THE INTERNATIONALIZATION OF THE CATALAN CONFLICT

European states don't want to recognise Catalonia as an independent state. But the truth is that the political and social situation in Catalonia is giving too much noise to the European Institutions. The President of Catalonia, Carles Puigdemont was arrested. In the last days a lot of journalists are talking about the peculiar catalan situation. Catalans are very active in social media and the news are spreading too fast. A lot of institutions are raising the voice, and claiming the right of self-determination to the Catalans.

JULIAN ASSANGE

Julian Assange is talking too much. He always support catalan independence. And this is why he has been silenced banning to him the use of Internet.

Varoufakis and Eno are collecting signatures for supporting Assange, silenced because of his support to Catalan Independence.

https://www.vilaweb.cat/noticies/eno-i-varoufakis-comencen-una-recollida-de-signatures-de-suport-a-julian-assange-incomunicat-pels-seus-piulets-sobre-catalunya/

REACTIONS IN PORTUGAL

According to the Portugal News, Portugal’s prime minister, António Costa, said on that he totally supported the constitutional principle of the unity of Spain and that the unilateral declaration of independence by Catalonia “disturbed the political situation in Spain”.

http://www.theportugalnews.com/news/catalonia-decision-will-have-no-consequences-portugal/43669

GERMAN CITIZENS AND POLITICIANS

Catalan newspaper says that the majority of Germans are against Puigdemont extradiction.

http://www.lavanguardia.com/politica/20180329/442022970930/encuesta-die-welt-mayoria-alemanes-extradicion-puigdemont.html

According to xcatalunya.cat, the President of the German Parliament gave a warning to Mariano Rajoy, President of Spain. This warning was because of the circumstances which are taking place in Catalonia. http://www.xcatalunya.cat/noticies/detail.php?id=34478

Also, according to Catalan News, 51% of Germans are against Puigdemont’s extradition.

http://catalannews.com/politics/item/51-of-germans-against-puigdemont-s-extradition-shows-survey

REACTIONS IN FRANCE

The french media ''generation'' says that Catalonia has the wish to change Europe.

https://www.generation-s.fr/comite/mouvement-generation-s/article/la-catalogne-symptome-du-besoin-dune-autre-europe#.Wr4KCmyOLot.twitter

The french newspaper, Le Monde, also is talking a lot about the Catalan issue. They wrote an article: ''The legal and political puzzle of the Puigdemont case in Europe''

http://www.lemonde.fr/europe/article/2018/03/30/le-casse-tete-juridique-et-politique-de-l-affaire-puigdemont-en-europe_5278521_3214.html

This newspaper, ''Le Monde'' also said that Puigdemont case is a "European legal headache"

http://www.lemonde.fr/europe/article/2018/03/30/le-casse-tete-juridique-et-politique-de-l-affaire-puigdemont-en-europe_5278521_3214.html

Another newspaper, Liberation, also talking about the catalan issue:

http://www.liberation.fr/planete/2018/03/02/la-catalogne-sans-puigdemont-ni-solution_1633465

Le Figaro, also talking about Catalonia, with this article: ''Presidence of Catalonia: Turull enters the track''

http://www.lefigaro.fr/international/2018/03/21/01003-20180321ARTFIG00288-presidence-de-la-catalogne-turull-entre-en-piste.php

More important FRENCH MEDIA, L'Independant also talks about the Catalan issue:

http://www.lindependant.fr/2018/03/28/perpignan-une-cassolada-au-nom-de-la-liberte-des-prisonniers-catalans,3911925.php

So we have seen that the most important French Media are talking about Catalonia, but also a lot of alternative media are explaining this issue. One example is the case of the lesechos.fr media, who has explained very well what is happenning in Catalonia.

https://www.lesechos.fr/amp/95/2122195.php

REACTIONS IN LUXEMBOURG

Luxembourg is one of the countries where the media has talked more about the Catalan conflict.

The Luxemburger Wort, a known media in Luxembourg, annonunced the detention of the Catalan president. Le Quotidien, which is another Luxembourg media, also talked about that fact.

https://www.wort.lu/fr/international/carles-puigdemont-arrete-par-la-police-allemande-5ab784f5c1097cee25b85de8

http://www.lequotidien.lu/a-la-une/carles-puigdemont-arrete-par-la-police-allemande/

L'essentiel newspaper said that Puigdemont will never give up with his independence whishes.

http://www.lessentiel.lu/fr/news/europe/story/Carles-Puigdemont-ne-se-rendra-jamais--13421701

REACTIONS IN FINLAND

A finnish MP asked to two German MP's how will they treat to Catalonia. This Finnish MP is Mikko Karna.

https://www.elnacional.cat/ca/politica/diputat-finlandes-pregunta-dos-ministres-alemanys-catalunya_253749_102.html

According to La Vanguardia, Mikko Karna asks to expel Spain from the soccer world until it solves the Catalan crisis.

http://www.lavanguardia.com/politica/20180404/442177114043/mikko-karna-expulsar-espana-mundial-futbol-crisis-catalana.html

REACTIONS IN THE UK

The title of the article says the following: A Catalan view on how a St Andrews professor faces 30 years in a Spanish jail for 'sedition'

http://www.heraldscotland.com/opinion/16122449.A_Catalan_view_on_how_a_St_Andrews_professor_faces_30_years_in_a_Spanish_jail_for__sedition_/

The Financial Times, one of the most prestigious newspapers in the UK, is also talking about the Catalan Issue.

https://www.ft.com/content/51ea03f8-371a-11e8-8eee-e06bde01c544

The Guardian, another of the most prestigous newspapers, also has written several articles about the facts which are taking place in Catalonia.

The other day, the Headline news were opnned like this: German prosecutors ask court to extradite Carles Puigdemont to Spain.

https://www.theguardian.com/world/2018/apr/03/german-prosecutors-ask-court-to-permit-carles-puigdemont-extradition-to-spain

Leaders of Catalan Independence

ARTUR MAS GAVARRÓ

Catalan politician and economist. He was member of the CIU party. He has occupied several public and political charges in Catalonia. From 2010 to 2016 he was President of Catalonia. His mandate has been historical. When he was President, the Catalan Independence Movement began to spread inside Catalan society. In 2012, a big rally took place in Barcelona for claiming independence. From that moment, the political situation in Catalonia changed. Artur Mas had to make elections several times. In 2014, he made an independentist query in Catalonia (not a referendum).

CARLES PUIGDEMONT CASAMAJÓ

Activist of the Call for Solidarity in Defense of the Catalan Language, Culture and Nation. He belonged to the Nationalist Jovent of Catalonia (JNC). 

He was the President of the Association of Municipalities for Independence and mayor of the city of Girona.

When Artur Mas left the Presidency in 2016, Puigdemont became the President of Catalonia. He is considered as the main Leader of the Catalan Secessionist Movement. He made an illegal referendum of self-deteremination. On 10 of October, 2017 he proclaimed the Republic of Catalonia and he suspend it.

On October 27, 2017, from the tribune of the Parliament of Catalonia the unilateral Declaration of independence of Catalonia of 2017 (DUI) 18 will be proceeded under the results of the referendum on October 1 but against the provisions of the Spanish Constitution of 1978, the Senate approved the measures proposed by the government under Article 155 of the Spanish Constitution, including the dismissal of Carles Puigdemont as President of the Generalitat of Catalonia and the entire Government of Catalonia, immediately after it was published in the Official State Bulletin.

However, this document (DUI) was neither voted on nor registered in the Parliament, so it lacked legal validity, as Puigdemont recognized it a few days later.

On October 29, 2017, he embarked on a trip to Brussels. On October 31, 2017, at a press conference held in Brussels , demanded guarantees of a fair trial to accede to return to Spain, affirming his intention to stay in Brussels and maintain his political activity from there.

In 21 december, elections took place in Catalonia. The secessionist parties won absolute majority in the Parliament, this is why they wanted to make Puigdemont President of Catalonia again.

ANTONIO BAÑOS BONCOMPAIN

Politician, musician and Spanish writer. He was the head of the list of the CUP in the elections to the Parliament of Catalonia in 2015 and was elected deputy in the Catalan Parliament.

