(Per llegir l'article original en Català cliqueu aquí)
You don’t know
how difficult is this, living far away from my Land, Catalonia. Furthermore, I am perfectly aware of the historical
movements and transcendental events that they are taking place in Catalonia
nowadays.
The best clearly
thing that I could detect and see from these distant Canadian lands about last
9/11/2012 in Catalonia is how it was growing up the Catalan consciousness as
one people. The course of events made me remember Che Guevara's words: “When
one people become aware of what people is able to do, they carried it out with a revolutionary, overwhelming and contagious passion”.
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Aerial view of
the demonstration 09/11/2012
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Timeline of
success: remembering
Still in full
expansion economic or in other words still involved in the Spanish property
bubble in early autumn of 2005 in Parliament of Catalonia was approved among large
doses of complacency what is known as the Statute of 30th September, one Statute
that by the way it never became.
Given these
facts at the end of the fall 2005 the Left Movement proindependence called for
mobilization to the next 11th February 2006. A demonstration was set in the
unitary campaign for self-determination for Catalan Countries, which
congregated between 7,500 and 10,000 people and it was ended with an emotional
speech by Lluís Maria Xirinacs.
Furthermore,
that same winter in 2005 was constituted the Movement for the Right to Decide
(a subtle way to say the word self-determination) which with the push of the
separatism movement during the last years, this movement would push to achieve
a greater autonomy calling for another demonstration the following 18th February
2006, which was a success and they got to gather around some 600,000 to 700,000
people.
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| Previous press conference calling to the demonstration |
In 2007 again in
late autumn, the Movement the Right to Decide calls again for a demonstration
to the next 1st December 2007.
The placard
slogan was "We are a Nation and we say enough! We have the right to decide
about our infrastructures". The manifesto demanded the transfer of the
transport network and infrastructure from Spanish government to the Government
of Catalonia, the publication of fiscal balance between Catalonia and Spain and
also the collects taxes and the management of the own Catalans resources. The
demonstration would have the support CiU, ERC, ICV and CUP. This demonstration
would become the first major claim proindependence, although it was not embodied
in the main slogan.
During the year
2008 the Catalans were increased their angriness during the Second Tripartite
Government since it was unable to solve day to day problems as well as shameful
perseverance to turn a blind eye to the crisis that it was beginning at that
time Moreover, it was also clear that the government was unable to demand the
immediate implementation of the statute, among other topics that were adding to
the fact that Catalonia has been consistently plundered for years by Spain. To
all this must be added the growing disappointment with the political class to
give voice to the people or to respond to the aspirations of the people.
Parallel to all
this breeding ground for the years 2007, 2008 and early 2009 it was growing
steadily a huge movement proindependence. A large majority of these groups
influenced for the Movement the Right to Decide.
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| Ximènis giving the results of the query 09/13/2009 |
However, it would be a small party named CUP in a
town called Arenys de Munt on June 4 of 2009 where was approved a motion
presented by the organization of a referendum on independence for the Catalan
nation. This query would take place next September 13, 2009 and would be
the first of many that would be carried out around Catalonia. Besides, it would
be highly successful as well as it would have a great political and media
impact worldwide.
While the
queries for independence were removing old fears to be called separatist, other
initiatives and campaigns were being developed in favor of independence
throughout the territory.
Alongside all
this we must add also that the most reactionary organizations and parties in
Spain, they saw and celebrated with joy as his campaign against the Statute of
Catalonia culminated with a Spanish Constitutional Court ruling that would
spark the biggest reaction of protest among Catalonian population until then.
This would cause an unprecedented event, the majority of political parties in Catalonia for the first time
participate together in a demonstration organized by civil society and
capitalized by Omnium Cultural.
So the next 10th
July 2010 the Catalan people would become the main character in one of the
largest demonstrations in the history of Catalonia until then, with more than a
million people involved. All Catalan political parties (except the Spanish
Conservative Party, PP), several unions, clubs, organizations and associations
around the Catalan nation (even associations from Valencian Country and
Balearic Islands) participated in the demonstration. Again one of the most
important goals would be reached it would be the success of call and success in
international repercussions. Since then several world economic, political and
media powers start to see Catalonia as a new voice in the world to consider.
Fall 2010, there
were regional elections where CiU won clearly using three key areas: a
patriotic speech, economic agreement and the right to decide. However, as
expected because as it has secularly been like that, the agreement with the
Spanish leaders was not achieved as in the same way that it is happening during
the more than the last 300 years (since 1714 when Spain won the war and
Catalonia lost his own independence).
But while the
political class remained in a state of ambiguity Catalan people was going one
step forward and more mature than his own political class, following the fight
to achieve his own freedom.
In other words,
far from keeping in the frustration state due the lack of attitude to move
forward to the freedom for Catalan Countries by his own political class, the
organized civil society meetings were spread over the country as well as they
achieved great success and this movement became more and more large throughout
the country. Given the fact the lack of moving towards freedom of the Catalan
Countries, the people still struggling and mobilizing through demonstrations,
self-organization of councilors and mayors, as well as through the organization
of consultations over the independence the Catalonia.
In 2011, the
consultations reached its climax with the consultation that it would take place
in Barcelona on 10th April 2011.
The consultation
for the Catalonian independence that it took place in Barcelona would
unprecedented mobilization in the Catalan capital, and it also become an
important social movement and even one of the largest political movements in
the last 35 years in Catalonia.
