Tags

, , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

The Spanish attorney general demands international arrest warrant against dismissed Catalan president and 4 ministers in Belgium“, catalannews.com tweet.

Even though the situations are incomparable, to show just how disproportionate this is, the President of the Confederate States of America only spent 2 years in jail and was never put on trial, even though this was the bloodiest American war, by far, and costly. Spain wants to sent the Catalan officials to jail for up to 30 years simply for holding a referendum vote and declaring independence, after Spain pushed it in a corner by threatening to take over the regional Catalan government. Spanish PM Rajoy’s party (PP) was founded by Francoist-fascists and is on trial for corruption (ruling on November 10th) and it shows.

Spain’s attorney, Miguel Ángel Carballo demanded that eight Catalan ministers be sent to prison without bail. They were sent to five different prisons in the Madrid area.

The officials are: Oriol Junqueras, Raül Romeva, Dolors Bassa, Carles Mundó, Jordi Turull, Josep Rull, Meritxell Borràs, and Joaquim Forn. One who resigned is out on bail. Spanish Judge Carmen Lamela heard the case from 10am to noon on November 2nd. See: “Eight deposed Catalan ministers sent to prison without bail , Spain’s National Court sets bail at €50,000 for former Business minister” 02 November 2017 04:54 PM by ACN, Barcelona http://catalannews.com/politics/item/spanish-prosecutor-requests-prison-without-bail-for-deposed-catalan-ministers

The hearing was apparently postponed for a second group of Catalan officials (apparently 6 officials):
Hearing for Catalan Parliament bureau postponed, police surveillance ordered
Supreme Court sets November 9 as new date after defense lawyers claim that they did not have enough time to prepare
“, 02 November 2017 12:52 PM by ACN, Barcelona, http://catalannews.com/politics/item/hearing-for-catalan-parliament-bureau-postponed-police-surveillance-ordered

Recall that “15 Catalan Officials In Madrid Courts Today; 5 Others Ask To Testify From Brussels; Madrid Judge Shaking Down Officials For Over 6 Million Euros (Over $7 Million) Bail” See: https://miningawareness.wordpress.com/2017/11/02/some-catalan-officials-in-madrid-court-today-others-ask-to-testify-from-brussels-madrid-judge-shaking-down-officials-for-over-6-million-euros-over-7-million-bail/

Work stoppages held across Catalonia in protest of judicial process against dismissed Catalan officials: This is the third work stoppage since the October 1 referendum, as workers briefly take to the streets to express their indignity“. http://catalannews.com/society-science/item/work-stoppages-held-across-catalonia-in-protest-of-judicial-process-against-dismissed-catalan-officials

Although the Catalan situation is not comparable because Catalan is a nation-state, as traditionally understood, i.e. sharing a (unique) language, history, and culture, which is far, far older than the United States. (Although no one wants to admit, the US is a colonial-settler state.) And, the Catalan referendum and declaration of independence has been peaceful. However, to make the point of disproportionality, although the US Civil War was bloodier than all US wars combined, at least up until the 1980s, the President of the Confederacy was not put on trial for treason, because it was feared that secession might be found to be constitutional. He was sent to jail for two years, but not the 30 which the Catalan government is threatened with. (In 1869 the US Supreme court declared secession unconstitutional). https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jefferson_Davis
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/American_Civil_War#Union_victory_and_aftermath

Updates: