Catalans to demonstrate and demand right to hold referendum
Separatists growing in confidence as ranks grow, while attention paid to impending Scottish independence referendum
Stephen Burgen in Barcelona
theguardian.com, Thursday 11 September 2014 06.00 BST

The Catalan government has called a referendum on independence for the region of 7 million people on 9 November. Photograph: Josep Lago/AFP/Getty Images
Hundreds of thousands of Catalans will take to the streets on Thursday, the National Day of Catalonia, to demand the right to hold a referendum on their future, with some hoping that the sudden surge in support for Scottish independence might boost their cause.
The demonstration will take the form of a huge "v" in the north of Barcelona, where two major thoroughfares converge. The v stands for via, vote and voluntat (will), though implicitly for victory, too. While victory may not be at hand, the separatists are gaining in confidence as their ranks continue to grow, helped by the obduracy of the Madrid government, which refuses to discuss the issue.
The Catalan government has called a referendum on independence for the region of 7 million people on 9 November. Madrid said the vote will be illegal.
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http://www.theguardian.com/world/2014/sep/11/catalans-demonstrate-demand-right-hold-referendum