Catalonia's parliament backs independence-Spanish senate voted to direct rule.

Catalonia's parliament backs independence;
Spanish senate voted to impose direct rule.

After jubilant scenes in Barcelona, Spain's prime minister calls for calm amid the country's worst political crisis in decades.

Friday 27 October 2017 16:22, UK,

Catalonia's parliament has voted to declare independence from Spain, shortly before Madrid voted to impose direct rule on the region.

Tens of thousands of independence supporters chanted their joyous support as they gathered near the Catalan parliament in Barcelona.

Watching events from inside on two giant screens, they clapped and shouted "independence" in Catalan.

The motion - boycotted by opposition parties - said Catalonia was an independent, sovereign and social democratic state, and called on other countries and institutions to recognise it.

Not long afterwards, the Spanish senate voted to impose direct rule.

The main secessionist group in Catalonia asked civil servants to respond to orders from Madrid with "peaceful resistance".

Catalan leader Carles Puigdemont urged supporters to "maintain the momentum" in a peaceful way.

But in a sign of the seriousness with which Madrid is taking the vote for independence, Spain's top prosecutor may seek rebellion charges against those responsible for it, a spokesman said.

Minutes after the vote in Barcelona, Spain's Prime Minister, Mariano Rajoy, called for "calm from all Spaniards".

"The rule of law will restore legality in Catalonia," he tweeted.

Mr Rajoy has called a cabinet meeting for 6pm UK time.

Options open to him include sacking the government in Barcelona and taking direct control of the Catalan police.

Speaking outside the senate, Mr Rajoy said Catalan politicians had done "something that is not possible - declare independence".

The president of the European Council, Donald Tusk, said the EU would continue to deal with Spain only.

"For EU nothing changes," he said.

"Spain remains our only interlocutor. I hope the Spanish government favours force of argument, not argument of force."

Shares in Catalan banks fell after the result of the Barcelona vote became clear.

Catalonia’s leader again refused to declare independence. Now it’s up to parliament.

Catalonia’s leader again refused to declare independence. Now it’s up to parliament.

By William Booth and Pamela Rolfe October 26 at 3:26 PM

As confusion swirled around the fate of Spain’s wealthiest region, Catalonia’s secessionist leader declined to renew his call for a declaration of independence — and ruled out holding snap elections, defying predictions made just hours earlier.

As deadlines loomed and threats from Madrid of a takeover mounted, Catalonia’s pro-independence president, Carles Puigdemont, first scheduled, then canceled, then rescheduled his announcement about what would happen next.

Finally, in late afternoon, Puigdemont appeared in the government palace and said the regional parliament must decide what will happen next — a sign that his governing coalition may be unraveling.

The Catalan parliament was scheduled to debate at noon Friday.

Catalan President Carles Puigdemont says he has decided against calling a snap election in Catalonia. (Reuters)

If the parliament declares independence, it is likely that the central government in Madrid would act quickly to suspend the regional body and take over authority of the government in Barcelona.

Meaning? Catalonia’s chaotic bid to carve an independent republic out of Spain isn’t over yet.

Puigdemont’s words Thursday clearly upset many of his constituents, who believed they were getting close to forming a new republic.

“They don’t care about the people, because we already voted for independence,” said Joana Romera, 25, a university student who had come to the Catalan government palace to hear what Puigdemont had to say.

“At the end, it’s always the politicians who decide,” she said, flashing disappointment and anger. “We’re in the same situation as before.”

Puigdemont denounced what he described as heavy-handed tactics by the central government in Madrid.

“I have considered the possibility of calling elections,” Puigdemont said. But he ruled it out because “there are not enough guarantees” from the central government not to seize control of the region.

All eyes turn now to the parliaments in Barcelona and Madrid.

Spanish Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy has pressed to take control of the Catalan government, including its police, public media and finances.

Rajoy last week promised to invoke Article 155 of the Spanish constitution designed to rein in a renegade region “to restore institutional legality and normality.”

Puigdemont reportedly sought a promise from Rajoy that the Spanish senate would not vote on Article 155 — a “nuclear option” that has never been tried. The Spanish parliament is expected to make a decision on the takeover Friday.

Soraya Sáenz de Santamaría, the deputy prime minister in the central government, told the senate on Thursday that “secessionism’s trip to nowhere must reach its point of return, a return to lawfulness.”

She pressed for the implementation of Article 155, calling the pro-independence leaders “beyond the law.”

“By refusing to comply with the law, they have sown mistrust,” she said. “The damage to social harmony is overwhelming; the damage to trust is very deep. They have taken institutional problems down into the streets of Catalonia and into the homes of Catalans.”

