Catalan separatists Monday threatened “mass civil disobedience” against the Spanish government if it fulfils its vow to depose the region’s secessionist leader to stifle his drive for independence. Madrid has said it will suspend the powers of the semi-autonomous region, where separatist leaders held a banned independence referendum on October 1. That could be an opportunity for the region to follow through on threats to declare unilateral independence from Spain, a prospect that has raised fears of unrest. Lluis Corominas, spokesman of the Together for Yes ruling coalition, meanwhile urged a “peaceful and democratic defence of Catalan institutions”. Separatists are demanding greater control for the region over its finances.

Source: Dhaka Tribune October 23, 2017 14:03 UTC