BY CIARAN WOODS
THE CAMPAIGN against the introduction and payment of water charges continues in Strabane and across the North, and will take things to a new level with a public rally in the town centre at the end of the month.
Large crowds are expected to gather for the rally at Castle Place on Saturday March 31 (3.30pm) to hear main speaker Eamon McCann outline why people here should not pay twice for their water.
The well-known community activist has been one of the key figures in the anti-payment movement, and is adamant that the charges, due to be introduced in April, can be abolished if the campaign gathers enough momentum.
Speaking to the Strabane Chronicle this week, McCann said that he has been hugely encouraged by the feedback he has received from the public, and is looking forward to the gathering in Strabane.
He said, "What we're trying to do is to encourage people to support the non-payment campaigns. What we're telling people is that water charges can be defeated, no doubt about that.
The people have not yet spoken on this matter and when they do, with one voice, we want it to very clearly say that these charges simply won't be paid. If they refuse to pay, then this can be defeated.
"The fact that (Peter) Hain is able to delay this by a year is conclusive proof that water charges can be done without.
"If they can delay them and use them as political leverage to get political parties into an Assembly, then it is proof that they have no merits.
Hain has now conceded in effect that they can be done without."
There were also words of criticism reserved for the political parties who, as yet, have not come out in support of non-payment. Indeed, McCann believes that some have actually gone back on what they told the electorate on the doorsteps prior to the recent poll.
"Each of the parties went to the electorate saying they would oppose water charges. Some went to the electorate and said that they would do away with water charges if they were put into government. If that's the case, then why have none of them come out to support the campaigns against payment? If they believe these charges are unjust, which they are, then why are they implicitly or explicitly telling people to pay them?"
Encouraging the public to support and take part in the non-payment campaign, McCann says that those who throw their weight behind the campaign will not be committing any criminal offence. Many comparisons have been drawn to the unsuccessful rent and rates strike of the 1970's, but the public leader insists that this is a very different situation, and that the drawing of such parallells is in fact malicious.
He said, "One thing that we stress is that this is a very different situation to the rent and rates strike of the 1970's. There is no relationship between them whatsoever. People and parties who refer to the rent and rates strike are simply trying to undermine peoples confidence and they should stop it. When people were withholding rent, they were putting their home at risk, these water charges are on very much a smaller scale. What's more is that you're not putting your water supply at risk, as it's illegal to cut off a water supply. withholding water charges is not a criminal offence, it is a debt to a private company, just like if you owed money to PC World or to Dunnes Stores or any other company.
"Whereas under the Payment of Debt Act introduced for the purpose of the rent and rates strike they were able to punish non-payment with the stroke of a pen, this time they will have to take every single person individually to court. If 100,000 people refuse to pay, there's no way the courts can cope and will collapse. Anyone mentioning the rent and rates strike is either totally ignorant, or cynically trying to undermine the campaign."
In conclusion, the speaker offered words of encouragement to all those planning to withhold payment, assuring them that they would not be left in the lurch should their case proceed through the courts. Solidarity, he says, is the key to success.
"We've been getting a very positive feedback. But people need to know that they're not alone, and they need to know that they won't be left on their own if they do get into trouble with the courts. We can guarantee them that they won't be. They need to stand together, and together these charges can be defeated."
The Corporate Services meeting of Strabane District Council were last night set to consider a letter from the local campaign group requesting a letter from the council supporting Communities Against Water Tax and the "Don't Pay Twice Campaign," thus underlining, the group state, the council's position as being in opposition to the charges as they have previously stated. The letter also requested logistical support from the council for their upcoming rally, such as staging, speaker equipment and safety barriers. At the time of going to press, no decision had been taken by the council, with the local group awaiting the outcome with interest.
