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Friday, November 03, 2017

Spain issues arrest warrant for Carles Puigdemont

NEWS/SPAIN
Spain issues arrest warrant for Carles Puigdemont
by Creede Newton

Carles Puigdemont left Spain after Madrid fired him and his government last Saturday [Jordi Bedmar/Generalitat de Catalunya/AFP] 
Barcelona, Spain - A Spanish judge has issued an international arrest warrant for dismissed Catalan leader Carles Puigdemont.

Puigdemont has been in Belgium since Spanish authorities fired him and his cabinet on Saturday after the regional parliament declared independence.

Judge Carmen Lamela issued the order on the grounds that it was public knowledge that Puigdemont is in Belgium.

The warrant added two charges: prevarication (lying) and disobedience.

It also names the four other ex ministers who accompany Puigdemont in Brussels.

Puigdemont told Belgian state TV, RTBF, earlier on Friday that he "did not flee" Spain, but he travelled to Brussels to avoid violence.

"Violence has never been an option for us," he said. 

He added that "it is impossible to prepare [a defence]" while in Spain.

Puigdemont will now face possible extradition from Belgium.

The Belgian attorney general told Spanish news agency, Efe, earlier this week that if his office receives a warrant for Puigdemont, the "law will be applied".

"If we receive [the warrant], we won't be able to make more comments or conjectures," he said.

Speaking to Dutch media outlet, Puigdemont's lawyer Paul Bekaret said that warrant "will take a while, because [it] has to be translated, and then processed by the federal police".

Nine ministers jailed

The warrant comes after nine Catalan government officials, including dismissed Vice President Oriol Junqueras, were jailed without bail in Madrid on Thursday on charges of sedition, rebellion, and misuse of funds.

Barcelona's city council issued a declaration calling for the immediate release of these politicians along with Jordi Cuixart and Jordi Sanchez, two pro-independence organisers jailed since October 16.

The declaration was signed by parties from across the political spectrum. Ada Colau, the left-wing mayor of Barcelona, said the declaration was a "great consensus in the defence of freedoms and fundamental rights".

The only parties that declined to sign the declaration were the centre-left Spanish Socialist Party, the centre-right People's Party, and the populist right Citizens party.

The accused former officials are required to deposit 6.7 million euros ($7.2m) to cover expected court costs. In the event they are unable to pay the amount, their property will be seized.

Santi Vila, the former Catalan Business Minister, was the only person granted bail. Vila paid the 50,000 euro ($58,300) fee and is expected to be released pending trial later Friday.

The Catalan government was sacked last Saturday after it declared independence the previous day.

The Spanish government took direct control of the breakaway region after applying Article 155 of the constitution the same day.

The political crisis over Catalonia's independence began on October 1 when a disputed referendum met a harsh police crackdown by Spanish police.

The Catalan government claims 90 percent of voters chose independence, but turnout was less than 50 percent.

Spain claims the vote was illegal, contravening the Spanish constitution.

Hundreds of people are protesting Spain's actions against the Catalan separatists throughout Barcelona.

A group of demonstrators on Passeig de Gracia, one of the largest streets in Barcelona, held signs and posters on Friday calling for the release of "political prisoners".

The Committee for the Defence of the Republic - a grassroots network of pro-independence protesters that has risen to prominence since October 1 - has called for widespread demonstrations to continue throughout the weekend to "rebuke" the imprisonment of their government.

Balfour Film

Catalonia: Judge jails eight removed ministers


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Barcelona, Spain - A Spanish judge has ordered that eight dismissed Catalan ministers be jailed while they are investigated on potential charges of sedition, rebellion and embezzlement.

The order was issued on Thursday after state prosecutors, who are investigating the leaders over their involvement in the breakaway region's declaration of independence, requested the ministers be held.

Mireia Boya Busquets, a Catalan MP from the far-left Popular Unity Candidacy party, tweeted "the legitimate government is in prison. This is a fascist state. If we normalise it, we erase ourselves as a people".

Among those jailed without bail are sacked Catalan Vice President Oriol Junqueras, Jordi Turull, former spokesperson for the government of Catalonia, former Minister of the Workforce Dolors Bassa, and others.

The only former minister who may be released is Santi Vila, the former head of the Ministry of Business, pending a 50,000 euro ($58,300) bail payment.

Catalonia: Judge jails eight removed ministers
by Creede Newton 


Meanwhile, a state prosecutor requested that the National Court issue a European-wide arrest warrant on Thursday for removed Catalan leader Carles Puigdemont and four other sacked ministers.

Jaume Alonso-Cuevillas, Puigdemont's Catalan lawyer, tweeted that it was a "grand injustice" and a "sad day for democracy".

The Belgian attorney general told Spanish news agency, Efe, that if his office receives a warrant for Puigdemont, the "law will be applied".

"If we receive [the warrant], we won't be able to make more comments or conjectures," he said.

'Climate is not good in Madrid'
The order and request for the arrest warrant for Puigdemont come after a court appearance by several Catalan leaders in Madrid earlier on Thursday.

The Catalan government was sacked last Saturday after they declared independence the previous day.

The Spanish prosecutor submitted a complaint against Puigdemont and his government for their push for secession.

Puigdemont remains in Brussels along with four of his former ministers.

"The climate is not good [in Madrid], it's better to keep a certain distance," Paul Bekaert, Puigdemont's lawyer in Belgium, told reporters earlier on Thursday.

"If they ask, [Puigdemont] will cooperate with Spanish and Belgian authorities," the lawyer added.

Commentators had said that Puigdemont's choice to stay in Belgium might cause Spanish courts to hold the accused without bail.

The same was done to Jordi Cuixart and Jordi Sanchez, two pro-independence organisers held without bail on similar charges.

'We have eight more names to add'
Spontaneous protests took place across Barcelona late on Thursday.

Thousands gathered in front of the Catalan parliament and palace of the government in Barcelona's Gothic Quarter.

Hundreds more circled the Spanish Government delegation on Avenida Diagonal, stopping traffic and forcing public transportation to follow impromptu routes.

"The streets will always be ours!" demonstrators chanted.

Many bore posters and apparel with the images of Cuixart and Sanchez.

"Now we have to add eight more names," Maria, a protester who only gave her first name, told Al Jazeera.

'No one is above the law'

Earlier on Thursday, Jose Montilla, a Catalan politician from the Spanish Socialist Party (PSOE) and former president of the Catalan government, criticised Puigdemont and the four dismissed ministers who remained in Belgium. "Enough of the tricks that have led us here," he said.

Montilla told Catalan radio he hoped justice would be exercised with "prudence", but reminded the sacked government that "no one is above the law".

Centre-left PSOE has joined with the nationalist, centre-right ruling People's Party in their opposition to Catalan independence.

The accused former government is required to deposit 6.7m euros ($7.2m) with the courts. If they are unable to do so, their property will be seized.

The Catalan politicians could face up to 30 years in prison for the charges.

The Spanish High Court has given the accused members of parliament a week to prepare their defence.

They are expected to appear before the court on November 9.

SOURCE: AL JAZEERA NEWS

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