The defiance of free speech in Catalonia // O desafío da liberdade de expresión en Catalunya #indyref #democracy

The results of yesterday in Catalonia are better than expected.  Despite all the boycotts by the far right wing and fascist  organizations and the constant threats from the Spanish Government right up until the last moment, more than 2 million Catalans voted.

Os resultados de onte en Catalunya son mellores do esperados. A pesares de todos os boicots da extrema dereita e dende organizacións fascistas e das constantes ameazas dende o Goberno español ata o último momento, votaron mais de 2 millóns de cidadáns cataláns.

http://english.vilaweb.cat/politics/more-than-two-million-catalans-overcome-the-spanish-prohibitions-and-vote-on-independence 

http://www.theguardian.com/world/2014/nov/10/catalans-vow-push-independence-80-favour-split?CMP=twt_gu 

http://elpais.com/elpais/2014/11/10/inenglish/1415577606_989753.html 

I'm sure many did not vote yesterday for fear of reprisals. Others in anger for not keeping the call for the referendum planned. Remember that the referendum was banned by the Constitutional Court and the Catalan Government improvised this new one,  defined by some as a "fudge"

Estou segura de que moit@s non votaron por medo a represalias. Outros tampouco o fixeron enfadados co Goberno Catalán por non manter o plan orixinal de referendo. Lembrade que este referendo foi prohibido polo Tribunal Constitucional e o Goberno Catalán improvisou este novo, definido por algúns como "chapuza".

There were people in Catalonia who could not vote yesterday due of the lack of electoral rolls. Changes of residence or expired identity documents were some of the reasons why thousands of Catalans did not vote yesterday. Like many other Galicians, I have family who had to emigrate and live in Catalonia. One of my brothers voted and another one couldn't do it. People who are in this situation have now 15 days to resolve the problem. So, we won´t know the final result until after these two weeks.


Houbo xente en Catalunya que non puido votar xa que non habia censo electoral. Os cambios de residencia ou os DNI caducados foron algunhas das razóns para que miles de persoas non puideran exercer o voto. Como moitos outros galegos, teño familia que tivo que emigrar e vive en Catalunya. Un dos meus irmáns, por exemplo, votou mais o outro non puido facelo. A xente que nesta situación ten agora 15 para  resolver este contratempo. Polo tanto, non coñeceremos os resultados definitivos ata dentro de duas semanas.

From my point of view, yesterday's vote in Catalonia was an act of defiance. The Spanish Government could not prohibit free speech. Under constants threats and pressures, more than two million Catalans decided to vote. The next steps from now on will be very important.

Dende o meu punto de vista, o voto de onte en Catalunya foi un acto de rebeldía. O Goberno español non puido prohibir o dereito de liberdade de expresión. Baixo constantes ameazas e presións, mais de dous millóns de Cataláns decidiron votar. Os seguintes pasos a partires de agora van ser moi importantes. 

The message of the President Mas to Europe and the World was quite clear:  "Help us to defend freedom and democracy. We are a minority in Spain (16%) . But we are a nation: we decide our future"

Flanders International Observer

Welsh International Observer

A mensaxe do Presidente Mas a Europa e ao resto do mundo foi moi clara. "Axúdennos a defender a liberdade e a democracia. Somos unha minoría en España (16%), mais somos nacion, nós decidimos o noso futuro"

Many of us wanted to be in Catalonia for this so important event, to show our support and see what was going on.

Organizations and friends from all around the world were there, from Wales, Scotland, Flandes, Quebec, Mali, Britanny, the Basque Country, Corsica, Galiza...

Moitos de nós quixemos estar en Catalunya  durante este importante evento e amosar o noso apoio e observar qué estaba a acontecer. 

Había amigos de arredor do mundo: de Gales, Escocia, Flandes, Québec, Mali, Bretania, Euskal Herria, Córcega, Galiza...

We also had a brief meeting with Christopher Carnie,  our contact in Catalonia for "Solidarity with Scotland". What a joy!
(By the way, have a look a his blog!)

http://serosedseriocat.blogspot.com.es/2014/10/crushing-catalonia.html?spref=fb


Tamén aproveitamos para un breve reencontro con Christopher Carnie, o noso compañeiro da campaña "Solidarity with Scotland" en Catalunya. Que ledicia!
 (Por certo, votade unha ollada ao seu blog!)

We were at an event organized for the EFA (European Free Alliance). Daniel Trup (Parti Québéquoi) spoke about the right of self-determination, the right to decide and about other cases of countries who had had referendums.


Estivemos nun acto organizado pola ALE (Alianza Libre Europea). Daniel Trup (do Partido Quebequiano) falou sobre o dereito de autodeterminación e o dereito a decidir a sobre outros casos de países que tiveron referendos. 

Movements and boycotts were expected, and international observers and the 40.000 volunteers  were a key point this day. In fact, international observers (officials and unofficials) and international solidarity will be very important from now on. Interestingly, Ian Duncan, Conservative MEP was in Catalonia to follow the process.

Movementos e boicots eran esperados e os observadores internacionais e os mais de 40.000 voluntarios foron  a clave do dia. De feito, os observadores internacionais (oficiais e non oficiais)  e a solidariedade internacional serán moi importantes de hoxe en diante. Curiosamente, Ian Duncan, MEP Conservative estivo en Cataluña para seguir o proceso.

http://english.vilaweb.cat/general/scottish-unionist-mep-leads-the-catalan-independe-vote-international-observers-delegation
  

My conclusion:  let's keep our eyes very closely on this process. The Spanish Government needs to be reminded that they have to respect human rights and civil rights and democracy. Not just for Catalonia, but for all of us too, because this affects all the peoples of the Spanish State, Galiza included.

  
A miña conclusión: manteñamos a nosa atención neste proceso. O Goberno español precisa que lle recorden que debe respectar  os dereitos humáns, civiles e a democracia. Non só por Catalunya senón tamén por todos nós, porque esto afecta a todos os pobos do Estado, Galiza incluida.

And here you have a  video made by the people of the Basque Country. Absolutely wonderful. 
E aqui vos deixo un  video feito pola xente do Pais Vasco (Gure Esku Dago). Absolutamente fermoso.