"This is what happens in Catalonia." With these words, a group of members of the Catalan National Assembly (ANC) have explained about the Catalan independence process to tourists in the queues at Barcelona El Prat airport. Several dozen members have themselves been protesting at the airport, claiming independence to put an end to such chaos.
With strong criticism of the Spanish government, and with accusations of nepotism and centralism, the ANC wanted to denounce the management by Aena and the Ministry of Fomento (Public Works & Transport) of the strike. A management that they consider "opaque" and "bad".
Members of the ANC hand out leaflets to a tourist / below, one of the ANC leaflets / Sergi Alcàzar
The Secretary of Communication of the ANC, Enric Planes, has led the protest, calling for 'yes' in the 1st October referendum in face of the "negligent management" by prime minister Rajoy's executive regarding the strike at Barcelona's airport.
"They govern us in a discriminatory way that we do not deserve," he said, in a clear attack on the role of Aena and the Ministry of Fomento in the chaos at El Prat airport.
Planes said that the ANC's intention was to inform all passengers at the airport of the current situation in Catalonia. "We have come here peacefully to explain what the problem is to all these people suffering." And the problem, they pointed out, is nepotism and centralism.
"Eulen is only on strike in Barcelona"
The members of the ANC took advantage of their protest in front of the crowds queuing for security control to distribute leaflets in which a photograph of the long queues at the airport was accompanied with text - in Catalan, Spanish and English - stating: "Maybe now you'll get why many Catalans will say 'yes' (in the referendum on 1st October)."
The leaflet explains that Eulen manages 27 airports but "goes on strike only in Barcelona", denouncing the company that manages the security control at El Prat airport of being a "friend" of the Spanish government. In addition, the ANC also argue that the working conditions at the company are "abominable".
Moreover, they state that Spain is the only country in the world where the government owns and operates 46 airports (those of Aena) with a centralized control.