THE RIGHT2WATER campaign has announced it will hold a national day of protest on 21 March.

The group held marches in October and December, with tens of thousands turning out across the country.

Saturday March 21 is also the UN Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination, when anti-racism events are held around the world, and the Right2Water steering group will be working closely with the Irish #M21 committee to coordinate events.

Full details of the National Demonstration will be announced shortly, the group says.

At yesterday’s meeting the Right2Water steering group also expressed concern at what it described as the ‘unwarranted and provocative’ arrests of numerous anti water charges protesters over the past number of days.

“These unwarranted and provocative arrests form part of a heavy-handed police operation which seems designed to create an environment of fear and intimidation, especially in working class areas.

“A large turnout on 21 March will not only restate our core assertion that water is a human right and underline our continuing demand for the total abolition of water user charges. It will also send a clear message that we refuse to be bullied and intimidated into acquiescence”, the statement concluded.