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Judge Pablo Llarena seems annoyed. It's hardly surprising: out of the five extradition orders presented in Belgium, Germany and Switzerland, none have prospered up till now; a magnificent documentary on the facts of the 20th September protests in Barcelona outside the economy ministry has left it crystal clear that pro-independence civil leaders Jordi Sànchez and Jordi Cuixart acted as peace-keepers of the mass demonstration there, not by any measure as agitators; and, finally, there are serious doubts that the judge's decision to suspend from political office those of the political prisoners who are MPs will be approved by Parliament, which would lead to a new institutional conflict in the weeks ahead. In the middle of all this, the Spanish government, through its penitentiary administration department, has begun formalities for the transfer of the nine political prisoners to Catalan jails, which Llarena cannot oppose, since the investigative phase of the case has ended.

We have said it many times: there was no unrest on 20th September that justifies the accusation of rebellion, nor do the events of the referendum on 1st October match the legal definition of rebellion or sedition. On neither of those two key days was there violence by members of the public and it is all a set-up created for the benefit of the uninformed, assisted by a huge amount of media pyrotechnics. That leaves the charges of misappropriation of funds, which judge Llarena has not been able to prove either and which Spain's treasury ministry denies both verbally and in writing, but which, based on a Civil Guard report, have been carried forward by the Supreme Court judge. The matter is very serious for two reasons: at the trial, because of the sentences it could carry, although here the ability of the defence teams and the inestimable help of former Treasury minister Montoro could play a part; but, well before that, because the legal device of having to deposit a surety for a misuse of funds which is not proven allows Llarena to act against the assets and properties of the nine accused, to the tune of an enormously high 2.1 million euros. And to require that they deposit this amount in just 48 hours.

As on other occasions, the solidarity funds of the pro-independence civil groups ANC and Òmnium will take on the task of paying the massive sum required by the judge but it is worth noting that up till now about four million euros have already had to be deposited with Spanish courts for these cases, and that with the additional amount now demanded, the figure paid over will exceed six million euros. Only the solidarity of a generous Catalan society towards its political prisoners allows a situation as anomalous as this to be understood. Up till now, the two civil groups have been able to cover the bail bonds of the independence leaders involved in judicial processes.

And the latest idea to be shot forth, who knows, perhaps to test the waters, is the suggestion that the trial will not take place in autumn as was foreseen but will be delayed until after the municipal and European elections in May 2019. That may turn out to be a mirage and the current calendar maintained. But it is worth saying now that nothing could justify the delay since the investigative part of the process is finished and there is still plenty of time in hand so that the planned autumn dates are met. Games are being played with the lives of innocent and honourable individuals, who have been in prison unjustly for months. There are no motives and there are no reasons. And there is no case either, in the way that Llarena has proposed it. But that is becoming clearer all the time.