ARCHIVED - Severe disruption in Catalunya as separatist protesters target Barcelona airport

Immediate reaction to the prison sentences announced on Monday for 9 separatist leaders

Reaction to the sentence made public on Monday morning by Spain’s Supreme Court, who returned guilty verdicts on 9 Catalan separatist leaders for sedition due to their involvement in the tumultuous events which led to a unilateral declaration of independence from Spain in the regional parliament just under 2 years ago, has been swift on the part of those who rally behind the pro-independence cause.

Heeding calls to civil disobedience made by CDR (republican defence committee) groups throughout Catalunya, and similar encouragement from the leading figures in the current regional government including president Quim Torra, countless protesters set about causing disruption on public transport infrastructures almost immediately the sentence was published shortly before 9.30 in the morning. One of the aims of the demonstrators is to disrupt flights at the airport of Barcelona-El Prat, and so serious is the threat being taken that the Mossos d’Escuadra, the regional police force, have ordered the closure of stations and entire train lines to prevent them reaching their target.

It has not proved possible to keep all of the protesters away, though, and police charges have been reported at El Prat as the forces of law and order attempt to keep the infrastructure open: an attempt which was already beginning to meet with failure when the first flight cancellations were reported at approximately 16.00. An hour later the total had reportedly risen to 25 as scenes showing a fire extinguisher which had been set off reinforced the impression of chaos.

It seems that many of the protesters sidestepped the closure of rail lines by walking to the airport along the motorway, adding to the disruption, and in consequence by 17.00 some reports suggested that access to the terminal buildings had become practically impossible.

But other vital communications routes were closed by the demonstrators themselves. While the Mossos barred Access to the Parque de la Ciutadella, outside the regional parliament building, 14 major trunk roads had been blocked by barricades and groups of marchers by 14.00, including the N-11 near Mataró, the N-240 in Tarragona and the A2 motorway in Ódena, and the AVE high-speed train line services were interrupted in the provincial capital of Girona. In the city of Barcelona the major roads brought to a standstill included the Ronda de Dalt, the Diagonal and the Via Laietana, and in consequence bus services were also severely disrupted.

Many of the marchers, whose behaviour was in general peaceful, carried “Estelada” Catalan flags and placards demanding freedom for the “political prisoners”.

In the meantime, FC Barcelona failed to obey the golden rule of not mixing sport with politics and published a communiqué headed “Prison is not the solution”.

In this way, only hours after the decision of the Supreme Court was made known and the European detention warrant was re-issued for Carles Puigdemont, the former president of the Catalan regional government who fled Spain to avoid trial shortly after the declaration of independence on 27^th October 2017, it became abundantly clear that the expectation of protests on the part of the national government was well grounded.

How the situation develops, and how the government responds, is now certain to play a central role in the build-up to the general election which is to be held in Spain on 10^th November, and acting Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez reaffirmed on Monday that the decision of the Supreme Court would be respected. Prison terms of between 9 and 13 years for the 9 people convicted of sedition will doubtless seem harsh to many – although it should be remembered that those found guilty could enjoy “semi-liberty” almost from Day One – but at least three other leading parties appear to be fully behind the punishment decided on (PP, Vox and Ciudadanos), and those expressing disagreement, including of course the Catalan separatists, could conceivably see their support among the electorate considerably increased.

Note: images published on social media by CDR groups

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