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Exiled former Catalan leader Carles Puigdemont EMMANUEL DUNAND/AFP/Getty Images

Exiled former Catalan leader to appear in court as his arrest triggers protests

German police arrested Carles Puigdemont after he crossed the border from Denmark.

FORMER CATALAN PRESIDENT Carles Puigdemont is to appear in court today following his arrest in Germany which triggered a wave of protests in Catalonia where thousands of separatists faced off with police.

German police arrested Puigdemont yesterday, after he crossed the border from Denmark, under a European warrant issued by Spain.

The arrest comes five months after Puigdemont went on the run as Spanish prosecutors sought to charge him with sedition and rebellion in the wake of a vote by the Catalan parliament to declare independence.

According to his lawyer Jaume Alonso-Cuevillas, he was on his way to Belgium, where he fled after Spanish authorities moved to impose direct rule over Catalonia.

Puigdemont will be brought before a German judge today to confirm his identity and a court will then decide if he is to remain in custody pending extradition proceedings.

Clashes erupted as protesters took to the streets in Catalonia following his arrest.

Catalan police decked out in riot gear shoved and hit demonstrators with batons to keep the crowd from advancing on the office of the Spanish government’s representative in Barcelona, the capital of the wealthy northeastern region.

Officers fired warning shots in the air to try to contain the demonstrators, who pushed large recycling containers towards police. Some people threw glass bottles, cans and eggs at police.

Some 90 people were slightly injured during the protests in Barcelona, ​​including 22 police officers, emergency services said.

Another seven people were injured at a protest in Lleida, about 150 kilometres west of Barcelona and one person was injured in Tarragona to the south.

It is the latest chapter in a secession saga that has bitterly divided Catalans and triggered Spain’s worst political crisis in decades.

‘Not the end’

“It angers us that they arrested Puigdemont, he is our highest representative,” 22-year-old architecture student Judit Carapena told AFP at the protest.

Spain’s central government should not “sing victory because it is not the end of separatism, far from it”, she added.

Catalan parliament speaker Roger Torrent appealed for calm in an address broadcast on regional television.

“I have no doubt that Catalan society will act as it always has, with non-violence,” he said.

Aside from Puigdemont, nine other Catalan separatist leaders are in jail in Spain over the region’s failed bid for independence.

His arrest comes two days after Spain’s supreme court issued international arrest warrants for 13 Catalan separatists including Puigdemont and his nominated successor Jordi Turull.

The court said they would be prosecuted for “rebellion”, a charge which carries a maximum sentence of 30 years in prison. Twelve more people face less serious charges like disobedience.

Issuing the warrant for Puigdemont on Friday, Judge Pablo Llarena accused the ousted Catalan leader of organising an independence referendum in October last year despite a ban from Madrid.

The vote had been swiftly followed by the Catalan parliament’s declaration of independence on 27 October.

Rebellion 

As Spanish authorities moved in to impose direct rule over the region, Puigdemont and four other separatist leaders fled to Belgium. A sixth one fled the country on Friday, reportedly to Switzerland.

Hours after Puigdemont was detained in Germany, a spokesman from Police Scotland said one of them, Clara Ponsati, who has since gone to Scotland and is wanted for both rebellion and misuse of public funds, was “making arrangements” to surrender to authorities there.

Puigdemont had been visiting Finland since Thursday, but slipped out of the Nordic country before Finnish police could detain him.

Elsa Artadi, a lawmaker with Puigdemont’s Together for Catalonia party, said that he should fight his extradition. ”Spain does not guarantee a fair trial; only revenge and repression,” she wrote on Twitter.

“What they are doing these days is totally disproportionate, we are being treated like criminals for wanting independence,” Rosa Vela, a 60-year-old teacher, told AFP at the protest in Barcelona.

While separatist parties won Catalonia’s regional elections in December called by Madrid, they have been unable to elect a president and form a government as they have picked candidates are now either in exile, in jail or facing prosecution.

After Puigdemont was forced to withdraw his bid for the presidency as he could not return to Spain without facing arrest, another pro-independence leader Jordi Sanchez followed suit when a judge refused to let him out of jail to be sworn in. The third candidate, Turull, was placed in custody on Friday.

Fresh regional elections will be triggered if a new leader is not elected by 22 May.

