International Trial Watch Warns of Irregularities in the Independence Trial

International Trial Watch, an organization which is monitoring the trial against the Catalan political prisoners over the 2017 referendum, warned on Monday that the Spanish Supreme Court hadn’t admitted “crucial” evidence about the Catalan leaders which would clearly undermine the defendant’s rights to a proper legal defense.

In a press release via Twitter, International Trial Watch has explained that the outcome of the past week will be presented by 6 observers: William Mozdzierz, member of the American Bar Association; Dominique Nogueres, president of the French League of Human Rights; Alexandre Faro, advocate and member of the International Federation of Human Rights; Frédéric Ureel, advocate and member of European Democracy Advocates; Fabio Marcelli, lawyer of the European Association Lawyers for Democracy & World Human Rights; and Javier Pérez Royo, professor of Constitutional Law of the University of Seville.

➡ The accusations do not take into account that the actions of the defendants may be covered by fundamental rights. If so, it would not be possible at the same time that the accused had committed a crime.

The observers have remarked that the accusations “do not have in mind that the acts of the accusers could have violated their fundamental rights.” “If that were the case, it would not be possible at the same time that the accused had committed any crime,” they added.

The platform also warned that it would examine”procedural anomalies” related to the court not suspending the trial to incorporate documentation that the defenders do not dispose of and if the accusation may have “violated procedures.”

International Trial Watch has verified that the Supreme Court has not reserved a room for the observers, which has led “hours of queues” to the portal to access the room. In addition, they have remembered that on the first day of trial, far-right Vox sympathizers “organized the queue and distributed numbers of entry;” days later the police did it.

The observers have estimated that approximately 40 people can enter as public. For this reason, International Trial Watch has reiterated to the court the need to reserve places in the room for observers. 

 

Upcoming Protests against the Ongoing Trial of the Catalan Political Prisoners and Leaders over the 2017 Independence Referendum

February 16: Unitary Mass Demonstration in Barcelona

The first major event will be held in Barcelona on Wednesday, February 16,  four days after the start of the trial. The march will start at 5 pm at Spain Square and will follow the Gran Via to University Square. The organizers expect massive attendance, with numbers reaching historic levels. In order to guarantee a massive attendance, the ANC, Òmnium and other organizations will offer bus trips across Catalonia to anyone who wants to attend the demonstration.

February 21: General Strike

The organizers expect to be able to paralyze the whole country and this could also be the beginning of major permanent protests, which could paralyze the country indefinitely until the Catalan Republic is implemented and the Catalan political prisoners are released. The Catalan trade Union Intersindical -CSC has officially called for this strike, though it has the support of all pro-independence and some federal parties and organizations. According to the law, strikes for political purposes are illegal. For this reason, the Intersindical -CSC maintains that the strike is strictly for reasons related to labor: to protest against the labor reform of 2012, which will have its seventh anniversary on February 10; to claim a minimum salary of 1,200 euros per month; and to recover the social laws of the Parliament of Catalonia suspended by the Spanish Constitutional Court.

March 16: Unitary Demonstration in Madrid

 One month after the unitary demonstration in Barcelona, another will take place in Madrid. So, on March 16, independentists and some federalists will be mobilized in the same city where the former Catalan government is going to be judged over the 2017 independence referendum. The demonstration will start at 6 pm; the route has not yet been announced.

 Around the world

 These are just the main rallies in Spain. The pro-independence organization ANC’s international branches are also planning almost 30 protests in different European countries and even one in the US on February 12th, the day the trial against the Catalan political prisoners and leaders will begin.

 

 

 

Catalan Trade Union Intersindical-CSC Calls for General Strike on February 7

The Catalan trade union Intersindical-CSC calls for a general strike in Catalonia on February 7. The strike, which will apply to all workplaces in the country, both public and private, will be held a few days before the trial against the Catalan political prisoners begins.

Although the real motive for the strike is to protest against the trial of the Catalan political prisoners, officially the Intersindical-CSC has announced it will demand the complete repeal of the 2012 labor reforms, a minimum Catalan wage of 1,200 euros per month, the reinstatement of the social laws that were approved by Parliament  but  stopped by the Constitutional Court, full gender equality in work centers, and progress towards a model of improved quality of public functions, along with decent working conditions, amongst other issues. The Intersindical-CSC thereby reaffirms the reasons why it called a two-hour strike on December 21 and now calls for a second round of the action.

Sergi Perelló, spokesman for the Intersyndical-CSC: “The actions of the Spanish State, including its judiciary, may affect the lives of the people of this country, both for their living conditions and for the deprivation of freedom, but the strike the strike is motivated by the desire for better jobs.”

The pro-independence organizations and political parties National Catalan Assembly (ANC), Ómnium Cultural, CUP, JxCat, ERC, Demòcrates, USTEC, Sindicat d’Estudiants dels Països Catalans (SEPC), and other pro-independence organizations support the strike. On the other hand, Catalunya en Comú Podem (CeC) has not yet taken a position on the strike. It will decide in the next few days whether or not to support it.

President Torra calls for permanent mobilization: “It seems perfect to me that there are organizations that believe that this day should be a strike. I’m also insisting, as you know, from the September conference that I did at the National Theater, in need of a march for the civil, social and national rights of this country, and of permanent mobilization. Therefore, more than ever, I think that now, before this trial, and attending to what Jordi Cuixart always tells us, it is not only the ‘I accuse,’ but the ‘I mobilize myself’.”