Hundreds of thousands of Catalans rallied on Monday to demand their region’s secession from Spain, in a show of strength three weeks ahead of an independence referendum which has been banned by Madrid.

Draped in red, yellow and blue separatist flags — with one banner reading “Goodbye Spain” — they marched through central Barcelona in what many hope will be the last protest before independence.
“If there is huge mobilisation, they can’t do anything in Madrid,” said Jordi Calatayud, a 21-year-old economics student, referring to the October 1 vote.
“Catalan people will make independence possible; if there are a lot of us, they can’t stop us.”
Around one million people took part in the event, Barcelona’s municipal police said in a Twitter post. A spokeswoman for the central government’s representative in the wealthy northeastern region put the turnout lower, at around 350,000 people.
The protest coincides with Catalonia’s national day, the “Diada”, which marks the fall of Barcelona in the War of the Spanish Succession in 1714 and the region’s subsequent loss of institutions and freedoms.
Since 2012 the holiday has been used by separatists to press for an independent state.
“What more do we have to do to make it understood that the people of Catalonia want to vote?” Catalonia’s pro-independence president Carles Puigdemont told reporters at the rally.
– ‘Put me in prison’ –
Those against independence complained that a day meant for all Catalans had been hijacked by separatists — and even more so this year, ahead of the referendum.
Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy, whose conservative government is fiercely against the vote, wished Catalonia “a good day”, calling “for a Diada of freedom, cohabitation and respect for all Catalans”.
Demonstrators took the shape of a giant “X” by gathering on the Paseo de Gracia and Aragon avenues in central Barcelona, to represent the mark Catalans will make on their ballots during the referendum.
If the “Yes” side wins, Catalonia’s regional government has vowed to declare independence within 48 hours and set about building a sovereign state.
With Spain’s central government promising to block the referendum, the pro-independence camp was keen to show that it can rally its troops — especially after participation in the “Diada” declined last year.
“I am too old to be told what I can or can’t do, I am counting on voting and I will do so, even if they have to put me in prison,” said Mari Carmen Pla, a 70-year-old pensioner surrounded by a sea of red and yellow Catalan independence flags.
– Region divided –
Rajoy’s conservative government has said the vote violates Spain’s constitution, which states that only central authorities can call a referendum.
Following a legal challenge from his government, Spain’s Constitutional Court suspended a referendum law that was fast-tracked through Catalonia’s regional parliament on Wednesday.
Police have searched a Catalan printing house and a local weekly newspaper suspected of making ballots for the referendum, while Spain’s state prosecutor has opened criminal proceedings against Puigdemont and other Catalan officials.
Catalan society is deeply divided over independence.
In a survey by the Catalan Centre of Opinion Studies in July, 41.1 percent backed independence while 49.9 percent rejected it. But about 70 percent wanted a referendum, to settle the question once and for all.
Like the referendum held in Britain last year on the country’s membership in the European Union, the issue in Catalonia pits rural areas — which are more pro-independence — against large urban centres like Barcelona which are more in favour of remaining in Spain.
Catalonia, roughly the same size as Belgium, has its own language and customs, and already has significant powers over matters such as education and healthcare.
But Spain’s economic problems, coupled with a perception that the wealthy northeastern region’s 7.5 million people pay more in taxes to Madrid than they get in return, have pushed the independence question to the centre stage.
During the 2013 “Diada” demonstrators formed a human chain that crossed Catalonia.
The following year the demonstration took the shape of a giant “V” for “vote”, while in 2015 the march resembled a human arrow.

Source:
https://www.vanguardngr.com/2017/09/goodbye-spain-huge-rally-catalan-independence-vote/

Nyc

Ok

Self determination is a right no force on this earth can argue against. Dark forces will resist but at the end, the human spirit will triumph.

Finally, a thread on this.
Tried to do so sometime ago and was banned for 24hrs by spam bot.
Tried again, and was banned again.