© AFP 2018 

Read: Thousands protest in Barcelona after ex-Catalan leader Puigdemont arrested

Read: Uganda’s war widows: The long fight to keep their family lands

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    Mute Bingobango
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    Jun 3rd 2017, 12:42 AM

    I live in the city centre and frequently walk home late at night. It’s actually astounding the amount of people out there on the streets. I walked passed the GPO one night before Christmas, it was baltic out, and there must have been 50 or 60 people outside sleeping rough. Families and everything. More recently I have seen the Romanian lads on Henry Street in big numbers too. Only recently though. I think Brexit might have scared a few away from over the water and they feel safer in a European country?
    Whatever the reasons or solutions the whole thing is a shambles and a national embarrassment.

    147
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    Mute DaisyChainsaw
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    Jun 3rd 2017, 12:46 AM

    And they’ll all be up early in the morning… But Leo, Simon and the rest of the Irish Tories will continue to ignore them.

    104
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    Mute Pat Mustard
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    Jun 3rd 2017, 1:01 AM

    @DaisyChainsaw: yawn

    78
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    Mute Vincent
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    Jun 3rd 2017, 1:58 AM

    @DaisyChainsaw: what is it? 4 % unemployment? Always someone else s fault.

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    Mute DaisyChainsaw
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    Jun 3rd 2017, 2:14 AM

    @Vincent: Jaysus the Fraperoom is working overtime tonight. Nobody permitted to rain on the blueshite parade, eh?

    32
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    Mute alphanautica
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    Jun 3rd 2017, 7:26 AM

    @DaisyChainsaw: clearly homelessness globally is fine gael’s fault. Who knew they had such influence internationally to roll out their dastardly plans.

    42
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    Mute Dave Doyle
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    Jun 3rd 2017, 7:50 AM

    @alphanautica: Homelessness is the result of FG neoliberal policies. Varadkar is a committed neoliberal globalist. So yes, his plans are dastardly.

    30
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    Mute Suzie Sunshine
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    Jun 3rd 2017, 12:34 AM

    Rough sleepers deserve so much more than this .. those sleeping in hotel rooms are safe , warm and cosy unlike these guys ..

    86
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    Mute abcyz
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    Jun 3rd 2017, 12:36 AM

    @Suzie Sunshine: We got dead rats for pillow so we be ok. Thanks anyway

    17
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    Mute john Appleseed
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    Jun 3rd 2017, 9:45 AM

    @abcyz: and the Internet obviously

    4
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    Mute Linda Hughes
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    Jun 3rd 2017, 1:48 AM

    This is not right at all levels, i know that there will be always a few people who are quite ok living on the street’s but this is horrible in this day and age in this country. ….. open up the churches and let them sleep there I’m sure God won’t mind nor would a few big men sit with them while they sleep so they know they are safe! Open up sports halls and do the same and then let them have a shower! I’m not very sure about charities too many people at the top creaming it.

    84
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    Mute Micheal S. O' Ceilleachair
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    Jun 3rd 2017, 3:43 AM

    @Linda Hughes: open up your own house too. 4% unemployment is really full employment. For some living on the streets as a lifestyle choice. Many have alcohol and drug dependency problems;also people homeless through having fallen on hard times;also some will not accept accommodation unless it is in the area of their choice. Many put themselves in deliberately precarious situations to “bribe” the authorities. Very few ordinary hard working people can arbitrarily choose where they and their families live; they have to budget and live within their means. This means often commuting fifty to seventy miles just to work. Draw an arc from Dundalk to Mullingar to Portlaoise to Carlow to Gorey and you will see what I mean. Less sympathy and more practicality might work. Address the why then solve.

    125
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    Mute Dave Doyle
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    Jun 3rd 2017, 6:50 AM

    @Micheal S. O’ Ceilleachair: It’s always their own fault, that’s the neoliberal mantra. Unreported by another side of this problem is those in homes, living under threat of eviction from banks, where every cent they have goes to the banks and leaves no money for food, light, or heat. 34 families in the Midland area received bags of non perishable food last night. Food donated by people and businesses. Over a hundred families, those who have the courage to seek help,are helped every week. One man who has been helped, is in hospital, unable to eat, his mind is so destroyed with the pressure and struggle of trying to live, he’s just can’t eat. He stated he would be happier if he was dead. He seems determined on that course. If he does comitt suicide, the reasons won’t be recorded, if FG gets their way the suicide won’t be recorded, “to spare the families” is the reason given. To keep the truth from the public is the real reason.
    FF destroyed the economy in the country. FG has destroyed society. That’s why there are these problems in the country. No other reason.

