València’s demonstration "the most crowded in recent years”: PP responds with an attack on TV3

In a statement, the Acció Cultural del País Valencià said: "The demonstration on April 24 that toured the streets of Valencia was the most massive mobilization of last year in Valencia. 50,000 people lined the streets in a festive and fun event involving all trade unions, progressive parties and the main cultural and social associations and organizations. The success of the event confirms the correctness of the strategy working unit driven by the convening organizations for the purpose of joining efforts to achieve social majorities them to do any changes specific to the plight suffered by València. Now the regional government has the opportunity to hear the cry of an important sector of the Valencian society, open to dialogue and listen to what we say to the various organizations representing the various areas that now have filled the streets of València . But if the government remains committed to Valencia refuse dialogue, the unitarian work (which on April 24, Valencia saw a tangible result in success on the street) will win new challenges (how to stop the destruction and make Cabanyal possible thanks to half a million signatures, the process of the bill that will allow the legalization of emissions TV3 Valencia). And not only that, but will see an increasing social mobilization during the next year.”

Photos that ACPV have circulated ACPV demonstrate the large number of people who demonstrated. According to the socialist newspaper "El Pais" that there were about 20,000 people and while the local police in 2300. Just see the pictures to see the hoax police controlled by the PP. ACPV also offered links to the media picked up.

The Spanish nationalist PP party response was immediate and has prevented the broadcast of the match Vila-real / Barça by threatening a requirement that Channel 9 has submitted to ACPV. ACPV has issued a note which explains that Channel 9 has the certainty that if they can pick, València viewers choose TV3. Faced with this new attack it must be remembered that the popular initiative “Television without Frontiers" lacksyet 50,000 signatures necessary to reach 500,000.

All radio and TV of the Catalan area now unfied in one

In Països Catalans.tv you can see and hear 20 television channels and in països-catalans.fm you can hear 52 radio stations across the Catalan nation. What the policy has divided the network will join it again. With this motivation were born both webs, encompassing all television and radio stations that broadcast in Catalonia. For instance, you might hear from a single web programming Arrels Ràdio, in northern Catalonia, with a single click and go to listen Alcúdia Radio, broadcasting from the Mallorca island. Both portals are the work of Miquel Marzabal, who explained to directe who wants to put at the disposal of internet media all the Catalan countries, but 'without the constraints imposed on us by government-controlled and censored as of DTT. Portals Païsoscatalans.tv Marzabal inspired and created by Païsoscatalans.fm nederland.fm with, but go far beyond the Netherlands portal to 'transcend all borders and limitations imposed authorities. 'It seems incredible that in 2010 we still be talking this way, but it is', says the author of the portals.
Spain and France with the Catalans have tried more or less as they do with the Tibetans in China or Turkey with the Kurds, "says Marzabal who says' do not even have a violent oppression, oppression we suffer a lot more subtle but without pause.

More than 500.000 people for independence is not a joke

More than half a million Catalans have already voted in any of the fourth waves of questions about the independence of Catalonia that were held in 13.09.2009 (only Arenys de Munt included), 13.12.2009, 28.02.2010 or the last one on 25.04.2010.
Over 90% has voted for the "Yes" to independence. This represents approximately 22% of citizens who were entitled to vote, about 2.3 million, which are all registered to one of the 461 municipalities that have made the query over 16 years and including people from outside Spain. Both cannot vote in the Spanish “official” elections. If we compare the last elections, it is noteworthy that the query without having all the municipalities in the Principality (missing more than half of the census), consultation longer than 4 of the 6-independence political parties are represented in the chamber Catalan, a figure only exceeded CiU and PSOE Queries have mobilized close to 30,000 volunteers who have worked without any monetary remuneration.

The fourth wave of consultation on the independence of Catalonia has managed to mobilize almost 20% of the electorate over 16 years (23% on the official census). In this 25-April 1.327.575 were called to the polls and approximately 250,000 have exercised their right to vote, has become a 92.64% in favor of independence from Spain, only 4 , 84% had not opted for the 2.22% of the votes were white and 0.3%, null.

