Two UN experts have written a report
published by Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR)
decrying Spain’s crackdown on the referendum slated for October 1. In a
statement titled “Spain must respect fundamental rights in response to
the Catalan referendum”, the experts call on the Spanish government to
call off its crackdown on the vote so as not to infringe upon the
fundamental rights of freedom of speech, assembly, association and
public participation.
Penned by UN experts Alfred de Zayas and David Kaye, the report
argues that —regardless of the lawfulness of the vote— the Spanish
authorities have a responsibility to respect those rights that are
essential to democratic societies. Zayas and Kay refer to the street
protests, the blocking of websites and the ban on political events.
The authors go on to explain the arrests of senior government
officials and the charges of sedition filed against grassroots leaders
(namely, Jordi Sànchez and Jordi Cuixart). The note refers to the
measures adopted by the Spanish authorities as “worrying” because “they
appear to violate fundamental individual rights, cutting off public
information and the possibility of debate at a critical moment for
Spain’s democracy.”
Furthermore, Zayas and Kaye voice concern about the presence of over
four thousand Spanish police officers in Catalonia, as this might
heighten tension and social unrest. Finally, they urge both parties to
avoid violence of any kind to ensure people can protest peacefully.
