NAZI SALUTES ON STREETS OF CATALONIA
Pro-unity rally turns violent in Catalan capital
HUNDREDS of thousands of Spanish unity supporters descended on Barcelona yesterday to show the voice of the “silenced majority”.
Violence broke out as about 300,000 people in the pro-unity rally were caught up in clashes with Catalan independence supporters.
Although the demonstration was largely good-natured, footage showed violent skirmishes when some fascist-supporting factions of the anti-independence movement gave Nazi salutes.
Others shouted “Viva Franco” as the unionist march sang Viva Espana at the tops of their voices.
In another ugly scene, one group wearing the Spanish flag were filmed lashing out at Catalan police.
The vast numbers of pro-union demonstrators dwarfed the 17,000 pro-independence Catalans who hit the streets to celebrate their president Carles Puigdemont’s declaration of a republic on Friday.
Catalonia’s main opposition party said the region’s “silenced majority” was now speaking.
Most in the crowd yelled angrily for Puigdemont to face prison for declaring independence – an act the Madrid government call illegal. One man raised a black and white skull and crossbones and branded the Catalan leader a “pirate”.
Juan Antonio Gomez, 68, said: “He has not respected constitutional law. He should go to prison.”
Dad Antonio Lopez, 36, said his family felt intimidated and fearful in their pro-independence dominated village 18 miles from Barcelona, and said Puigdemont should pay for inciting rebellion.
He said: “What he has done has had very real effects for us and our lives, we feel afraid because we hold a different view.”
The rally came as the Spanish government suggested the sacked Catalan president could face jail for declaring the region a republic – after holding an “illegal” referendum earlier this month.
He could be arrested as early as today for rebellion – a charge which can carry 30 years behind bars.
Supporters have vowed to form human chains around civic buildings to protect him and other Catalan government officials from arrest.
The sacking of Puigdemont and his cabinet came after Friday’s declaration of independence.
Catalan MPs voted in favour of breaking away on Friday – although opposing MPs boycotted the vote.
Within an hour, Spanish prime minister Mariano Rajoy had applied direct rule to Catalonia, including capital Barcelona.
Thousands of civil servants have vowed not to conform to orders from Madrid.
In a win which many Catalans labelled a symbol of hope, one of the region’s teams, Girona, beat historically nationalist Spanish rivals Real Madrid 2-1 last night.
The match passed without any incident among supporters.