This morning at 9 am, a dozen police vans and more than 50 antiriot police sent by the Catalan Government have put an end to over 10 years of the cultural, theatrical and musical activities of the Les Naus social centre. Located at number 52, Alegre de Dalt in Gràcia, Barcelona, the social and cultural centre that was Les Naus had been threatened by an eviction order received some two months ago.

The building that housed Les Naus had been bought by a property developer by the name of Gabit S.A (but which comes from the much better known La Llave de Oro, S.A) for the purpose of building flats and this without any form of official protection. This follows the usual line of speculating upon the right of somewhere to live, creating exorbitant prices that the majority of citizens are unable to afford.

In this context, the assembly of Les Naus contacted the local town council of Gràcia, which is governed by Ricard Martínez, one of the directors of the ERC (the pro-Catalan, left-wing republican party). Les Naus proffered that the private interests of this property developer and its business objectives were contradictory to left-wing policies of Mr Martínez's party in that they were not helping the rising property prices and were limiting the social opportunities for the local people by the closure of the centre. Mr Martínez said publicly that he was against the eviction of Les Naus and that he would do what he could to stop it. However in private he admitted that he was unable to confront the property developers. In practice his actions resulted as being the same as if he were a right-wing governor, but without voicing it so loudly: right-wing policies with a silencer.

Yesterday, the Gràcia council knew of the eviction order upon Les Naus, and early this morning the agents of the local police (la Guardia Urbana) were already prepared to stop the flow of traffic in collaboration with the national police. No local politician showed up.

This act is the first eviction of an independently occupied social centre in a district or city where the local administration is in the hands of the ERC and it is very revealing what this party understands by "listening to social movements"; it seems that the potential non-participants do not count.

One of the most dynamic, imaginative and active cultural spaces that Barcelona has had during the last decade has died today in Gràcia. No politician has taken responsibility nor said acted upon it.

Anybody that wishes to express their indignation is asked to participate in the pot banging protest that will take place today in the plaza Rius i Taulet, Gràcia at 8pm. Closest metro is Joanic on the yellow line.