Burma 'trying to build nuclear weapon'

June 4, 2010

BBC

Burma is working to develop a nuclear weapon, according to an investigation by a Burmese exile broadcaster. The new film by Democratic Voice of Burma (DVB) includes evidence from a Burmese army officer who defected. The years-long investigation concluded that Burma was a long way from building an atomic bomb.

A former UN nuclear inspector who has seen the findings said he believed Burma was trying to build nuclear weapons. The revelations come a day after a US senator cancelled a visit to Burma because of concern over its alleged nuclear ambitions. The new documentary, Burma's Nuclear Ambitions, features testimony from Major Sai Thein Win, who defected in February.

'Expending huge resources'

He brought out documents and pictures from a factory, which he says is building prototypes for nuclear components. A vessel allegedly used for converting uranium for the nuclear fuel cycle A vessel allegedly used for converting uranium for the nuclear fuel cycle

Maj Sai is a mechanical engineer who worked on machining parts and visited the Burmese nuclear battalion in Thabeikkyin, says the documentary. He provided photos purportedly of machines that can be used to convert uranium compounds for use in nuclear fuel or a nuclear weapon.

Robert Kelley, a former inspector with the International Atomic Energy Agency, a UN watchdog, said he believed Burma was probably mining uranium and exploring nuclear technology "useful only for weapons".

In an online article for DVB, he writes: "The information provided by [Major] Sai and other reporters from Burma clearly indicates that the regime has the intent to go nuclear and it is... expending huge resources along the way." Mr Kelley said the quality of the machine parts and the mechanical drawings was "poor".

"Nothing we have seen suggests Burma will be successful with [these] materials and components," he writes. He said if Burma was found to be developing nuclear weapons it should face sanctions.


'No Pyongyang link'

Norway-based DVB also said it did not believe Burma was capable of producing a nuclear weapon at this time. Burmese defector Sai Thein Win holding a purported rocket impeller Burmese defector Sai Thein Win holding a purported rocket impeller

"The intention is there," says Ali Fowle, a spokesperson for DVB, "but the reality is very different." A UN panel has accused North Korea of exporting nuclear and missile technology in defiance of a UN ban, to countries including Burma, Iran and Syria.

On Thursday, the US Senator who chairs a Senate committee on East Asia, Jim Webb, cancelled a visit to Burma because of concern it was working with North Korea to develop a nuclear programme. But DVB says that while North Korea may be involved in missile proliferation, there is no new evidence to suggest it is helping Burma to develop nuclear weapons.

DVB adds, however, that the Burmese government is modelling itself on North Korea, reckoning that if Pyongyang has nuclear weapons, the US or other countries would find it more difficult to attack.

Source: http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/world/asia_pacific/10236381.stm