April 25th, independence’s referendums fourth round

The fourth wave of referendums on independence in catalonia will take place on the 25th April 2010. More than 200 towns are currently organizing their referendum, and 1.5 million of citizens will be eligible voters. Large cities such as Girona, Lleida, Reus and Manresa are included. The capital of the country, Barcelona, has just created its local committee to organize the referendum, which will be held on the 10th April 2011. These referendums are considered the first step towards a large-scale referendum backed by the Catalan Parliament. You can follow the referendums in: http://referendumindependencia.cat/
By other way, as we said yesterday, the València's demonstration took place in the river Turia's city. About 20.000 people followed the march in a big demonstration full of Catalan flags.

Enough is enough in València: We’re Catalan Countries

A civic demonstration will take place in València city on April 24th under the slogan “Enough is enough”. This date remembers the defeat on 1707 which supposed the end of the local freedoms (own language, own laws…). A civic movement formed by cultural and social organizations is under the demonstration. It is formed, for instance, by Acció Cultural del País Valencià (Valencian Country Cultural Action), trade unions or ecologist groups. The defense of Catalan culture is one of the vindication terms but not the one. The defense of El Cabanyal, a Valencian city neighborhood or the stopping of speculation are some of the terms. Spanish nationalist party, PP, tries for many years to destroy El Cabanyal which is a traditional Valencian zone and to build an absolutely new area without any popular soul. The same party has forbidden the Catalan TV (TV3) in Valencian autonomous community or the Republican hymn in a meeting remembering the people killed by the Franco’s regime.
Other activities under the same vindications are to be organized in Dénia, Cullera, Massalavés- l'Alcúdia and the València’s university. By other way, the day before the demonstration an independentist meeting will take place in the Valencian university under the slogan “Som Països Catalans” (We’re Catalan Countries) organized by the Student Union of the Catalan Countries (Sindicat d’Estudiants dels Països Catalans). An independentist block, under the same slogan will march too on Saturday formed by Endavant, Maulets, CAJEI, the trade union COS, SEPC and Alerta Solidària.

St George's day in Catalonia: books, roses and language

Catalan national movement faces a weekend of fierce resistance and mobilizations in front of the forced Spanishisation. The first date is April 23, St. George or Sant Jordi. This festivity is held in Catalonia, both under the Spanish government as to who is in France as a holiday special. St. George is the patron shared between England and Catalonia. The two nations that allied faced, France and Spain in the early eighteenth century. By that war, thanks to the British withdrawal, it was the occupation of Catalonia.

The same day is the lovers's Day in Catalonia (instead of Valentine's Day). To celebrate it the guys give roses to girls and these give books to their partners. The issue of books is important because it is also a day dedicated to promoting great literature books. It is sold almost as many in this day than throughout the year!. The third thing celebrated is the day in defense of the Catalan language. Traditionally this day has served to vindicate the rights of this language harassed by the Spanish and French. On this occasion, for instance it has provided a demonstration in Barcelona called by various separatist movements gathered in the Independence of Barcelonès Left (Esquerra Independentista del Barcelonès) or different events at universities in defense of the language called the Student Union of the Catalan Countries (Sindicat d’Estudiants dels Països Catalans).

The testimony in defense of the Catalan nation happen the next day in Valencia and Vila-real.

Race for the language in the Mallorca's island

On April 17th, the sanctuary of Lluc (Mallorca) hosted the launch of Correllengua 2010. It will travel for three weeks around the streets of the island. Obra Cultural Balear (OCB) and Joves de Mallorca per la Llengua are at the forefront of this running march for the Catalan language. The flame of the language came back to be present on the island after three years of absence and accompanied by a large number of followers. It will travel to different towns in Mallorca on behalf of the defense and promotion of the language. Then a human chain passed from hand to hand the flame, a small sample of the race non-competitive relay in favor of the language, until next May 8 will be experienced in the main streets of the Island. This is the sixth edition of this race.

The ceremony included the reading of a manifesto by the secretary of father prior who emphasized "the importance that the institutions assume leadership of the normalization so that they meet once (…) citizens must commit and grow the Catalan language, living for more than eight centuries."

