Map of the Basque Region of Spain

The Basque region of Spain has always been causing problems to the authorities due to their strong desire to get recognition as an independent territory.

Yesterday, the region has witnessed the march of thousands of demonstrators who were demanding the right to independence. The government of the Basque region had initially agreed on allowing the referendum and had set Saturday as a voting day, but the Spanish Supreme Court declared it illegal and denied the proposal, also qualified as unconstitutional.

The referendum was proposed by the Basque Nationalist Party who hoped to obtain a positive result and the region’s independence starting two year from now.

About 20,000 people in six towns gathered to show their discontent, and there have also been reported several violent incidents: there were two explosions at Basque railway stations and several disputes between the demonstrators and a far-right party.

Spain’s Prime Minister, Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero, declared that severe punishments will be applied to the terrorists who organized the petrol bomb attacks at the train stations in the towns of Berriz and Amorebieta.