We visit Spain on holidays all the time, as it is our favourite destination. People are friendly, climate is mild and Spain is on our doorstep, only some two hours' flight time. But this time we were caught right in the middle of Catalonia's referendum, their struggle for independence, in line with the aspiration of the Scottish people.
The main difference is that while our democracy is strong enough to let Scottish people decide their future in a fair and election, Spanish police tried to suppress their aspiration by brutal force, we witnessed first hand. It was akin to lathi charge on peaceful demonstrators led by Mahatma Gandhi during quit India movement, injuring some 900 people standing in a queue to express their democratic right to vote. This was the worse police brutality since the Franco regime who came to power after the most brutal civil war in Europe's history, with some half a million casualty.
EU led by Germany and France maintained undignified silence, as unity of EU is more important to them than the freedom, democracy and people's aspiration, unless Britain, US and Russia are the culprit.
Speaking to Spanish people in their own language and studying opinion poll, it was clear that by a tiny majority, Catalonia's will reject independence. But the hostility by Spanish government, use of brutal force and general hostility towards Catalonians people changed the political scenario, people opting for independence by a vast majority, although due to police smashing polling stations, beating up and dispersing queues, only 42 percent were able to caste their votes.
The next few months will decide the future of Spain and EU's credibility. For once Brexit may take a back seat, Catalonia hugging the headlines.
Bhupendra B. Gandhi
By email