The chairman of the Obra Cultural Balear, Mateu Joan, stated that "20 days Correllengua be very intense, as presently live in a very delicate moment in the emergence of clear signs of linguistic apartheid." OCB, which has 3,000 members and 28 branches, expanded recently with the campaign of Coffee’s Language. It "has been very successful, because they got spread around 15,000 cups and OCB estimated to have reached 20,000 people”.

"The Guardian" and the most poweful separatist politician

Once again the prestigious British newspaper "The Guardian" looks to Catalan independentism. This time the paper analizes the position of well-known Barça's president, Joan Laporta as well as Reagrupament Independentista. The later is a new association founded with the aim to promote an alliance of separatist people to obtain a Catalan state. Reagrupament has not ideological walls inside, it means that any Catalan independentist is welcomed as well as alliances with other movement. It is not a party in  inself but an idea: the unity of Catalan independentism.  About Laporta the paper says he's: "the most powerful separatist politician".

Northern Catalonia saves Catalan language TV

Finally on March 28 Northern Catalonia received the first digital TV signal in Catalan language. Four channels will be received by the Catalan region nowadays included in the French state. It has been achieved after a long campaign from Northern Catalonia to do not lose the Southern Catalonia channels. It has been a great success because it has not lost the two channels but it wins two more.

The agreement has been reached by tha autonomous government of the South with the northern Catalonian authorities. A similar agreement has been reached in the Balearic Islands too but in València it has been impossible because Spanish unionists are opposited to receive other channels. They prefer to receive only Spanish ones. In spite of these the autonomous Catalonia receives Valencian channels and a big campaign is trying to collect half a milion signatures for a “TV without frontiers”.

International Conference on Self-Determination

CONSEU (Conference of Stateless Nations of Europe) and Udalbiltza, assembly of Basque municipalities, have organized this weekend the International Conference called "Self-determination and diversity in the twenty-first century. Peoples' rights within the framework of human rights". Among the speakers there were three Catalan people:
- Aureli Argemí a veteran activist for the rights of stateless nations from the entity CIEMEN,
- the attorney August Gil Matamala former president of the Association of Democratic Lawyers -- Josep Cruanyes a leading member of the Platform for the Right to decide.
Basque intervention correspond to the Udalbiltza’s president, Loren Arkotxa, the professor Julen Zabalo and Amoroto’s former mayor Marii Ugarterubu.
Apart from Basques and Catalans the conference involved other national delegations. An Irish one from Sinn Féin, a Kurdish one from KNK (Kurdistan Parliament in exile), the lawyer Breton Yann Chouq a long history militant and Rafael Quispe from Bolivia. Quispe heads the Indian national movement called the National Council of Ayllus and Markas from Qollasuyu and has a good relationship with the MAS of Evo Morales. Finally will also intervene William Bowrin lawyer and expert on Eastern Europe self-determinations process. Bowrick is professor at Birkbeck University (London) and President of the European Association of Lawyers for rights and democracy.
 It was a good opportunity to discuss the processes open in the world for the establishment of new states based on national realities. And also to talk about the means of self-determination that is democracy at its purest form. Neither we will remain silent just before the imposition of some undemocratic states. Self-determination is democracy.

Northern Catalonia: only half of the population voted at all

There will be no Catalanist regional councillor at last. While the lists supported by ERC and CDC were defeated at the first round, the second one was won by the Frêche list. Frêche is a racist person who has been expelled from the Socialist Party by his racial comments against Jews, Catalans and Muslims. In spite of these Frêche is well appreciated by the French voters who are the majority in Northern Catalonia as well as in the Occitan region of Langedoc. The final results in Northern Catalonia were:


Frêche 75.442 49,31 %

UMP 46.979 30,70 %

FN 30.581 19.99 %

Being the UMP Sarkozy’s party, supported by Catalan autonomists from Unitat Catalana, and FN,the French Nacional Front, with an imperialist idea of the French state. These results are not the real image of the society because only half of the population voted being the turn out 51,5 %. Only one of two northern-catalonian voted. Is this democracy, at all?.