Inés Arrimadas, a leader of the Citizens party, which serves in the opposition in Barcelona, displayed a frustration felt by many.

“Not even Kafka’s trial was as Kafkaesque as this process,” she said. “That’s enough, Mr. Puigdemont. How much longer are we Catalans going to have to deal with this?”

Addressing Puigdemont, she said: “You use the name of the Catalans. But we Catalans are divided. And you are hurting Catalonia.”

As rumors swirled that Puigdemont was about to walk away from a declaration of independence, his former supporters denounced him on social media and the streets as a coward and a traitor.

A former ally called him a Judas on Twitter.

Mireia Boya Busquet, a leader of a leftist pro-independence party, said: “Don't let them steal our republic in backroom deals. Bring it to the streets. Where it started, and will win, despite everything.”

Fellow party members said they would defect — and Puigdemont’s vice president reportedly threatened to resign.

The separatists in Catalonia, led by Puigdemont, staged a referendum this month despite the fact that the courts had declared it unconstitutional.

More than 2 million people cast ballots for independence, though the turnout for the referendum was around 40 percent of eligible voters.

In Madrid, people called the flip-flopping and vagueness in Catalonia “agonizing” and “unprofessional.”

But many suspected the drama was part of a long political negotiation between Barcelona and Madrid.

“Neither of the sides wants to go through to the most extreme scenario,” said Ignacio Escolar, editor in chief of El Diario newspaper. “Otherwise they already would have done it. I think we are in the last minutes of a negotiation that has time all the way up through the end of the senate’s session tomorrow.”


Rolfe reported from Madrid. Raul Gallego Abellan contributed to this report.

Spain Constitution 1978 Article 155

Spain Constitution 1978 Article 155

“If a self-governing community does not fulfil the obligations imposed upon it by the constitution or other laws, or acts in a way that is seriously prejudicial to the general interest of Spain, the government may take all measures necessary to compel the community to meet said obligations, or to protect the above-mentioned general interest.”

Spain Constitution 1978 Article 155

Sri Lanka's Debt Crisis Is So Bad The Government Doesn't Even Know How Much Money It Owes

Sri Lanka's Debt Crisis Is So Bad The Government Doesn't Even Know How Much Money It Owes

Trying to develop its infrastructure to increase its economic potential has plunged Sri Lanka deep into a pit of debt, pushing the country to the brink of bankruptcy and prompting an IMF bailout.

The official estimate of what Sri Lanka currently owes its financiers is $64.9 billion — $8 billion of which is owned by China. The country’s debt-to-GDP currently stands around 75% and 95.4% of all government revenue is currently going towards debt repayment.

This debt situation is clearly not sustainable, but there’s more:

In addition to racking up large amounts of government debt via the usual channels, it's now becoming evident that the previous government also utilized state-owned enterprises to take out additional loans on its behalf. While the full extent of this extracurricular lending seems unknown, current estimates peg it at a minimum of $9.5 billion — which is all off the books of the finance ministry.

“We still don’t know the exact total debt number,” Sri Lanka’s prime minister admitted to parliament earlier this month.

Much of Sri Lanka’s pile of debt accrued in the process of initiating an entire buffet of large-scale and extremely expensive infrastructure projects under the direction of former president Mahinda Rajapaksa.

Between 2009 and 2014 Sri Lanka’s total government debt tripled and external debt doubled, as the country engaged in a number of costly undertakings -- such as attempting to build a new, multi-billion dollar city in the middle of a jungle (which includes the world’s emptiest international airport), constructing one of the most expensive highways ever made, as well as other pricey endeavors, such as spending $42 million just to remove a rock from the harbor at Hambantota.

But this doesn’t necessarily mean that Sri Lanka's current administration is doing much better. 

Under President Maithripala Sirisena and Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe, who came to office at the beginning of 2015, domestic debt grew by 12% and external debt by 25% without starting any new large-scale infrastructure projects.

This fact has not gone unnoticed by former president Mahinda Rajapaksa, who recently issued a series of public taunts, claiming that with the money the current administration has so far borrowed he could have built “two Mattala Airports, one Hambantota Port, one Norochcholai Coal Power Plant, one Colombo-Matara Highway, one Colombo-Katunayake Highway, not one, but two Colombo Port cities and one 500 MW Sampur Coal Power Plant...”

Sri Lanka may be in a debt trap that it can’t get out of. 

This year alone $4.5 billion is due to foreign lenders and next year $4 billion is owed — bills which the country has not yet figured out a way to pay.

