A year ago, Sitges played a very important role in the official
celebration of the National Day of Catalonia. All residents of Sitges were
thrilled by the participation of our iconic Moixiganga dance in such an
important celebration, organized by the Catalonian Government.
A year later, the scenario offered by the Spanish state shows the signs
of a terrible upheaval. The hunger for Catalonian Independence has experienced
a dramatic growth, and now is shared by most of the inhabitants of our country.
The current situation marked by a devastating crisis is one of the reasons,
since the fiscal deficit of Catalonia is terribly unfair for Catalans, but the
growing and overhanging sensation that the Spanish State has not assumed and
will not assume our national identity as a nation among nations, has boosted
the number of Catalans that believe that the only possible solution is to break
away from Spain.
Our National Day is an institutional commemoration and a festivity, but
has never ceased to be a day for demands, at least for those that believe in
the full independence of our country. This year, the demanding character has
acquired a heightened importance, because most Catalans feel that we must take
a step forward to insure our future as a Nation and the welfare of our
citizens.
If I may, I will reproduce the PROCLAMATION published for the National
Day:
"PROCLAMATION FOR THE NATIONAL DAY OF CATALONIA"
To all people living in Sitges,
As every year, the National Day held on the Eleventh of September also comes to our town. A day in which we
commemorate the events of September 11, 1714. We pay tribute to the figure of
Rafael Casanova and to all the Catalans who fought and died for the freedom and rights of
Catalonia.
September 11 also serves to vindicate our desire to be ourselves, to
have our own culture, our own language and our institutions. Our country is
very proud and lives it with legitimacy; hence, we will never surrender our identity and our sovereignty.
It is therefore necessary, much more in a time of severe turmoil, to
leave aside what divides us and materialize everything that unites us all. We
need unit, but also loyalty to our country and its institutions. The fate of the Catalan nation is in the
hands of all and we require an uncompromising commitment.
Catalonia needs us. From the towns and cities of our country, we can
contribute to return our beloved land to its fully deserved place. Our council
is committed to the country and therefore, in our National Day, we are
contributing our bit to build a Catalonia founded on progress, equality,
freedom and social justice, the Catalonia we all want.
We need more than ever to defend Catalonia, show it to the world, so we
invite you to adorn your balconies with the flag of our country, the
"senyera".
I also invite you to live our National Day in an intense manner, and
take part in the official ceremony that will be held in Sitges, September 11 at
11 am, in front of the monument to Doctor Robert at the Town Hall Square.
We live National Day with our freedom looming over the horizon.
Long live Sitges! Long live Catalonia!
Miquel Forn i Fusté
Mayor of Sitges "
