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S. E. A. Statements

Five-part(y) harmony on water charges sensation

Eamonn Cann, Socialist Environmental Alliance candidate in Foyle

Friday 23rd February 2007

The phoney nature of the argument between the main parties in the Assembly election is clear from tonight's (Friday's) Belfast Telegraph.

Asked to state their positions on water charges, the DUP, Sinn Fein, Alliance, the SDLP and the Ulster Unionists all gave the same basic answer. This amounted to saying that they are totally against water charges. That they will oppose them in a new Assembly. But that in the end they will accept them.

Each has a different version of how they will ask the Government for a "financial package" to defer or ease the introduction of charges.

But not one of them supports action against water charges. None of them backs non-payment.

Yet, it is glaringly obvious by this stage that mass non-payment is the only strategy with hope of success.

Instead of backing a strategy to win, the five spokespersons offered minor variations on acceptance of defeat.

They main parties may argue the toss about who did what in the past. But when it comes to policy for the future, they all say the same thing. They have no trust in the people to take action and force change. They want everything left to politicians negotiating for small concessions in back rooms.

The way to do this is to come in en masse behind the trade union movement and refuse to pay the charges. We should not allow the DUP, Sinn Fein and the other parties to confuse and demoralise people so they'll obey the British Government and pay up.





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