Catalonia has it's own unique traditional dances and music, most recently held outside of the parliament building on the square. This expression of nationality was banned during the Franco dictatorship, as was the speaking of the Catalan language.
Catalonia remains a peaceful highly prosperous region, and has stood by its rich culture, while keenly aware that it is recognised as totally separate from Spain. As the Spanish authorities in Madrid accuse the Catalan government of 'rebellion', and issue a European arrest warrant for ousted president CarIes Puigdemont, we are reminded of history repeating itself.
In 1940, the Vichy authorities arrested the then-president of Catalonia in exile, LIuis Companys, in France, and handed him over to Franco's Madrid, whom he stood in opposition to:
He was thrown into prison, starved, and savagely tortured for five weeks, before having a one-hour 'trial' for "rebellion" exactly the same charge ousted president CarIes Puigdemont his descendant to the post, faces today.
He was then taken out of there, put up against a wall, and executed. Those who now criticise Puigdemont and his cabinet for declaring a peaceful Declaration of Independence for Catalonia would do well to remember from where the current government in Ousted president Charles Puigdemont Madrid takes its own 'inspiration'.
Few could have imagined this scenario in the run-up to the controversial independence referendum on October 1. Clashes and a heavy-handed response by police on the day further ratcheted up tension. Last Friday, its parliament boldly declared independence, a move that immediately triggered Madrid to invoke Article 155 of the Spanish constitution for the first time and impose direct rule on Catalonia.
Puigdemont, and his government, are the leaders of the Catalan people. So by removing them Madrid, in effect, feels that it will also subjugate the whole of the Catalan people, once again.
They are among some 20 people - including Carles Puigdemont - facing 'charges that could lead to sentences of up to 30 years in prison. Puigdemont's decision to steal away to Brussels was a calculated one: ''We are here because Brussels is the capital of Europe," he said after arriving. "This is a European issue and I want Europe to react."
Where is the EU in all of this? They are led in their response by the son of a nazi, Jean Claude Junckers whoes father was wounded fighting for Hitler. They say given long enough history unlearned is doomed to repeat its self .
