Southeast Asia becomes nuclear free zone

Southeast Asia becomes nuclear free zone

By Meidyatama Suryodiningrat

BANGKOK (JP): The 10 leaders of Southeast Asia realized
yesterday the dream of creating a region free of nuclear weapons,
signing a treaty which bars the production or acquisition of the
instruments of mass destruction.

The Treaty on the Southeast Asia Nuclear Weapons Free Zone
(SEANWFZ) was signed during the closing ceremony of the fifth
Summit of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN).

First to sign were the seven leaders of ASEAN -- Brunei's
Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah, Indonesia's President Soeharto,
Malaysia's Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad, the Philippines'
President Fidel Ramos, Singapore's Prime Minister Goh Chok Tong,
Thailand's Prime Minister Banharn Silpa-Archa and Vietnam's Prime
Minister Vo Van Kiet.

They were followed by heads of the three non-ASEAN Southeast
Asian countries: Cambodia's joint Prime Ministers Norodom
Ranariddh and Hun Sen, Laos' Prime Minister Khamtay Siphandone
and Myanmar's Prime Minister Than Shwe.

Banharn, whose country is hosting the summit, expressed
satisfaction about the signing.

"This treaty will guard against the scourge of nuclear
weapons in the region and contribute towards the Nuclear Non-
Proliferation Treaty regime at the global level," Banharn said.

President Soeharto did not speak at the closing ceremony.
However, in his opening address to the summit on Thursday,
Soeharto referred to the treaty as "a significant instrument for
further enhancing peace and stability."

Ten years in the making, the SEANWFZ is the highlight of the
two-day ASEAN Summit.

Consisting of 13 pages and 22 articles, the treaty consists of
various sections. Among these are "Use of Nuclear Energy for
Peaceful Purposes", "Early Notification of Nuclear Accidents" and
"Calls by Foreign Ships and Aircraft".

In spite of the joy felt over the promise of enhanced peace
and stability that SEANWFZ brings, yesterday's signing was not
able to disperse the clouds of doubt cast by the United States'
and China's objections toward the treaty.

Washington stated last week that it will not accede to the
treaty, which it considers too restrictive.

ASEAN Ministers have ignored Washington's concerns, remaining
confident that the superpowers will eventually accede to the
treaty by signing its protocol.

During the process of drafting SEANWFZ, ASEAN officials
maintained consultation with the superpower states.

Banharn said yesterday that, while the treaty itself has been
signed, the protocol is to be reviewed.

"After extensive discussions the heads of government of the
states signatory to the treaty on SEANWFZ agreed that the
protocol to the treaty would be further reviewed," he said.

The announcement was seen as indicating that the objections of
the nuclear-weapons-owning countries might still be accommodated.

As head of the SEANWFZ drafting working group, Indonesian
officials have pointed out that the U.S. concerns are related to
the rights of passage of its nuclear armada.

The Indonesian officials said that, despite articles
guaranteeing innocent passage and the right to port calls,
Washington still has strong reservations about the treaty.

As it stands, the treaty allows each signatory state to accept
or deny access of nuclear weapon carrying ships to their
respective territorial waters.