Chai! No barca in la liga.
Signs are, it wont come true, but d madrid govt have to be very careful!

Cyynthia:
Here, referendum is war. Smh.

Its war over there too! Did u even read d article?!

Deltagiant:
Self determination is a right no force on this earth can argue against. Dark forces will resist but at the end, the human spirit will triumph.

Exactly. Even key Catalan personalities like Guardiola are all pro secession.

ashjay001:



Its war over there too! Did u even read d article?!

Atleast Spain for all her problems, is a functional first world country. They ( Madrid) have a valid albeit misguided reason for wanting a united Spain.
We cant say same for a failed dysfunctional British colonial entity.

Catalonia already has a wealthy and self-dependent economy. Catalonian independence movement is based on sound logic and organisation not like that done by IPOB which is like a racist movement meant to enable an egomaniac individual gain relevance and money.

pazienza:

Atleast Spain for all her problems, is a functional first world country. They ( Madrid) have a valid albeit misguided reason for wanting a united Spain.
We cant say same for a failed dysfunctional British colonial entity.

No one will allow d golden goose to get away. But, nigeria's own is just on principle!

Each region can actually succeed without the other. The prob is, the pple that want a ref are really d most travelled!?

Maduawuchukwu:
Catalonia already has a wealthy and self-dependent economy. Catalonian independence movement is based on sound logic and organisation not like that done by IPOB which is like a racist movement meant to enable an egomaniac individual gain relevance and money.

Catalonia wanted independence since early 1900s, even before it became as rich as she is today.

They are not asking for independence because they are rich or because Spain is poor, they are asking for independence because they want and cherish their sovereignty.

They would have taken independence 100years ago before now, if it was offered to them.

Quit being deliberately *oolish, it doesn't look good on you.

ashjay001:



No one will allow d golden goose to get away. But, nigeria's own is just on principle!

Each region can actually succeed without the other. The prob is, the pple that want a ref are really d most travelled!?

Don't get it wrong. From an economic point of view, Catalonia needs Spain too, as Spain remains Catalonia biggest market for Catalonia products.

It's not going to be all paradise for them, if they leave Spain, they have got things to lose. Yet it will all be worth it, if they get independence. No sacrifice is too great to pay to be in total control of one's destiny, to have ones sovereignty on one's laps.

pazienza:


Catalonia wanted independence since early 1900s, even before it became as rich as she is today.

They are not asking for independence because they are rich or because Spain is poor, they are asking for independence because they want and cherish their sovereignty.

They would have taken independence 100years ago before now, if it was offered to them.

Quit being deliberately *oolish, it doesn't look good on you.

Every one has the right to independence but to actualize it you have to convince the common man that he will have a better economic standing than where he is coming from. Nnamdi Kanu and his bunch of lunatics have not showed us anything; all what they do is shouting "Zoo" andd insulting Hausas and those who don't support them. How sustainable can such a movement be? Do you think anybody plans on leaving this corrupt Nigeria only to become a citizen of a country like the German third reich where hatred and dictatorship of one man is the norm?

Cyynthia:
Here, referendum is war. Smh.

you will just rush to comment without reading..ode.

pazienza:


Don't get it wrong. From an economic point of view, Catalonia needs Spain too, as Spain remains Catalonia biggest market for Catalonia products.

It's not going to be all paradise for them, if they leave Spain, they have got things to lose. Yet it will all be worth it, if they get independence. No sacrifice is too great to pay to be in total control of one's destiny, to have ones sovereignty on one's laps.

Catalonia remains a conquered race! Civility and time, is why they seem to be insisting.

Its just beginning, I expect a strong resistance from d spanish govt. Though, d ref might just not succeed.

