The Comitè de Defensa de la República (Committee for Defence of the Republic) in Catalonia called for border closures within today's "countrywide standstill". The actions aimed to affect borders with all neighbouring territories: Aragon, Valencia, Andorra and France. Some places saw closures from early this morning, whilst others started after the end of the 12pm mobilisations.
The organisation defined five specific actions:
- Ebre (AP-7, with Valencia), for people from Tarragona, Penedès and Garraf counties.
- La Jonquera (AP-7, with France) for those from Baix Montseny, Maresme, Gironès, Barcelonès and Baix Llobregat.
- Puigcerdà (N-152, with France) for those from Vallès Occidental, Alt Ter and Vallès Oriental.
- Seu d'Urgell (N-145, with Andorra), for those from Catalunya Central.
- Alcarràs (A-2, with Aragon), for people from around the area of Ponent.
The committee also called for protesters to follow the "En Peu de Pau" protocols for peaceful demonstrations, and to take everything necessary to spend hours outside on the roads.
Border with Aragon
The closure at the border with Aragon started minutes before 1pm. Tailbacks started to form on the A-2 at Alcarràs, with actions also being carried out at Alfarràs and Almacelles.
Iniciada l'Operació Frontera! Falta gent a: Almacelles, Alcarràs, Alfarràs #CDRenXarxa pic.twitter.com/gjz48715wr
— CDRs de Lleida (@CDRsLleida) 8 de novembre de 2017
Translation: Operation Border started! People needed at: Almacelles, Alcarràs, Alfarràs.
Border with Valenica
Closures were seen at the same time on the AP-7 between l'Aldea and l'Ampolla with the aim of restrict traffic to and from Valencia. Dozens of people are involved, carrying a banner reading "let's stop the country".
Els veïns tallen l'#AP7entre l'Aldea i l'Ampolla #AturadaDePais #Aturada8N pic.twitter.com/zMkNYh2x57
— Canal TE (@canalte) 8 de novembre de 2017
Residents close the AP-7 between l'Aldea and l'Ampolla. #CountrywideStandstill #8NovStandstill
Border with Andorra
The road between La Seu d'Urgell and Andorra (N-145) has seen closures since early this morning. Dozens of people have taken part, standing and sitting in the middle of the road with bales of hay and estelada "starred" pro-independence flags.
Alba Solé
Border with France
The French border has also been also closed at Puigcerdà (N-152) since 8am. Bales of hay were also used to close the road, as was a large tree trunk, blocking traffic in both directions.
ACN
Tallat el pas a Puigcerdà a la frontera amb França. pic.twitter.com/ruv1sgulb7
— Jordi Queralt (@meteopuigcerda) 8 de noviembre de 2017
Traffic blocked off at Puigcerdà at the border with France.
As for la Jonquera, the main route to France and the rest of Europe, the standstill also started early this morning. Long queues formed quickly, at the main hub for transporting goods in Catalonia. The closures took place between Borrassà and Llers, with affects multiplying since midday.
Continuem els talls arreu del país! #VagaGeneral8N
— Crida Premià de Dalt (@cridapremiadalt) 8 de novembre de 2017
Frontera AP7 a La Junquera, Via Laietana a BCN, C32 a Mataró... pic.twitter.com/LRBV8ayMkM
Let's continue the closures around the country! #GeneralStrike8Nov
Border AP-7 at La Junquera, Via Laietana in Barcelona, C-32 at Mataró...