MYANMAR: Going nuclear?

http://strategytalk.org/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?t=5021


MYANMAR: Going nuclear?

Quote:
Russia has agreed to build a nuclear research centre in Myanmar according to a statement of the Russian atomic energy agency Rosatom released to the press in May 2007. The centre will comprise a 10 MW light-water reactor working on 20%-enriched uranium-235, an activation analysis laboratory, a medical isotope production laboratory, silicon doping system, nuclear waste system and burial facilities. The time schedule or the location for setting up this facility has not been given out. Rosatom Head Sergey Kiriyenko and Myanmar’s Science and Technology Minister U Thaung signed the deal in Moscow.


Myanmar’s aspirations to acquire nuclear technology can be traced back to as early as November 2001, when it came to light that two Pakistani nuclear scientists (Suleiman Asad and Mohamed Ali Mukhtar ) had moved over to Myanmar in 2001, when US intelligence agencies were investigating the involvement of Pak nuclear scientists with the Al Qaeda network.

In January 2002, the then foreign minister Win Aung had conveyed that Myanmar was committed to developing a nuclear research facility for medical purposes and also possibly to generate nuclear power

Russia was to set up a nuclear reactor under an agreement with Myanmar in 2002. The reactor as per the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) officials was not suitable for nuclear weapons. The deal did not materialize because of financial constraints of Myanmar. However Russia had provided training to Myanmar scientists and military personnel in Russia since 2003 under this agreement. The present agreement again indicates that Russia will be training 300-350 specialists every year.
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Pakistan will be too happy to have Myanmar (another India’s neighbour) as a nuclear power. With the two Pak scientists allegedly continuing to stay in Myanmar in an advisory capacity, Pakistan may also stealthily or otherwise help Myanmar with nuclear material or know-how.

Myanmar is a member of the IAEA and thus the nuclear research centre to be established will be monitored by the IAEA. Will Myanmar stand by its commitments for safeguards and inspection? Myanmar has sufficient oil and gas resources like Iran. Yet will it go the Iranian way? It is too early to say.

The avowed purpose of the centre may be generation of nuclear power and medical research. Knowing the way the secretive military junta functions, the long term goal is perhaps to become a nuclear power. The reactor that is being supplied can not be used for a nuclear weapons programme.

With the close cooperation of Myanmar with the powers inimical to the policies of the west such as North Korea, China and Pakistan, supply of nuclear material and know-how by these powers to Myanmar cannot be ruled out. (...)