Page 8 - ARUBA TODAY

A8 WORLD NEWS
Tuesday 12 February 2019
Spain's courts put to test by trial of Catalan separatists

By ARITZ PARRA since, with a regional elec-
JOSEPH WILSON tion on Dec. 21, 2017, show-
Associated Press ing that the 7.5 million resi-
MADRID (AP) — Spain is dents of Catalonia remain
bracing for the nation's divided by the secession
most sensitive trial in four question.
decades of democracy Junqueras himself faces
this week, with a dozen the largest possible sen-
Catalan separatists facing tence of 25 years for rebel-
charges including rebellion lion. He and eight other de-
over a failed secession bid fendants have spent over
in 2017. a year in pre-trial custody
The proceedings, which because they were consid-
begin Tuesday, will be ered to be flight risks.
broadcast live on television For Junqueras, the reasons
and all eyes will be focused are instead "revenge and
on the impartiality of the exemplary punishment."
Spanish Supreme Court. "This is a warning for future
Catalonia's separatists generations against ques-
have attacked the court's tioning the state's status
credibility in the run-up to quo," he wrote, "even if that
the trial, saying it is a pup- In this Tuesday, Sept. 11, 2018 file photo, pro-Independence demonstrators gather at La Diagonal, diminishes its own democ-
pet of the Spanish govern- one Barcelona's main avenues, during the Catalan National Day in Barcelona, Spain. racy."
ment and any ruling will Associated Press Junqueras' boss, former
be a political one that has Catalan president Carles
been decided in advance. democracy in 1977 after of a defense strategy," he party and the imprison- Puigdemont, and seven as-
"In reality, it's democracy the death of dictator Gen. said. ment, also on graft, of the sociates fled Spain to other
itself that will go on trial," Francisco Franco. Spanish authorities say that king's brother-in-law. European countries and
Oriol Junqueras, one of the "This is a trial following the the separatists are guaran- Junqueras, the former vice have succeeded in avoid-
accused, wrote from jail in highest standards set by the teed a fair trial by the very president of the Catalan ing extradition.
reply to questions sent by European Union," Lesmes democracy founded on regional government, and Proceedings are likely
The Associated Press. "We recently told a group of the rule of law that they al- 11 others are being tried for to last for at least three
are before a trial which, journalists. legedly violated. their roles in holding an in- months. The verdicts, and
through a partial investi- Lesmes says the outcome Lesmes rejected the idea dependence referendum any sentences, would be
gation full of falsities and of the trial will reverberate that Spanish courts oper- on Oct. 1, 2017, after ignor- delivered months later.
irregularities, criminalizes a beyond the political crisis ate at the whim of the gov- ing a ban by the country's More than 500 witnesses
political option and an ide- in Catalonia, while recog- ernment, pointing to recent Constitutional Court, and have been called to testify
ology." nizing that the Supreme guilty verdicts for promi- for the subsequent decla- in court, including former
But Supreme Court presi- Court's integrity is at stake. nent members of the po- ration of independence Prime Minister Mariano Ra-
dent Carlos Lesmes dismiss- "I certainly believe that litical and economic elite, 26 days later despite more joy, Catalan and central
es that notion, saying the there is a huge campaign including last year's graft warnings from authorities. government officials, po-
trial is the most important to discredit the Spanish ju- conviction of former mem- The conflict with Catalo- lice officers and ordinary
since Spain's transition to diciary, which forms part bers of Rajoy's then-ruling nia has been festering ever citizens.q
Macedonia prepares for name change by removing signs

ment building in the capi- country to join the alliance. away from the vote.
tal Skopje. Macedonian Greece had blocked "The government building
Prime Minister Zoran Zaev Macedonia's accession to has been left with no official
is scheduled to speak at NATO for more than a de- sign — it's an embarrassing
ceremony Tuesday at the cade. action by the prime minis-
site, where organizers said Macedonia will now pub- ter," said Naum Stoilkovski,
the NATO flag is due to be lish the deal with Greece a spokesman for Macedo-
raised. in its government gazette nia's conservative opposi-
Authorities well also pre- so that the agreement can tion party VMRO_DPMNE.
paring to replace signs at take effect. "The Republic of Macedo-
the country's border with The Greek and Macedo- nia has been dishonored
Greece. nian governments want to and disfigured."
The small Balkan country will implement the deal swiftly, With a struggling $11 billion
change its name to North faced with strong opposi- economy, Macedonia has
Macedonia after reach- tion from their domestic po- craved stability since gain-
Workers dismantle metal fencing from the front of the Macedo- ing a landmark agree- litical opponents and skep- ing independence from
nia's Government in the capital Skopje, Thursday, Feb. 7, 2019. ment over the summer with tical public opinion on both Yugoslavia in 1991, but its
Associated Press neighboring Greece, which sides of the border. More integration with other Eu-
has a neighboring province than two-thirds of Greeks ropean countries was held
By KONSTANTIN TESTORIDES for the country's new name: called Macedonia. opposed the agreement, back by its dispute with
SKOPJE, Macedonia (AP) North Macedonia. Macedonia is due to be- according to several re- Greece and international
— Macedonian authorities "Government of the Re- come a NATO member cent opinion polls, while a tension about Macedonia's
began Monday removing public of Macedonia" now that Greece's parlia- referendum on the deal in future NATO membership,
official signs from govern- signs were removed from ment approved a measure Macedonia last year saw which is strongly opposed
ment buildings to prepare the country's main govern- Friday that would allow the more than 60 percent stay by Russia.q