CATALONIA -- Artur Mas: ‘The Spanish government breaches the basic rights of the Catalans’ | News from Catalonia - VilaWeb
Artur Mas: ‘The Spanish government breaches the basic rights of the Catalans’
The President of the Catalan Government makes a call to take part in the Sunday voting
‘We are continuing with the participative process because we defend
basic rights’, the president of the Generalitat government, Artur Mas,
said in a speech this morning at an informative breakfast with
businesspeople, journalists, members of the government and leaders of
other parties. Mas reaffirmed the Catalan government’s decision to
continue with the independence vote even though the Constitutional Court
suspended it yesterday.
Mas criticised the lack of understanding from the Spanish
institutions. ‘We have found neglect, intolerance of difference and some
case of foul play.’ And he reported the abuse of power, ‘The Spanish
government has immense force and uses it abusively. It does so because
of its inability to deal with a political challenge such as that which
Catalonia poses.’
Mas explained why he has decided to continue with the vote. ‘This is a
process which tests the opinion of the citizens. I call to all Catalans
not to worry, because we are doing what we have to do and we are doing
so in legitimate defence of a whole people.’
And he added the other actions that the government will take. ‘We
have to defend ourselves from what is abuse of law and power, and so we
require the Constitutional Court to reconsider the suspension and we
will present allegations and make an appeal for reconsideration. We
report the Spanish government as the infringer of the Catalans’ basic
rights, such as the right to ideology, to freedom of expression and
participation. These are rights contemplated by the Constitution. Nobody
can turn a blind eye to a breach of these rights. This is no longer yes
or no to independence, it is a breach of rights.’
Mas made a call for civics and said that a large participation on
Sunday will make the state finally realise that it has to negotiate
‘with 21st century mentality.’ ‘Now more than ever we must
remember that we are not against anyone, but that we are trying to
outline our own project’. He ended his speech by quoting Winston
Churchill. “Sometimes doing your best is not good enough. Sometimes you
must do what is required”.
