Page 8 - ARUBA TODAY

A8 WORLD NEWS
Friday 15 September 2017

Catalans begin campaigning for independence referendum

EMILIO MORENATTI To shield Barcelona’s civil
The Associated Press servants from possible
TARRAGONA, Spain (AP) prosecution, Mayor Ada
— Political tension in Spain Colau refused to make
mounted Thursday as Cat- municipal premises avail-
alonia’s president opened able as polling places. Co-
the “yes” campaign for a lau announced Thursday
regional independence that voting stations would
referendum that has been instead open in facilities
suspended by the courts. owned by the regional
Catalan President Carles government.
Puigdemont and other The arrangement provided
supporters of secession a big boost for backers of
gathered at an arena in the plebiscite because
Tarragona, some 100 ki- one-fifth of the region’s
lometers (62 miles) south voters are registered in
of Barcelona, to address Barcelona. A solid turnout
thousands of people at the is considered key for the
kickoff for the two-week referendum’s legitimacy,
campaign. although there is no mini-
“Somebody thinks that mum required for the re-
we won’t vote on Oct. 1? sults to be valid.
What kind of people do More than 700 mayors in
they think we Catalans A woman holds an Estelada or Independence flag during an event promoting the start of the the northeastern region
are?” Puigdemont asked campaigning for the ballot in Tarragona, about 100 kilometres south of Barcelona, Spain, Thurs- are already under inves-
the crowd. “In Catalonia, day, Sept. 14, 2017. Tension is mounting between Catalan and Spain’s national leaders as Cata- tigation for abetting the
we are democrats.” lonia’s president is set to open the “yes” campaign for a planned referendum on seceding from vote.
“Hello Republic” was one Spain Thursday. (AP Photo/Emilio Morenatti) The defiance by Catalan
of the slogans unveiled at separatists — and the pres-
the rally. There is no offi- Spain’s central govern- Police have orders to pre- be legally liable. sure put on them by the
cial “no” campaign for the ment insists the referendum vent preparations for the The threats have so far had government in Madrid —
Oct. 1 referendum, as most is illegal and the Constitu- ballot, and Spain’s top a limited effect beyond has escalated since the
of the regional and nation- tional Court has suspended prosecutor has said that making regional authorities regional parliament paved
al opposition are refusing it pending a formal deci- anybody collaborating in take lengths to try to side- the way for the Oct. 1 ref-
to participate in the vote. sion by judges. its organization would also step the legal obstacles. erendum last week. q
EU looks to prolong ID checks, this time for 2 more years

By LORNE COOK the Schengen area. EU’s executive arm would challenges.” “The idea that we are de-
Associated Press Austria, Denmark, Germa- soon come up with a pack- It was a remarkable about veloping is to be able to
BRUSSELS (AP) — ny, Sweden and non-EU age of proposed measures face by Avramopoulos. continue for a bit longer,
The European Union wants country Norway received aimed at strengthening the Hours before meeting the and we have indicated a
to change the rules gov- permission to introduce Schengen area’s security. ministers, he called for the period of two years,” Col-
erning Europe’s passport- them in 2016. Avramopoulos said the re- ID checks to come to an lomb said.
free travel area so countries The countries say the cent extremist attacks in end. The European Commission
can conduct identification checks — adopted after Spain — the suspects had French Interior Minister Ge- let Austria, Denmark, Ger-
checks at borders within more than 1 million mi- been in France and Bel- rard Collomb said the aim many, Sweden and Nor-
the zone for another two grants entered Europe the gium in the days before would be “to make the way extend the measures
years, officials said Thurs- previous year — are need- — exposed weaknesses in Schengen code more flex- for two six-month periods
day. ed for security reasons. the passport-free zone and ible, of course not to call since May 2016.
Systematic ID checks on EU Migration Commissioner shows that “the Schengen into question free move- Under current rules, they
every traveler are banned Dimitris Avramopoulos said borders code may not be ment, but to allow our bor- are due to expire on Nov.
in the 26-nation passport- after talks with EU interior sufficiently adapted to ad- ders to be protected from 11 without the possibility of
free travel zone known as ministers Thursday that the dress the evolving security terrorism.” renewal.q