Separatist Protesters and Pro-Independence Trade Unions, are taking part in a general strike in the Catalonia Region of Spain on Friday—following many days of violent protests in the region.
In the past four days, thousands of young protesters have been clashing with the Spanish Police, after the Supreme Court convicted twelve Catalan Separatists for illegally promoting independence in a referendum two years ago. Nine were found guilty of sedition and given prison sentences (between 9-13 years).
Thousands are marching cross-country to Barcelona, in order to join the general strike, as protesters set up blockades on highways and disrupt the Commuter Rail Service by walking on the train tracks.
According, to the U.S. Overseas Security Advisory Council (OSAC), which has been monitoring the situation: “Demonstrations are also likely to disrupt roads leading into Barcelona, especially from various towns throughout the region, including marches on major highways from Tarragona, Tàrrega, Berga, Vic, and Girona. In addition to clashing with Law Enforcement, protesters in some areas have disrupted Public Transportation, damaged traffic lights, as well as, obstructed rail lines and road access to the Barcelona Airport.”
The strike was actually scheduled for earlier in the month on October 11th and later moved to the 18th, in order to coincide with the Supreme Court’s verdict.
The two Trade Unions, Intersindical-CSC and Intersindical Alternativa de Catalunya (IAC) who called the strike, say their aim is to demand an increase of the minimum wage and to denounce recent Labour Legislative Reforms, perceived as harmful to workers.
“We want to denounce the rights that workers have seen fade away in the past few years and demand that they’re given back” spokeswoman Assumpta Barbens of IAC explained. “The Strike is ours, the context is not” insisted Carles Sastre the General Secretary of Intersindical-CSC, underlining the fact that labour rights are still central to this protest.
Why was Barcelona on fire in the first place?
Tensions between Catalonia and the Spanish Central Government have been rising since Monday, when Spain’s Supreme Court sentenced nine Politicians and Activists with up to 13 years in jail, over their role in a failed 2017 Independence bid.
The sentencing set off protests across the region, with demonstrators at times clashing with Police. The Barcelona Town Hall said 400 garbage/trash bins were set ablaze during protests on Wednesday and that the City had suffered damage totaling more than a Million Euros in two days.
Pro-Independence Leaders went ahead with a 2017 Referendum on Independence, despite it being deemed illegal by Spanish Courts, followed by a declaration that the region was breaking away from Spain.
Madrid responded by seizing control of the Catalonian Administration and putting the ringleaders on trial.
