Catalonia voted on
1 October 2017

18Oct2017

International reactions to the police repression against the 1-O referendum on independence

Written by CVadmin. Posted in Institutional News, News, Slideshow EN

Several international personalities and organisations have expressed through social networks their reaction to the police action aimed at repressing the referendum on independence of Catalonia.

 

Human Rights organizations and personalities
Heads of Government and State, members of Government
International organizations
Members of the European Parliament (MEP)
Political parties, Parliaments and Members of Parliaments (MP)
Mayors and local governing bodies
Scholars, activits, artists and other manifestos

 

Human Rights organizations and personalities

Go back to menu

· Zeid Ra’ad Al Hussein, UN High Commissioner for Human Rights 

“I am very disturbed by the violence in Catalonia on Sunday.”

· Rigoberta Menchú, Nobel Peace Prize in 1992

“My strong condemnation of the rebuke of the Spanish State against the people of Catalonia in the framework of their right to self-determination.”

“We encourage the international community to speak openly, condemning the violence of the Spanish government against the Catalan people.”

· Nils Muižnieks, Council of Europe Commissioner for Human Rights

“I have received reports about disproportionate use of force against peaceful demonstrators and persons engaged in passive resistance to police action, on the streets and in and around places where such persons intended to vote.”

· Ingibjörg Sólrún Gísladóttir, Director of the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR), called on the Spanish authorities to ensure respect for fundamental freedoms of peaceful assembly and expression

· The Elders, an independent group of global leaders founded by Nelson Mandela working for peace and human rights

“The Elders express their deep concern at the recent violent confrontation in Catalonia and urged both sides to pursue a peaceful resolution through dialogue.”

· Kofi Annan, former UN Secretary-General and Chair of The Elders

“The constitutional crisis that is unfolding in Spain calls for consultation and not confrontation. I urge the Spanish government and the regional government of Catalonia to renew their commitment to a resolution through dialogue. They must find a peaceful path out of this crisis.”

· Amnesty International

“In several cases, the actions of National Police and Civil Guard officers involved excessive and unnecessary use of force, and the dangerous use of riot control equipment, injuring hundreds of peaceful protesters.”

· Salil Shetty, Secretary General, Amnesty International

· Kartik Raj, Western Europe Researcher, HRW

· Miha Lobnik, Advocate of the Principle of Equality (Slovenia)

 

International organizations

Go back to menu

· MERCOSUR Parliament

 

Heads of Government and State, members of Government

Go back to menu

· Charles Michel, Prime Minister of Belgium

· Alexander De Croo, Deputy Prime Minister of Belgium (Flemish Liberals and Democrats)

“Police violence against peacefully civilians to prevent them from voting condemns you. Period.”

· Milo Cerar, Prime Minister of the Republic of Slovenia

· Sauli Niinistö, President of Finland

“Situation in Catalonia looks serious […] Talks must begin.”

· Timo Soini, Minister for Foreign Affairs of Finland

· Marit Berger Røsland, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Norway, expressed concerns about the the violence witnessed in Catalonia

· Linas Antanas Linkevičius, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Lithuania

· Nicola Sturgeon, First Minister of Scotland

· François de Rugy, President of the National Assembly of France 

“Catalonia: we must not seek who is wrong or who is right, we must find a solution. We have to negotiate.”

· Martin Ayrer, Spokesperson of the Czech government

“Terrible images. Is this really 2017 in a member state of the EU?”

· Eli Ben-Dahan, Israeli Deputy Defense Minister

“Spain backs statehood for Palestine – but not Catalonia?”

· Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Uruguay

“The Ministry of Foreign Affairs regrets the events that occurred yesterday in the Autonomous Community of Catalonia.”

 

 

Members of the European Parliament (MEP)

Go back to menu

· Dimitrios Papadimoulis, Greek Member of the European Parliament (MEP) as a member of the European United Left-Nordic Green Left

“Police violence aggravates crisis between Madrid and Barcelona. Political conflicts must be resolved through policy.”

· Cecilia Wikström, Swedish MEP in the European Parliament, representing the Swedish liberal party Liberalerna in the ALDE-group.

“The referendum has degenerated on the Spanish side. It is no longer a matter of independence but of democracy and human rights.”

· Marina Albiol Guzmán, Spanish MEP from Izquierda Unida and responsible for IU Internacional. Spokesman for the IU Delegation in the European Parliament

“Against the repression, the right of self-determination. Today during the plenary session at Strasbourg I advocated that Catalonia will be what its people decide.”

· Petras Auštrevičius, Lithuanian MEP for the Alliance of Liberals and Democrats for Europe Group

“I am disappointed with the current reaction of the leaders of the European Union. It is not enough to say (or not even say) that violence against peaceful people in the last weekend’s referendum was shameful. Shameful are the threats to politicians supporting Catalan independence, shameful are the arrests, the arrogance of the Spanish central government.”

· Martin Schulz, current leader of the Social Democratic Party of Germany (SPD). Former President of the European Parliament

“The escalation in Spain is worrying. Madrid and Barcelona must immediately de-escalate and search for the dialogue.”

· Guy Verhofstadt. President of the Alliance of Liberals and Democrats for Europe

 

Political parties, Parliaments and Members of Parliaments (MP)

Go back to menu

· The Foreign Policy Comisson of the National Assembly of the Republic of Slovenia recommends the Government of Slovenia to, at the level of the EU, advocate for a solution based on dialogue.

· The parliament of Slovenia adopted by unanimity a resolution in support of the right to self-determination.

