Feeling pride

“There’s no constitution in the world that recognises the right to self-determination” according to the Prime Minister of Spain (a neo-fascist state that has steadfastly refused to investigate atrocities and human rights abuses stretching from 1936 to 1975).

A right -wing regime is using a clause inserted in the constitution by Francoist military to claim legality for its actions.

However, the right to selfdetermination is enshrined in the UN Charter of Human Rights. In scenes reminiscent of Franco’s dictatorship, Catalonian citizens peacefully attempting to exercise their right to vote were subjected to truly shocking treatment, with over 1,000 people injured.

Those watching the news on the BBC rather than Channel 4 would remain blissfully unaware of the extent of the brutality meted out by Spanish police, and could be forgiven for believing allegations of “fake news”. If you blinked you missed it.

Overlooking the seizing of ballot boxes, the closing of polling stations and the cli-

mate of fear deterring many voters, Rajoy argued that a 90 per cent Yes on a turnout of 43 per was no mandate for independence.

The Scottish Government, almost alone, has expressed support for Catalonia, amid a shameful, deafening silence from the EU and UK (while fully aware that this principled stance may jeopardise our hopes of remaining in the EU).

For me, this is a source of pride. JAMES STEVENSON Drummond Avenue

Auchterarder Unlike Keith Howell (Letters, 23 October) I sympathise with the Catalan wish for independence. Two of my Scottish friends, now deceased, were among those who volunteered to fight for the Spanish Republic in the 1930s against the illegal overthrow of the elected government of Spain by General Franco and his associates. The present government of Spain exists because of the rebellion which Franco led, which diminishes the validity of claims that the present Catalan government is acting “illegally”.

DAVID STEVENSON Blacket Place, Edinburgh