On July 30, 2015, CUP candidate for elect was elected in Barcelona for the Catalan elections in September, 9 in which the formation won 10 seats.1 On January 4, 2016, it announced that it was renouncing its deputy's act. after the decision of the CUP not to support the investiture as president of the Generalitat of Catalonia to Artur Mas, candidate of ''Junts pel Si'', however on January 10 he participated as a deputy in the election of Carles Puigdemont as President of the Generalitat voting in favor.

ORIOL JUNQUERAS VÍES

Oriol Junqueras i Vies, historian and politician, defends the "right to vote for the self-determination of the Catalan people". He is a well-known independenctist. For a lot of people, Junqueras is the biggest leader of the Catalan Secessionist movement. He has not been President of Catalonia, but he has always occupied public and political charges. He has always worked with the hightest catalan authorities to bring to Catalonia the right of self-determination. He is a politician that has spend its total political careers in claiming independence for Catalonia. When Artur Mas was the Preesident, Junqueras occupied a main role, he agreed with Mas to create an independentist query on 2014. Junqueras has always been present in a lot of media, claiming for independence. He has been the leader of the opposition, and when Puigdemont became President, Junqueras has been Vice-President.

On October 27, 2017, from the tribune of the Parliament of Catalonia, the unilateral Declaration of independence of Catalonia of 2017 (DUI) 14 will be carried out under the results of the referendum on October 1 but against the provisions of The Spanish Constitution of 1978, the Senate approved the measures proposed by the government under Article 155 of the Spanish Constitution, including the dismissal of Carles Puigdemont as President of the Generalitat of Catalonia and the entire Government of Catalonia, including Oriol Junqueras ( Vice president). Immediately afterwards it was published in the Official State Gazette. For this reason, on 2 of November, 2017, Junqueras was imprisoned.

GABRIEL RUFIÁN ROMERO

Politician in Catalonia. He is an independentist. He has developed some political charges for ERC party. His political position it is not one of the most important of Catalan secessionism, but he became very famous, due to its polemical acts in the Spanish Parliament. He loves twitter and he always write something that becomes polemical. Rufián it is one of the most known independentist politician for its polemics.

JOAQUIM TORRA I PLA

Quim Torra is a lawyer, editor and Catalan writer. In 2015 he was appointed president of Òmnium Cultural in replacement of Muriel Casals, a position that he transferred to Jordi Cuixart at the end of the same year.

n February 2011 he replaced Agustí Bassols as president of the sovereignty and sovereignty association and the following month he was elected to the permanent council of the Catalan National Assembly.

On March 7, 2016 he was appointed director of the Center for Contemporary Subject Studies of the Generalitat of Catalonia.

He also collaborates in various media, such as the digital magazine Esguard. In May of 2015 he was appointed director of the Magazine of Catalonia.

In the elections to the Parliament of Catalonia in 2017, he was elected to the list of Together for Catalonia.

ALEXANDRE DEULOFEU TORRES

Alexandre Deulofeu i Torres (l'Armentera, 1903 - Figueres, 1978) was a politician and philosopher of Catalan history. He wrote about what he called mathematics of history, a cyclical theory on the evolution of civilizations.

His masterpiece titled The Mathematics of History.

The statement of the mathematical law that, according to him, determines the evolution of the towns is summarized in the following points (chapter III of The mathematics of history in Catalan, edition of 1967):

1. All peoples go through periods of large demographic divisions, alternating with other periods of great unification or imperialist times.

2. The periods of large fractionation last for six and a half centuries. The ages of great unification last ten centuries and a half. The evolutionary cycle comprises, then, seventeen centuries.

3. During this evolutionary process, towns pass through perfectly established phases to reach the end of the cycle to occupy the same position as at the beginning.

4. The evolutionary cycle includes all the orders of human activity, that is, we must consider, in addition to a political cycle, a social, artistic, philosophical, scientific cycle ...

5. All the towns follow the same evolution, but this one is outposted or delayed according to the geographic position of each country.

