URU, Alm.del - 2017-18 - Bilag 19: Henvendelse af 23. oktober 2017 fra Cataloniens regerings delegation i Danmark og de nordiske lande om situationen i Catalonien

Udenrigsudvalget 2017-18
URU Alm.del Bilag 19
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BRIEFING #6

Last Sunday, 1

October 2017, the Catalan people cast their vote in a

referendum

on self-determination.

The provisional results offer the following information:



As far as turnout is concerned, 2,262,424 ballots were cast.

2,020,144 of voters (90.09%) backed independence, while 176,565 people

(7.87%) voted against it. Provisional results indicate 45,586 blank votes

(2.03%) and 20,129 void ballots (0.89%).

The voting took place in 2,243 polling stations across the 948 municipalities of

Catalonia. Registered citizens permanently residing abroad were able to vote

by post.

The voting took place under the scrutiny of over 100 international electoral

visitors as well as 37 observers from two international electoral observation

missions deployed across the country.



Unfortunately, the day was marked by the actions of

Spanish police forces

obstruct the voting and repress with violence those who were trying to take part in it.



Spanish police stormed polling stations in 92 municipalities. Some 400 polling

stations were closed and ballot boxes confiscated, effectively hampering the

right to vote of some 770,000 citizens.

As a result of the indiscriminate violence and the use of rubber bullets, tear

gas and violent charges against peaceful citizens gathered in front of polling

stations, 893 people were injured.

Spanish police took control of the Catalan technology and communications

centre in an attempt to disable the software connecting polling stations and

disrupt the voting. In doing so, over 30 services (including websites, apps and

official registries) of the Catalan administration were disconnected.



These developments have triggered another wave of

reactions from international

institutions and organisations

condemning the use of violence against those who

were merely attempting to exercise their right to vote. Among these, it is worth

highlighting the statements issued by the UN High Commissioner on Human Rights

(see

here)

and several rapporteurs and independent experts of his Office (see

here),

the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (see

here),

OSCE’s Office for

Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (see

here)

or the one by Amnesty

International (see

here).

Following the violent events of 1

October, the Catalan Government issued an

immediate

call on both the Spanish Government and EU institutions to engage

URU, Alm.del - 2017-18 - Bilag 19: Henvendelse af 23. oktober 2017 fra Cataloniens regerings delegation i Danmark og de nordiske lande om situationen i Catalonien

in a dialogue or mediation

to avoid further escalation. In their public appearances in

three consecutive days, the Spanish Prime Minister (on 1

October), the Deputy

Prime Minister (on 2

October) and the King of Spain (on 3

October

–

see

here),

dismissed all calls for dialogue while restating their resolve to use all means

necessary to ensure full obedience to the law. Yet again, in a televised address on 4

October, the President of Catalonia insisted in his call to dialogue and mediation (see

here),

a call which was immediately dismissed by the Spanish Deputy Prime Minister.

Against this backdrop, yesterday, the Catalan Parliament called a session for Monday

October to debate the result and effects of the referendum. Today, the Spanish

Constitutional Court ordered its suspension. This comes at a time when the chief of

the Catalan police and the leaders of two pro-independence civil society

organisations will have to appear before the Spanish High Court tomorrow accused of

sedition.

As expressed on numerous occasions, the Catalan Government firmly believes that

the ultimate purpose of the Law is the defence of rights and freedoms

–especially

those of minorities- and it should never be instrumentalised to restrict them or to

repress political positions or ideologies. Thus, the Government of Catalonia remains

fully convinced that, in democratic societies, the resolution of political disagreements

requires that all parties involved engage in and commit to a genuine dialogue and

negotiation.

Barcelona, 5

October 2017

This is the last of the series of briefings devoted to the Catalan referendum on

self-determination.