Hundreds of Catalan pro-independence students say they are sick of being ignored by the Spainish government
ADVERTISEMENTA general strike on Wednesday called by pro-independence campaigners in Catalonia continued on into the night.
Hundreds of strikers gathered in Barcelona’s main railway station to protest against the imprisonment of politicians, chanting the name of ex-leader Carles Puigdemont.
“The reason we are blocking the trains is so that they know we are here and what we are fighting for because after seeing what happened they haven’t paid attention to us on several occasions, so they can’t avoid this. This is happening,” explained student demonstrator Artur.
The action caused major disruption to passengers who like the rest of Spain’s northeastern region were divided in their support.
Businessman Ivan Noble was less than happy over the inconvenience:
“They simply don’t have anything else to do. They are people who just don’t have anything to do. They are bothering those of us who are working.”
While businessman Jose Joaquin was sympathetic to the cause of the students:
“I think it’s good, because for a long time in this country we have asked, ‘Where are the young people?’ At this difficult moment it is the young people that have come out and they are the ones who need to build their futures and that is what they are fighting for. As a young man in the 80s I did the same. Then we did not get the result we wanted, hopefully these youngsters will achieve the end results they hope for.”
Earlier in the evening thousands gathered in front of Barcelona’s cathedral.
Spain’s national government which has imposed direct rule on Catalonia hopes that after fresh elections in the region there will be a return to what it calls normality.