Burma building nuclear weapons, says Jane’s defence weekly

MELBOURNE - Satellite images have revealed that Burma is pursuing a nuclear program, the military journal Jane’s Intelligence Review says.

The photos of buildings and security fences near Burmese capital, Naypyidaw, confirm reports by Major Sai Thein Win of machine tool factories and other plants alleged to be part of a nascent program to build nuclear weapons, the magazine reports.

Major Sai said he worked at two factories involved in the nuclear program.

His report to a Burmese opposition news website, Democratic Voice of Burma, based in Norway, included documents and colour photographs of the interior of the installations.

“They will not make a bomb with the technology they currently possess or the intellectual capability,” The Age quoted Jane’s analyst Allison Puccioni, as saying.

“The two factors do make it possible to have a route to one,” Puccioni added.

Meanwhile, US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton has expressed concern that North Korea and Burma may be expanding military ties and sharing nuclear technology.

In a statement issued yesterday, Jane’s said Burma’s nuclear program was “overly ambitious with limited expertise”.

While Burma has signed international agreements to control nuclear weapons use, it has not agreed to more recent changes in the treaties, and therefore, is not subject to international inspections, the magazine said.

“Someone had to be assisting them, that’s the frightening thing,” said David Kay, a former United Nations weapons inspector.

He added: “Burma is uniquely incapable of carrying this through.” (ANI)