Leader of controversial Spanish unity association ‘Societat Civil Catalana’ quits

Barcelona (CNA).- The president of  controversial Spanish unity association ‘Societat Civil Catalana’ left office due to “personal and professional reasons”. Although he expressed his intention several months ago, the decision was left pending “for political reasons” until this Monday and was finally announced on the day after the 27-S elections. Lawyers’ group ‘Drets’ (Rights) accused Bosch of being behind numerous threats against many pro-independence Catalan figures from a Facebook profile using the name "Fèlix de Sant Serní de Tavèrnoles". Bosch also called on people to boycott Catalan firms like La Caixa and Nutrexpa. The new president of ‘Societat Civil Catalana’ is set to be Autonomous University of Barcelona’s Law Professor, Rafael Arenas.

Ramon Bosch announced that he won’t continue in charge of controversial Spanish unity association ‘Societat Civil Catalana’. Bosch alleged “personal and professional reasons” as his motives for stepping down and vice-presidents José Rosiñol and Susan Beltrán have also expressed their will to step down. After the resignation of the association’s leaders, Law Professor at the Autonomous University of Barcelona, Rafael Arenas, is set to become the new president. Juan Mellen will be in charge of the international section and Mercè Vilarrubias will be the association’s spokesperson.

Bosch accused of threats from fake Facebook profile

According to lawyers’ group ‘Drets’, Bosch used a fake Facebook profile under the name “Fèlix de Sant Serní de Tavèrnoles” to send numerous offensive messages and threats to pro-independence Catalan figures, including President Mas and former left wing pro-independence CUP leader David Fernàndez. In the lawsuit, Drets' lawyers include numerous documents showing that the person hiding behind the pseudonym “Fèlix de Sant Serní de Tavèrnoles” is in fact Josep Ramon Bosch. To prove it, they alleged the mobile phone number used to register the account is Bosch’s number. There are also pictures and identical texts published on both "Fèlix de Sant Serní de Tavèrnoles" and Bosch’s profile, only seconds apart. ‘Drets’ denounced these messages as containing “hate speech” against the victims, which constitute threat and abuse crimes as laid down in articles 169, 170, 205, 208 and 209 of the criminal code.