Read in Catalan

Neue Zürcher Zeitung, one of Switzerland's newspapers-of-record, has published an article about the hostility Catalans feel from the Spanish state. About the Catalans' experience of this feeling of grievance. In a report entitled "Why do they hate us so much?": What Catalans think about Spain, the newspaper analyses how this historical mistrust has been experienced from Catalonia.

"'We're different.' That's the often repeated explanation of the Catalans for why they don't fit easily into the Spanish state and Spanish society," say the newspaper. The reporter speaks with a number of Catalans, including Núria Sala from Ponts, who explains what happened in the village during the police repression of the 1st October referendum. They note that it's common to hear around Catalonia that "we couldn't imagine that Spanish police are capable of something like that". "Madrid newspapers had reported that the teams sent to Catalonia were 'highly motivated'". One also saw the videos of police being applauded driving to Catalonia with shouts of 'A por ellos, olé!' [Go get them!]," it says.

The newspaper speaks with other witnesses, like the mayor of Seu d'Urgell, a town very near the French border, and deputy from the governing Junts pel Sí coalition Josep Maria Forné. "We are merchants, we're seeking an agreement with which everyone can live well. The Castilians are warriors, they want to conquer and rule," said the latter.

The report includes two videos. One from Ponts during referendum day:

The second is of the a por ellos song as police left for Catalonia. The newspaper expresses surprise at such shouts against a place that was also part of Spain.

neue zürche