Opposition to nuclear testing in the Pacific voiced; action on refugees and peace-keeping taken.

Opposition to nuclear testing in the Pacific voiced; action on refugees and peace-keeping taken

Underground nuclear testing by France at Mururoa Atoll in the South Pacific was discussed in the Special Political Committee in October during a review of the effects of atomic radiation. Several of the 20 nations participating in the debate opposed such testing.

The Committee on 7 October, after considering the report of the United Nations Scientific Committee on the Effects of Atomic Radiation, approved by consensus a draft asking the General Assembly to request the Scientific Committee to continue to increase knowledge of the levels, effects and risks of ionizing radiation from all sources.

By the text, the Scientific Committee would also be commended for the valuable contribution it had been making over the past 30 years. Continued and growing scientific co-operation between it and the United Nations Environment Programme was noted. Member States, United Nations agencies and non-governmental organizations concerned would be asked to continue to provide the Committee with further relevant data on doses, effects and risks from various sources of radiation.

The Scientific Committee's report (A/40/417) on its 1985 session (Vienna, 10-14 June) focused on technical discussions on radiation- induced cancer; biological effects of pre-natal irradiation; early effects of high radiation doses; exposures from nuclear explosions and from the production of nuclear-weapon materials; current exposures received globally from the production of nuclear power; and hereditary effects of radiation.

On 10 October, the Committee approved without a vote a draft asking the General Assembly to renew the mandate of the Special Committee on Peace-keeping Operations. Established by the Assembly in 1965, the Committee has worked since 1966 on guidelines to govern the conduct of United Nations peace-keeping operations, devoting attention to practical implementation of such operations.

On 15 October, the Special Political Committee recommended without a vote that the General Assembly extend the mandate of the Group of Governmental Experts on International Co-operation to Avert New Flows of Refugees. The Group of Experts, established in 1981 by the Assembly to review the refugee problem in order to develop recommendations regarding international co-operation in that field, would be asked to submit its report to the 1986 Assembly.

The Committee on 16 October recommended deferral to 1986 of consideration of the question of the composition of the relevant organs of the United Nations.

On 28 October, the Special Political Committee heard a statement by Nobel Peace Prize winner Bishop Desmond Tutu calling for dismantling of the apartheid system in South Africa (see page 17). Three days earlier, it had heard statements by 14 individuals and representatives of organizations concerned with the problem of the policies of apartheid of the South African Government.

Radiation debate

Several States in the debate on effects of radiation expressed opposition to the French testing. They cited the declaration made at the South Pacific Forum held in Rarotonga, in which leaders of all States in the region urged France to immediately cease its nuclear testing programme. Anxiety was expressed about long-term effects of such testing on the environment.

Among the points made in the debate were that:

There should be no use, testing or stationing of nuclear explosives in the South Pacific.

France, the United States and the United Kingdom should give positive consideration to the South Pacific Treaty protocols so that key provisions would apply to their South Pacific Territories.

Overwhelming opposition to the tests had been ignored. It was regretted that the French President Francois Mitterand had not taken it into account on his recent visit to French Polynesia.

While France maintained that the tests were safe, one could not conclude from the report of the scientific fact-finding mission which had visited Mururoa Atoll that the French test programme was completely harmless.

In the debate, some States conceded that while France had the right to establish a strong defence, it had no right to test its weapons 10,000 miles from home. If France believed that the effects of its testing were completely benign, it would have carried out the tests closer to home.

The view was expressed that a ban against nuclear testing by any country in any environment was a critical first step in stopping the arms race.

Concern was also expressed about the spread of radiation pollution to the fish of the Mediterranean. The proposition was put forth that the naval forces deployed in the Mediterranean region should be withdrawn to prevent any possible nuclear pollution in the Mediterranean Sea.

Opposition was voiced to the proposal for burying nuclear waste in the Sahara, and calls were made for a general and comprehensive ban on nuclear-weapons tests.

French view: France recalled that the continuation of its underground tests on French territory had no other aim than to maintain at the lowest possible level of testing the credibility of French forces. Those tests amounted to less than 10 per cent of all tests conducted by nuclear Powers, and did not endanger the region's safety, security or environment. This assertion had been confirmed by several scientific missions, in particular by one including regional scientists who visited the French test site to measure testing effects. They concluded in this report that "radiation doses to the French polynesian population from natural radiation and fallout radioactivity were lower than world average levels and did not lead to the expectation that any radiation induced diseases would be detectable'. No other nuclear Power had allowed visits of that kind.

Refugee debate

In the debate on averting new flows of refugees, speakers cited a number of different types of causes for massive flows of refugees--wars, drought, desertification, famine, apartheid, colonialism, foreign aggression and occupation, and foreign intervention.

Zaire pointed out that there was one refugee for every 450 persons in the world. Togo said half of the estimated 10 million refugees in the world lived in Africa. Calls were made for assistance by the international community to refugee-receiving countries.

Morocco, Oman and Zaire maintained that refugees should be allowed to return to their countries. The Ivory Coast emphasized that the integration of refugees with the local population was not always easy.

Singapore said that to successfully avert new flows of refugees, the international community must increase the costs, both political and economic, for those countries directly responsible for massive refugee outflows. Australia said it was important that the international burden for refugees should be shared as equitably as possible. The Libyan Arab Jamahiriya stated it had for 40 years hosted Palestinian refugees, and it wanted respect for internationally recognized human rights, particularly the right of return. Guidelines to avert new flows of refugees must also be based on protection of victims of armed conflicts, military occupation and all inhuman practices, particularly mass eviction of certain peoples for discriminatory, racist or expansionist reasons.

Ethiopia said States should abide by Charter principles, particularly those regarding respect for the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Member States. It was concerned at efforts in certain quarters to manipulate the refugee problem to advance their own ulterior motives and ambitions.

Mozambique said concerted action to eliminate apartheid was the only way to avert new flows of refugees in southern Africa. Botswana emphasized the importance of co-operation between the country of asylum and the country of origin.

Some countries stressed the need to establish an early warning machinery within the United Nations system to monitor those areas in which new flows of refugees were likely to occur. Bangladesh recommended that the Group of Experts consider recommending entrusting the monitoring function to existing agencies, particularly the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, but such machinery should not become an instrument for interference in the internal affairs of States.

Malaysia said the numerous refugees from South-East Asia, Palestine and Afghanistan proved that the predominant cause for flows of refugees was foreign domination, aggression and occupation.

Thailand said the consequences of the phenomenon of refugees were not only affecting the political, economic and social fabrics of the countries of first refuge, but were also jeopardizing international peace and security. Democratic Kampuchea said the situation of the Cambodian refugees was worsening because of continued occupation of the country by Viet Nam and the attempt to "Vietnamize' Cambodia. Countless Cambodians had sought refuge in Thailand and other countries.

Viet Nam said further discussions in the Committee should concentrate on studying the report of the Group of Experts. To mention a specific country in the discussions was inappropriate. Such discussions created problems and obstacles for the work of the Group and the Committee.

Photo: Ethiopian family in north-west Somalia.