Catalonia, a wealthy region in north-eastern Spain, has its own language and culture and a high degree of autonomy, but is not recognised as a separate tion under the Spanish constitution. The Madrid-based Spanish government has maintained the ballot cannot and will not happen because it contravenes the constitution, which refers to “the indissoluble unity of the Spanish tion”. Police across Catalonia were ordered to prevent public buildings being used as polling stations on Sunday. Masses of referendum materials were confiscated by police in recent weeks and officials involved in running the campaign face prosecution. However, the Catalan regiol government and local civic groups say they are entitled to exercise their democratic rights and plan to open more than 2,000 polling stations regardless of the obstacles. Despite the tension in the region, demonstrations by independence campaigners had been largely peaceful. “I don’t believe there will be anyone who will use violence or who will want to provoke violence that will tarnish the irreproachable image of the Catalan independence movement as pacifist,” the Catalonia Regiol President said. (IANS)