Evidence Points to Burma's Nuclear Weapons 'Intent'
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Burma

Evidence Points to Burma's Nuclear Weapons 'Intent'


By SIMON ROUGHNEEN Friday, June 4, 2010


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Reflecting on the documentation and photographs illustrating the extent of the tunneling, long-time Burma watcher and author Bertil Linter said, “I have never seen anything like this come out of Burma before.”

Photo released by the Democratic Voice of Burma, defector Sai Thein Win, second from left in front row, is photographed with others in an undisclosed location in Burma. (Photo: AP/DVB)
Webb believes that the US should maintain its policy of engagement with the junta, even as the new allegations come across as a slap in the face for the Obama administration, which has also sought to promote global nuclear non-proliferation The UN recently wrapped-up a four-week Non-Proliferation Treaty Review Conference, a process largely driven and led by the US. It was attended by 189 countries including representatives from the junta's UN embassy in New York.

Webb's stillborn proposed visit to Burma comes as the junta gets ready for elections scheduled some time this year, which Webb believes will help Burma make a transition toward being “ a more open society.”

However, after his recent visit to Burma, during which he met with Suu Kyi, Campbell said, "What we have seen to date leads us to believe that [upcoming] elections will lack international legitimacy." Asked on Thursday whether or not he would have met with Suu Kyi or the National League for Democracy, if he had gone ahead with the visit, Webb said that there are other opposition parties that he could talk to, adding that “the NLD has ceased to exist.”

Webb arrived in Thailand after visiting South Korea, where tensions are high after the sinking of a South Korean naval ship in March by a North Korean torpedo. Forty-six South Korean sailors were killed in the attack.

Speaking on Friday at the Shangri-La dialogue, a gathering of defense and security officials and experts in Singapore, South Korean President Lee Myung Bak said that because of “the graveness of the North Korean nuclear issue and the Cheonan incident,” the international community needs “to respond firmly to the North's threats to peace and stability of the Korean peninsula and Northeast Asia." A North Korean envoy said in Geneva on Thursday that war could erupt at any time on the Korean peninsula, blaming what Pyongyang believes to be belligerence on the part of South Korea.

In Bangkok, Webb urged China to press North Korea to “come clean” about its role in the sinking of the Cheonan. Lee said, "The Cheonan incident in particular requires the North to admit to its wrongdoing and promise that similar incidents will not be repeated."

However China has remained non-committal despite South Korean and US pressure for it to respond by condemning Pyongyang. "We need to dispel the impact of the Cheonan incident, gradually ease tension and especially avoid a clash," Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao said last week.

Webb said China should do more to persuade countries such as North Korea and Burma to reform, adding that “it is to China's advantage that these countries remain closed off.” Webb added that China's growing economic clout means that it needs to take on a more responsible role in international affairs. Webb denied that he was advocating a US confrontation with China, whose premier has just concluded a two-day visit to Burma where he discussed trade and investment issues, as well as Burma's forthcoming elections and internal ethnic politics.

Photo released by the Democratic Voice of Burma, shows Sai Thein Win at the control panel of an industrial machine at an undisclosed location in Burma. (Photo: AP/DVB)
During the Al-Jazeera report, defectors from the junta said that gas and oil revenue from the Yadana field has given the junta the financial resources necessary to increase military spending. The income available to the ruling generals is set to increase dramatically in the coming years, as the much larger Shwe Gas field comes on stream.

According the Shwe Gas Movement website, “Burma’s military regime would stand to gain $24 billion over the 20-year contract, or $1.2 billion per year,” from the Shwe field, from which gas will be piped to China. A joint Indian-South Korean consortium is involved in the Shwe project.

The Yadana field has generated an estimated $7.5 billion in sales to Thailand, but if the junta is using this money to develop missiles and enrich uranium, it could mark the beginning of a regional arms race, according to author Linter.



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plan B Wrote:
12/06/2010
"Let us all unite and say no to the junta."

If anything anyone should learn from is the change will have to come from within. The circling of the wagon induced by the west policy must stop immediately.

Then supporting the citizenry against the advice of charlatans like Turnell must begin and sustained.

History has proven that the above 2 factors will bring about tangible change from within, be it SPDC or a revolution like the one against Marcoses and Chiang in Taiwan, by the people.

Saying no to the junta sounds very good. What has that done for the plight of the citizenry?

Weaken to a state of mere survival, saying no or yes = whatever.

Myanmar Patriot 4 UMPF Wrote:
11/06/2010
PB Publico Wrote: 07/06/2010
1. "I am saddened by what Myo Chit wrote. Tribal warfares, we better leave them in the past, as he said it was a struggle, and fair and square. Please leave it in the history that we have not lived in.

