Catalan separatists light Montserrat mountain to mark anniversary of independence referendum
Record ID:
1434354
Catalan separatists light Montserrat mountain to mark anniversary of independence referendum
- Title: Catalan separatists light Montserrat mountain to mark anniversary of independence referendum
- Date: 30th September 2019
- Summary: EL BRUC, SPAIN (SEPTEMBER 30, 2019) (REUTERS) VARIOUS OF LIGHTS ON THE JAGGED PEAKS OF MONTSERRAT MOUNTAIN MAN TAKING PHOTO OF PEAKS WITH HIS PHONE PEOPLE LOOKING IN THE DIRECTION OF PEAKS AND AUDIO HEARD OF PEOPLE CHANTING IN CATALAN, "INDEPENDENCE, INDEPENDENCE" WOMAN TAKING PHOTO VARIOUS OF LIGHTS ON PEAKS OF MONTSERRAT MOUNTAIN CATALONIA'S REGIONAL PRESIDENT QUIM TORRA WALKING TO PODIUM SUPPORTERS LISTENING TO TORRA WHO IS ON STAGE WITH MONTSERRAT MOUNTAIN IN THE BACKGROUND PRO-INDEPENDENCE CATALAN FLAG KNOWN AS THE ESTELADA (SOUNDBITE) (Catalan) REGIONAL PRESIDENT OF CATALONIA, QUIM TORRA, SAYING: "The first of October was light and freedom, because October 1st shows us the way to democracy, the way to the defence of our rights, it also shows us the way of mutual respect and the will of doing things right, in a positive and constructive way." ESTELADA FLAG (SOUNDBITE) (Catalan) REGIONAL PRESIDENT OF CATALONIA, QUIM TORRA, SAYING: "If the first of October was light and freedom, it will also be the founding date of the unstoppable path to a Catalan republic, it is the date of the foundation of the republic and that's why it's so important. October 1st is freedom, fraternity and solidarity." TORRA SHAKING HANDS WITH OTHER OFFICIALS ON STAGE PEOPLE HOLDING UP LETTERS SPELLING (English) "FREEDOM (SOUNDBITE) (Catalan) ANTONIA CASAS, 62, PENSIONER, SAYING: "I believe, like all of us do, that the sentence in the trial (of Catalan leaders) will be very harsh and obviously very unfair. The only possible answer for people to unite in order to stop the country, for that would be an appropriate answer." (SOUNDBITE) (Catalan) ANTONI ESCUDERO, 70, PENSIONER, SAYING: "I have always considered myself pro Catalan, but now, since October 1st (2017), I consider myself totally pro-independence, one hundred percent. And I'm not even Catalan by birth, I'm from Cordoba. The proposal that must be made is that the Spanish state needs to see the humiliation (in generates) and that it cannot continue as such. Politicians have to sit down and talk and reach specific points of agreement and, in short, I believe that the basic point is to talk, talk and talk."
- Embargoed: 14th October 2019 20:40
- Keywords: Catalonia independence referendum anniversary independence 2nd anniversary of referendum Quim Torra Montserrat mountain lights Catalan separatists Catalonia
- Location: EL BRUC, SPAIN
- City: EL BRUC, SPAIN
- Country: Spain
- Topics: Government/Politics
- Reuters ID: LVA001AYUNSXZ
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
- Story Text:Catalonia's regional leader on Monday (September 30) addressed separatist supporters on the eve of the second anniversary of the October 1st referendum on independence with the mountain of Montserrat as a back drop shining 131 lights from its jagged peaks, representing the region's different presidents.
Under the slogan "light and freedom," Quim Torra declared October 1 the founding date of the "unstoppable path to a Catalan republic."
On October 1, 2017, Catalonia's regional government led by Carles Puigdemont held a referendum deemed unconstitutional by Spain's courts and subsequently declared the region independent.
The Spanish government responded by using Article 155 of the constitution to sack Puigdemont's government and call snap elections in the northeastern region.
The anniversary comes as 12 separatist leaders charged for rebellion, sedition and misuse of public funds are expected to be handed their sentences in the first half of October.
Seven separatist activists were also arrested in September. - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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