Maduawuchukwu:


Every one has the right to independence but to actualize it you have to convince the common man that he will have a better economic standing than where he is coming from. Nnamdi Kanu and his bunch of lunatics have not showed us anything; all what they do is shouting "Zoo" andd insulting Hausas and those who don't support them. How sustainable can such a movement be? Do you think anybody plans on leaving this corrupt Nigeria only to become a citizen of a country like the German third reich where hatred and dictatorship of one man is the norm?

Is that all you care about? Better economic standing?

Do we have better economic standing in a failed Third World entity we currently are part of?

Has Nigeria shown us any signs of better economic standing in the nearest future?

Well, you didn't have any problems with those that were chanting monkeys and baboons in a democracy, neither did you have any problems with those who out of hate labelled a sitting president all types of derogatory names, ranging from clueless one to ineffectual buffoon, and so many others. I guess these are the people that had shown you the path to a prosperous economic future for Ndiigbo, especially with their 97-5% policy, right?
I bet those are love speeches.

Enyia, jee dono ani. Ijiro okwu ma-ncha .

ashjay001:



Catalonia remains a conquered race! Civility and time, is why they seem to be insisting.

Its just beginning, I expect a strong resistance from d spanish govt. Though, d ref might just not succeed.

No race is conquered if they are not ready to give up the fight, one day, victory will be theirs, and the oppressors will be left to rue the chances they had to make things right with them

Look at Serbia now, the one time lords of Yugoslavia.

Nothing lasts, not even oppression. Perseverance will always triumph.

pazienza:


Is that all you care about? Better economic standing?

Do we have better economic standing in a failed Third World entity we currently are part of?

Has Nigeria shown us any signs of better economic standing in the nearest future?

Well, you didn't have any problems with those that were chanting monkeys and baboons in a democracy, neither did you have any problems with those who out of hate labelled a sitting president all types of derogatory names, ranging from clueless one to ineffectual buffoon, and so many others. I guess these are the people that had shown you the path to a prosperous economic future for Ndiigbo, especially with their 97-5% policy, right?
I bet those are love speeches.

Enyia, jee dono ani. Ijiro okwu ma-ncha .

So are you supporting Kanu because you feel he presents a better future for Ndigbo or it is merely because other tribes too have engaged in their own madness so we should do our own too? Where is the future of Ndigbo in that? So because we are not finding it good in Nigeria we should plunge into mass suicide? What about first going for restructuring which is our best bet for development and which shall put us in a good stead to declare Biafra in the future?

ashjay001:



Catalonia remains a conquered race! Civility and time, is why they seem to be insisting.

Its just beginning, I expect a strong resistance from d spanish govt. Though, d ref might just not succeed.

You this one stop typing foolishly. Which one is conquered race? Do you know that every power you see today was once subservient? People like you who talk like your father owns this world and you can do as you like is why many people who should be indifferent are gravitating towards kanu.

Maduawuchukwu:


So are you supporting Kanu because you feel he presents a better future for Ndigbo or it is merely because other tribes too have engaged in their own madness so we should do our own too? Where is the future of Ndigbo in that? So because we are not finding it good in Nigeria we should plunge into mass suicide? What about first going for restructuring which is our best bet for development and which shall put us in a good stead to declare Biafra in the future?

You have forgotten that Aburi accord represented restructuring.
Aburi accord was rejected , likewise your call for restructuring will be rejected.
If you believe an independent Igboland can't make it, then you are better off staying where ever you are.

Kanu is not presenting a better future to Ndiigbo, he isn't a magician . He is offering us the chance to be in total control of our future.
What we do with that control will determine if we would have a better or bad future. But one thing is sure, we have nothing to lose. I mean, what's the worst that could happen to us in Biafra?
We could mis use the chance and become a failed country just like Nigeria already is or we could do a Singapore . So, what would we be losing then?

pazienza:


You have forgotten that Aburi accord represented restructuring.
Aburi accord was rejected , likewise your call for restructuring will be rejected.
If you believe an independent Igboland can't make it, then you are better off staying where ever you are.

