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Up close and dangerous
Justice Weeramantry warns of a nuclear risk to Sri Lanka in the event of leakages from two South Indian plants in Kalpakkam and Kudankulam
By Mahangu Weerasinghe
Sri Lanka's close proximity to two Indian nuclear reactors has raised concerns over the safety of the country, its airspace and its people. The two plants at Kalpakkam and Kudankulam in South India are 98km and 220km away from Sri Lanka, respectively.

A radiation leak at the Kalpakkam Nuclear Plant on June 21, 2003 affected two scientists and one worker. Had this leak not been contained, the effects would certainly have been felt in Sri Lanka. The areas most adversely affected would have been Jaffna, Mannar and the western coastal belt. International Court of Justice Judge, Justice C.G. Weeramantry warns that the prevailing situation in India is indeed a security risk for Sri Lanka. "The main problem is that the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) does not have a hold on standards in India," says Justice Weeramantry, who is also the President of the International Association of Lawyers Against Nuclear Arms (IALANA).

"A reactor leakage in Japan a few weeks ago claimed the lives of four nuclear plant employees," explains Justice Weeramantry. "If such a leakage could happen in a technologically advanced country such as Japan, it could easily occur in India as well."

According to the International Atomic Agency Annual Report in 1996, there were 66 incidents in 59 countries, many of which did not get much publicity. The secrecy involving the nuclear industry in many countries means that proper warnings are not given to the people until the damage is done. "What assurances do we have that leaks or accidents will be immediately reported to us?" asks the Judge. Close ties must be kept with the Indian government to ensure that Sri Lanka is given adequate time to protect itself in the case of a radiation leakage, he says.

"International law is very clear that there is a duty on every nation to convey information to every other nation regarding actions or activities which might cause damage to them," states Justice Weeramantry. "I believe that one need not necessarily rely on treaties or conventions as there is customary international law which recognises these duties."

Inadequate warning time, however, could be fatal to Sri Lanka. Nuclear radiation from India could easily sweep southwards towards the northwestern and western coasts of the island, affecting fisheries, crops, dairy and public health, among other things. In the 1986 Chernobyl nuclear reactor disaster in the former Soviet Union, effects of the leakage were felt in Wales, Sweden, Germany and many other European countries.

The number of people affected by cancer outside the USSR was approximately 600,000. This toll increased mainly due to the fact that the government failed to make a public statement for 15 days, leaving many people unaware of the danger.

The gravity of this situation is further heightened by the Kalpakkam leakage of 2003, and the Indian Government's efforts to cover it up. It is the responsibility of the relevant local authorities to take proper steps to make sure that Sri Lanka remains protected from such a disaster.

Creating awareness
The Weeramantry International Centre for Peace Education and Research hopes to hold a South Asian Conference on Nuclear Weapons, early next year. This conference will not only look at the actual use of weapons but also at the various activities and dangers including transport of weapons, disposal of waste, availability of nuclear material to unauthorised persons and the dangers of radiation.

The International Association of Lawyers Against Nuclear Arms (IALANA) has also launched its first Sri Lankan office with the hope of promoting nuclear danger awareness in the region.

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