Barcelona village held the first referendum on independence of Catalonia

The referendum asked villagers whether Catalonia, one of the most
ancients nations within Spain, should become an independent democratic
state within the European Union. Arenys de Munt, a Catalonian village
of 8,000 people in the region of Barcelona, held on Sunday a
referendum on the independence of Catalonia.

The referendum was proposed by a local movement and supported by a
Town Hall vote. It asked villagers whether Catalonia should become an
independent democratic state within the European Union. A Barcelona
court accepted an appeal lodged by Spanish Government lawyers, who
argued that the referendum violates the law which rules local Town
Halls and says that only the stage can stage referendums.

Arenys de Munt mayor claims that the referendum is legal as it was
organized by a local movement and not by the Town Hall. Far-right
group 'Falange Española' announced a demonstration in the village on
the same day as the vote but the mayor has assured it would be held in
a different place.

Finally, the self-determination referendum was held, pacefully, on 12
sept 2009. With a 41% of participation, the referendum was the first
oportunity for the catalan citizens to decide abouth his political
future. The winner: the independentist movement (96%
voted 'Yes'). Overwhelming Catalan victory in Arenys de Munt, 60 towns
decided to call other independence consultations in the next months.

By the other hand, thousands of supporters of independence marched
Friday through Barcelona to push for the creation of their own state,
few days ago (11 sept 2009). The protestors marched through the
streets of the capital of Catalonia behind a large black and red
banner that read in the Catalan language: "We are a Nation, We want an
own state."

Among those taking part in the demonstration, timed to coincide with
the Catalonian National Day, was the president of European football
champions FC Barcelona, Joan Laporta. In 2006 Catalonia approved in a
referendum an autonomy statute to give itself even greater powers but
its validity has been contested by the opposition Popular Party with a
ruling from Spain's constitutional court expected alter this year.