The Burmese junta's apparent intent to develop a nuclear weapons program is a tragic waste of badly needed money which should be used for the welfare of the people, say opposition political leaders.This satellite image shows the Defense Services Technological Academy in Pyin Oo Lwin, or Maymyo, Burma. A high-level defector from Burma's armed forces says the ruling junta is attempting to develop a nuclear bomb with the help of North Korea. (Source: DVB)
Several opposition politicians, ethnic leaders, and rebel army leaders said on Monday the military government should use the national budget for education, health, economic and other developmental programs instead of prioritizing a nuclear weapons program when, in fact, the country is under no immediate or long-term threat.
Critics said large sums of income earned from the sale of natural resources should be shared with the people for the benefit of the country.
The comments came after new evidence surfaced about the government's nuclear ambitions, disclosed by a Burmese missile expert, Maj Sai Thein Win, who defected.
Rangoon-based veteran politician Chan Htun, who served as the Burmese ambassador to China, said that the generals are strengthening the armed forces because they don't want to be inferior to powerful nations.
Chan Htun said, however, “It isn't enough to strengthen the military alone. The livelihood of civilians also need to be improved. Social and economic areas need to be improved.”
Burma's military regime is infamous for spending a large percentage of its national budget on the military, rather than on education, health and other public services. According to Burma military experts, 40 to 60 percent of the national budget is allocated to the military.
In contrast, 0.4 percent of the budget is spent on healthcare, while 0.5 percent is spent on education, according to a report released in 2007 by the International Institute for Strategic Studies, a think-tank based in London.
Aye Thar Aung, an Arakanese politician who is chair of the Arakan League for Democracy, said, “To hold power firmly, Burmese generals think that it will be safer for them if they have nuclear weapons.”
However, he said there is no threat of invasion from neighboring countries or powerful nations.
Sai Lao Hseng, a spokesperson for the Shan State Army–South, an ethnic rebel group, said developing a nuclear program only wastes badly need funds that come mainly from the sale of natural resources.
“I was shocked and wondered why they wanted nuclear weapons while many people and ethnic groups live in poverty,” he said. “They can't use these weapons to attack ethic rebels. It will only be a threat to the regional and international community.”
The government's annual budget stems mostly from the sale of natural gas, logging, mining and hydro-electric power. Rice export is also a main source of national income.
According to a study by the Washington-based United States Institute of Peace, Burma's export earnings from the energy sector will double in the next five years, due mainly to oil and gas transit pipelines now being built across Burma to China's Yunnan Province.
The institute said the calculation is based on energy exports—mostly gas—accounting for at least 45 percent of the $6.6 billion earnings in 2008.
A retired Mon army chief, Nai Kao Rot, who is a former colonel in the New Mon State Party said, “We are unhappy...that they don't share the benefits with ethnic people, but only strengthen their military.”
Zipporah Sein, the general-secretary of the Karen National Union, said, “We believe that if Burma really has nuclear ambitions, it will be a threat to the international community. The nuclear program is meant to entrench the Burmese junta in power, and will be of no benefit to the people.”
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