Southeast Asia becomes nuclear free zone<\/p>\n
By Meidyatama Suryodiningrat<\/p>\n
BANGKOK (JP): The 10 leaders of Southeast Asia realized
\nyesterday the dream of creating a region free of nuclear weapons,
\nsigning a treaty which bars the production or acquisition of the
\ninstruments of mass destruction.<\/p>\n
The Treaty on the Southeast Asia Nuclear Weapons Free Zone
\n(SEANWFZ) was signed during the closing ceremony of the fifth
\nSummit of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN).<\/p>\n
First to sign were the seven leaders of ASEAN -- Brunei's
\nSultan Hassanal Bolkiah, Indonesia's President Soeharto,
\nMalaysia's Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad, the Philippines'
\nPresident Fidel Ramos, Singapore's Prime Minister Goh Chok Tong,
\nThailand's Prime Minister Banharn Silpa-Archa and Vietnam's Prime
\nMinister Vo Van Kiet.<\/p>\n
They were followed by heads of the three non-ASEAN Southeast
\nAsian countries: Cambodia's joint Prime Ministers Norodom
\nRanariddh and Hun Sen, Laos' Prime Minister Khamtay Siphandone
\nand Myanmar's Prime Minister Than Shwe.<\/p>\n
Banharn, whose country is hosting the summit, expressed
\nsatisfaction about the signing.<\/p>\n
"This treaty will guard against the scourge of nuclear
\nweapons in the region and contribute towards the Nuclear Non-
\nProliferation Treaty regime at the global level," Banharn said.<\/p>\n
President Soeharto did not speak at the closing ceremony.
\nHowever, in his opening address to the summit on Thursday,
\nSoeharto referred to the treaty as "a significant instrument for
\nfurther enhancing peace and stability."<\/p>\n
Ten years in the making, the SEANWFZ is the highlight of the
\ntwo-day ASEAN Summit.<\/p>\n
Consisting of 13 pages and 22 articles, the treaty consists of
\nvarious sections. Among these are "Use of Nuclear Energy for
\nPeaceful Purposes", "Early Notification of Nuclear Accidents" and
\n"Calls by Foreign Ships and Aircraft".<\/p>\n
In spite of the joy felt over the promise of enhanced peace
\nand stability that SEANWFZ brings, yesterday's signing was not
\nable to disperse the clouds of doubt cast by the United States'
\nand China's objections toward the treaty.<\/p>\n
Washington stated last week that it will not accede to the
\ntreaty, which it considers too restrictive.<\/p>\n
ASEAN Ministers have ignored Washington's concerns, remaining
\nconfident that the superpowers will eventually accede to the
\ntreaty by signing its protocol.<\/p>\n
During the process of drafting SEANWFZ, ASEAN officials
\nmaintained consultation with the superpower states.<\/p>\n
Banharn said yesterday that, while the treaty itself has been
\nsigned, the protocol is to be reviewed.<\/p>\n
"After extensive discussions the heads of government of the
\nstates signatory to the treaty on SEANWFZ agreed that the
\nprotocol to the treaty would be further reviewed," he said.<\/p>\n
The announcement was seen as indicating that the objections of
\nthe nuclear-weapons-owning countries might still be accommodated.<\/p>\n
As head of the SEANWFZ drafting working group, Indonesian
\nofficials have pointed out that the U.S. concerns are related to
\nthe rights of passage of its nuclear armada.<\/p>\n
The Indonesian officials said that, despite articles
\nguaranteeing innocent passage and the right to port calls,
\nWashington still has strong reservations about the treaty.<\/p>\n
As it stands, the treaty allows each signatory state to accept
\nor deny access of nuclear weapon carrying ships to their
\nrespective territorial waters.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/southeast-asia-becomes-nuclear-free-zone-1447893297",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
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