Who let the dogs out?

Just over a year ago, Catalan president Quim Torra faced a crowd celebrating the first anniversary of the illegal independency referendum and encourage the radical 'Republic Defence Committees' (CDR - Comités de la Defensa de la Republica): 'Apreteu, i feu bé d'apretar.

The sentence translates roughly as 'put on the pressure, and you do well to keep on the pressure'.

He was encouraging the CDRs to continue their actions to protest and demand independence. At the time they were holding a few protests by cutting off roads and standing on railway tracks to 'bring Cataluña to a halt' in their own words.

Twelve months down the road and they are 'putting on the pressure' by burning Barcelona.

Today, Sr Torra should be regretting that statement.

Hundreds of violent protestors, not only in Barcelona city, the airport and railways stations, but in several other cities throughout the region were 'putting on the pressure' this time facing the regional police (under control of the Catalan government), injuring dozens of them and causing huge damage to fellow Catalans who could only look out from their balconies in the main streets of Barcelona watching how their cars burnt.

Indeed Quim Torra let the dogs out, and now he can't grab the leash.

After three days of violent protests that have destroyed the international image of his beloved Cataluña, he timidly rejected the violence after midnight on Wednesday.

Three days of barricades bonfires, fireworks aimed at police helicopters and a long list of material damage finally appeared to be enough. Although admittedly he did not blame the radical independency protests instead he came up with yet another conspiracy theory regarding 'certain radical groups' that had allegedly 'infiltrated' the 'pacific' independency movement.

Sorry Sr Torra, the hoards were simply 'putting on the pressure' as you told them to.

On Wednesday morning, before condemning violence because a serious warning had been sent from Madrid, he was heading a pro-independency march that will reach Barcelona today from several cities.

These more pacific marches are taking place along Cataluña's main motorways - hence Sr Torra was effectively taking part in an action that was cutting off traffic along the region’s main roads - causing further damage to Catalan economy and its public image.

As Barcelona mayoress and former activist Ada Colau stated, 'Sr Torra is behaving more like an activist than a regional president'.

Honestly...would you got on holiday to Barcelona or the Costa Brava now?

Figures released this week show that not even the subsidised cheap holidays for pensioners in Spain (Imserso) are being booked in Cataluña and the response you get from travel agents is: "No one wants to go where they're not wanted".

I have family and friends in Barcelona and all of them, regardless of their feelings towards Spain and Cataluña, are sick and tired of having to wonder if the roads they take to get to work every morning will be cut-off by the CDR radicals or if they will be able to open their shops or will have to close the shutters to avoid being vandalised for 'not supporting independency' (who's going to support their families if they get no income from trade?).

Some who live in the streets hit by violent protest, even wonder if their vehicles will be intact the next morning.

So, Sr Torra, what will you tell your fellow Catalans when you support today's (Friday) strike? Will you continue to encourage protestors to 'put on the pressure'?

As a Barcelona city centre resident put it (see report on page 19), Sr Torra should be the one facing these violent groups in Barcelona and not the regional police - who by the way he sadly 'forgot' to thank for their services on Wednesday night.