the political situation in Catalonia.