CTBT: Indian Perspective
Presented on the university level
declamation @ LNMU Darbhanga(October 1997) and later published in college magazine
Vigyanam of CM SC College
Comprehensive
Test Ban Treaty (CTBT) is incarnated form of Partial test Ban Treaty (PTBT)
signed in 1963. CTBT sought to achieve a total ban on future nuclear testing,
except in laboratory condition using computer simulation. It was signed by
seventy member countries Of United Nation (UN) on 24th of September
1996. The Draft-resolution approved the treaty was passed with an overwhelming
majority by 51st session of United Nation General Assembly (UNGA). Indians
and US along with others, co-sponsored a resolution in UN in 1993 and 1994
mandating the Conference on Disarmament (CD)to negotiate CTBT.
History of Disarmament
Agreements
The Hague
Conference of world nation (1899) started the history of disarmament. India was
the first member to call for the complete elimination of nuclear weapon. Way
back in 1954, the then Indian PM Pandit Nehru mooted the idea of disarmament.
But due to American influence, member nations could not dare to support the
idea. Later in 1957, the then American head of state President Eisenhower
apparently supported it as a goal but his office firmly rejected it. His contemporary from USSR premier Khrushchev
declared the similar idea of disarmament and was endorsed by the then three
nuclear powers (USA, USSR and UK) but this agreement became irrelevant after
nuclear test conducted by France in 1960.
After many
consultations, PTBT was agreed upon in 1963 and India was among the first
signatories. Although nuclear capable France and China was not brought into the
ambit of treaty. PTBT called for a ban on nuclear tests in the air or in the deep
ocean and sea-beds but not on underground tests.
The Nuclear
Proliferation Treaty (NPT) was brought to UNGA in 1968. Indian delegate objected
reasoning out that NPT restricted only the spread of nuclear technology to
non-nuclear states. It did not talk about the abolition of nuclear technology possessed by
nuclear states. The treaty was detrimental to the so called “ Threshold
states”. This treaty was to maintain the gap, rather, to widen the gap between
nuclear-haves and nuclear-havenots. Indian motion was supported by the then W.
Germany, Italy, UAE, Rumania, Brazil, Argentina, Nigeria. ‘Pacifist’ japan
demanded the nuclear powers not to use nuclear arms against three signatories.
Spain called this as a gimmick being played between USA and USSR to cheat the
whole world.
How is CTBT discriminatory?
The UNGA had mandated the 61 nations Geneva
Conference to negotiate a treaty which would (a)contribute effectively for
prevention of proliferation of nuclear weapons in all its aspects, (b)for the
process of nuclear disarmament and
(c)for the enhancement of international peace and security. But india
was the lone country opposing the text prepared for the purpose by the Danish
delegate. Mr. Ramakar, the chairman of Geneva conference. Indian vehemently
opposed the Ramakar Text on account of
failing on all the three mandated accounts.
The draft CTBT , conventially
for big powers does not ban simulated tests. Moreover, the cooperation between
France and USA makes one to ponder over discriminatory nature of the treaty.
But more vital point to the debate lies in technological aspect being ignored
by most of the peace lovers. The fact is that big powers no longer have to hold
underground tests to make sophisticated and better weapons. They have acquired
the technology that enables them to simulate tests on supercomputers. The developing and underdeveloped countries
do not have the simulation technology. Verification Regime was also one of the
contentious issues. America wanted simple majority of all members to enforce
the physical verification. Chinese objection made it mandatory to have 2/3 rd
majority for initiation of physical verification.
Nuclear
Tests
The first
ever nuclear test was carried on by USA on 16th of July 1945, just
12 day after independence Day of America at Alamogordo desert of New Mexico
skewing all its economic etc resources. The best minds of scientists of the world was involved in Project
Manhattan. It dropped the first ever
atom bomb on Hiroshima and Nagasaki on 6th and 9th of
August 1945 respectively causing mass devastation and destruction on of
innocent lives. Peace loving people of the world , led by the then USSR, ran a
signature campaign on the basis of “Stockholm Appeal” all over the world for
banning nuclear arms. But that brought no fruitful result. Due to American intransigence
and to maintain the nuclear deterrence, USSR had no option but to carry out the
nuclear test and it did so successfully in 1949. UK, France and china followed
it in 1952, 1960, 1964 respectively. India, having the capabilities, restrained
itself till 18th of March 1974, when it conducted the successful
test at Pokhran (Rajsthan).
From “Alamogordo Test” to till
today more than 200 tests have been carried out, America alone accounts for
mare than 50%. This is a cause of grave concern.
Stand of
India
India has
been opposing the CTBT in its present form. On 20th August 1996india
has blocked the treaty by vetoing it at Un sponsored 61 nation CD in Geneva.
The 61 nation conference had intended to send the actual treaty to New York for
signing but opposition by India made it redundant, as the rule required
consensus. From Geneva, the US backed draft of CTBT was taken to New York
before 51st session of UNGA. The Draft treaty, prepared by Danish
delegate Jaap Ramakar, the chairman, and presented by Australian delegate Mr.
Richard Butler, received an overwhelming support in UNGA despite strong
objection by india.158 members voted for the motion while India, Libya and
Bhutan voted against the motion. There were five notable abstentions in Cuba,
Lebanon, Mauritius, Tanzania and Syria. Altogether v19 countries were absent
from UNGA during whole discussion.
Firmed and
determined opposition of India paid dividend. It was accepted that CTBT is
discriminatory as it put ban on threshold countries on the technology which has
already been mastered by the nuclear powers of the day. At the same it did not
ban the computer simulated test conducted on super computers. The
discriminatory nature will not put an effective ban on nuclear proliferation,
rather it will maintain the hegemony of nuclear powers. Newer and newer technologies will be invented
and there would be clamour of getting those technologies. In the whole process
this will be a toll to exploit the rest of the world. It will perpetuate the monopoly
of have and will restrain the have-nots.
Security
concerns of India
India has, in
its south- western vicinity, one of the biggest stockpiles of nuclear arms in
the world at Diago Garcia under the US control. It is fully equipped with air
and naval carriers . Whole of Arabian sea , Persian gulf and Indian ocean is
under its radar. . South-east , south and middle-east can be easy prey to the
easy prey to the American bombers and missile stationed at Diago Garcia.
India has
Chinese nuclear bases in one side of the
border, while nuclearised Pakistan on other side. China is trying to contain
india as per ‘pearl of string Theory’. In
such a situation , demanding unconditional signature to the present draft of
the CTBT by India is nothing but a preposterously discriminatory. India’s consistent opposition to the signing
the CTBT in the present form is fully consstent with its goal of a war-less and
arm-less world . It also tallies with the interests of the underdeveloped ,
developing and even many developed countries . The then Indian primeminister
Rajiv Gandhicalled for a denuclearized world in UN had had a symphetatic echo
among many countries of the developing world.
Conclusion
India has to
persist in this endeavour fro its own national security interest is fully in
congruence with the interest of world –peace , in the interes of humanity . Nno
amount of economic sanction and threats should be allowed to compel us to
succumb to the dictat of singning the CTBT in its present form. No amount of
internal differences between ruling coalition and opposition should blurr us to
the need for united stand against economic sanctions aand threats . Let hundred
crore of heads, two hundred crores of hands be raised in unisoin against
discrimination and for equal right and
responsibilities of all countries of the world, for the cause of national
security and for the sake of world peace.