Various interim solutions to the debt crisis have been proposed, such as offering debt-for-equity swaps to countries, such as China, that Sri Lanka owes big and privatizing and outright selling loss-incurring SOEs, which have yet to receive much interest.

The IMF did agree to provide Sri Lanka with a $1.5 billion bailout in the form of a loan in April after the country agreed to a set of criteria to attempt to right the course of its wavering economy. However, as reported by East Asia Forum, Sri Lanka’s Central Bank has stated that it is their intention to secure an additional $5 billion in loans after receiving these funds -- and corresponding seal of approval -- from the IMF as the debt trap continues getting deeper. 
===========================
Correction 10/3/2016: the $42 million rock was removed from Hambantota not Colombo.

I'm the author of Ghost Cities of China. Traveling since '99. Currently on the New Silk Road. Read my other articles on Forbes here.

https://www.forbes.com/sites/wadeshepard/2016/09/30/sri-lankas-debt-crisis-is-so-bad-the-government-doesnt-even-know-how-much-money-it-owes/#76d169874608

Official Statement by the Catalonia President on Article 155

Official Statement by the President on the invocation of
Article 155 of the Spanish constitution
Barcelona, 21 October 2017

All the proposals for dialogue addressed to Spain have had the same response: o silence, or

repression. In my last letter to the Spanish president I reiterated the need to speak and

reminded him that this is a clamor that is directed to us by many people, from many places.

Today, the Spanish Council of Ministers has been in charge of giving a real slam to this

clamor and this request and announces a series of measures and dismissals that directly

represent the liquidation of our self-government and the democratic will of the Catalans.

What the Catalans decided at the polls the Spanish government cancels at the offices.

Thus, the Spanish Government, with the support of the Socialist Party and Citizens party,

has undertaken the worst attack on the institutions and people of Catalonia since the decrees

of the military dictator Francisco Franco abolishing the Generalitat of Catalonia. Despising

the popular will expressed in a clear and massive manner in the elections of September 27,

2015, violating our Parliament and all the guarantees and rights of the members of the

Parliament who have elected the President of the Generalitat and have approved the

Government platform, the Spanish Government has illegally self-proclaimed the

representative of the will of the Catalans.

Without going through the polls, with little support and against the will of the majority, the

government of Mariano Rajoy wants to appoint a directory to remotely control the life of

Catalonia from Madrid.

This is not the first time that Catalan institutions have received the Spanish state once, even

with the help of the king, to reduce, reorient or directly suppress them. Every time the

Catalan people have superimposed stronger and more determined, aware that the

aggressions have always hidden the inability to make policy on the part of the State and that

consequently, had to reach higher levels of self-government. From the regionalism of the

early twentieth century to the 21st century sovereignty, the hegemonic idea in Catalonia has

always been the same.

The Generalitat is not an institution that is born with the current Spanish Constitution. Long

before the approval of the Magna Carta, the Generalitat was already functioning and was

provisionally reestablished, bearing in mind its historical legitimacy and the continuity that

Presidents Companys, Irla and Tarradellas had ensured in exile. No decision of the head of

government can erase this persistent fact over time: it has been the will of the Catalans that

has allowed us to defend and restore our institutions. What we have we have always won

with the strength of the people and the strength of democracy

The Catalan institutions and the people of Catalonia cannot accept this attack. The

humiliation sought by the Spanish Government as a guardian of all Catalan public life, 

from the Government to the public media, is incompatible with a democratic attitude and is

situated outside the rule of law. Because imposing a form of government not chosen by

citizens and without a parliamentary majority that supports it is incompatible with the rule of

law.

It is like acting with impunity against peaceful citizens, using old penal codes to keep two

persons of peace who have committed no crime, pursuing ideas and media, or irresponsibly

stimulating economic instability. Or as was the very serious irresponsibility of the PP with the

current president Mariano Rajoy as leader of an infamous collection of signatures against

Catalonia and the shameful ruling of the Constitutional Court later, I stress the after, that the

Statute of Catalonia had been approved by legal referendum and agreed. Those

irresponsible who despised the will of the Catalans and violated the constitutional pact of

1978 are those who want to rule us today.

I am aware, therefore, of the threat that weighs on all the people of Catalonia if the State

perpetrates its liquidating intent. We must confront ourselves to defend our institutions as we

have always done, in a peaceful and civilized way, but with dignity and reasons. That is why I

will ask the Parliament to set the convening of a plenary session where representatives of

citizen sovereignty, those elected by the votes of the citizens, we debate and decide on the

attempt to liquidate our self-government and our democracy, and act accordingly.

