People Before Profit MLA Gerry Carroll has stated that he does not support any proposals that give the British Military “a coordinating or security role to deal… with the Covid-19 crisis.” His comments came after it was revealed that the Health Minister, Robin Swann, has formally requested Military Aid to the Civil Authority.
Reacting to the news Mr Carroll stated, “Both the Tory government and the Executives’ approach to the Covid-19 pandemic has been shambolic from the beginning and this latest proposal to bring in the British Army is further evidence of this. We are concerned about how this latest announcement may open the door to a security or military led approach to deal with a health pandemic.”
“We do not accept proposals that give the British military a security or coordinating role in dealing with the Covid-19 crisis. If soldiers want to join the volunteer effort and take up roles as health workers, ambulance drivers, porters, cleaners etc., then this could be welcomed. But they should not be uniformed, and must be under the direction of the NHS at all times. If emergency hospitals or other infrastructure needs to be built quickly for the health service, there are thousands of construction workers who would jump at the chance to be employed on such a vital project. The British military apparatus should have no role in coordinating, commanding or indeed policing this crisis. Now more than ever we need an extension of democracy and accountability, and such a situation will never arise from unaccountable military forces.”
“At first the Executive ignored the extent of this crisis and refused a serious shutdown, now they are trying to shoulder the burden of pain onto ordinary people and are refusing to put the proper provisions in place to support health workers and other essential workers. Despite never before seen emergency powers, the Executive and Westminster governments refuse to take serious action against employers and bosses who are putting workers lives at risk.”
“In contrast to the disgraceful approach from the Tories and those who slavishly follow them in the Executive, the community led response to Covid-19 has been far more urgent and quite incredible. Networks of solidarity have sprung up on a street to street basis, and frontline workers are keeping our society functioning for us all. Now more than ever we need a bottom-up response from communities and workers based on self-organization and solidarity.