300 Years of Occupation - 300 Years of Resistance!

international | rights, freedoms and repression | opinion/analysis

Sunday April 22, 2007 21:57

by Catalan Solidarity: Ireland Committee

catalansolidarity at hotmail dot com

This year marks the 300th anniversary of the occupation of the Catalan Countries by the Spanish State following the battle of Almansa in 1707. This date cannot be easily forgotten as both the national and social oppression by the Spanish State over the Catalan Countries still continues.

Likewise, we can not forget one part of our country, Northern Catalonia, which has been occupied for more than 300 years by the French State.

In spite of the historical significance of 2007 our country’s occupation was not completed until 1715 when Mallorca fell. The Catalan Countries’ occupation lasted so long due to the wave of popular resistance.

We find evidence of that resistance in the continuation to date of the independentist movement which, in spite of years of torture, war, dictatorship, imprisonment and exile, has stood firmly against Spanish occupation challenging the economical and socio-political order established upon the Catalan people.

This is why we celebrate the “300 years of occupation- 300 years of resistance” campaign. We invite all organisations to keep on defending our language and our culture from Spanish bullying impositions. We invite all associations which work daily to transmit the historical truth lived within the Catalan Countries. We invite all the people who want take a stand to end with 300 years of occupation to participate in showing our refusal to this economical and national colonization. We won’t be silenced in front of the injustices committed against our people. We shall only stop when we are free!

300 Years of Occupation - 300 Years of Resistance!

Catalan Solidarity Protest Free Derry Corner

On Wednesday 25th April at midday, the Catalan Solidarity Ireland Committee will hold a symbolic solidarity protest at Free Derry Corner in conjunction with widespread demonstrations throughout the Catalan Countries.

The protests mark’s the 300th anniversary of the occupation of the Catalan Countries by the Spanish State following the battle of Almansa in 1707.