By Tara Fitzpatrick

THE Catalan flag is being flown outside the West Dunbartonshire Council offices in Dumbarton this week as an act of solidarity with those affected by violence during a vote on independence.

The move was requested by Councillor Jim Bollan, of the West Dunbartonshire Community Party, following a prompt from a local constituent.

Provost William Hendrie, of the SNP, supported the move.

The flag has been raised outside the council's Garshake Road offices. The Titan Crane in Clydebank has also been lit up with the Catalonia colours colours of yellow, red and blue.

The Catalan region, of which Barcelona is the capital, held an "independence referendum" last Sunday which led to violence when voters were met by Spanish riot police.

According to Catalonia’s Regional Ministry of Health, 893 citizens were injured along with 19 National Police officers and 14 Civil Guard officers.

The referendum was approved by the Catalonia Parliament but was declared "illegal" on September 6 by the Constitutional Court of Spain and the Spanish Government.

Turnout was 42.58 per cent and 91.96 cent voted yes to Catalan independence with 8.04 per cent voting against.

Cllr Bollan said: "I think there are a lot of similarities with what's happening in Catalonia and what's happening in Scotland.

"It is our way of demonstrating solidarity with the people of Catalonia after the brutal actions by the Spanish militia.

"West Dunbartonshire has a long history of supporting and standing by people when they struggle – from South Africa to Chile."

When asked whether there was concern over the legality of the Catalan referendum, Cllr Bollan said the issue of legality is a "red herring", adding people are only exercising their "human right to vote".

He added: "I have to say I think the behaviour of the UN and the EU has been a scandal.

"Nine hundred EU citizens were injured and we've all seen the images of the woman being dragged down the street by her hair, yet they have sided with Madrid it's disgraceful."

Local resident Josh Corrigan, who contacted Cllr Bollan about the possibility of the flag being flown, said: "My family and I are regular visitors to various parts of Spain, but this is something which I will now re-evaluate as we were completely shocked and disgusted at the sheer barbarity of the Spanish police towards the Catalonian people.

"I empathise with them fully after previously witnessing family and friends suffering from the same police brutality in the north of Ireland, and also as a supporter of the democratic right to vote."

Martin Docherty-Hughes, SNP MP for West Dunbartonshire, who has voiced his support for the Catalan independence movement, said: "Like everyone I have been shocked by the appalling scenes of brutality against the people of Catalonia seeking to exercise their democratic rights as laid out in Article 1 of the UN Charter. Regardless of political differences, violence can never be the answer.

"The UK Foreign Office’s response to this assault on democracy has been predictably weak.

"Innocent citizens should have the right to vote peacefully without fear of intimidation or violence and the UK Government’s failure to condemn the actions of the Spanish authorities is shameful."

However, not all residents of WDC welcomed the move. One resident said he and two other individuals went into the council offices to complain about the flag.

He told the Reporter: "Catalonia was an illegal movement - so why is it [the flag] up? If anything, there should be an America flag up there at half mast."

A spokesperson for West Dunbartonshire Council said: "The provost agreed to a request to fly the Catalan flag as a symbol of support for those affected by violence in the area on Sunday."