· The National Assembly of Quebec (Canada)

Quebec’s political parties unanimously adopted a motion condemning the violence and what they called the “authoritarianism” of the Spanish government’s actions in Catalonia, and called for an international mediation.

· The Flemish Parliament (Belgium)

Unanimously approved a resolution on the referendum for independence in Catalonia that “strongly condemns the uncontrolled violence of the Spanish authorities”, and calls for dialogue and proposes that the international community plays a mediating role.

· Frente Amplio party (Uruguay) ruling party of Uruguay condemns Spanish police violence in Catalonia  and calls for dialogue with international mediation

“Absolute rejection of the brutal and disproportionate use of force on the part of the Spanish security forces.”

· Walter Verri, Colorado Party Deputy (Uruguay)

“The repression of Rajoy is disgusting and he is responsible for what happens. Democracy is not fought with blows and sticks. My solidarity with Catalonia.”

· Pablo Barrone, Partido Socialista Deputee (Uruguay)

“Rajoy is responsible for the violence to the Catalan people. Democracy is social coexistence not social barbarism. Solidarity with Catalonia.”

· Dr. Milan Brglez, Speaker of the National Assembly of Slovenia, said that Catalonia has the right to self-determination and announced that it would call the ambassador of Spain to request explanations about the repression.

· Jean-Luc Mélechon, member of the National Assembly of France for La France Insoumise

“The Spanish state lost its composure. The nation can not be a straitjacket. #Catalogne.”

· Leader of the Labour Party, UK

· Rasmus Nordqvist, Member of the Danish Parliament, The Alternative

“Belgium has taken the Catalan referendum to the OSCE and says ‘today we are all Catalans’.”

· Jan Björklund, Leader of the Liberal Party of Sweden

“Violence must be condemned in Catalonia. Madrid has the greatest responsibility. Now a political solution is necessary, not more violence or confrontation.”

· Trine Skei Grande, leader of the Liberal Party of Norway

“The violence of the police in the Catalan referendum will be a loss for Catalonia, Spain and Europe.”

· The Norwegian Green party asks Erna Solberg, Prime Minister of Norway, to condemn Spain for its aggression against Catalonia

· Nikolaj Villumsen, Danish MP

“After the Belgian and Slovenian Prime Ministers condemned violence. What says Lars Løkke Rasmussen (Danish Prime Minister) or Anders Samuelsen (MFA DK).”

· Igor Gräzin, Estonian Member of Parliament for Eesti Reformierakond Party

“Madrid made the referendum legal.”

· Gerry Adams, President of Sinn Féin, called for international mediation on the political situation in Catalonia and strongly condemned the violence carried out by the Spanish state against Catalan voters on Sunday.

· Alex Salmond, Former First Minister of Scotland

· Tiago Barbosa Ribeiro, MP, Socialist Party of Portugal

“Shocked by violence in Catalonia. Shame, Rajoy!”

 

Mayors and local governing bodies

Go back to menu

· Jaunjelgava Municipality (Latvia), has expressed its support for the Catalan municipalities and people to decide in a democratic, political way about their future. The Jaunjelgava Municipality has also called on other municipalities in Latvia to express their solidarity and support to the people of Catalonia and its legal representatives “on the road to independence”.

· Rémy Pagani, Mayor of Geneva, in his speech at the consulate of Spain on the occasion of Spain’s national day:

“Sending police units to confront manu militari with people who vote and prevent them from doing so is a manifest political fault… Unity cannot be procrastinated from above … it must come from below to be democratic… Would not it be prudent for the Spanish government to accept this gesture of goodwill and take a step towards dialogue instead of threatening with article 155?”

· Amanda Gavilanes, Geneva city councilor

· The Office of the Police and Crime Commissioner for North Wales sends a letter of condemnation to the Spanish Ambassador regarding the suppression of Catalan citizens by Spanish State

 

Scholars, activits and artists

Go back to menu

· Julian Assange, founder of WikiLeaks

· Dozens of Portuguese intellectuals and activists have subscribed to a manifesto in which they criticize what they consider to be the “police repression” exercised by the Spanish order forces

· J. K. Rowling, British novelist and screenwriter

· Jimmy Wales, Founder of @Wikipedia

· Björk, Icelandic singer, songwriter

· Morrissey, English singer and songwriter

“Free Catalonia from Spain.”

· Prof. Steve Hanke, Applied Economist at Johns Hopkins University

· Manifesto ‘Request of support to the Catalan people’ (Slovenia)

More than 3,300 politicians and personalities from Slovenia have signed the manifesto “Request of support to the Catalan people”. The signers urge “the institutions of the European Union to do everything in their power” to help promote a dialogue between Catalan and Spanish authorities and “acknowledge the results of the referendum in which 90% of the voters voted in favour of the independence.” The first signatories of the Manifesto are Milan Kučan, first President of Slovenia; Dimitrij Rupel, former prime minister; and the intellectual Spomenka Hribar.

· Manifesto ‘Catalonia: it’s a European issue’ (Italy)

The Italian manifesto “Catalonia: it’s an European issue”, signed by twenty personalities from the left-wing, “condemns the violence of the National Police and the Guardia Civil against the defenceless Catalans on Sunday 1 October” and demands that “the political responsibility of the aggression is clarified.”

· Mexican intellectuals and politicians demand the release of the two leaders of pro-independence organisations ANC, Jordi Sànchez, and Òmnium, Jordi Cuixart, and defend the respect of Human Rights

Subscribe to our Newsletter

Social networks

News

Background

The 27S2014 vote

Debate