Catalan News Roundup 16 Oct 2012

It's getting hard to keep up! (Updated 11:56am ET)

Herald Scotland: As others see us: the view from Spain, by David Leask
"Suddenly the Scottish vote isn’t just a possibility. Regardless of who wins in 2014, Scotland’s plebiscite is a stick with which to beat any polity unwilling to allow a democratic settlement to a national question. Mas and others in Spain know this."

The Guardian: Catalonia leader threatens to draw EU into independence row with Spain, by Giles Trimlett in Madrid
"Mas threatened to "internationalise the conflict" if Rajoy blocked the referendum.

"In that case, we will have to go to Brussels to explain that they don't even let us consult with the people," he told the regional public TV channel TV3 on Monday."

Financial Times/Business Day: Spain, Britain and the forbidden fruits of independence, by Gideon Rachman
"On the grounds of justice and prudence, the British government’s approach seems wiser. Cameron, like Spanish Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy, is a conservative and a patriot. Both men would be appalled to preside over the breakup of their nations. But the UK government has recognised that, by winning power in Edinburgh, the Scottish nationalists have earned the democratic right to hold a referendum on their goal of independence. There is no point in trying to find legalistic ways of thwarting them."

Bloomberg (Editorial): To Keep Catalonia In, Spain Should Allow a Vote to Secede
"The central government should also cede more regional control over infrastructure such as Barcelona’s airport. Above all, Spain should follow the U.K.’s example by granting Catalonians the right to hold a referendum on independence and conduct a legal, orderly secession if they want to. Last week, Spain’s parliament voted against doing so, and it was a mistake."

Business INsider: Millions of Spanish Are Fleeing or Trying to Secede, by Wolf Richter
"So, 84% of the people have “little” or “no” confidence in Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy. The fate of Alfredo Perez Rubalcaba, leader of the opposition, is even worse: 90% of all voters distrust him! Those are the two top political figures of the two major political parties, and the utterly frustrated and disillusioned Spaniards are defenestrating them both."

EuroNews: Catalonia looks for a boost from Scots’ charge
"“It might serve as an example and a reference and it might add some impetus to our awareness as we need a date here too for our referendum. The sooner the better,” said one man, in Catalonian."

NZWeek: Spanish minister warns Catalan nationalist leader
"Speaking on La Sexta television channel, Gallardon said that calling a referendum in Catalonia would be considered an act of disobedience and could be punished with three to 12 months’ disqualification from office and a fine."

Less interesting:

Reuters/Chicago Tribune: Analysis: Europe's separatists gain ground in crisis, by Paul Taylor and Robert-Jan Bartunek (with additional reporting by Philip Blenkinsop in Brussels, Fiona Ortiz and Tracy Rucinski in Madrid and Jon Boyle in London; Writing by Paul Taylor; Editing by Peter Graff, but notably no one in Catalonia)
[Frankly I found the reporting, at least on the Catalan portions of this article to be rather generic, when not drifting off into untruths. It's not just about money, Reuters.]