BARCELONA:Separatist Catalan leaders yesterday called on the Spanish government to enterinto talks as Barcelona braced for fresh violence after days of clashes betweenpolice and protesters. Nearly 200 people were hurt in another night of clasheswith radical separatists hurling rocks and fireworks at police who respondedwith tear gas and rubber bullets.
A hardcoremovement of young separatists, Arran, called for a new demonstration"against repression" for 1600 GMT in central Barcelona. "Weexhort the head of the government to fix today a day and hour to sit with usfor unconditional talks," regional president Quim Torra said in a speech.His demand for "unconditional" negotiations, addressed to SpanishPrime Minister Pedro Sanchez, appeared to be aimed at ensuring that areferendum on independence, currently a non-starter for Madrid, is up fordiscussion.
The Spanishgovernment responded by saying it had "always been open to dialogue in theframework of respect for the law". In a statement, it also called on Torrato condemn the violence, "which he has not done so far". Barcelonahas been rocked all week by protests against a Spanish court's jailing of nineseparatist leaders on sedition charges over a failed independence bid.
Emergencyservices said yesterday that 152 people were injured in overnight clashes inBarcelona, and dozens more hurt elsewhere in Catalonia, taking the total to182. Authorities had already reported 500 injured since protests started Mondayeven before the latest clashes erupted. The interior ministry said 83 peoplewere detained in the overnight violence, in addition to 128 arrests police hadreported previously.
Smell of burning
"This can'tgo on, Barcelona does not deserve this," said Ada Colau, the city'sleftist mayor yesterday, condemning "all kinds of violence". Air inthe Catalan capital was heavy with a burning stench as municipal workerscleared the streets of broken glass, rocks and rubber bullets, and repairedpavements where bricks had been ripped out. "All this is very sad, and isnot helping our cause," said Assumpcio Segui, a 75-year oldpro-independence pensioner. Torra urged demonstrators to remain calm, saying"the defense of rights and freedoms must always be expressedpeacefully."
Around half amillion people had rallied in Barcelona on Friday in the biggest gatheringsince Monday's court ruling as separatists also called a general strike in themajor tourist destination. While most marchers appeared peaceful, hordes ofyoung protesters went on the rampage near the police headquarters, igniting ahuge blaze that sent black smoke into the air as police fired teargas todisperse them, an AFP correspondent said. Other fires broke out near Plaza deCatalunya at the top of the tourist hotspot Las Ramblas, where hundreds ofdemonstrators had rallied to defy the police.
'Our streets'
"Anti-fascistCatalonia!" they roared. "The streets will always be ours!"Police vans fanned out around the city, sirens screaming as regional policewarned people in a message in English on Twitter "not to approach"the city centre. Thousands of "freedom marchers" from five regionaltowns arrived in Barcelona for the rally, which coincided with a general strike.That prompted the cancellation of flights and the closure of shops, businessand top tourist attractions, including the Sagrada Familia basilica. Public transport slowed to a trickle in aregion that accounts for about a fifth of Spain's economic output. Activistsalso cut off Catalonia's main cross-border highway with France.
'No surrender'
In downtownBarcelona, luxury shops were closed on the Paseo de Gracia, with blackened,charred patches a reminder of the nightly clashes that have raged sinceMonday. Retired lawyer Jaume Enrichcalled the Spanish court ruling "the straw that broke the camel'sback". "Madrid is puttingSpanish unity above everything, including basic rights," he told AFP,wearing a badge saying "No surrender".
Spain's Clasicopostponed
With the regionmired in chaos, football authorities cancelled the Barcelona and Real MadridClasico set for October 26 at the Camp Nou stadium. Both clubs had reportedlyrefused an offer to hold the match in Madrid. The Supreme Court's explosivedecision has thrust the Catalan dispute to the heart of the political debate asSpain heads towards a fourth election in as many years, which is to be held onNovember 10. - AFP