We and our children and children's children live HERE and NOW. There is a Bhama saying, "Loving kindness is security for all." (metta chum hma lon).

We may quarrel if we must, but not with killer weapons. Even in a blood-related family, the quarrels are there. But not in the manner of "Let live and let die' but we must let live, not die." Thank you.

2."Let us have good will among our selves when we have our common enemy, the junta.
Let us all unite and say no to the junta."

YES and NO. YES to making the junta relinquish state power but it is not so simple: a transition period is absolutely necessary. NO to the junta being our common enemy; it's a structural problem.

plan B Wrote:
11/06/2010
What do you expect from Simon Roughneen. He has been crying wolf at every turn of event that might favor proper engagement. He must be livid now to see Webb calling for a "Special Envoy" to Myanmar. Now we will hear the really grief.

Simon says Myanmar is going nuclear and everyone here agrees. This is not a game, Simon.

Don't say anything unless you are absolutely sure.

Intent is not Possibility.

Even manning any peaceful nuclear facility require expertise that only other country like DPRK and Russia can offer.

Weapons?

Only fools will believe the capability exist without DPRK taking over the whole Tatmadaw.
Remember Than Shwe is still quintessentially Burmese.

Myanmar Patriot 4 UMPF Wrote:
08/06/2010
1.PB Publico Wrote: 04/06/2010
"I for one have never believed the junta is capable of nuclear armaments, for one thing they have no material resource - they may buy it. For another, there is no technical capability of such a scheme.
"RESPONSE:We have already stated the case!Thanks for the compliment. Imitation is the most sincere form of flattery.
2.Myo Chit wrote:

Even an extremely corrupt and hated dictator recognizes the need for nuclear weapons to eliminate the minorities like Sai Thein Win and to project the power of the Maha Bhama people beyond our present borders.
Burma was a place where Bhama, Yakines, Mons and Shans struggled for superiority.The Bhamas won. The losers, Yakines, Mons and Shans must either shed their identity forever or go to hell. The same applies to Kachin,Kayah,Kayin, Chin and other mere tribes that live on the edges of the golden land.

"COMMENT:this is a most unintelligent mindset,always trying to drive the wedge between our people.

PB Publico Wrote:
07/06/2010
I am saddened by what Myo Chit wrote. Tribal warfares, we better leave them in the past, as he said it was a struggle, and fair and square. Please leave it in the history that we have not lived in.
We and our children and children's children live HERE and NOW. There is a Bhama saying, "Loving kindness is security for all." (metta chum hma lon).
We may quarrel if we must, but not with killer weapons. Even in a blood-related family, the quarrels are there. But not in the manner of "Let live and let die' but we must let live, not die.
Let us have good will among our selves when we have our commom enemy, the junta.
Let us all unite and say no to the junta.

Myo Chit Wrote:
05/06/2010
Even an extremely corrupt and hated dictator recognizes the need for nuclear weapons to eliminate the minorities like Sai Thein Win and to project the power of the Maha Bhama people beyond our present borders.
Burma was a place where Bhama, Yakines, Mons and Shans struggled for superiority. The Bhamas won. The losers, Yakines, Mons and Shans must either shed their identity forever or go to hell. The same applies to Kachin, Kayah, Kayin, Chin and other mere tribes that live on the edges of the golden land.

Sai Lin Wrote:
05/06/2010
The document and information brought by Sai Thein Win show how Snr General Than Shwe's ambition is bigger than what US, EU and ASEAN know about the Burmese military regime.
Receiving nuclear technology and machinery parts from cash trap North Korea is easier than eating bananas.
North Korea desperately wants money and food from the Burmese military regime in return. The regime is threatening regional stability and international security. We must remove this regime from power. I hope Thai politicians and the Army chief will fully understand about the situation with Burma. The Thai Government needs to give more room to Burmese opposition groups for its own sake.
I hope there is another Sai Thein Win in the Burmese Army. We always open our arms for you my brother.

PB Publico Wrote:
04/06/2010
I for one have never believed the junta is capable of nuclear armaments, for one thing they have no material resource - they may buy it. For another, there is no technical capability of such a scheme. Those scientists working for the junta can be cheats to fade out when found out.
But now I am not sure. Their target is not China or India. Could be Thailand against which they have some grudges, and some fear of massing anti-junta forces and attacking from bases in Thai territory.
But the more likely tatget is Yangon and lower Burma the people of which part are all in opposition to them. And Mandalay and Monywa too. In fact all the people of Burma are their enemies, however unarmed and helples. They have the vengeance to settle.
So, people of the civilized world must help the Burmese people in their struggle for survival. Leave economic progress out for the time being.

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