Catalans call for mediator in crisis

CATALAN separatists called for international mediation with the Spanish Government as they pushed ahead yesterday with plans to declare unilateral independence this week after a violent police crackdown scarred a disputed secession referendum.

The referendum debacle only deepened Spain’s most serious political crisis since democratic rule was restored in 1978.

The violence on Sunday in the prosperous northeastern region left more than 890 civilians and 430 police injured when anti-riot squads moved into polling stations and dispersed voters.

Shocking videos and photos of police dragging people by the hair and kicking them were flashed around the globe, leading some European leaders to warn about a further escalation of violence.

Catalan leader Carles Puigdemont said a regional parliamentary commission would investigate why Spain’s anti-riot squads fired rubber bullets, smashed into polling stations and beat protesters with batons to disperse voters in the independence referendum that Spain opposed. He also urged the 5000-strong contingent of special Spanish police forces deployed in Catalonia to leave immediately.

Mr Puigdemont called yesterday for the European Union to “stop looking the other way” and urged Spanish Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy to accept international mediation in the crisis. He urged the EU to view Catalonia’s desire to break away from Spain as a Europewide issue.

“This is not a domestic issue. The need for mediation is evident,” he said.

Calls for restraint came from across Europe, including from EU chief Donald Tusk, who appealed to Mr Rajoy to “avoid further escalation and use of force” while agreeing that the independence vote was invalid.

THIS IS NOT A DOMESTIC ISSUE. THE NEED FOR MEDIATION IS EVIDENT CARLES PUIGDEMONT

Several human rights organisations called for an impartial investigation into the violence.

Of the 893 civilians injured in the melee, two suffered serious wounds, Catalan health authorities said.

The Interior Ministry said 39 police received immediate medical treatment and 392 others had scrapes and bruises.

But Spanish authorities commended the police, saying their response was professional and proportionate.

Amnesty International said the Spanish police used “excessive and disproportionate” force against people “passively resisting” a judge’s order to impede the referendum.

Some Catalans said both sides bore some responsibility.