Spain to try Catalan separatist leaders for rebellion

[rooster59]

Spain to try Catalan separatist leaders for rebellion

By Angus Berwick

 

A police van beleived to be carrying some of the five Catalan politicians ordered to be jailed pending their trial for rebellion leaves the Supreme Court in Madrid, Spain, March 23, 2018. REUTERS/Juan Medina

 

MADRID (Reuters) - Twenty-five Catalan leaders will be tried for rebellion, embezzlement or disobeying the state, Spain’s Supreme Court ruled on Friday, in a sharp escalation of legal action against separatists in the northeastern region.

 

One of the leaders facing up to 25 years in prison if convicted, Marta Rovira, earlier said she had already fled Spain, joining five others in exile. On Friday evening, Supreme Court judge Pablo Llarena ordered an international arrest warrant for all six.

 

The ruling raised the stakes in Madrid’s efforts to contain separatists in Catalonia, where a banned referendum backed independence last year.

 

The case will be closely watched by separatist groups across Europe and beyond. Rights groups have already criticised the extent of Madrid’s crackdown - though the European Union, wary of any splintering of its member states, has firmly supported the Spanish government’s response.

 

Catalonia has been in political limbo since Spanish Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy took over its regional government after it unilaterally declared independence following the October plebiscite.

 

Llarena said on Friday 13 leaders, including Rovira and former Catalan president Carles Puigdemont who is already in exile in Brussels, will be tried for rebellion.

 

Another 12 will be tried for embezzlement or disobeying the state through their role in holding the referendum or declaring independence.

 

Puigdemont and fellow separatists have all denied any wrongdoing, saying the plebiscite gave them the authority to break away from Spain.

 

'A DIFFICULT ROAD'

 

The vote was boycotted by Catalans opposed to the region splitting from Spain. Public support for the independence of Catalonia, which has its own language, extensive devolved powers and an economy as large as Portugal’s, fluctuates either side of 40 percent in polls.

 

Judge Llarena ordered jail for five of the leaders pending their trial as he considered there was enough evidence that they committed a crime. He did not set a date for the trial.

 

The five appeared before the court on Friday to be notified they would face trial and were detained immediately.

 

Among them was Jordi Turull, a close ally of Puigdemont who was put forward on Thursday to become the next regional president, although he failed to obtain enough votes after a small far-left secessionist group broke ranks and abstained.

 

The court's decision means a second leadership vote for Turull which was due to take place on Saturday will not happen because his presence is compulsory.

 

However, late on Friday, Catalan parliament speaker Roger Torrent said he would go ahead with the session and read a statement in support of those jailed earlier in the day.

 

Rovira, the head of the separatist Esquerra Republicana party, said before the judge’s announcement on Friday she had fled to avoid prosecution.

 

"Exile will be a difficult road, but it is the only way I have to recover my political voice,” Rovira said in a letter. “Long live a Catalan Republic for all!"

 

The court, in a written ruling, requested that 14 members of the previous Catalan regional administration deposit 2.1 million euros ($2.59 million) in a bank account to pay back the money used to hold the referendum and cover judicial costs.

 

Several separatist leaders, including former Catalan vice president Oriol Junqueras, have been in custody since last year.

 

 

-- © Copyright Reuters 2018-03-24

[Khun Han]

Ugh!!! What a stain on human rights and freedom.

[Somtamnication]

The EU is breaking up, old and stagnant. Let these people be independent, too! 

[lamecn]

This reminds me of the "good old days" in fascist Spain under Francisco Franco.

They should know better!

[Baerboxer]

8 hours ago, Khun Han said:

Ugh!!! What a stain on human rights and freedom.

 

Hmmm. So if a US state, a Aussie state, an Indian state declared UDI or came pretty close to, in defiance of the country's courts and laws, you'd consider it ok?

 

And the human rights and freedoms of the other people, the majority, in the country who didn't want part of their country taken away by treason and illegal actions?

 

 

[Kiwiken]

37 minutes ago, Baerboxer said:

 

Hmmm. So if a US state, a Aussie state, an Indian state declared UDI or came pretty close to, in defiance of the country's courts and laws, you'd consider it ok?

 

And the human rights and freedoms of the other people, the majority, in the country who didn't want part of their country taken away by treason and illegal actions?

 

 

I am not an expert on the American constitution but my understanding is that each sovereign state has the right to secede by lodging petition? 13 states tried that once before.

As a kiwi i would support say American Samoa wanting rejoin.Samoa.

Norfolk Island has muted the wish to join NZ and leave Australia. That should be their choice?

By your supporting the Spanish Governments position I take it you feel that Spain as the right to invade Gibraltar and Argentina to take the Falkland islands or indeed Ireland to annex Northern ireland. The wishes of Local populations should be respected providing clean unfettered democratic votes are allowed.