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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

what the jeff is going on in Catalunia?

253 replies

ludothedog · 01/10/2017 08:58

whether the vote is legitimate or not, for goodness sake, is deploying riot police to remove voters/protesters the right way? Terrible, Just terrible.

Can you imagine what would have happened if riot police were deployed to stop the Scottish independence referendum?

Surely by denying the Catalan people the vote all they will do is galvanise support for independence?

OP posts:
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6
LurkingHusband · 01/10/2017 15:38

Then on the day of the vote, the London government sends in the Army

BoJo as the ultimate Churchill tribute act ?

Whisky2014 · 01/10/2017 15:41

This insane. I've just seen footage of police beating people who are just standing peacefully protesting. Chucking women down the stairs and trodden on peolle. One police guy jumped from a higher up step to land on a guys face as if he thinks he's a WWE wrestler. What they should have done is just them them vote. I can't believe what I am seeing.

PoppyPopcorn · 01/10/2017 15:47

There were tanks sent to George Square (centre of Glasgow ) in 1919

And? That's 98 years ago.

Lokisglowstickofdestiny · 01/10/2017 15:48

Just been looking at some of the videos on Twitter, utterly disgusting behaviour by the Police. Wading into crowds of people sitting on the ground singing with batons and rubber bullets (no kids being used as shields), old people blood pouring from head wounds, people being pushed down stairs by these uniformed thugs. Firefighters being beaten up for trying to protect the people. All these people want to do is put a mark on a piece of paper - why are the Spanish Govt so frightened of this? Just see FC Barcelona having asked for their match against Las Palmas to be postponed (football league refused) have issued a statement condoning the violence and saying the game will be played behind closed doors.

Aunti · 01/10/2017 16:01

can't believe what I am seeing
You're seeing totalitarian tactics used against peaceful people trying to exercise their democratic rights.
I never thought I would see such a thing in mainland Europe.

I thought Stalin/Franco/Hitler tactics had been consigned to history. :(

LurkingHusband · 01/10/2017 16:16

I thought Stalin/Franco/Hitler tactics had been consigned to history

except most people don't really know much history. Hence it's being repeated.

Maryz · 01/10/2017 16:34

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Justanotherlurker · 01/10/2017 16:38

Isn't the whole think pointless, even if the police weren't attacking people all over the place?

Yes it is, but the police are way out of order and I suppose we just have to wait now and see what the "result" is and if it spirals.

amousehaseatenmypaddlingpool · 01/10/2017 16:38

@Maryz

Whether or not it's pointless, this level or violence is horrifying for a present day EU country, surely?

topicOfTheDay · 01/10/2017 16:38

@TooManyPaws

But you understand that it's the rest of the union that pays for your health care though, right?

If I had had a vote (being English), I would have kept voted to keep the union but mostly to avoid a humanitarian crisis North of the border.

Maryz · 01/10/2017 16:48

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

CarlessFandango · 01/10/2017 16:58

@TopicoftheDay

"But you understand that it's the rest of the union that pays for your health care though, right?

If I had had a vote (being English), I would have kept voted to keep the union but mostly to avoid a humanitarian crisis North of the border."

I'm sorry, WHAT?! Confused

Please not the "England subsidises Scotland" nonsense again!

Re. Catalonia - what has been interesting here in Scotland is watching Unionists tying themselves in knots trying to justify the actions of the Spanish Civil Guard. Also interesting to note how quiet our shameful media was about the whole situation.

LurkingHusband · 01/10/2017 17:02

Basque

I was told that the Basque region is culturally, genetically, and linguistically unique in Europe Hmm.

lalalalyra · 01/10/2017 17:04

The lack of media coverage of this this week has been awful.

It just show how easy it was to keep things from people in the day before social media.

LurkingHusband · 01/10/2017 17:05

It just show how easy it was to keep things from people in the day before social media

I think it shows how easy it is to keep things from people with social media ...

BeyondNoone · 01/10/2017 17:13

God this is disgusting. How the hell have I not seen it in the news?! (I have been ill, before I blame the papers...)

Justanotherlurker · 01/10/2017 17:19

The lack of media coverage of this this week has been awful.

There has been media coverage, it was all over the news that this referendum was deemed illegal, it was also over the news that Catalonia was declaring it binding, plus all yesterday there was coverage of people sleeping in tents all night waiting to vote.

The reason it has blown up is because of the violence, the actual background has been reported on, just because it isn't spoon fed doesn't mean that its not. It was treated the same as the many referendums that has happened before in Catalonia. But the reporting ramped up quite a lot when they said it would be binding and the ruling of it being illegal, hence the shit show we have today.

It's almost taboo in spain to talk about the territorial organisations, but it has been reported on

Justanotherlurker · 01/10/2017 17:25

That was just 2 instances, there are many many more.

Aunti · 01/10/2017 17:30

The lack of media coverage of this this week has been awful.

It just show how easy it was to keep things from people in the day before social media.

Quite, but the MSM/Powers that be, generally tells the public what they want the public to know.
Here's a vid about infiltrating Antifa in the USA and how the MSM are not interested in the truth because it does not suit their narrative.

In the past we were much more easily manipulated. Social media somewhat balances that. Somewhat...

astoundedgoat · 01/10/2017 17:36

I've been following the Assange/Russian bot thing - I'm here in Barcelona at the moment, and have come across a number of the polling stations today (by lunchtime all peaceful, as least where I was, but with substantial police presence) but it really disturbs me that Russia - which loves nothing more than sowing division in the EU - is supporting this so energetically and insidiously.

Whether or not it is right that Catalunya gains independence, it is astonishing that Madrid should have handled this referendum so cack-handedly - this behaviour on its own is driving people to the polls, but I wish Assange and Russia weren't wading in too.

LassWiTheDelicateAir · 01/10/2017 17:43

what has been interesting here in Scotland is watching Sturgeon piggybacking on to this and ensuring that if there were an independent Scotland Spain will veto its entry into the EU.

As a Unionist I agree with MaryZ - this "referendum" has as much legitimacy as if Sinn Fein called one in Northern Ireland. The state violence is terrible but this "referendum" is illegitimate.

OhYouBadBadKitten · 01/10/2017 17:44

I agree astounded. Madrid have handled this astonishingly badly but when you have Assange supporting and stirring, you have to ask yourself, what have Russia got to gain from this? - they are supporting anything that helps destabilise Europe and the States.

ItsAllGoingToBeFine · 01/10/2017 17:59

The state violence is terrible but this "referendum" is illegitimate

By using "but" you are suggesting that the violence is somehow inevitable. Even if the referendum is illegitimate, to should have been allowed to run. What has happened is inexcusable. It is worth noting that no voters were also helping the polling stations stay open etc. If the Catalonians want to leave that is their choice, equally if they want to remain. Self-determination is an important principle and as a democratic country the referendum should have been allowed. What is going to happen now if the Catalonians UDI? Civil war?

Maryz · 01/10/2017 18:06

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.