I want to send a message to the Spanish democrats. What is being done with Catalonia is

directly an attack on democracy that opens the door to other abuses of the same kind

anywhere, not just in Catalonia. Criminalize the dissident, deny reality and raise walls of

legality before the windows of the will of the Catalan people... if all these triumphs damage to

democracy, and therefore to the citizens, will be very severe and will lead to a monumental

setback. We must not allow that to happen.

I want to address a message to Europe. Not only to its political leaders but also, and

especially, to all European citizens, our brothers and sisters, with whom we share the

European citizenship.

If European foundational values are at risk in Catalonia, they will also be at risk in Europe.

Democratically deciding the future of a nation is not a crime. This goes against foundations

that unite European citizens through their diversity. Catalonia is an ancient European nation.

Is core to the European values. We do what we do because we believe in a democratic and

peaceful Europe. The Europe of the Charter of Fundamental Rights should protect each and

every one of us. You should know what you are fighting for in your home, we are fighting for

Catalonia. And we will continue to do so.

My fellow citizens: Long live Catalonia!

Carles Puigdemont Casamajó

President of the Catalan Government

-------------------------------------------
Source: http://premsa.gencat.cat/pres_fsvp/docs/2017/10/22/00/37/74735270-f58f-4bec-96dc-ea7566e33e46.pdf

Catalans said to plan human shield to block Madrid takeover

ENB File Photo:Catlan Protest

Catalans said to plan human shield to block Madrid takeover

Catalan separatists are mobilizing a human shield to block efforts by the Spanish authorities to take control of the breakaway region as both sides prepare to escalate the political conflict.

Groups will concentrate their activists around the regional government's headquarters in Barcelona's Gothic quarter and the nearby parliament building, according to two people familiar with the plans, asking not to be identified by name. They expect Spanish police to use force to try to shut down the administration and will put their bodies on the line, said one person.

"We are calling for a peaceful and democratic defense of the institutions," Lluis Corominas, the leader of the main separatist group in the Catalan Parliament, said at a press conference in Barcelona. Regional President Carles Puigdemont has called for similar action.

It's a critical week of brinkmanship. The Catalan leadership was left to plot its next move following Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy's declaration of unprecedented measures to reassert his authority. The rebels in Barcelona are running out of options while Madrid attempts to bring an end to the country's most dramatic political crisis for four decades.

Puigdemont, who accused Rajoy of a "coup d'etat," is set to be ousted by the Spanish government and his allies are signaling he could declare independence. The legislature in Barcelona, which is controlled by separatist parties, will convene on Thursday and Friday just as Rajoy is expected to win approval from the Senate for his crackdown. Puigdemont may travel to Madrid to address the Senate, a Catalan lawmaker said on Monday.

Rajoy on Saturday shocked many observers with plans to clear out the entire separatist administration in Barcelona and take control of key institutions including public media and the regional police force, the Mossos d'Esquadra. Spain's chief prosecutor said that if Puigdemont declares independence he would face as much as 30 years in jail and signaled that he could be arrested immediately.

The euro weakened as investors watched for the next big development. The common European currency slipped 0.4 percent to $1.1735. Spain's benchmark IBEX stock index was down 0.4 percent at 3 p.m. Madrid time.

Spain is trying to snuff out an independence drive that's been gathering momentum since Rajoy took office in 2011.

Puigdemont's challenge to Rajoy's authority culminated in a referendum on independence held Oct. 1 that the Spanish constitutional court had declared illegal and whose validity Rajoy fiercely contests. Puigdemont claims the vote gives him a mandate to declare a Catalan republic.

The constitutional battle is wounding the economy, prompted companies to decamp from the region and is dividing the nation. With Spain's upper house set to give its seal of approval to his strategy by the end of this week, the focus is shifting to the mechanics of how Madrid can take charge of Catalonia's institutions in the face of secessionist resistance.

"Catalan government officials and many within the Mossos and Catalan media are not just going to stand down without a fight," said Caroline Gray, a lecturer in politics and Spanish at Aston University in the U.K. who specializes in nationalist movements. "The big question for me, really, is how Madrid is actually going to implement its proposed actions in Catalonia."

'Yes' side wins Catalonia independence vote marred by chaos; more than 800 injured
Rajoy is wielding the untested powers of Article 155 of Spain's 1978 Constitution to try to impose central government control on Catalonia. The aim ultimately is to trigger regional elections within six months.

Spain will seek to apply the clause gradually, but will act against people with the administration who obstruct it, Deputy Prime Minister Soraya Saenz de Santamaria told Onda Cero radio on Monday. She said the Senate could still "adapt" its decision on allowing Rajoy to enforce Article 155 if Puigdemont denies he's declaring independence.

