MADRID, Sept. 27 (Xinhua) -- The Spanish High Court announced Wednesday that it would authorize Civil Guards to investigate whether the crime of sedition was committed by pro-Catalan independence demonstrators in Barcelona on Sept. 20.
The demonstration happened after the arrest of 14 Catalan government officials, including the region's Secretary for the Economy, Josep Maria Jove, on suspicion of helping organize the independence referendum scheduled for Oct. 1, which the Spanish Constitutional Court has declared illegal.
Several thousand people filled the central Gran Via in Barcelona, blocking the street and access to the nearby economy ministry. Those inside the building, including Civil Guards and court officials, were unable to leave for several hours.
Meanwhile, some minor damage was committed to vehicles belonging to the Spanish Civil Guard, which had their tires punctured and were covered in pro-Catalan independence stickers.
On Sept. 22, the Spanish Public Prosecutor presented an accusation for sedition against the demonstrators. Sedition is defined as "rising in a public and tumultuous manner to stop public officials from carrying out the law." Anyone found guilty could face between four to eight years in jail, or 10 years if they are considered to have organized the event.
Judge Carmen Lamela explained that her first conclusion was that "the facts described ... although of a provisional nature given the procedural process, might constitute a crime of sedition", according to the Spanish penal code.
She added that as the demonstration was also in support of the referendum, it was also aimed at "illegally changing the organization of the state".
