You have commented 339 times on Rantburg.

Your Name
Your e-mail (optional)
Website (optional)
My Original Nic        Pic-a-Nic        Sorry. Comments have been closed on this article.
Bold Italic Underline Strike Bullet Blockquote Small Big Link Squish Foto Photo
Submit your comments on this article
Southeast Asia
Now Russia Is Helping The Burma Dictatorship Go Nuclear
2007-05-15
Confirming the worst fears of the international community that Burma is going the North Korea way, Russia and Burma have signed an intergovernmental agreement to build a nuclear reactor in the military ruled country. This was announced by the Russian atomic energy agency on Tuesday.

The nuclear reactor will include a 10-megawatt light water reactor working on 20 percent enriched Uranium-235, according to a statement by Rosatom, the atomic energy agency.

The agreement signed between the head of Rosatom, Sergey Kiriyenko and the Burmese Minister of Science and Technologies, U Thaung, is expected to "promote mutually beneficial economic and scientific ties between Russia and Myanmar [Burma]," the statement said. The centre will also include an activation analysis laboratory, a medical isotope production laboratory, silicon doping system, nuclear waste treatment and burial facilities, Rosatom said.

The research centre will be under the control of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) it added.
And we know all about the vigilance of the IAEA.
Burma has been under military rule in some form or the other since 1962 and has faced relentless criticism by the West for its appalling human rights violations and undemocratic practices. The Burmese military junta has maintained a close relationship with both Russia and China and relied on them for much of its military supplies, since the west imposed sanctions in late 1988.

Earlier this year, Russia and China, the two veto wielding countries at the United Nations Security Council, bailed out Burma by rejecting a US-drafted resolution, which urged the Burmese junta to stop persecution and release political prisoners.

According to a 2004 research paper by the Australian National University, Burma in 2000 had sought Moscow's help to pursue a nuclear civilian programme but Russia had backed off in 2003.

Roland Watson, a researcher from United States based 'Dictator Watch', told Mizzima that evidence revealed that the Burmese military junta has been involved in mining and refining Uranium and bartering it to North Korea in return for missiles and possibly technical assistance from North Korea for its own nuclear weapons programme. Burma recently revived diplomatic relations with North Korea, which were severed in 1983 following a bomb attack, allegedly carried out by North Korean assassins that killed several South Korean ministers visiting Burma.

The west views both countries as "rouge nations" and now that they have re-established diplomatic ties, the criticism will be that they are getting their nuclear act together in tandem.

Besides building the centre, the agreement also includes Russian universities to train about 300 to 350 specialists.
Posted by:Anonymoose

#8  As said before, when and iff the USA finally goes down for the count, to anti-US [Western] OWG + Global Socialism, THE HONEYMOON WILL BE OVER BTWN RADICAL ISLAM, SECUUUULAAR COMMUNISM-SOCIALISM, and ANY ALIGNED. The USA is paying the post-Cold War/9-11 price for our geopol ignorance = underplaying of Burma, and other smaller states, during the Cold War. IMO, ITS NOT TOO LATE FOR THE USA, AND THAT RUSSIA IS REALIZING THE FUTURE THREAT TO HER OWN AGENDAS FROM ANTI-US "PARTNERS" CHINA + RADICAL ISLAMISM. This is also Russia's way of getting back at China for China's decision to cut back on HT arms purhcases from Russia in favor of indigens, Chinese-label production. AS PER RIAN/KOMMERSANT/ROBONEXPORT > Russia itself wants to procure more hi-techy mil hardwares + REBUILD HER NAVAL-MERCHANT FLEETS. RUSSIA IS ALREADY SENDING SCIENTIFIC-EXPLOR TEAMS TO LOOK FOR ROUTES OVER THE ARCTIC = NORTH POLE.
Posted by: JosephMendiola   2007-05-15 21:22  

#7  Russia - the bad santa that just keeps on giving.
Posted by: 3dc   2007-05-15 19:55  

#6  Time for U. S. to repay Poland for her Enigmatic gift.
Posted by: Nimble Spemble   2007-05-15 18:47  

#5  Russia and China are both global pariahs. How is it that their overt support for the world's most brutal tyrannies goes unpunished? No more Stoli or Wal-Mart would shitcan both of these thugocracies.

By so patiently awaiting a most assured nuclear terrorist atrocity, Western governments betray their populations en mass. Never have I seen this degree of willful blindness to such a clear and present danger.
Posted by: Zenster   2007-05-15 17:07  

#4  It is so long gone the United States, Israel, the UK, hell, even France, should have announced that a 50km exclusion zone exists around any unauthorized reactor. Building any such reactor should be considered a clear and present danger and be subject to immediate nuclear sterilization. It is a complete joke we are allowing Hitler and worse to have these weapons.

When one of our cities is destroyed we will have nobody but ourselves to blame. I am sick of this. Sick.
Posted by: Excalibur   2007-05-15 16:54  

#3  I have no doubt the ruskies hope one of these clowns they're "helping" will explode a nuke in the US.

What they seem not to have considered is that said clowns are just as likely to explode a couple in Mother Russia.

Just sayin', 's all.

And, of the two countries, the U.S. is far more likely to survive economically.
Posted by: Barbara Skolaut   2007-05-15 15:31  

#2  Pooty the Insane.
Posted by: twobyfour   2007-05-15 15:19  

#1  jeebus, Mother Russia has Nuclear PMS Designs for the World.
Posted by: RD   2007-05-15 15:16  

00:00