The
recent talks in London between the constitutional
political parties and the British Government with
the aim of postponing the upcoming water bills
for the first year, is in itself an admission
by the parties that they will agree to the charges
after that year.
The
32 County Sovereignty Movement calls on all the
people of the north to refuse to pay the new water
charges if they are introduced in April, but also
if they are not to use the next year to build
massive opposition at a grass roots level. As
we already pay for water as part of our rates
bill, the introduction of these charges will mean
that the people of the six counties will now be
paying twice.
But
more importantly this constitutes the theft of
Irish natural resources by a British company,
and just one more of the negative effects of the
British occupation of our country.
International
law states that, "The right of peoples and
nations to permanent sovereignty over their natural
wealth and resources must be exercised in the
interest of their national development and of
the well-being of the people of the State concerned."
(General Assembly resolution 1803)
The
privatization and sale of our own water back to
us however will be done only in the interests
of a few company directors, and certainly not
"in the interest of their national development
and of the well-being of the people" of Ireland.
We contest that this charge is in fact a breach
of international law, and as such it is not only
our right but our duty to refuse to pay.
We
would call on those who have not done so already
to join one of the groups set up specifically
to oppose water charges, such as the "We
Won't Pay Campaign" who have done excellent
work, but which can only improve with numbers.
Finally
we would ask people to think what will happen
if they fail to stand up and resist? Already there
is talk that in the near future we will have to
pay to have our bins emptied. Now is the time
to take a stand against the theft and privatization
of Irish natural resources and the blatant disregard
for our national sovereignty.
