Friends of Catalonia
Tel: 07986 085162
Email: friendsofcataloniaengland@gmail.com
[Letter sent to The Guardian 27 October 2017]
We, the undersigned, register our opposition to the Spanish Government of Mariano Rajoy implementing Article 155 of the Spanish Constitution, following the vote in the Catalan Parliament for a declaration of independence.
The actions of the Spanish government in sending in the Civil Guards and National Police to smash their way into polling stations, to seize ballot boxes and attack voters in an effort to stop the 1 October Catalan referendum; its jailing of Jordi Sánchez, the president of the Catalan National Assembly (ANC), and Jordi Cuixart, the president of Òmnium Cultural, on charges of sedition; and its decision to implement Article 155 of the Spanish Constitution revoking Catalonia’s Statute of Autonomy, represents the most serious attack on democracy in Western Europe in recent years. Catalan language media outlets are threatened with closure and web sites shut down.
For Catalans this is the most serious attack on their rights since the death of General Franco in 1975. The actions of the Spanish state have awoken bitter memories of his dictatorship when the Catalan language was banned in public and from use in places of education.
Friends of Catalonia has been formed to help defend Catalan democracy and civil rights. We are concerned that following the implementation of article 155, the Spanish government will intensify its repressive measures. We therefore demand that the British government and the European Union seek immediate assurances that legal measures will not be used to punish any organisation or individual for activities in connection with the referendum.
We have different positions on whether Catalonia should be independent but believe that is a matter for the Catalans to decide democratically and peacefully.
We abhor the silence of both the British government and the European Union on this attack on Catalonia’s democracy.
We will work closely with the Catalan National Assembly (England) and Catalans UK, the two main organisations among the Catalan community here, and help build their protests and activities in support of democracy in Catalonia. Please email us at friendsofcataloniaengland@gmail.com to add your name in support.
Professor David Whyte, University of Liverpool
Chris Bambery, author of A People’s History of Scotland and co-author of Catalonia Reborn (March 2018)
Professor Gilbert Achcar, SOAS, University of London
Tariq Ali, writer and broadcaster
Professor David Miller, University of Bath
Dr Feyzi Ismail, School of Oriental and African Studies
Professor Gregor Gall, University of Bradford
Lindsey German, Convenor Stop the War Coalition (Personal Capacity)
Dr Andrew Dowling, author of The Rise of Catalan Independence: Spain's Territorial Crisis
Professor Bill Bowring, Birkbeck College, University of London
Dr John Rees, author of The Leveller Revolution
Russell Mclean, Convenor London Scottish National Party Branch (Personal Capacity)
Dr Albena Azmanova, University of Kent, Author of the Scandal of Reason: a Critical Theory of Political Judgment
Dr Emily Hart, University of Liverpool
Pura Ariza, MMU UCU Equality Officer
Sean Wallis, UCL UCU Vice President, UCU NEC member
Prof Des Freedman, Goldsmiths, University of London
Dr Mark Davis, Associate Professor of Sociology, University of Leeds
Dr David Scott, The Open University
Dr Niall Whelehan, University of Strathclyde
Prof Andrew Watterson (personal capacity)
Professor Ronnie Lippens, Keele University
Prof Michael Lavalette, Liverpool Hope University
Dr Oscar Berglund, University of Bristol
Professor Emeritus, Phil Scraton, Queen’s University
Louise Kowalska ILTUS alumni Ruskin University
Dr Will Jackson, Liverpool John Moores University
Hannah Wilkinson, Keele University
Prof Joe Sim, Liverpool John Moores University
Dr. Stefanie Khoury, University of Liverpool
Dr. Pablo Ciocchini, University of Liverpool
Dr Rizwaan Sabir, Liverpool John Moores University
Dr James Phillips, University of Glasgow
Dr Michael Harrison University of South Wales
Dr Sofa Gradin, King’s College London
Prof Steve Tombs, The Open University
Pro Alan Johnson (personal capacity)
Elaine Graham-Leigh, Author of The Southern French Nobility and the Albigensian Crusade
