“Freedom of speech is one of the key tenets of a democracy. But are you really speaking if no one hears you?” That was the conclusion of a post about government and freedom I wrote yesterday and events in Spain come to illustrate how swiftly and heavy-handed authorities can shut you down be when they don't like what you're saying.

Spain's region of Catalonia is holding a referendum on independence tomorrow, a move branded illegal by the government in Madrid. Consequently, Spanish authorities have proceeded to shut down sites associated with the organization of the referendum, telecommunication companies' buildings were occupied by the police and IT managers have been arrested, in what Wikileaks' Julian Assange has called 'the first Internet war'. Acting on Spanish authorities request, the mighty Google has deleted an app used to direct people to their polling stations, which are at this hour being occupied by police forces. Over 750 mayors who support the referendum were summoned for questioning and face being arrested. Speaking of Internet, it's worth mentioning that Pirate Bay founder Peter Sunde has stepped in offering anonymous hosting to Catalan referendum websites.

“What is happening in Catalonia in the most significant Western conflict between people and state since the fall of the Berlin wall,” Assange tweeted Saturday.

Shadow of Generalissimo Franco

Over the years, we've heard about Twitter or Facebook being blocked in countries like China, Turkey or Iran. Today we are talking about Spain, which is by all standards a Western democracy. It doesn't matter where we stand on this issue, by democratic standards the people of Catalonia should be allowed to have their say. A few years ago, Scotland held a similar referendum and the independence bid failed. The Spanish authorities didn't want to take any chances and are using force to shut down the people, full knowing they can do so unpunished. Or even criticized. Here, in Europe, German chancellor and EU de facto leader, Angela Merkel, has made it clear years ago she doesn't approve of Catalan independence. For the people of Barcelona this is a stark reminder of the tragic fate of Lluís Companys, the man who proclaimed Catalonia's independence in 1934 and became president. In 1940, Companys was arrested by the Nazi. He was then tortured and executed by general Franco's henchmen.
“The level of political repression in Catalonia at the moment is of a severe and arbitrary character not experienced since the days of the Franco dictatorship”, reads a protest letter signed by 70 American, Canadian and Mexican academics, led by Noam Chomsky.

Catalonia's independence bid could potentially lead to unrest in other European countries, inspiring other regions to go the same way, but at these point this seems less dangerous than what's happening in Spain right now. Keep in mind that the people of Catalonia have never used violence to attain their goal. They asked for a vote, which is what democracy is all about. What happens on Sunday in Catalonia is a test for the state of Western democracy and if force prevails this might have consequences for us all.

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