Spain: Journalist Arrested and Demonstrations Restricted · Global Voices
Leila Nachawati Rego

The Spanish 15 m movement that took thousands to the streets to demand a more democratic system has reached a new stage. The authorities decided on August 2 not to allow demonstrations any more and they have since tried to prevent demonstrators from gathering, both through blocking their access to public spaces and through violent police action.
On  August 4, a gathering was organized at Madrid's main square Puerta del  Sol, the epicenter of the protests, but access to the square has been restricted since August 2. The  underground and the commuter train, which normally stop at Puerta del Sol, were  ordered not to stop there that day and heavy police presence was  displayed to ensure that the 15 m movement would not gather there.  Twitter was suddenly flooded with reactions like this:
@alberarce Dice @RTVE “indignados buscan la manera de llegar a la Puerta del Sol, defendida por la policía”¿defendida de qué? #plazatomada #periodismo
Source: glb
The  tension increased during that day and the following day, when demonstrators  gathered at Paseo de la Castellana, Madrid. The police presence was heavy, and it ended with policemen charging against  demonstrators. This video, which has been widely shared online, shows   journalist Gorka Ramos (who works for Spanish news-site La Información) being addressed by the police while he was tweeting  the events, and beaten right after (min 8). According to the Police, Ramos was arrested for insulting and spitting on the police agents.
Reactions to Ramos's detention have ignited through social media,  especially Twitter, where #periodistadetenido (journalist arrested)  became a trending topic.
@phumano VIDEO Fría agresión policial al #periodistadetenido por estar mirando la carga, minuto 8. #15M bit.ly/nE39h1 #madridsinmiedo
While the detention was not covered by most Spanish media, it received coverage from international media like The Guardian, CBS, Forbes and Associated Press.
Renowned blogger La Pulga y la Locomotora shared an open letter [es] on August 5 asking the Spain Government for the reasons behind this unprecedented step in order to stop mobilizations:
Supongo  que son conscientes de que se están vulnerando ciertos derechos  fundamentales de los ciudadanos, el más evidente el de Libre  Circulación, pero también el de Reunión y el derecho a la Libertad de  Expresión.
The letter also mentions what many citizens consider to be the real reason for the movement restrictions and police presence:
Veo  bastante más relación con la próxima visita del Papa Benedicto, la  verdad, y debería preguntarle sobre ello, pero sé que un estado laico  nunca aceptará públicamente el hecho de que está actuando bajo petición  de la Iglesia Católica.
Some users have expressed concern about what they consider an attempt to use the current events to divide citizens. According to blogger Alberto Vizcaíno [es]:
El poder lo sabe y empieza a gestionar el 15 M: enfrentando ciudadanos  contra ciudadanos. Ya tenemos a partidos llamando a la división: “católicos contra indignados”. Como si fuese  incompatible ser católico o militar en un partido con estar indignado y  querer mejorar el sistema en el que vivimos.
The Government delegation (formed by the ruling Spanish Socialist Worker's Party known as the PSOE in Spanish) confirmed recently [es] that they were being pressured by Madrid's City Council (controlled by right-wing People Party) into stopping protesters from occupying public spaces during the Pope's visit. On August 5, the authorities seemed to have changed their mind. The Police withdrew [es] from Sol and access restrictions were removed.  With demonstrators more indignant now than ever, the story will very likely be continued.