The separatists have shown they can rally support. A crowd estimated by local police at around 450,000 joined him to protest in central Barcelona after Rajoy announced his plans. CUP, a pro-secessionist party, on Monday called for mass civil disobedience in Catalonia, Ara newspaper reported.

Bloomberg's Charles Penty and Maria Tadeo contributed.

'நீட்` எதிர்ப்பு கழக ஆர்ப்பாட்ட ஆதரவுச் சுவரொட்டி-ENB

பிணக்கனம் - சூரியன் கவிமொழி

Putin slams Western 'double standards' over Catalonia

Russia's 2014 annexation of Crimea from Ukraine

Putin slams Western 'double standards' over Catalonia
AFP 20 October 2017

Russian President Vladimir Putin said on Thursday that the Catalan crisis was Spain's internal affair but slammed what he called Western double standards over separatist movements.

"Russia's position is known here. All that is happening is Spain's internal business and must be resolved within Spanish law and on the basis of democratic traditions," Putin said at a meeting with international relations experts in the Black Sea city of Sochi.

However, he argued the crisis exposed Western inconsistency and hypocrisy in backing some separatists while opposing others -- such as support for Kosovan independence, but opposition to Catalan and Kurdish claims.

"What we see is that in our partners' view there are worthy fighters for independence and there are separatists who cannot defend their rights."

"Such double standards -- this is a very striking example of double standards -- are fraught with serious danger for the stable development of Europe and other continents," Putin said.

The Russian leader said Western powers had long been aware of "the antagonism within Europe", referring to Catalonia.

"They knew, didn't they?" he said. "Yet in their day they practically welcomed the breakup of a whole number of European states, without concealing their glee."

He cited recognition of independence of majority-Albanian Kosovo from Russia's traditional ally Serbia.

"Why did they have to, so thoughtlessly, unquestioningly support Kosovo's breaking away?" Putin asked.

He accused European countries of "the wish, frankly, to please Big Brother from Washington" over Kosovo, saying this then provoked "similar processes in Europe and the world".

He questioned why Europe went on to oppose Russia's 2014 annexation of Crimea from Ukraine and independence movements in Spain and Iraq's Kurdistan.

"So now we see Catalonia. In another region there is Kurdistan. And that may still be far from an exhaustive list," Putin said.

A non-binding independence referendum in Iraq's Kurdistan region in September saw a resounding "yes" vote.

The European Union has urged both sides "to seek dialogue in order to preserve Iraq's unity and long-term stability".

Moscow says it supports the territorial integrity of Iraq but views Kurdish national aspirations with respect.

Malwatte Chapter does not oppose new constitution - Anunayake thera

Anunayake thera

Malwatte Chapter does not oppose new constitution - Anunayake thera
Daily News LK Friday, October 20, 2017 - 06:15

Asela KURULUWANSA

The Karaka Maha Sangha Sabha of the Malwatte Chapter had not decided to oppose a new constitution or bringing amendments to the present Constitution of the country, the Anunayaka of the Malwatte Chapter Ven.Dimbulkumbure Wimaladhamma Thera said yesterday. Refuting media reports that Karaka Maha Sangha Sabha of both Malwatte and Asgiriya chapters had decided to oppose a new constitution, Wimaladhamma Thera said that a few members of the Karaka Maha Sangha Sabha of both chapters had met on Wednesday to discuss constitutional reforms and the Malwatte chapter had not taken any decision to oppose the formation of a new constitution.

The Thera also said that the Mahanayake Theras of both the Malwatte and Asgiriya chapters had not taken part in the meeting.

The Thera said that he had represented the Malwatte chapter during the talks and the Asigiriya chapter was represented by Ven.Tibbotuwawe Medhankara Thera.

Ven.Dimbulkumbure Wimaladhamma Thera said that the Malwatte chapter will only take a decision on the new constitution after briefing the Chief Incumbent of the Malwatte chapter about what transpired during the meeting.

He said that the Malwatte Chapter will not arrive at any decision without the consent of the Mahanayaka Thera. The Thera said that the Mahanayake Thera’s of both the Malwatte and Asgiriya chapters will further study the proposed constitutional reforms before arriving at a final decision.

Wimaladhamma Thera said that the comments he made on Wednesday were his personal opinion and not a collective decision taken by the Karaka Sabha of the Malwatte chapter.

He went on to say that the Mahanayake of the Malwatte chapter was currently overseas and matters related to the constitution will be discussed when he returns.