Nuke body baffled by junta move

BURMA'S secretive military rulers - suspected of pursuing a nuclear weapons program - want to join an Australian-led nuclear safety body.

The move comes amid calls for greater scrutiny of Burma's nuclear activities and its links with equally secretive and nuclear-armed North Korea.

Analysts say Burma's interest in joining the Asia/Pacific Safeguards Network, an international group chaired by Australia, could be a hint of tentative openness by the notoriously paranoid regime - or another smokescreen.

And while Australia may be sympathetic to Burma joining the network, other members of the 14-nation body remain deeply suspicious of its motives.

Burma is under international surveillance following widespread reports last year that it was secretly building a nuclear reactor as part of a North Korean-backed effort to build a nuclear bomb.

While Australia and other nations insist the reports are unconfirmed, the federal government has expressed concern that a nuclear-armed Burma would seriously threaten regional and international security.

Burma's interest in joining the safeguards network is revealed in a new report by the Washington-based Institute for Science and International Security (ISIS), a respected non-government group.

The network, initiated by Australia and launched last October, has yet to consider if Burma should be allowed in, the institute's report said.

A spokeswoman for the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade declined to say what Australia's attitude would be to the Burmese move, as it had not formally applied to join and decisions on membership were made by consensus.

''Australia will consider the question of Burma joining APSN, in consultation with other APSN members, if the matter arises,'' the spokeswoman said.

The Sunday Age understands at least one key member of the safeguards network - Japan, the target for North Korea's periodic nuclear sabre-rattling - is sceptical of Burma's intentions and could resist its entry to the group, due to hold its first formal meeting in Jakarta in April.

Members are Australia, Canada, China, Indonesia, Japan, Malaysia, New Zealand, the Philippines, Russia, Singapore, South Korea, Thailand, Vietnam and the US.

The network does not carry out inspections, but aims to promote nuclear safety by sharing information and co-operating in training and other areas.

An Australia-based Burma analyst, who asked not to be identified, said Burma's interest in joining the network added another puzzle to the mystery surrounding the regime's nuclear plans.

''It would seem curious that they're taking up this initiative to join up with a group like that, if they were in fact pursuing weapons of mass destruction,'' he said.

''It could be a smokescreen, there's always that. These guys are not beyond doing things of that nature, but it would seem a bit odd.''

David Albright, director of the Washington institute that revealed Burma's interest in joining the network, said he hoped Burma would be allowed to join.

''I would allow Burma in, so you can start meeting these people. They're not going to learn how to cheat in a group like this,'' Mr Albright told The Sunday Age.

''It makes sense to meet them, start to engage them, and start to educate them about what's needed. We need transparency, and one way is to get them to participate.''

The new ISIS report calls for greater international focus on Burma's nuclear activities.

While it says there is no concrete proof the regime is building secret reactors, there were ''sound reasons'' to suspect Burma of pursuing a strategy to make nuclear weapons.

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