6. The creative force is not the same for all peoples. For each cycle there is an area of ​​maximum creative intensity, and this area moves from one cycle to the next in the same sense of the general process. This one advances in Europe, from the East towards the Mediterranean West and passes after the Iberian Peninsula to Gaul, follows the British Isles, continues through the Germanic peoples and finally reaches the Nordic and Slavic peoples.

7. The imperialist nuclei that give rise to the times of great political unification follow perfect biological processes, identical to each other and with a longevity that lasts from five to six centuries.

8. The transformation of the political and social regimes does not follow any constant or descending line, but alternatively advances and retreats, those more intense than the others, which results in a broken line. The result of this line is equivalent to an advance in a certain sense. It is called "law of the two steps forward and one back".

PRINCIPALITY OF PONTINHA, THE PORTUGUESE CATALONIA

If someone tells you that there is a little Principality to the coast, the first thing it will appear on your mind is Monaco or perhaps Seborga. But, today we are going to talk about another principality, the Principality of Pontinha.

Where is that?

A portuguese citizen bought an islet which is a fort, located in the Port of Funchal, in the coast of the Madeira island. This citizen was ana artist, his name is Renato Barros, but when he bought this famous fort in the coast of Madeira, he self-ploclaimed Prince Renato II of Pontinha delcaring the independence of his fort, the Fort of Sao José. He is an excentric, but he has all the necessary requirements exigible for creating a state. The fort was a private property of the King of Portugal, but he sold it. Prince Renato says if a King solds a part of its territory, he is selling also the sovereignty. And this is why Pontinha is an independent state. But Renato II is a special Prince, he created a country from cero. He created state structures. He redacted a consitution and some petitions for claiming independence from Portugal. Renato lives in his fort, so his principality reaches the principles that the Montevideo Convention requires to an independent state: a government, a population, a territory and the capacity of stablishing diplomatic relations with other states.

Prince Renato II

Renato II appointed a Prime Minister for his country, Joby Weeks. Joby is a very famous person in Internet because of his knowledge about cryptocurrencies, in specific, about bitcoin. When Renato II appointed this Prime Minister for his country, the portuguese and international media become to explain the peculiarities of this little principality. From that moment, the Principality of Pontinha began to have thousands of followers through social media and social networks.

Renato II also offered political assylum for a portuguese politician, who was a candidate for portuguese election. In that moment, Pontinha became very famous in Portugal. Some said that a supposed independence of this islet will damage the image of Madeira's claims for independence.

Is he the most famous libertarian portuguese?

I think so. Portugal had not a big libertarian tradition and Renato II is a very famous person in Portugal because of his claims of Pontinha's independence. He is a libertarian because he appointed to Joby Weeks as a Prime Minister, a libertarian american, also very popular in Internet. Renato II is more than a Prince, he deffeated the Portuguese state claiming independence from his own islet. He is the only one in Portugal which defeated to the state in seceding a part of Portuguese territory with this popularity and success.

TWO PRINCIPALITIES, TWO DREAMS

These last month, everybody is talking about Catalonia. For those who don't know about it, Catalonia is a Spanish Region, it is a Principality located in the North-East of Spain. Some catalans are asking for independence of Catalonia. I won't enter in this discussion. The fact is that the media is always talking about Catalonia but it is not talking about Sealand, about Pontinha, about Seborga...

Media is not talking about micronations like the Principality of Pontinha.

So, Portugal has also its own ''Catalonia''. In Portugal there is a Principality which also wants to secede, it is called the Principality of Pontinha. We can say that Renato II of Pontinha is the portuguese ''Carles Puigdemont, President of Catalonia''. 

Prince Renato II of Pontinha (left) and the President of Catalonia (right)

But, why Media is not talking about the Principality of Pontinha?

We should understand that Catalonia has seven and a half million inhabitants and it represents an important part of spanish GDP. Catalonia is located in a strategic position, it is near the Mediterranean, it borders on France and Andorra. It is one of the most visited regions in Europe for turists. This is not the case of Pontinha, which is a very little Principality on the coast of Madeira. Pontinha receives also a lot of visits but not milions of visits. It has thousands of followers in Internet, but not milions. But the people of Pontinha are asking the same as the catalans. So, I arrive to the conclution that media will always support those projects which can affedct their own interest. Pontinha'n citizens are asking for independence. The polls says, that almost 100% of Pontinha's inhabitants have the desire of being an independent state. It is unfair that international media hide those projects which are not ''politically correct'' or those projects that simply are not accepted by the ''principles of XXI Century''. Medias are not talking about Pontinha because they consider irrelevant, but on the other side, they consider the Catalan issue as very important and interesting.

