Preas Ráiteas – Press Release, 16/03/2020

“Having listened to different press releases it is clear that the British Establishment have the mentality firmly in mind that the poor, the old and the infirm can die from the current Coronavirus.

They are willing to sacrifice those considered expendable in their eyes. Talk of “herd immunity” means they will allow millions to get ill, with the possibility of thousands dying.

Of those thousands a sizable proportion will be the old, infirm, ill and poor. Those who can afford it will be going to private hospitals for the best of treatment.

This is Imperialism at its worst, and akin to what the Brits did by starving the poor of Ireland in the mid-19th century in Ireland, in starving the poor of Bengal in the mid-20th century as well as the many other instances of starving the poor, old and infirm of many other nations they misruled over the centuries.

Now, it seems they have a policy of allowing even their own people to die off from this disease. The thinking of the elite was put into words by Jeremy Warner of the Daily Telegraph in early March when he said “Not to put too fine a point on it, from an entirely disinterested economic perspective, the COVID-19 might even prove mildly beneficial in the long term by disproportionately culling elderly dependants.”

The policy of Westminster may well have knock-on effects here in Ireland as part of Ireland is still occupied. While much criticism has been made of Varadkar, Harris and co for delayed decisions and the poor logistical pre-planning, they did belatedly shut schools and civic amenities in an effort to curtail social contact while in Occupied Ireland the inaction and dithering by the administration has seen the whole State carry on as if nothing is wrong. All while they await word from Westminster as to what actions they can and should take.

On Thursday, March 12 both main parties in Occupied Ireland agreed no action needed to be taken. Less than 24 hours later Nationalist leader Michelle O’Neill of the Provisionals was calling for school closures, in line with that of the 26-County State, something that was/is deemed unnecessary by the powers-that-be in Westminster.

Whatever decisions are made in the near future it is clear that there is little or no regard for the opinion of politicians in Occupied Ireland. Also, any attempt to stifle the progress of this virus in Ireland is hampered by this disregard as workers and schoolchildren travel freely across the British-imposed border, with the obvious knock-on effects.

Now is the time for the people of Ireland to work in unison “irrespective of the differences fostered by an alien nation”. We need to look after the health and well-being of one another. With the stalemate and inaction of politicians in the Occupied Six Counties evident, many parents have made the decision to self-isolate by removing their children from schools.

Those in positions of power should make decisions for the good of the people instead of awaiting word from afar.”

CRÍOCH/ENDS

Sinn Féin Poblachtach

223 Sráid Pharnell, BÁC 1, Éire

Ranganna:[RSF News] Statements