In 2011, after
the success of consultations for the Catalonian independence was created a new
platform that brings together various sectors of the movement proindependence.
This Movement
took shape in what was known as a Movement for Independence. But after the
adoption an action plan and a founding declaration it would arise what today is
the Catalan NationalAssembly by the Conference for an independent state on 30
April 2011 in Barcelona, where several important personalities of the country would take part.
A few days after
the local elections were held in May 2011 in which the results reflected a new
scenario on the Catalonian political map. Several substantial changes took
place as in the Catalan capital as well as throughout the province. The
emergence and establishment of a new proindependence and radical party above
all on regional capitals. This new reality was added to the already strong
presence of sovereignty parties. As a result, it was the beginning of what
would happen during the next month until 11th of September 2012 in Barcelona.
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ANC: Constituent
Assembly 10th March
2012
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The first half
of 2012 served to spread and coordinate a vast number of people working for
independence at all the levels (local, regional and national) but was lacking
the coordinating body. Finally, on 10 March 2012 was founded the ANC (Catalan
National Assembly) which achieved bring together all the people and organizations
which are working only at the local level. It was in a massive assembly where
there were more than 5,000 people at Palau Sant Jordi of Barcelona.
This assembly
was born with the unique and unambiguous goal of achieving the independence of
the Catalan nation. Firstly the independence to the Principat of Catalonia (or
old Catalonia). Although it is also included for the first time in the history
of the proindependence mass movements, the independence for the whole nation:
Catalan Countries.
Parallel to this
process also begins another of great importance. But this was an institutional
nature due largely to changes in the local elections of 2011. This process
leads to the formation of what is now the Assembly of Municipalities for
Independence.
11th of
September 2012 two million people demonstrated in Barcelona
September 11,
2012 began well before the date per se, beginning with what should be and has
been a Movement across the country with the organization of The March Towards
Independence. This is a key to understanding the success of the event. Since it largely has allowed a constant
mobilization of society and maintains a high degree of agitation during the two
months prior to the Catalan National Day. I quote the call of the ANC:
"The March
will start with a big event on June 30 and will end on September 11 with a
large concentration in Barcelona that will mark a point of no return: we do not
want to continue celebrating defeats, we started to celebrate early the
Independence Day."
The ANC took,
therefore, the responsibility of working for a popular march that was to lead
to independence Catalonia. In the current context, we have to recognize to the
ANC has managed gather, focus, organize and coordinate a movement with many
years running and today is in great shape and has barely begun to walk towards
the full sovereignty for the Catalan Countries.
Briefly, where
does the success of this massive rally?
It
is the sum of a struggle of many years of militant
sectors around the country:
- el Correllengua, literary awards or Pi de les tres branques meeting
- sant Jordi, el 25 d'abril o events against Hispanian Day
- constant presence at demonstrations: against war (Iraq) or for the defense of the Ebre's river
- sobirania i progrés, el cercle català de negocis or 10.000 for self-determination
- among many other organizations, associations and casals around the country...
Also, is the
result of the involvement of thousands of people from all areas during the last
decade:
- The media coverage of ERC in the first coalition government
- The emergence of new political parties and movements proindependence
- Synergies generated between independence movements and social movements and grassroots across the country, but especially in the metropolitan
- Among many other experiences, demonstrations and social groundwork
The fact that
the proindependence activism has been involved in several struggles:
- to achieve better infrastructures or against the MAT and the Quart Cinturó
- pro nursery schools in North Catalonia (part located in France) or also for education in Catalan schools in Catalonia
- in support of people who cannot deal with mortgage payments
- participating in the queries for independence (from municipalities, organizations, parties and institutions to thousands and thousands people organizing, advising, spreading and struggling over the country in order to participate as volunteers or simply voting).
- as well as the green organizations, language associations, revolutionary unions and especially parties and organizations proindependence (ERC, CUP and the Left Pro-independence movement)
These series
acts of protests, campaigns, self-organization, militancy, the tireless work in
the cultural associations, etc. So the job done in recent years has been
tremendous and extraordinary and full of enthusiasm.
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| Front page of the New York Times |
But surely, if
there is something that we help us to understand the success of the
demonstration in Barcelona the last 11th of September is the work of the
Catalan National Assembly and its own willingness to coordinate and bring out
the will of the people.
Also, must be
added the extraordinary task and strong positioning of councilors and mayors to
push towards the freedom for Catalonia why it has born the Assembly of
Municipalities for Independence. As well as the tireless work and stubborn of
thousands of activists to built an extraordinary movement of freedom and force
the awakening of a people for national liberation.
Summarizing all
points in one sentence this is a mass movement rooted in the working class and
sociologically proindependence which legitimizes and gives way to the current
Catalan government to hold a referendum on self-determination in the
Principality of Catalonia.
Faced the
upcoming elections to the Catalan Parliament
Faced the upcoming
elections to the Catalan Parliament next to the 25th November, the Catalan
National Assembly will push the Catalan political parties in order to as the
first point of the respective political programs will be to make referendum on
self-determination for Catalonia. In my point of view it is nothing outstanding
so it is something that it is already written and approved by international law
in the Declaration of Human Rights.
The acceptance
of this point in the programs of this Catalan political parties it will be the
best chance to know how many political forces are involved and largely know for
sure what the driving forces in the Parliament to call a referendum on
self-determination. The question should be clear with two answers: yes
(proindependence) or no (Unionism).
Salut i Alegria!
Visca la Terra!
