Of 200,000 demonstrate against Spanish lawsuit against the separatists

Around 200,000 persons were on Saturday on the streets of Barcelona to demonstrate against a lawsuit against the 12 Catalan separatists.

The high-profile lawsuit was launched on Tuesday of this week in Madrid.

The 12 people are all indicted in connection with a referendum on independence in Catalonia 1. October 2017.

the Vote was held despite a ban on it.

In the indictment reads, among other things, that the separatist movement 'used all means necessary to achieve his goal, including violence'.

But many do not believe that the indictment is neither truthful or fair.

- It is really sad. It is a political trial, full of manipulation to get them convicted of something that is not a crime, says the 48-year-old Jesus Rodriguez during Saturday's demonstrations.

- They will just have them behind lock and key, and they know very well that it is not prohibited to vote. Therefore, the inventor of the violence, which has never happened, says Rodriguez.

Some protesters believe the charges are for violence is pure fabrication. Photo: Lluis Gene/Rtizau Scanpix
He stands at the head of a group of the so-called castellers, which forms a traditional Catalan towers of people on the shoulders of each other.

Signs with texts like "Freedom to political prisoners" and "self-Determination is not a crime" was with the demonstrations.

There were also mid-season with the yellow, red and blue Catalan flags.

Local police estimates that of 200,000 protesters attended, while the organizers themselves believe that up to 500 000 people were present.

Carles Puigdemont, who stood in the forefront of the separatist movement as regionspræsident in Catalonia, is not among the 12 defendants. Puigdemont is in self-imposed exile in Belgium.

According to Spanish law can be such a serious matter is not be conducted in absentia - i.e. where the suspect is not present in the courtroom.

the Focus is directed particularly against the former Catalan vice-president, Oriol Junqueras.

He could face up to 25 years in prison if he is found guilty of rebellion and misuse of public funds.

Other on the dock counts the members of the then government of Catalonia or the region's parliament as well as leaders from two influential separatist groups operating.