Spain's indignados return to the streets amid fears of crackdown

Protesters plan four-day campaign to mark the anniversary of Madrid's 'occupy' movement

The nylon tents, hand-painted cardboard signs and posters telling people to share their "dreams of a better world" are only a year old. They come from Spain's indignado movement as it marks its first birthday by reclaiming the streets and defying a rightwing government that has pledged to stop it reoccupying Madrid's Puerta del Sol square.

Police helicopters clattered overhead as indignado marches headed towards the square. Several thousand people were taking part in a good-humoured demonstration that included a loud birthday party and chants of "the people united will never be defeated". There were similar demonstrations in Barcelona and other cities around the country.

As the indignados began to gather, a tense standoff was developing with riot police, who were under orders to prevent them staying overnight. Those instructions came from the conservative government of Mariano Rajoy, whose People's party (PP) triumphed in November elections. It has not just vowed to prevent the indignados from camping out, as they did for weeks after taking over Puerta del Sol last year, but is preparing tough public order laws.

"We are calling for respect for the law and responsibility," said the deputy prime minister, Soraya Sáenz de Santamaría. "This government will make sure the law is obeyed." As the deadline to leave Puerta del Sol expired, the square was still packed with the chanting indignados showing little desire to go home. "I'm staying here all night," said Emilio Torres, who came equippied with a tent and a sleeping bag. "I don't think they will dare get rid of us."

In fact, hundreds of small groups - covering everything from stopping banks repossessing homes to setting up co-operatives - have kept the flame alive, often braving the cold to meet and debate in neighbourhood squares. 

"It was inevitable that the movement would fragment and disperse. We never wanted it to become a political party, but preferred to welcome all sorts of ideas and create something new" said Octavio, a writer from the same group. "We have kept going, meeting wherever we can. Some of our group's assemblies have been in railway stations or the metro."

Ideas have been swapped over a myriad of internet sites, Facebook pages and Twitter feeds with cyber-assemblies that continued the trademark popular open meetings of last May that saw the Puerta del Sol hailed as a new incarnation of the ancient Greek agora, or debating place.

Older protesters, many with years of activism behind them, are delighted by the new generation that has emerged. "Over the past 30 years things have been winding down," said 67-year-old Concha, a retired philosopher. "But this new generation is so much better educated and prepared than we were."

One of the classic posters conserved in the Ateneo reads: "Mum, this is what you taught me to do. Thanks!" A scrawled addition from an anonymous mother reads: "I always knew you were listening, but I am so happy to hear you say it."