Kanu is not presenting a better future to Ndiigbo, he isn't a magician . He is offering us the chance to be in total control of our future.
What we do with that control will determine if we would have a better or bad future. But one thing is sure, we have nothing to lose. I mean, what's the worst that could happen to us in Biafra?
We could mis use the chance and become a failed country just like Nigeria already is or we could do a Singapore . So, what would we be losing then?

Nnamdi Kanu is offering you a future where you can decide?LMAO. A man who is already dreaming of how he will be king over everybody with his prostration theatrics and his "biggest title in Igbo land" razzmataz. Please don't tell me that you are naive. The man is trying to make money and influence for himself. And if Biafra comes without the east having established a strong economy how will we survive? Niger-delta oil?

Maduawuchukwu:


Nnamdi Kanu is offering you a future where you can decide?LMAO. A man who is already dreaming of how he will be king over everybody with his prostration theatrics and his "biggest title in Igbo land" razzmataz. Please don't tell me that you are naive. The man is trying to make money and influence for himself. And if Biafra comes without the east having established a strong economy how will we survive? Niger-delta oil?

And what future is an illiterate president, his hordes of herdsmen kinsmen that are allowed to roamed freely unleashing mayhem on Igboland without police check, his Igbophobic one Nigeria preaching Yoruba Muslim associates and their Christian tribalists allies have to offer you?
Has Buhari and your other rulers not made enough money out of Nigeria? I saw an article about how all his children are UK schooled
What you and your fellow one Nigeria preaching goons had failed to understand, is that no matter how bad your try to paint Biafra under Kanu, your Nigeria under Buhari is already a worst scenario. And no matter how bad and gloomy picture you might seek to paint the condition of Igboland post secession, the condition of the entire Nigeria as a failed British colonial experiment whose people are wallowing in poverty, while the rulers live in opulence, is already a worst picture.
Your scaremongering is at best, a comedy, seeing as Nigeria as an alternative is only the worst. Biafra can't go worst.

Maduawuchukwu:


You this one stop typing foolishly. Which one is conquered race? Do you know that every power you see today was once subservient? People like you who talk like your father owns this world and you can do as you like is why many people who should be indifferent are gravitating towards kanu.

Who is d fool? Was catalonia not conquered? That is d fact of d matter! Any other position is after d fact!?


Catalonia vs Madrid, is not my biz! That I decide to be obj, is my prerogative. There is basque vs madrid too, corsica vs france, israel vs palestine. How is any of that my f. biz, I can afford to be objective.

What u fools fail to realise is, u av to state ur case from a position of strength. Ur tribe is all over d country, masturbating over other tribes land, yet u want to secede?

Make ur land a bastion of progress, politically n economical, if possible militantly. If u succeed, it would be an economical sabotage for nigeria to shut down ur protest with full force.

As it is, Nigeria can actually afford to shutdown that part of d country n still remain viable. Madrid cant try that with catalonia.

pazienza:


No race is conquered if they are not ready to give up the fight, one day, victory will be theirs, and the oppressors will be left to rue the chances they had to make things right with them

Look at Serbia now, the one time lords of Yugoslavia.

Nothing lasts, not even oppression. Perseverance will always triumph.

True that. But, for every successful secession, I can point out an unsuccessful one too.

Most of d successful ones, were because they did it from a position of strength.

Another civil war in this country will set it back another 50yrs n d igbo race, another 100yrs! The world is going to sell both sides weapons to decimate ourselves!?

ashjay001:


True that. But, for every successful secession, I can point out an unsuccessful one too.

Most of d successful ones, were because they did it from a position of strength.

Another civil war in this country will set it back another 50yrs n d igbo race, another 100yrs! The world is going to sell both sides weapons to decimate ourselves!?

Lol!
Successful ones is not really about position of strength. It's about the position of the oppressors in world power. I bet it is near impossible to secede from world powers like China, ask Tibet. For failed weak entities like Nigeria, Sudan, Ethiopia and the rest. It's a fifty fifty, and depends on the roles the world powers play and the determination of the secessionists.

