Ireland, Cymru, Scotland, Canada and USA - Press Release

SINN FÉIN SUPPORTS THE 10MIL INITIATIVE

The Irish republican party has issued a statement of adherence to the Catalan cause which will bring 10.000 Catalans to Brussels on a mass demonstration for self-determination

5th March, 2009. Brussels
“On the occasion of the ‘10,000 Catalans in Brussels’ march, Sinn Féin once more sends its solidarity to the Catalan people.”

Yesterday, members of various political European parties welcomed a delegation of the 10Mil to the European Parliament. Among others, Brian Carty, member of the Sinn Féin’s European Delegation attended the meeting and has confirmed he will join the demonstration on Saturday 7th March.

“The EU must respect the right to self-determination everywhere, especially at home - and this includes the right of the Catalan people to exercise their right to self-determination,” declared a spokesman of Sinn Féin’s European department. He added: “The right of nations to decide their own future is a democratic imperative and this principle should equally apply to the nation of Catalonia.”

10Mil is born out of Catalan civil society. Using Facebook as its platform, the initiative seeks to put the Catalan’s long-standing demand of self-determination on the international agenda. Comments on Professor Enric Canela’s blog, responding to one of his articles, led a social mass to join a group on Facebook.

10Mil is not affiliated to any political party, and is a demonstration of the determination and desire of the Catalan people to pursue their right to have their nation officially recognised as an independent European state. Next Saturday, “10 thousand Catalans” from all walks of life will be marching on Brussels with one united voice and common call: "We want our own State. We want the Independence of Catalonia".

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1. The initiative originated from the citizens' replies that were sent in to an article written in Professor Enric I. Canela’s blog, (Head of Bio-Chemistry and Molecular Biology at the University of Barcelona).

2. An English dubbed interview with Enric I. Canela is available at: http://212.241.214.167/preview.php?userid=dX9nagRlYQ%3D%3D&iwid=cH5iYQFlbXU%3D

3. The Official Facebook Group for the 10Mil can be found at: http://facebook.10mil.com

4. Further info can be found at: http://catalanstate.blogspot.com/search/label/PRESS%20DOSSIER

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Please do not hesitate to contact me if you require further information or would like to request an interview.


Kind Regards,

Jordi Miquel
Press Relations
Jordi.Miquel@10mil.cat
www.deumil.cat