Catalan separatists protest at detentions

Thousands of people took to the streets of Catalonia yesterday after a judge ordered the detention of two pro-independence leaders, further inflaming tensions over the region’s referendum on splitting from Spain.

Thousands of workers in Barcelona and other cities across the region staged a brief walkout at noon in protest at Monday’s move by the national court in Madrid to put Jordi Cuixart and Jordi Sanchez behind bars pending investigations into sedition charges.

The men are the leaders of pro-independence citizens’ groups Omnium Cultural and the Catalan National Assembly.

“Repression is not the solution,” protesters shouted as hundreds gathered outside the Catalan regional government offices in central Barcelona.

“Now anyone can be put in jail,” said Carme Guell, a 62-year-old beautician who joined the walkout as civil servants from nearby regional ministries blocked the street.

Like many who back independence for Catalonia, Ms Guell said the wealthy northeastern region was “treated like a colony. All our money is taken away, nothing is reinvested here.”

The Spanish government has demanded that Carles Puigdemont, Catalonia’s separatist leader, spell out whether or not he intends to declare independence outright following the October 1 referendum.

This must be done by tomorrow.

Mr Puigdemont has so far declined to give a definitive response after issuing a cryptic “suspended” declaration of independence last week, calling instead for prime minister Mariano Rajoy to negotiate.

Mr Rajoy flatly rejected mediation and appeared likely to start imposing direct control over the semi-autonomous region.

That would escalate Spain’s worst political crisis since it emerged from the military dictatorship of the Francesco Franco era in 1977.

The referendum, marred by police violence against voters, resulted in a 90 per cent “Yes” vote. However, turnout was 43 per cent as many supporters of Spanish unity stayed away after the constitutional court ruled the vote illegal.

Polling stations were also damaged by police in efforts to close them.

Yesterday, the court struck down the Catalan law that paved the way for the referendum, ruling unanimously that the region does not have a “right to self-determination”.

Silent demonstrations against the detention of Mr Cuixart and Mr Sanchez were planned across Catalonia yesterday evening, while similar protests were planned by sympathisers in other cities, including Brussels and London.