RESTRICTED

SS 22

WRITTEN ASSIGNMENT

DIFFICULTIES OF CONVERTING THE INDIAN OCEAN INTO A

NUCLEAR WEAPONS FREE ZONE

INTRODUCTION

1. A nuclear weapon is an explosive device that derives its destructive force

from nuclear reactions, either fission or from a combination of fission
and fusion reactions.

2. Nuclear weapons have been used twice in war, both times by the United
States against Japan near the end of World War II. On August 6, 1945, the U.S. Army
Air Forces detonated a uranium gun-type fission bomb nicknamed "Little Boy" over
the Japanese city of Hiroshima, three days later, on August 9, the U.S. Army Air
Forces detonated a plutonium implosion-type fission bomb nicknamed "Fat Man"
over the Japanese city of Nagasaki. These bombings caused injuries that resulted in
the deaths of approximately 200,000 civilians and personnel.

3. Since the atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki, nuclear weapons have

been detonated over two thousand times for testing and demonstration. Only a few
nations possess such weapons or are suspected of seeking them.

4. The only countries known to have detonated nuclear weapons and

acknowledge possessing them are the United States, Russia , the United
Kingdom, France, China, India, Pakistan, and North Korea. Israel is believed to
possess nuclear weapons, though, in a policy of deliberate ambiguity, it does not
acknowledge having them. 

5. Germany, Italy, Turkey, Belgium and the Netherlands are nuclear weapons

sharing states. South Africa is the only country to have independently developed and
then renounced and dismantled its nuclear weapons.

6. The Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons aims to reduce the

spread of nuclear weapons, but its effectiveness has been questioned. Modernisation
of weapons continues to this day.[8]

BACKGROUND OF THE SITUATION

7. Importance of Indian Ocean

1
RESTRICTED
 RESTRICTED

8. Involvement of Sri Lanka. In April 1962, Mrs Bandaranaike reacted

to America’s testing of a nuclear device. Writing once again to President Kennedy,
Mrs Bandaranaike claimed that “coming at a time when there is universal demand for
the outlawing of these tests ad when the hopes of the world are centred on the current
negotiations in Geneva, the resumption of these tests is a grave setback to peace and
brings mankind once again to the brink of nuclear destruction.” She was forthright in
her standpoint, informing the US President that “the neutralist nations like Ceylon,
who are dedicated to the cause of disarmament and the banning of nuclear tests, are
shocked at this disregard of their cumulative wishes.” 

9. In July 1963, Mrs Bandaranaike welcomed the initialing of the Nuclear Test-
Ban Treaty by Britain, the United States of America and the Soviet Union. Issuing a
message on this occasion she stated that “this is indeed an important first step on the
road to world peace. If the present Treaty, as we genuinely hope, could lead to a total
ban on nuclear tests, it would indeed be hailed as the most significant act of peace
since the Second World War.” “Ceylon,” she said was hopeful that “the present
achievement of the three powers will usher a new era of international confidence and
pave the way for even greater achievements towards general and complete
disarmament.”

LITERATURE

WHAT IS A NUCLEAR FREE ZONE?

RECOMMENDATIONS

CONCLUSION

2
RESTRICTED