Reagrupament convened its 2nd assembly with success

On Sunday 21st Reagrupament (Rally) convened its second national assembly in Barcelona. More than a thousand people were present. They confirmed the current borrad, lead by Joan Carretero, with 90% of the vote and was approved a roadmap called “Organizing our future free". This document was griten by 653 Rally members months befote the assembly. Reagrupament presented a Constitution for Catalonia both in Catalan and English languages. It is based in the anglo-saxon model and can be consulted the website of the association.

Joan Laporta was invited to the meeting and he said that independence "is not an utopia, but a matter of survival necessity." The President of the Barcelona described the Catalan need for their own state because the Catalans' would need better hospitals, better roads, better schools. (…) the only form of international recognition is to have our own state because this is how is organized the world."
Unionist press reacted very angry against the assembly with some inusual attacks both in TV as well as in the press. Many unionist journalists attacked with angry the meeting of more than 1.000 democratic independentists but they hide that the unionist president deceived 2.000 old people to pronounce a meeting. Elders were invited to a feast with the lunch payed but they were surprised by Montilla speaking.

European Commission aids with € 12 M to dubbing of films in Catalan

The European Commission approved on Wednesday 24.03.2010 a plan to subsidize with € 12 million dubbing and subtitling of films in Catalan. The plan is in line with European Union rules allowing government aid for the promotion of multilingualism and cultural diversity. According to figures from the Spanish authorities, is doubling every year about 800 films in less than 25 Spanish and Catalan. European institutions have fully supported too the new Catalan government plant to dubbing films in Catalan language. Nowadays about 3 % of the films are in Catalan but the plan tries that half of the films could be dubbed.

Next week there will probably be more good news for the Catalan language in TV.

Laporta praised by “Le Monde”

The prestigious French newspaper includes an article about Joan Laporta. The paper describes the Barça’s president in friendly words and explains his patriotic feelings far from the Spanish press attacks. “Le Monde” doesn't know if Laporta is the “Catalan Kennedy” or the “Catalan Berlusconi” yet but it is sure that he will be involved in politics this year to defend the right of Catalonia to obtain the independence. The article ends with the next text:

In politics, Joan Laporta expected to take hits. But the man has demonstrated his strong temperament during a particularly turbulent seven of the presidency of Barcelona. Throughout the controversy, most leaders embedded with him have left the ship, denouncing his "authoritarian" and "opacity" of his administration. He survived a confidence motion in 2008 and in 2009 a case of espionage within its own staff, as he stood in 2005 with revelations about the Francoist sympathies of his ex-father - brother, a member of its management team.
On his cellphone, he chose as a ringtone the soundtrack of Braveheart, the film adapted from the story of William Wallace, hero and symbol of Scottish independence. "We can do it, by awakening the conscience and taking action. Without Violence."

“Le Monde” says that Laporta could obtain between 12 % or 15 % and eight to ten Members of the Parliament. Also other papers as the Portuguese “Diario de noticias” show interest by the Laporta’s independentist proposal.

Reagrupament's second assembly: The second impulse

On Sunday Independentist Rally (Reagrupament Independentista) will held its second assembly under the slogan "The second impulse." The association was founded the past year with the intention to form a candidature for Catalan independence, without distinction between political colours (left/right). Its sole purpose is to proclaim the independence of Catalonia. Since then; more than 3,000 people have been associated with this mood.


For months Reagrupament’s members have discussed a political program that will be discussed on 21 March’s assembly in Barcelona. The document, containing the proposals of the Catalan separatist formation, is called "Organizing our free future." It includes measures against the growing political corruption, for example prohibiting banks to finance parties to avoid after receiving in compensation. It also foresees a future with Free Catalonia national army and security services.

Just this week a study reveals that a Catalan state would have a similar level of welfare in Sweden. Just when one part of the country has lived last week without electricity following a snowfall that has damaged the infrastructure of Catalonia. These infrastructures are managed by Spanish companies which prefer to invest improvements in Madrid and have totally neglected the network in Catalonia.