[0762]

Tomorrow now looks like the moment for Puigdemont to make his crucial move after the expected intransigence of Spain's PM, Rajoy, prevails further with more extreme measures taken - a rejection of mediation, the highly questionable arrest and imprisonment of two separatist leaders, Jordi Sanchez and Jordi Cuixart, on trumped up charges re hindering Civil Police incusions to stop the referendum, still stationing 10k military police personnel in cruise ships off Barcelona harbour and the port of Tarragona, the indictment of 800 Catalan town Mayors for collaboration re setting up an illegal referendum, shutting down some 200 Catalan govt and civil society websites and dozens of young people charged with having replicated the removed web sites. The one possible source to defuse this situ is ironically the EU, an organisation of member states that has not 'covered itself in glory' so far but has a chance to remedy things and 'reel in Rajoy' through it's European Council, which will gather all EU heads of state tomorrow and Friday. If de-escalation of these events is not requested then I think Puigdemont will have no choice but to lift the suspension of his announcement to declare independence. Do it and at the same time welcome the mass celebrations on the streets of Catalonia. Sad to say, simultaneously 'break open the gun and ammo boxes', because it's clear that the people and politicians are dealing with a vicious, desperate govt that seems to favour any extreme action to thwart the self-determination of an autonomous region like Catalonia. I suspect Puigdemont and his allies have not prepared for this eventuality as his 'peace movement' has proved to be an admirable ploy to progress. However, I think history has proved that such a defence can't be ignored or 'the aggressor' will be given the freedom to 'trample all over you' unless you mobilise your mass population and resources and use their support to your advantage. Nobody wants civil disorder in such a wealthy region of Spain but it could well be inevitable unless the international community intervenes on behalf of the oppressed EU citizens located in this region!