[Marxism] Indo-US Nuclear Deal: Global Peace Movement Condemns NSG Waiver

[Sukla Sen <suklasenp@xxxxxxxxxxx>]

NSG Creates a Gaping Hole in the NPT

The US-India Deal Working Group of the international
disarmament network, ABOLITION 2000(1), deplores the
decision of the 45-nation Nuclear Suppliers Group
(NSG) to approve a special exemption for India from
its nuclear trade rules.

The exemption will allow India to participate in
international nuclear trade, but, contrary to the
claims of its advocates, it will not bring India
further into conformity with the nonproliferation
behavior expected of the member states of the nuclear
Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT).

Unlike 178 other countries, India has not signed the
Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty (CTBT). It continues to
produce fissile material and expand its nuclear
arsenal. As one of only three states never to have
signed the Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT), it has not
made a legally-binding commitment to achieve nuclear
disarmament, and it refuses to allow comprehensive,
full-scope International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA)
safeguards.

The decision by these 45 states creates a dangerous
distinction between "good" proliferators and "bad"
proliferators and sends out misleading signals to the
international community with regard to NPT norms.
Furthermore, it was inappropriate for the member
states of the NSG to take it upon themselves to make a
decision on this matter for the 140-plus other members
of the NPT.

A handful of countries sought to prevent this
decision, but they were subjected to intense pressure
by the US, India and other states. As Jayantha
Dhanapala, former United Nations
Under-Secretary-General (1998-2003) and President of
the 1995 NPT Review and Extension Conference, said in
an appeal issued via the US-India Deal Working Group
on September 6 before the NSG's decision,

"Brutal and unconscionable pressure has been exerted
on the few countries who opposed the US-India draft at
the Nuclear Suppliers Group (NSG) meeting in
Vienna..." 

Ambassador Dhanapala appealed to these countries and
to all others in the NSG "to remain faithful to the
principles of the NPT in the face of nuclear weapons
states interests and the commercial profit motives of
nuclear technology and materials exporters."

He said, "A gaping hole is being created in the NPT,
which Israel and Pakistan will drive through unless
the US Congress or a new US Administration revise the
proposed deal ensuring the survival of the NPT beyond
2010."

We are shocked that no governments had the courage to
remain faithful to the last, to defend the nuclear
non-proliferation system, which is under threat from
so many quarters. The NSG operates by consensus, so
any one of these governments could have blocked the
deal.

We fear that the world could live to regret the day
when no government had the courage to block this
foolish initiative of US President George Bush and
Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh. The NSG's
decision did not make the task of creating a world
without nuclear weapons any easier. Nevertheless, the
determination of the nuclear Abolition movement
remains firm. We will not be distracted from our
vision.

(1)  ABOLITION 2000 is a network of over 2000
organizations in more than 90 countries
world wide working for a global treaty to eliminate
nuclear weapons. The US-India Working Group was
established at ABOLITION 2000's Annual General Meeting
held during the May 2007 NPT PrepCom in Vienna.  

Contact:
Philip White
Coordinator, ABOLITION 2000 US-India Nuclear Deal
Working Group
International Liaison Officer, Citizens' Nuclear
Information Center, Tokyo
Office: +81-3-3357-3800 Home: +81-3-3708-2898 Email:
white@...
Web: 
http://cnic.jp/english/topics/plutonium/proliferation/usindia.html



The US-India Deal Working Group of the international
disarmament network, ABOLITION 2000(1), deplores the
decision of the 45-nation Nuclear Suppliers Group
(NSG) to approve a special exemption for India from
its nuclear trade rules.

The exemption will allow India to participate in
international nuclear trade, but, contrary to the
claims of its advocates, it will not bring India
further into conformity with the nonproliferation
behavior expected of the member states of the nuclear
Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT).

Unlike 178 other countries, India has not signed the
Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty (CTBT). It continues to
produce fissile material and expand its nuclear
arsenal. As one of only three states never to have
signed the Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT), it has not
made a legally-binding commitment to achieve nuclear
disarmament, and it refuses to allow comprehensive,
full-scope International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) 
safeguards.

The decision by these 45 states creates a dangerous
distinction between "good" proliferators and "bad"
proliferators and sends out misleading signals to the
international community with regard to NPT norms. 
Furthermore, it was inappropriate for the member
states of the NSG to take it upon themselves to make a
decision on this matter for the 140-plus other members
of the NPT.

A handful of countries sought to prevent this
decision, but they were subjected to intense pressure
by the US, India and other states. As Jayantha
Dhanapala, former United Nations
Under-Secretary-General (1998-2003) and President of
the 1995 NPT Review and Extension 
Conference, said in an appeal issued via the US-India
Deal Working Group on September 6 before the NSG's
decision, "Brutal and unconscionable pressure has been
exerted on the few countries who opposed the US-India
draft at the Nuclear Suppliers Group (NSG) meeting in
Vienna..."

Ambassador Dhanapala appealed to these countries and
to all others in the NSG "to remain faithful to the
principles of the NPT in the face of nuclear weapons
states interests and the commercial profit motives of 
nuclear te! chnology and materials exporters."

He said, "A gaping hole is being created in the NPT,
which Israel and Pakistan will drive through unless
the US Congress or a new US Administration revise the
proposed deal ensuring the survival of the NPT beyond
2010."

We are shocked that no governments had the courage to
remain faithful to the last, to defend the nuclear
non-proliferation system, which is under threat from
so many quarters. The NSG operates by consensus, so 
any one of these governments could have blocked the
deal.

We fear that the world could live to regret the day
when no government had the courage to block this
foolish initiative of US President George Bush and
Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh. The NSG's
decision did not make the task of creating a world
without nuclear weapons any easier. Nevertheless, the
determination of the nuclear Abolition movement
remains firm. We will not be distracted from our
vision.

(1) ABOLITION 2000 is a network of over 2000
organizations in more than 90 countries world wide
working for a global treaty to eliminate nuclear
weapons. The US-India Working Group was established at

ABOLITION 2000's Annual General Meeting held during
the May 2007 NPT PrepCom in Vienna.  

Contact:
Philip White
Coordinator, ABOLITION 2000 US-India Nuclear Deal
Working Group
International Liaison Officer, Citizens' Nuclear
Information Center, 
Tokyo
Office: +81-3-3357-3800       Home: +81-3-3708-2898
Email: white@xxxxxxx
Web: 
<http://cnic.jp/english/topics/plutonium/proliferation/usindia.html>

International Liaison
Citizens' Nuclear Information Center
2F-B Akebonobashi Coop, 8-5 Sumiyoshi-cho,
Shinjuku-ku,
Tokyo, 162-0065, Japan
Phone: +81-3-3357-3800 Fax: +81-3-3357-3801
Email: white@xxxxxxx Web: http://cnic.jp/english/


      

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