Established 1914

Volume XVII, Number 114 3st Waning of Wagaung 1371 ME Saturday, 8 August, 2009

Myanmar’s nuclear stories

Articles & Photos — Internet

Gen Thura Shwe Mann signs a nuclear deal with North Korea during his recent visit.
A few years back, a paranoid military pyidaw. A city rose from the tropical plains goals of Burmese rulers. Could this junta’s pri-
regime packed up Myanmar’s capital and shift- with shiny buildings and slick roadways – a orities be so skewed as to embark upon con-
ed it north a few hundred kilometres. Rangoon, strange priority in a country suffering chronic struction of a nuclear arsenal? And might it
it seems, simply wasn’t safe enough any more. poverty and a health system at the bottom of have reached out for help to another paranoid
The generals’ new home was to be known as world rankings. regime, North Korea?
the Abode of Kings; more commonly as Nay- Now, a fresh question hangs over the

U.S. experts: Iaea should investigate Myanmar

U.S. nuclear nonproliferation
experts believe the International Atom-
ic Energy Agency should investigate
Myanmar in light of freshv suspicions
about its nuclear activities, the Sydney
Morning Herald reported today.
The Herald last week re-
ported on two Burmese defectors
who claimed knowledge of
clandestine government ef-
forts to secretly build a nu-
clear reactor, possibly with
an eye toward weapons pro-
duction. The United States
last month also raised con-
cerns over possible nuclear
ties between Myanmar and
North Korea.
“The report is probably
enough cause for the IAEA director
general [and Russia, which has a ci-
vilian nuclear deal with Myanmar]
to seek clarification from Myanmar
and request a special inspection,”
Daryl Kimball, head of the Arms
Control Association, told the Nel-
son Report. Russia is openly assist-
ing the Southeast Asian country to
build a light-water nuclear reactor,
which has been approved by the
U.N.’s nuclear watchdog.
Kimball and others said there
is no clear proof that Myanmar hopes
to develop nuclear weapons.
Myanmar
isn’t broke
The drawn-out show trial of
democracy icon Aung San Suu Kyi
has once again focused attention on
Burma and sparked discussion on
how to engage the regime. U.S. Sec-
retary of State Hillary Clinton re-
cently suggested development aid as
a carrot to coax the generals to talk.
But contrary to popular belief, the
junta isn’t as poor as it claims to be.
2 THE NUKE LIGHT OF MYANMAR Saturday, 8 August, 2009

Is Myanmar seeking
Myanmar to build nuclear reserch reactor
Myanmar is In a statement for peaceful purposes” .

nukes to ‘challenge’ U.S.? planning to build a nu-

clear research reactor
and is in negotiations
issued late Monday,
Khin Maung Win said
the junta had informed
“ The Myanmar
government is striv-
ing to acquire modern
Myanmar, also known as Burma, with Russia over the fa- the International Atom- technology in all fields,
to obtain an atomic bomb anytime cility, Deputy Foreign ic Energy Agency including maritime,
soon, but experts have the Southeast Minister Khin Maung (IAEA ) of its intention aerospace, medical and
Asian nation on their radar screen. Win has confirmed, re- to construct the reactor nuclear,” he said in the
“There’s suspicion that port AFP. which would be used “ statement.
something is going on, and increas-
ingly that cooperation with North Nuclear Reactor Or Swimming Pool?
Korea may have a nuclear under-
Arms Control Wonk Institute for Science and
current. We are very much looking
blog has been making International Security
into it,” says David Albright, presi-
the Internet rounds. has more.
dent of the Institute for Science and
It may look No one seems
International Security, a Washing-
like an Olympic-sized to have a conclusive
ton, D.C., think tank.
swimming pool, but the idea about what the
The issue is expected to be
thing is huge — 80 me- thing is yet, but it does
discussed, at least on the sidelines, at
This Google ters long on each side seem worth keeping
this week’s ASEAN Regional Forum,
Earth image of a mys- and seems to roughly an eye on. Via James
a major security conference hosted
terious building in match up with the Syd- Fallows, the Lowy In-
by Thailand. U.S. Secretary of State
Northern Myanmar ney Morning Herald's terpreter has a useful
Hillary Rodham Clinton, along with
posted by the New report of a Burmese roundup of the latest
The recent aborted voy- representatives from North Korea America Foundation's nuclear reaction con- Myanmar nuke specu-
age of a North Korean ship, photo- and Myanmar, will attend. Jeffrey Lewis on the struction project. The lation.
graphs of massive tunnels and a top
secret meeting have raised alarm
bells that one of the world’s poorest
Transparency Needed in Nuclear Myanmar
nations may be aspiring to join the
nuclear club — with help from its
Myanmar's Nuclear Program Dictator Watch Despite the lack of en-
now has an article up emies or potential con-
friends in Pyongyang. The news that Myan- Shwe and former classmate on speculations about flicts beyond their own
No one expects military-run mar plans to build a nuclear of Vice-Chairman Maung the Junta’s involve- borders.
research center with Rus- Aye, and Russia’s Atom- ment in the prolifera- The new ru-

