Sir, - Since the abortion of double-tax water charges in December, politicians appear to feel that the issue has gone away. However county managers continue to harass those who refused to pay this unjust tax by sending out threatening letters and court summonses. There are currently approximately 1,300 people facing court action in the three Dublin counties, as the councils attempt to enforce collection.
The Federation of Dublin Anti Water Charge Campaigns will fully defend all these court cases and any others that might be taken. However we do not intend to allow the politicians off the hook and will be stepping up the pressure for our twin demands of an end to court cases and an amnesty for non-payers in the coming weeks. The FDAWCC is holding a major all-Dublin convention in the National Concert Hall, Earlsfort Terrace, Dublin 2 on Saturday, March 8th (Registration 11:15 am-12 noon; Meeting 12-2 pm.). We wish to invite all who are facing court action on this issue, and campaign members and supporters, to attend this very important meeting.
All political parties have been invited to send official representation. Now that the election is approaching, the time is certainly right for us to maximise political pressure for our demands. Our campaign over the last three years has shown that solidarity is indeed strength and that when PAYE taxpayers stand together, the politicians have no option but to cave in.
If politicians believed that the campaign up to December 1996 put them under pressure, they can be guaranteed that they ain't seen nothing yet. - Yours, etc.,
Secretary, Federation of Dublin Anti Water Charge Campaigns, P.O. Box 4543, Dublin 1.