Many Igbos would gladly take the 100yrs set back, if it would mean we get to finally extract ourselves from a retrogressive failed entity at last. We know we can recover all and do exploit in a shorter time, once we have our destiny in our hands.

ashjay001:



Who is d fool? Was catalonia not conquered? That is d fact of d matter! Any other position is after d fact!?


Catalonia vs Madrid, is not my biz! That I decide to be obj, is my prerogative. There is basque vs madrid too, corsica vs france, israel vs palestine. How is any of that my f. biz, I can afford to be objective.

What u fools fail to realise is, u av to state ur case from a position of strength. Ur tribe is all over d country, masturbating over other tribes land, yet u want to secede?

Make ur land a bastion of progress, politically n economical, if possible militantly. If u succeed, it would be an economical sabotage for nigeria to shut down ur protest with full force.

As it is, Nigeria can actually afford to shutdown that part of d country n still remain viable. Madrid cant try that with catalonia.

Mind ur language. Everybody was once conquered but you don't call them conquered people. Can we call Yoruba people conquered because Fulani took over Illorin and sacked Oyo ile over a century ago?

pazienza:


And what future is an illiterate president, his hordes of herdsmen kinsmen that are allowed to roamed freely unleashing mayhem on Igboland without police check, his Igbophobic one Nigeria preaching Yoruba Muslim associates and their Christian tribalists allies have to offer you?
Has Buhari and your other rulers not made enough money out of Nigeria? I saw an article about how all his children are UK schooled
What you and your fellow one Nigeria preaching goons had failed to understand, is that no matter how bad your try to paint Biafra under Kanu, your Nigeria under Buhari is already a worst scenario. And no matter how bad and gloomy picture you might seek to paint the condition of Igboland post secession, the condition of the entire Nigeria as a failed British colonial experiment whose people are wallowing in poverty, while the rulers live in opulence.
Your scaremongering is at best, a comedy, seeing as Nigeria as an alternative is only the worst. Biafra can't go worst.

Nigeria has some logic behind it. On the other hand, IPOB is an illogical group which already shows signs of being a failure already talkless of when you give them a country to manage. Which reasonable group calls some members of its catchment area Pigs and Idiots because they don't support them?

Maduawuchukwu:


Nigeria has some logic behind it. On the other hand, IPOB is an illogical group which already shows signs of being a failure already talkless of when you give them a country to manage. Which reasonable group calls some members of its catchment area Pigs and Idiots because they don't support them?

Not worst than a group leader that called his non supporters monkeys and baboons that will be soaked in blood should he lose an election.
What is the logic behind Nigeria? The logic of 97% -5% , does that even make sense arithmetically.
Humour me please.
Biafra is showing signs of being a failure you say, Nigeria is already a failure, you failed to say.

Maduawuchukwu:


Mind ur language. Everybody was once conquered but you don't call them conquered people. Can we call Yoruba people conquered because Fulani took over Illorin and sacked Oyo ile over a century ago?

Why should he mind his language? You don't want him to exhibit his true nature. You prefer he lies about himself and his nature as well as how he views your region( Yes, a conquered region), so that you can go on living in your delusion of one united promising Nigeria?
Rather live in the self imposed darkness of lies than accept the enlightening blinding light of the truth, eh kwa?

Ikegwuru.

pazienza:


Why should he mind his language? You don't want him to exhibit his true nature. You prefer he lies about himself and his nature as well as how he views your region( Yes, a conquered region), so that you can go on living in your delusion of one united promising Nigeria?
Rather live in the self imposed darkness of lies than accept the enlightening blinding light of the truth, eh kwa?

Ikegwuru.

If Igbo people are conquered then his people are too. Besides Igbo achievement in Nigeria doesn't seem like what defeated people will achieve.