Catalans and Pontinhans are asking for the same. The Sealanders, the Seborgans and some more micronations are claiming the same, but the media doesn't treat them by the same way.

Document made by
Renato II

Besides, the catalan government should represent all the catalans (those who want independence and those who not). In Catalonia a lot of families are not agree with independende. On the other hand, Prince Renato II of Pontinha is representing all the Pontinhans and in Pontinh's Principality, 100% of the population is claiming for independence. Pontinha is a private islet, so if its head of State, the Prince Renato II makes something that damage its country, he will suffer the consequences, not the people, while if the Catalan government makes a bad desision, seven and a half citizens will suffer the consequences. Renato II is the owner, he can makes whatever he wants he is the one who will decide the future of his fort, the one of the San José.

The King of Portugal sold the territory to the Blandy family, and then this family sold the islet to Renato Barros, the now Prince Renato II.

Renato II alleges that if a sovereign sells a territory, he sells the property and the sovereignty of that territory. And this is the real reason why Pontinha has the right of becoming an independent state. Catalonia has not this right, the region has multiple owners and the president is just a bureaucrat.

Renato II can apply the principles of self-determination and the libertarian principles of self- ownership. He can decide to be the sovereign of his own property. 

RELATIONS WITH PORTUGAL

If Catalonia has bad relations with the Spanish state, Pontinha also has bad relations with the Portuguese state. The only difference is that the Islet that Renato II owns is his private country while Catalonia is not a private property owned by just one person.

The mass media don't see this or perhaps ''they don't see this''. The truth is that we live in the XXI Century and libertarians points of view are conquering the Internet and are spreading each time faster.

There are some powerful organizations that want to defeat governments, the Seasteading Institute, which is an organization that wants to build floating cities in International Waters with the aim of creating autonomous goverments. The objective of this kind of organizations is to scape from strong government regulations and of course, avoid taxes. In the XXI Century, it has no sense to pay te amount of taxes that we pay. Our governments should not need all this money, we have the enough technology to develop enterprises and industries that allow everyone to have a work ant to save money each month.

Seasteading Institute is supported by very well-known economists and businessmen, like Patri Friedman or Peter Thiel. In Spain, Instituto Elcano is a libertarian institute that support little governments. Jesús Huerta de Soto is a brilliant spanish economics professor, he is a libertarian very well-known in Spain for his explanations of economy and for his desires in supporting little countries. So Libertarianism lives a good moment and is still growing and growing, because people are fed up of governments. Renato II of Pontinha appointed a libertarian american as its Prime Minister. He is Joby Weeks, an entrepreneur who works in bitcoin businesses. Renato II also says that Google recognizes his territory as an independent state. This is good news for him, to know that technology developers, economists and logical people are with him.

Renato II of Pontinha is a peace man, who wants to dialogue with the government of Portugal, he tries to stablish diplomatic relations with the Portuguese Republic. He is making a lot of effort. But Portugal says no to its claiming situation. Renato II is annoyed with this situation.

Petitions made by Renato II and translated to catalan (left) and spanish (right) languages

Renato says he is suffering a lot of tensions by the Portuguese State. He tries to get independence of his nation and he wants to reach a treaty with Portugal that allows him to make a referendum of self-determination. Portuguese authorities are refusing his proposals. Renato II ensures that the EU will accept his right of self-determination and he ensures they want to help Pontinha, but on the other hand Portugal is closing any help to Pontinha.

In this article I won't enter in politic and juridic issues, but I will just give my opinion about those medias who hide the desires of Pontinha of becoming an independent state.

Pontinha has at least, the same right of appearing in the international medias, as Catalonia does. The same for Sealand, the same for Tavolara and Seborga, and many other countries which have the same desire.

VERBUM VOLAT, SCRIPTUM MANET