A year ago on July 7, 2017, the United Nations General Assembly adopted a resolution that pushes forward a new treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons. The agreement is the first of its kind that categorically prohibits nuclear weapons and hence focuses merely on disarmament. The treaty will only enter into force once 50 nations have ratified and acceded to it. As a nation whose representative was among vice presidents leading negotiations of the treaty and as a vocal opponent of nuclear weapons, it is crucial that Indonesia ratifies the Nuclear Weapon Ban Treaty immediately. Here are the key reasons why: As a member of the Non-Aligned Movement (NAM) and a coordinator of its working group on disarmament and nonproliferation since 1994, Indonesia was among co-sponsors of the above resolution. Indonesia signed this UN Treaty on Sept. 20, 2017, the day when it opened for signature at the UN headquarters in New York. Ironically, Indonesia is not among the ten nations that have … [Read more...] about Why Indonesia must ratify nuclear weapon ban treaty
Nuclear weapons ban treaty
The secret nuclear weapons program of Iran’s Revolutionary Guards
On May 8, President Donald Trump declared that the United States was withdrawing from the nuclear accord with Iran. The Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), signed by Iran, the US, Russia, China, Britain, France and Germany on July 14, 2015, was meant to freeze Iran’s ability to produce fissile material for 10 to 15 years in exchange for the lifting of all sanctions and United Nations arms embargoes imposed on Iran. However, the nuclear deal with Iran was never going to achieve what its promoters claimed. Why? Because it did not address the centerpiece of Iran’s ambition to become a nuclear power: the comprehensive nuclear-weapons program of Iran’s Revolutionary Guards. The dailyReport Must-reads from across Asia - directly to your inbox Initiated in 1984, this secret program proceeds in military installations that the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) cannot access. Iran’s civilian nuclear program, led by the Atomic Energy … [Read more...] about The secret nuclear weapons program of Iran’s Revolutionary Guards
North Korea plans to join efforts to ban all nuclear weapons tests
GENEVA: North Korea plans to join international efforts to implement a total ban on nuclear weapons tests, it told the United Nations disarmament body on Tuesday (May 15)."DPRK will join international desires and efforts for a total ban on nuclear tests," North Korea's ambassador to the UN in Geneva Han Tae-song said in an address to the Conference on Disarmament, using North Korea's official acronym.His comment came amid a recent whirlwind of diplomacy and outreach by the long isolated regime, and ahead of a historic summit next month between North Korean leader Kim Jong Un and US President Donald Trump.Kim last month announced that his country would halt its own nuclear tests and intercontinental missile launches, which was widely hailed as an important step towards denuclearising the Korean peninsula.But Pyongyang has yet to rejoin the Non-Proliferation Treaty, which it withdrew from in 2003.It is also one of eight countries with nuclear test capacity, including the United States, … [Read more...] about North Korea plans to join efforts to ban all nuclear weapons tests
N. Korea says to join global efforts to ban all nuclear weapons tests
GENEVA: North Korea plans to join international efforts to implement a total ban on nuclear weapons tests, it told the United Nations disarmament body Tuesday. "DPRK will join international desires and efforts for a total ban on nuclear tests," North Korea's ambassador to the UN in Geneva Han Tae-song said in an address to the Conference on Disarmament, using North Korea's official acronym. His comment came amid a recent whirlwind of diplomacy and outreach by the long isolated regime, and ahead of a historic summit next month between North Korean leader Kim Jong Un and US President Donald Trump. Kim last month announced that his country would halt its own nuclear tests and intercontinental missile launches, which was widely hailed as an important step towards denuclearising the Korean peninsula. But Pyongyang has yet to rejoin the Non-Proliferation Treaty, which it withdrew from in 2003. It is also one of eight countries with nuclear test capacity, including the United States, China … [Read more...] about N. Korea says to join global efforts to ban all nuclear weapons tests
UN chief urges new drive vs nuclear weapons
Warning that nuclear weapons pose catastrophic risks to human life and the environment, United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres on Monday called on the international community to make a reinvigorated push to rid the world of such weapons. “Countries persist in the mistaken idea that nuclear weapons make the world safer,” said the Secretary-General, addressing the UN Conference on Disarmament, in Geneva, Switzerland, on Monday. “At the global level, we must work together towards forging a new momentum on eliminating nuclear weapons,” he urged. Outlining a new initiative to give greater impetus and direction to the global disarmament agenda, Mr. Guterres said the world must respond to the dangers of the over-accumulation and proliferation of weapons, and reinforce the need to integrate disarmament into the UN efforts on preventive diplomacy and peacemaking. Side-by-side, a focus is needed on the impact of conventional weapons on civilians as well … [Read more...] about UN chief urges new drive vs nuclear weapons