Myanmar Plays sia’s help has created a storm StroyExport, a joint stock tion of nuclear tech-
in a teacup among critics of company under the Ministry nology (NUCLEAR um ore is being mined
mors are that, “Urani-

Nuclear Card the military regime, includ- of the Russian Federation for P R O L I F E R AT I O N in Moehnyin Town-
ing opposition groups within Atomic Energy. AND BURMA: THE ship in Kachin State
Myanmar’s confirmation of the democratic movement In their rush to cast HIDDEN CONNEC- and Mogok in Man-
plans to build a 10-megawatt nucle- abroad as well as some quar- doubts on the regime’s peace- TION). It’s no secret dalay Division. The
ar reactor with the help of Russia’s ters in the US government. ful intentions, with some that Burma has culti- ore is then transported
federal atomic energy agency Ro- The memorandum of quarters even speculating on vated close ties with to a refinery on the Ir-
satom has created nervousness and understanding for supplying a hidden agenda for nuclear other ‘rogue’ states, rawaddy River at Tha-
anxiety among Myanmar observers. Myanmar with a 10-mega- weapons development, the like North Korea and beikkyin (just over one
The regime in Naypyidaw, watt thermal research reac- skeptics and the alarmists Iran. They are also hundred kilometers
facing international isolation and tor and associated equip- have missed out, however, known to have pur- north of Mandalay),
sanctions, claims that the planned nu- ment created anxiety about on a historical perspective re- chased missiles from which is conveniently
clear reactor is to be built for a “peace- the junta’s nuclear ambitions garding Myanmar’s quest for China, North Korea, located between the
ful purpose.” Back in January 2002, because of the lack of trans- nuclear know-how. Ukraine, and Russia. two mine sites.
then-deputy Foreign Minister Khin parency and the military’s
Maung Win declared that Myanmar’s notorious record of human
“interest in nuclear energy for peace- right violations, political re-
Myanmar’s nuclear temptation
ful purpose is longstanding.” pression and poor economic Over the past year, South-East According to Myanmar exiles
Such assurances have met performance, as well as its Asia’s diplomatic community has tried in Thailand, the Russians and North
with skepticism on the part of the long-standing quarrel with to sort fact from fiction in a stream of Koreans assist the Myanmar in de-
international community and Bur- the West over the lack of po- unconfirmed reports from Myanmar, veloping nuclear capability. But wary
mese at home and abroad, however. litical and economic reforms. the region’s most isolated and secretive of similar reports by Iraqi exiles a
Skepticism has also greeted The MOU was signed country. Myanmar’s fledgling nuclear few years ago, which turned out to
Rosatom’s official statement that by Myanmar’s Minister of program with Russian assistance and be false, the international community
the 10-megawatt nuclear reactor, Science and Technology U its mysterious connections with North remains sceptical. In a research paper
fueled by less than 20 percent ura- Thaung, a loyal protégé of Korea raise concerns in the region for Griffith University, for example,
nium-235, will contribute to Myan- junta leader Snr-Gen Than about its purpose. Australian scholar Andrew Selth dis-
mar’s “research in nuclear physics, misses the reports.
bio-technology, material science as Nevertheless, certain facts
well as…produce a big variety of are not in doubt. Myanmar first
medicines.” A first round of talks on initiated a nuclear research pro-
details of the project has begun and gram as early as 1956, when its
further discussions are scheduled then-democratic government set
for the second half of this year. up the Union of Myanmar Atomic
Myanmar’s interest in de- Energy Center, UBAEC, in then-
veloping nuclear energy is not new. capital Rangoon. Unrelated to
It dates back as far as the 1950s, the country’s defence industries,
with the creation of the Union of it came to a halt when the mili-
Myanmar Atomic Energy Center tary seized power in 1962. New
headed by Hla Nyunt, a student of power-holders, led by General Ne
renowned Japanese physicist Hide- Win did not trust UBAEC head
ki Yukawa, who was awarded the Hla Nyunt.
Nobel Prize in 1949. Surface to Surface Missile (SCUD Missile) Factory in North Korea