Catalonia refuses Madrid demand

People hold candles during a gathering to protest against the imprisonment of leaders of two of...
People hold candles during a gathering to protest against the imprisonment of leaders of two of the largest Catalan separatist organisations in Barcelona.PHOTO: REUTERS
Catalonia has refused to bow to the Spanish government’s demand it renounce a symbolic declaration of independence.


Madrid has threatened to put Catalonia, which accounts for a fifth of Spain’s economy, under direct central rule if its regional government does not abandon independence by today.

Catalonia’s government has rejected Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy’s deadline.

‘‘Giving in forms no part of this government’s scenarios,’’ Catalan government spokesman Jordi Turull said.

Spain’s biggest political crisis in decades worsened on Monday night when Madrid’s High Court jailed the heads of Catalonia’s two main separatist groups pending an investigation for alleged sedition.

Catalan National Assembly leader Jordi Sanchez and Omnium chief Jordi Cuixart are accused by prosecutors of helping to orchestrate pro-independence protests that last month trapped national police inside a Barcelona building and destroyed their vehicles.

The Catalan government accused Madrid of taking ‘‘political prisoners’’ and tens of thousands of protesters gathered in Barcelona to call for their release.

People held up lighted candles, whistled and shouted ‘‘Freedom’’ and ‘‘Out with the occupying forces’’.

Catalan leader Carles Puigdemont, in a tweet following the detentions, said: ‘‘Sadly, we have political prisoners again.’’

The phrase was an allusion to the military dictatorship under Francisco Franco, when Catalan culture and language were systematically suppressed. It carries an emotional resonance given fascism is still a living memory for many Spaniards.

Justice Minister Rafael Catala hit back, saying the jailing of the leaders of the separatist groups was a judicial, not a political, decision.

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