    59
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    Mute abcyz
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    Jun 3rd 2017, 12:35 AM

    Well Leo, what you going to do? Is it all their own fault? Is your Indian connections, the men ,women and street children’s predicament their own fault too?

    48
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    Mute Vincent
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    Jun 3rd 2017, 1:57 AM

    @abcyz: dope

    62
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    Mute abcyz
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    Jun 3rd 2017, 10:08 PM

    @Vincent: U enjoy Leo’s policies u dope u?

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    Mute Jackson Bollovks
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    Jun 3rd 2017, 10:45 AM

    I don’t give a penny to beggars, Irish, Roma or whatever, there are plenty of reasons people end up on the street but there are also plenty of supports if people want to help themselves. If they were to offer a free accommodation/house in Sligo, Donegal or Leitrim, free counselling and support and welfare, they turn their nose up and would say no. Because they’d rather stay in Dublin with their mates, their dealers, the scene and the coin they make every day is worth far more.

    26
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    Mute Dermot Keogh
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    Jun 3rd 2017, 1:34 AM

    We now have a vadkar steering this ship o my god let me get off

    34
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    Mute Martin Byrne
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    Jun 3rd 2017, 9:19 AM

    @Dermot Keogh: cheerio.

    19
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    Mute bings
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    Jun 3rd 2017, 10:06 AM

    This may sound stupid but would it not be a good idea if all the charities who are set up to deal with the homeless, people dealing with addiction all got together & sat down. They could then together decide what to do. They all have good ideas but why not pool their ideas. I realise that some of the people at the top won’t be needed so they will lose their jobs but it’s charity not a business. Why not work together & sort out this mess as the local councils are doing nothing. The gov officials are doing nothing. The suggestion from all the politicians seem to be “let’s build more houses.” As i’ve said before “open up all the boarded houses the council have on their books” There is no requirement to rip out everything in a house unless its wrecked. This is what councils do before they give out houses. I know some people who work in the local housing dept. They state that there are good kitchens, wardrobes, bathrooms which are ripped out & the exact same put in. A total waste of money but councils. There are some houses that are wrecked by the tenants but they should be left in the house in its condition & if they move out they should go to the bottom of the list. If you have no respect for what your given then you don’t deserve it.

    21
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    Mute Ian Moloney
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    Jun 3rd 2017, 8:11 AM

    Irish definition of hypocrisy? A previous privileged overpaid RTÉ DJ mocking these unfortunates every morning on national radio while snorting cocaine himself behind our backs.

    26
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    Mute Vic's Burd
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    Jun 3rd 2017, 10:03 AM

    I love how the keyboard warriors are quick to blame the government and the likes. This was an issue in the 70′s; 80′s; 90′s and 00′s – it will always be an issue. Regardless who is in charge.

    This article talks about several volunteer teams walking around with tea/coffee/soup – I’m starting to think that they aren’t solving the problem, they are aiding it. If people don’t get tea served on the street – it might make them go into the hostels; the cafes and the other places to get tea.

    Stop the street teams for a while and put them in the hostels and the shelters instead: see if that brings down the numbers on the street?

    9
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    Mute Ann Birney
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    Jun 3rd 2017, 10:59 AM

    @Vic’s Burd: I’m one of these volunteers in an outreach charity. At 10.30 last night I phoned the DCC freephone to try to get beds for 2 people. The automated voice was on a loop saying there were no beds left. I called every 5 minutes until 11.05. At that time there were still no beds left and I could opt to queue on the line to speak to a person. I was 46th in the queue! The 2 people said thanks but not to bother anymore. We gave them sleeping bags and food. No more we could do for them. Despite assurances from government spokespersons that there are sufficient beds for everyone in the system, the experience on the ground proves different. To all doubting Thomases, spend 1 night with any outreach service to inform yourself of the reality.

    27
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    Mute Patricia Wormald
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    Jun 3rd 2017, 12:22 PM

    @Ann Birney: you guys are doing a great job.keep up the good work
    You are giving up your free time.to help other.
    As the saying goes.by the grace of god go.i

    16
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    Mute Dermot Keogh
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    Jun 3rd 2017, 1:35 AM

    We are doomed

    11
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    Mute Paul Murphy
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    Jun 3rd 2017, 3:32 AM

    Wat u complaining about

    2
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    Mute Jane Yazicioglu
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    Jun 3rd 2017, 10:11 AM

    This is an apsolute disgrace for Ireland all the talk about taking in refugees trying to look good for who look after your own people first then talk about refugees.

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