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EU On The Brink: Hundreds of Thousands March in Catalonia Demand Release Of ‘Political Prisoners’
Breitbart ^ | 11/12/17 | Jack Montgomery

Posted on 11/12/2017 3:40:29 PM PST by Enlightened1

Around three-quarters of a million Catalans have marched to demand the release of local politicians arrested for their role in the drive for independence.

Spain’s central government has dissolved the Catalan parliament, dismissed the Catalan government, and imposed direct rule following the region’s unilateral declaration of independence on October 27th.

This followed a self-determination referendum which the Spanish authorities deemed illegal and attempted to shut down violently, with the blessing of the European Union’s ruling bodies.

Carles Puigdemont, Catalonia’s ex-president — or president-in-exile, depending on your point of view — had given some indication that he would ignore Madrid’s attempts to terminate his administration and remain in post, but fled to Brussels, Belgium when the authorities closed in.

Several of those who remained behind have been arrested to face charges of rebellion and sedition, with eight former Catalan government ministers and the leaders of the Catalan National Assembly and Omnium Cultural jailed while investigations continue.

Protestors say the detainees are “political prisoners”, and flooded the Avenue Marina to hear speeches from their family members and demand their release.

Puigdemont himself has been subject to a European Arrest Warrant (EAW), a controversial extradition mechanism which requires EU member-states to hand people over to the countries issuing them with little due process.

Spain’s use of the EAW in this case has been controversial, given it was sold to the public as a means of facilitating the extradition of terror suspects and serious criminals, not political opponents.

“To be treated like a criminal, like a drug trafficker, like a paedophile, like a serial killer, I think this is abuse,” Puigdemont commented from Brussels.

(Excerpt) Read more at breitbart.com ...


TOPICS: Constitution/Conservatism; Crime/Corruption; Foreign Affairs; Politics/Elections
KEYWORDS: brink; catalonia; demand; eu
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1 posted on 11/12/2017 3:40:30 PM PST by Enlightened1
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To: Enlightened1
Catalonia
2 posted on 11/12/2017 3:40:58 PM PST by Enlightened1
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To: Enlightened1

3/4 of a million march?

Did I read that right?

That is a whole lot of angry protesters.


3 posted on 11/12/2017 3:44:34 PM PST by tennmountainman ("Prophet Mountainman" Predicter Of All Things RINO...for a small fee.)
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To: tennmountainman

That is what it says.


4 posted on 11/12/2017 3:45:47 PM PST by Enlightened1
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To: tennmountainman

“That is a whole lot of angry protesters.”

Imagine if they had guns.

L


5 posted on 11/12/2017 3:46:50 PM PST by Lurker (President Trump isn't our last chance. President Trump is THEIR last chance.)
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To: Enlightened1

If the Catalans want to secede from Spain, they’re going to have to raise an army and fight a Second Spanish Civil War. Voting and demonstrating is not going to cut it. They should either fight or STFU.


6 posted on 11/12/2017 3:49:19 PM PST by Repeal 16-17 (Let me know when the Shooting starts.)
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To: tennmountainman

We need to do that to the House and Senate!


7 posted on 11/12/2017 3:53:55 PM PST by dforest
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To: Repeal 16-17

How should conservatives be reacting to this attempt at succession? What are the implications for believers in free markets and traditional values?


8 posted on 11/12/2017 3:57:40 PM PST by Socon-Econ
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To: Repeal 16-17
"If the Catalans want to secede from Spain, they’re going to have to raise an army and fight a Second Spanish Civil War.

I just don't understand what's going on there.... I need to know where the mooslams are in all of this so I can rout against them..!

9 posted on 11/12/2017 3:58:06 PM PST by unread (Joe McCarthy was right.......)
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To: unread

The Muslims are for Spain and against the Catalans break away.

The Catalans do not want the migration because they are afraid they are going to lose their culture.


10 posted on 11/12/2017 4:01:10 PM PST by Enlightened1
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To: Enlightened1
"The Catalans do not want the migration because they are afraid they are going to lose their culture."

Thanks... Now I know who to shake my fist at.. :)

11 posted on 11/12/2017 4:08:47 PM PST by unread (Joe McCarthy was right.......)
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To: Enlightened1

That is not the case at all. Catalunya has the largest Muslim population by far compared to the rest of Spain, and they welcome them as “nous Catalans”, new Catalonians. La fundaciò Nous Catalans has been tied to Islamist activities in Catalunya. They are on the side of the secessionists. The major actors in this independence project are the leftists of the ERC (Esquerra Republicana de Catalunya) and the CUP (Candidatura d’Unitat Popular) an organization with roots in ANTIFA.

Here in the U.S. we have a very admirable libertarian streak a mile wide. Judging the Catalan separatists through the lens of our own experience is a mistake. This situation is different.


12 posted on 11/12/2017 4:45:15 PM PST by padubis
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To: unread

That statement is wildly inaccurate.


13 posted on 11/12/2017 4:47:11 PM PST by padubis
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To: padubis

Thank you for that perspective.

To me, if the vote to secede was fair, they should be allowed to leave.


14 posted on 11/12/2017 4:49:44 PM PST by libertylover (Kurt Schlicter: "They wonder why they got Trump. They are why they got Trump")
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To: unread

Don’t ever take a stand on a complex issue bases on a one-liner from an anonymous dude on the internet.


15 posted on 11/12/2017 4:50:43 PM PST by TexasGator (Z)
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To: libertylover

The referendum of Oct.1 was a complete farce. 43% of the electorate participated. The UN refused to provide any personnel to oversee the process, but many observers did come from various European communities and noted the same people voting multiple times. The referendum was even available in the last hours for internet voting with out proof of age or citizenship.


16 posted on 11/12/2017 5:03:17 PM PST by padubis
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To: Enlightened1

The Catalan leaders should be charged with treason.


17 posted on 11/12/2017 5:04:55 PM PST by Captain Jack Aubrey (There's not a moment to lose.)
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To: Enlightened1

The opposite is true.


18 posted on 11/12/2017 5:05:37 PM PST by Captain Jack Aubrey (There's not a moment to lose.)
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To: Captain Jack Aubrey

They’re being charged with sedition and rebellion.


19 posted on 11/12/2017 5:09:08 PM PST by padubis
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To: Socon-Econ

I know nothing about Spain or Catalonia, but another poster has an answer in #10.


20 posted on 11/12/2017 5:10:33 PM PST by Bigg Red (Vacate the chair! Ryan must go. Dump McConnman, too.)
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