Spanish national security attempted to convert independence activist into informant

Two members of the Spanish national security department tried to turn a pro-independence activist, Enric Pérez, into an informant, according to reports published by local outlets 'Ara' and 'La Directa'.

For some weeks, the young man was in contact with two individuals who suggested they could help him pass the tests to become a Catalan police officer, something he had aimed for, in exchange for information about youth activist groups. 

Specifically, they requested information about Jovent Republicà, the youth branch of the leading party in the Catalan government, Esquerra Republicana, and also Batec, a new group that has recently made headlines for its ongoing call to not pay train fares as a protest against the "disastrous" service of the Renfe Rodalies commuter trains. 

Complaints about the quality of rail service and investments from the Spanish government-managed company in its routes in Catalonia have been among the top arguments of the pro-independence camp in the past two decades to criticize Madrid.  

Enric Pérez recorded the conversations he had with the two people that first approached him saying they were members of the Spanish national security department.

In the very first conversation on March 30, the activist realized they had information about him that he had revealed to very few other people, including the fact that he had made two attempts to become a police officer in the Mossos d’Esquadra, as well as his open criminal case surrounding the events of a 2018 protest against the Spanish cabinet meeting that convened in Barcelona. 

Pérez met the two men, who introduced themselves as Alfredo and Juan, twice in Barcelona where they mostly made small talk to break the ice, but they insisted their collaboration was not in exchange for money and that they would only "maybe" help him in his hopes to begin a career as a police officer. 

Afterwards, they spoke through the instant messaging app Telegram. The activist was asked about the group 'Batec' the day after its first action forcing barriers open at Barcelona’s Arc de Triomf train station, and a few weeks later he gave some details on the activist organization that had already been published. These included its supposed links with Jovent Republicà, and Alfredo suggested he rejoin the youth branch of ERC after previously having quit the group. 

Pérez was told to meet in person on June 21, he said, and just before their meeting, he was asked to provide the names of the 'Batec' members who had provided information. He declined it, and afterwards, Alfredo cancelled their appointment and deleted their chat on Telegram. 

Jovent Republicà announces legal action

After the publication of the story on Monday, Jovent Republicà announced legal action. 

According to the organization's leader, Kènia Domènech, Spain "is afraid" of the Catalan youth political group and it is ready to do "everything needed" to remove them. 

"They show desperation to stop the independence movement," she added.