Comment by hummel | Hacker News Reader

Comment by hummel | Hacker News Reader

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The protests were violent riots not supported by any political party or entity, Catalan or not. As you can see violence stopped like one week ago, and everything back to normal. For example, you can see here (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jkgW7Bab1J8) violence blocked the university, so other Catalan students cant go to classes that day. Catalan society is not related to the protest. It is like seeing an Antifa video from US and think there is a political revolution.

Your friends probably didn't tell you, that ordinary justice condemns the political leaders, not because organizing a referendum, but for public funds misappropriation, corruption and refuse to follow the law. Something reasonable, since on other countries and 99% of history when you revolt, either you win or you will get your head off. The trial was public, documented and fair. Probably an exemplary for the future on how to deal when a corrupt government wants to take over.

You also need to go back a few years and read what happened on the previous referendum, that they were legal because they were organized following the rules and because this is a democracy. If you don't like the rules you have a political parliament and elections to change the laws. Thats fine.

As someone living in Barcelona I can tell you that the majority of violence was caused by the Police starting to go after protestors, police provoking protestors with Spanish flags, playing the Spanish national anthem. Its was caused be a few people who always cause violence, does not matter if its a soccer game or a peaceful protest. It was caused by the central government spending years changing the law, to the point where its illegal to protest the government, unless they authorize it. Its caused by police stopping and searching people daily on the streets, confiscating anything that can hide your face, and Catalan flags. There are even cases where Spanish police officers sent to catalunya from other parts of spain have been identified with swastika tattoos.

There is a HUGE issue, where people on both sides have been abusing the system for their own gains. Both political sides know that as long as they can keep the people fighting and "hating" each other, they can continue with the corruption that exists here.

None of that suggests that there is no issue.

I could say almost all the same things about whether the people of Québec want to leave Canada or not, and whether the tactics of those who want to leave are legitimate or not.

But I would never say there is no separation issue in Québec.

There isn't a separation issue in Quebec... At this moment. The BQ has given up on secession, and instead doubled-down on islamophobia, to great success at the polls.

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