chrisp65 Posted October 10, 2017 Share Posted October 10, 2017 On 10/4/2017 at 19:28, villakram said: I've been in contact with some people in Barcelona and the level of violence, as it is, is vastly over represented in the media. I had two friends (well, one friend one person I know of, tbh) that were over there as observers for the referendum. One reported a lovely atmosphere, nice people, no drama. One reported police physically assaulting people for no clear reason. Police just generally giving a kicking to anyone that ended up in front of them. Police randomly running around looking for someone to hit. So I think there was an element of pot luck as to where you were and what police were bussed in from what other region. Closest comparison I can think of here would have been the miners' strike. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AlwaysAVFC Posted October 11, 2017 Share Posted October 11, 2017 10 hours ago, chrisp65 said: I had two friends (well, one friend one person I know of, tbh) that were over there as observers for the referendum. One reported a lovely atmosphere, nice people, no drama. One reported police physically assaulting people for no clear reason. Police just generally giving a kicking to anyone that ended up in front of them. Police randomly running around looking for someone to hit. So I think there was an element of pot luck as to where you were and what police were bussed in from what other region. Closest comparison I can think of here would have been the miners' strike. That's the thing, a percentage of police around the world, get that riot gear on seem to become the aggressors when sometimes it simply isn't necessary. I presume a lot of these police have been drafted in from elsewhere like Madrid, where they've been known to be heavy handed with English fans club and country. Although I've had the same in Barcelona, watching and a England game. Queuing at metro after the game. Someone tried to jump the barrier. I'm not even sure it was an England fan. The police piled in not caring who was there swinging their batons. I took a whack because I stepped in front of a couple of young children who were in the firing line. Some police drafted were probably acting like they were fighting for Spain while others were doing their jobs. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tonyh29 Posted October 11, 2017 Share Posted October 11, 2017 13 hours ago, chrisp65 said: I had two friends (well, one friend one person I know of, tbh) that were over there as observers for the referendum. One reported a lovely atmosphere, nice people, no drama. One reported police physically assaulting people for no clear reason. Police just generally giving a kicking to anyone that ended up in front of them. Police randomly running around looking for someone to hit. So I think there was an element of pot luck as to where you were and what police were bussed in from what other region. Closest comparison I can think of here would have been the miners' strike. except the miners strike was civilians attacking the police Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bickster Posted October 11, 2017 Moderator Share Posted October 11, 2017 35 minutes ago, tonyh29 said: except the miners strike was civilians attacking the army Corrected for accuracy 1 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
snowychap Posted October 26, 2017 Share Posted October 26, 2017 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Davkaus Posted October 27, 2017 Share Posted October 27, 2017 Parliament has voted to declare independence. LEt's see how heavy handed the Spanish response is... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Davkaus Posted October 27, 2017 Share Posted October 27, 2017 (edited) Oh. Spain has already imposed direct rule. Game over, really, isn't it? If you're going to try and unilaterally declare independence, you'd better have an army to back it up. Edited October 27, 2017 by Davkaus Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dr_Pangloss Posted October 27, 2017 Share Posted October 27, 2017 Madrid (and the EU) could not have handled this any worse. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chindie Posted October 27, 2017 VT Supporter Share Posted October 27, 2017 Madrid have **** up, I'm not sure what the EU could do. They'd be damned either way. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chrisp65 Posted October 27, 2017 Share Posted October 27, 2017 Apparently Washington has released a statement saying the U.S. cannot support Unilateral Declaration of Independence. And they say they don't do irony. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post mjmooney Posted October 27, 2017 VT Supporter Popular Post Share Posted October 27, 2017 27 minutes ago, chrisp65 said: Apparently Washington has released a statement saying the U.S. cannot support Unilateral Declaration of Independence. And they say they don't do irony. They've just walked into our trap. We've got them back in the Empire on a technicality. 2 1 5 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
peterms Posted October 27, 2017 Share Posted October 27, 2017 1 hour ago, chrisp65 said: Apparently Washington has released a statement saying the U.S. cannot support Unilateral Declaration of Independence. And they say they don't do irony. I think the idea of "Washington " as shorthand for a statement of US policy is history. We now have statements from the civil service, random comments from that daft person who took over from Comical Ali, and tweets from some mad old geezer on the khasi. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Xann Posted October 27, 2017 Share Posted October 27, 2017 Comedy gold would be Phil and Trump at the same table. Shame Phil's swerved it. If there was ever a time for his brand of comedy offense, this was it. Lizzy's likely praying he gets impeached before it really looks like she's ducking the Prez. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chrisp65 Posted October 28, 2017 Share Posted October 28, 2017 Well, looks like Ireland won't recognise a declaration of Independence either. Funny old world. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LondonLax Posted October 29, 2017 Share Posted October 29, 2017 They need a proper legal vote from the Catalan people, similar to Scotland's, to settle the matter one way or the other but Rajoy won't allow it. Prior to all this kicking off the separatist movement was a clear minority run by nationalists and all polls indicated it would have easily been defeated in a proper referendum but the way Rajoy has handled it since has played right into the hands of the separatists. Who know's how it will play out now. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
maqroll Posted October 29, 2017 Author Share Posted October 29, 2017 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
snowychap Posted November 3, 2017 Share Posted November 3, 2017 EAW issued for Puigdemont. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Demitri_C Posted November 3, 2017 Share Posted November 3, 2017 9 minutes ago, snowychap said: EAW issued for Puigdemont. He won't go back to Spain, why would he? He won't get a fair trial Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
snowychap Posted November 3, 2017 Share Posted November 3, 2017 (edited) 9 minutes ago, Demitri_C said: He won't go back to Spain, why would he? He won't get a fair trial As the warrant has now been issued, I guess it's incumbent on the Belgian authorities to arrest him and go through due process. Edit: On the fair trial, I suspect you're not wrong, Dem - but it's now not his choice. Edited November 3, 2017 by snowychap Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Demitri_C Posted November 3, 2017 Share Posted November 3, 2017 7 minutes ago, snowychap said: As the warrant has now been issued, I guess it's incumbent on the Belgian authorities to arrest him and go through due process. Yeah absolutely, but apparently for what I saw on the news the Belgians are concerned he won't get a fair trial therefore may not release him. No doubt in my mind they are going to make an example of him and give him a lengthy prison sentence Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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