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Comment by faragon | Hacker News Reader

The European Union sides with the Spanish Constitution, supporting the rule of law, against the regional nationalist revolt [1]. Also, it seems that Russian "hackers" are helping the rebels [2].

[1] https://elpais.com/elpais/2017/09/15/inenglish/1505463613_51...

[2] https://elpais.com/elpais/2017/09/28/inenglish/1506588970_02...

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This is from BBC which is generally considered a reliable source. Even if the referendum is illegal, it doesn't justify violence against peaceful protesters.

Of course there are injured people, including policemen. If you start a revolt, you can expect problems. What do you expect, peaceful anarchy? Police is acting after a Court order, ensuring the rule of law.

What does Spain gain from using violence ?

Can't they just ignore the results on the basis it's illegal ?

"Spain"? The police is acting after a Court order from Barcelona (main city of the Catalan region), not from the central Spanish Government.

Edit: I can not reply to more comments, as it seems I have a limit of 5 comments per day. "Thanks", Hacker News. To the reply to this comment, I would reply that Courts have to apply the Law. I.e. it is not "optional", so if a Court sends the police to stop an illegal action, it is not arbitrary, but a duty. In Spain Courts and Goverments are separated, i.e. the Court is not acting because of central Government orders.

Thanks for the clarification. But what does Barcelona gain then ?

Can't they just ignore the results on the basis it's illegal ?

The fact that the court order comes from Barcelona is irrelevant as that court and judge:

1. Are hierarchically under the Spanish judiciary

2. They are ordering these actions (not including violence BTW) based on the automatic suspension of the referendum (there's no ruling) from a tribunal in Madrid

The number of injured have been reported by the Catalan officials, which benefits from enlarge the amount. Maybe the number is true. I will remain skeptic until information from several sources is provided.

Just the amount of people I have seen injured just in the videos being shared easily reaches the hundred. To be honest, even one case is not acceptable.

Without very good reasons it is my maxim to prefer to sympathize with the side that applied no/much less violence (which can be the side of the law, but can also be the other side).

This is not Spain, indeed, so don't expect people to support violence against voters, no matter what they were voting for.

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