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Myanmar and the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) signed an Additional Protocol in 2013 giving wider access to Burmese facilities pertaining nuclear technology. Signed by Myanmar's Foreign Minister, U Wunna Maung Lwin at the 57th IAEA General Conference on 17 September 2013, the agreement seeks to underscore that nuclear disarmament continues to be a high priority for Myanmar and address persistent suspicions of Myanmar trying to develop nuclear weapons capability. That said, President Thein Sein’s administration continues to seek assistance in nuclear technology that could be channelised for peaceful means with the IAEA running a series of preparatory workshops in the capital city of Nay Pyi Taw.
Myanmar chose to use the opportunity at Vienna in order to highlight its non-proliferation efforts already in place in the form of the NPT, CTBT and the South East Asia Nuclear Weapon Free Zone Treaty (SEANWFZ), in addition to the annual resolution on nuclear disarmament by Myanmar at the UN General Assembly.
It has often been alleged that Myanmar is harnessing nuclear efforts — something that has not been substantiated adequately. A few years ago, Myanmar's defected soldier, Major Sai Thein Win presented extensive documentation of a nascent secret nuclear programme, providing a Norway-based broadcaster, Democratic Voice of Burma with files and photographs describing experiments with uranium, including a factory that was building prototypes for nuclear components. Thein Win reportedly is said to have visited the Burmese nuclear battalion in Thabeikkyin.
However, there need not be too much optimism surrounding Myanmar's signing of the Additional Protocol. A very crucial follow-up step to this agreement is that of the legislature of the country in question to ratify the agreement. For that matter, post ratification too, there are series of measures to be undertaken including legalities, establishment of regulatory bodies and apposite legislation - to adhere to the requests put forth by the IAEA requiring detailed information from the host country. In this reference, Myanmar has already stated that it "will notify IAEA on its entry into force of the Additional Protocol when the preparedness reaches satisfactory levels". The IAEA seeks promotion of peaceful use of nuclear energy and to inhibit its use for any military purpose, including nuclear weapons and reports to both the United Nations General Assembly and the Security Council.
There are numerous examples in Southeast Asia including the Philippines, which signed an Additional Protocol with the IAEA, but did not bring it into force for as many as 12 years. Similarly, Malaysia and Thailand signed it in 2006, however, have yet to ratify it. Breaking from Myanmar's dubious past, President Thein Sein's administration has undoubtedly taken a positive step by signing the Additional Protocol. However, the real question is by when inspections would become effective, since that would put a closure to Myanmar's contentious nuclear ambitions of the past. IAEA inspections should ideally begin very soon in the event that there is no ongoing proscribed activity.
Myanmar signed the Chemical Weapons Convention (CWC) in 1993 and the Biological Weapons Convention (BWC) in 1972 but remains among the few signatory nation states that are yet to ratify both treaties. In addition to signing of the Additional Protocol, it is about time that Myanmar not only ratifies the CWC two decades after having signed it, but also completes the ratification of the Biological and Toxin Weapons Convention.
The ominous signals surrounding Myanmar's probable chemical weapons stockpiles and their usage against ethnic rebel groups have been a cause of concern. Groups such as the Kachin Independence Army have accused Myanmar's military junta of using chemical weapons in the long-running war in the country's borderlands, especially its northern region - a claim that has been denied by the government. In this reference, there has been considerable upheaval in the global non-proliferation community regarding the much reported chemical weapons factory in Pauk built by Myanmar’s military junta supported government, with work kick starting in 2009. While the government denied any chemical weapons production in this unit, it was ingenious in accepting it as a “defence ministry factory”. In fact, Deputy Minister of Information, Ye Htut confirmed that the “factory was under the Ministry of Defence and protected under the Official Secrets Act.”
The CWC aims to prohibit the development, production, acquisition, stockpiling, retention, transfer or use of chemical weapons by States Parties. Earlier in February this year, a technical assistance team from the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons visited Nay Pyi Taw and met with lawmakers in order to discuss implementation of the treaty. The signing of the Additional Protocol comes across as a significant step in Myanmar's integration with the world given that it has long been considered a pariah state with decades of isolation being ruled by the military junta wielding absolute power. Nay Pyi Taw appears to be closely working with Washington, which has demanded transparency and military reform in its new ally. In wake of the Syrian chemical weapons stockpile case and the ensuing international reaction, the Myanmarese case calls for closer scrutiny and independent verification, perhaps by means of a thorough UN inquiry.
Amidst reports of looming questions about potential chemical weapon stockpiles in Myanmar, the spokesman, deputy information minister Ye Htut, told RFA's Myanmar Service that Myanmar is making preparations to ratify the international treaties banning the use, production, and stockpiling of chemical and biological weapons with ratification documents being prepared for parliament’s approval. By officially acknowledging the US Department of Energy (DOE) and the Australian Nuclear Science and Technology Organisation (ANSTO) in partnering and cooperating with Myanmar towards realising the goal of non-proliferation and peaceful and secure use of energy, the Thein Sein administration appears to be making an ardent effort to come out clean and assimilating with the world community.
By Special Arrangement with The Centre For Land Warfare Studies (CLAWS) (http://www.claws.in)