Agreed, the police used excessive violence to suppress voting. The Spanish government offered its apologies to the victims, but it does not justify the violence. Police brutality should be open to legal proceedings and victims compensated. This shows the Spanish government’s determination to stymie the independence of Catalonia.

‘38.7% is a majority government in Canada’ is irrelevant as the matter is about a referendum for secession, breaking up a democratic country like Spain. Merkel, Macron and others expressed their disagreement with UDI. Even reckless Parizeau was aiming for 50% + one vote. 

It is speculation: ‘a million ballots’ destroyed or stolen by the police and ‘it would be a landslide’ without vote suppression.  38.7% in favour makes it clear that the pro-independence voted in full, when the surveys gave only 40% to the yes side. The referendum is illegal because the Spanish Constitution does not make provision for a vote on self-determination, unlike Canada.