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S. E. A. Statements

Mass non-payment protest rallies are only hope of stopping water charges

Speech by Eamonn McCann at Claudy branch of Communities Against the Water tax, Diamond Centre, Claudy, Thursday, March 29th

Thursday March 29th. 2007

There is a deliberate attempt under way to fool us into believing that water charges have gone away. But they have not.

What's on offer is that the bills for 2007/2008 will be picked up by the British Treasury. They will be paid into the coffers of a Government-owned private company, Northern Ireland Water. The company is to be set up this weekend and fully privatised within three years.

This is the water charges system up and running---more than a months before the Assembly.

It's like one of those offers---buy now and you won't have to start paying until next year. This doesn't mean you won't have to pay. It means you have accepted that you WILL have to pay. It's a scam.

Mass non-payment represents the only hope of stopping water charges and privatisation. This makes the rallies in Derry, Strabane and Belfast on Saturday all the more important. We need to make it clear to Hain and to any incoming Executive that we won't pay water charges this year, next year or any year.

The water service can and should be kept public, and funded through general taxation.

Don't fall for the British Government's latest con-trick. People in the north west who want to keep up the fight should assemble at Waterloo Place at one o'clock in Derry and Castle Place, Strabane,at 3.30 on Saturday.





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