Neben mehreren dänischen Abgeordneten zum Folketinget und knapp 50 Europaabgeordneten sandten auch Mitglieder und Unterstützerinnen des All-Party Parliamentary Group on Catalonia des Parlaments von Wesminster einen Brief an den spanischen Ministerpräsidenten Mariano Rajoy (PP). Sie fordern darin, das Referendum vom 1. Oktober nicht weiter zu behindern. Die bisher von Madrid ergriffenen Maßnahmen bezeichnen sie als »Affront gegen die Demokratie«.

Letter From Members and Supporters of the APPG Catalonia on the Current Situation in Catalonia

c/o Hywel Williams MP
Houses of Parliament
Westminster
London
SW1A 0AA

E-mail: info@appgcatalonia.org.uk

We, the undersigned, have a range of opinions on whether Catalonia should be independent or remain part of Spain. However, we all agree that the issue should be decided by the people of Catalonia in a democratic and peaceful way.

Consequently we are extremely disturbed by the measures taken by the Spanish Government to prevent the referendum, agreed to by the Catalan Parliament, taking place on 1 October.

These measures include: taking to court 700 Catalan mayors for allowing preparations for the vote to go ahead, seizing campaign material and ballot papers, threatening to cut off power to polling stations, arresting and charging a newspaper editor accused of aiding the preparations for the referendum and banning a public meeting called in Madrid to discuss the issue. The Spanish government are taking further steps daily and have now sent in the Civil Guards to occupy government buildings, with ministers and officials arrested, and the Spanish Government has taken control of the Catalan Government’s finances.

Both King Felipe VI and the Prime Minister of Spain, Mariano Rajoy, have publicly called on Catalans not to vote. We believe, however, that the democratic way to proceed would for opponents of Catalan independence to campaign for their position in the referendum. That was the stance of the UK government in respect of the Scottish independence referendum in September 2014.

This referendum was democratically agreed to by the Catalan Parliament. To attempt to impede or stop it through sanctions, criminal charges and direct action by the Spanish state is an affront to democracy and threatens to embitter relations between Catalonia and the rest of Spain.

We call on the Spanish Government to allow this democratic test of Catalan opinion to go ahead on 1 October without further hindrance.

Hywel Williams MP, Chair of the All Party Parliamentary Group on Catalonia

Lord Berkeley, Deidre Brock MP, Douglas Chapman MP, Joanna Cherry MP, Ronnie Cowan MP, Martin Docherty-Hughes MP, Patricia Gibson MP, Neil Gray MP, Drew Henry MP, Ben Lake MP, Chris Law MP, Stewart McDonald MP, Angus B. MacNeil MP, Carol Monaghan MP, Gavin Newlands MP, Lord Rennard, Andrew Rosindell MP, Tommy Sheppard MP, Chris Stephens MP, Martin Vickers MP, Lord Wigley

Cëla enghe: 01 02 03 04 || 01