16 August 2002
PCRC Applauds Statement Against Missile Testing
The Pacific Concerns Resource Centre (PCRC) has applauded the Prime Minister of Fiji, Laisenia Qarase for being the
first Pacific leader to speak out against the use of Pacific waters for the destructive and dangerous testing of
missiles of mass destruction.
Prime Minister Qarase stated at the opening of the 33rd Forum leaders meeting yesterday that Fiji would "forcefully
protest against the use of Pacific waters for the destructive and dangerous testing of nuclear weapons and missiles of
mass destruction."
PCRC believes the issue should be on the agenda of the Forum Leaders meeting because it was relevant towards the
security and sustainable growth of the region, as well as global security.
PCRC therefore strongly urges Pacific Forum leaders to look at strengthening the Raratonga Treaty for a South Pacific
Nuclear Free Zone by, among other things, prohibiting long-range nuclear-capable missile delivery systems and a further
protocol preventing any country from testing missiles in the zone.
PCRC also noted that the US is the only signatory that has not ratified the protocol to the Raratonga Treaty and urged
leaders to strongly express their protest on this.
"The US and other world powers have consistently abused the Pacific Ocean for military experiments which have never
helped the Pacific Islands. If Pacific Island countries do not speak out against this testing now, we will continue to
be subjected to more dangerous tests such as those that irradiated Bikini Islanders in the Marshall Islanders in 1954."
"We deplore the views of nuclear powers such as the US, that the Pacific Ocean is just a vast playground to test their
military toys. They must learn to treat it sustainably with respect," PCRC stated.
Ever since October 1999 when the United States conducted its first test of a prototype National Missile Defence system
costing almost US$100 million, the PCRC has urged Pacific leaders to speak out against the tests as it was a costly
useless exercise putting the region at risk of being caught in a military conflict, or being at the centre of a
catastrophic accident.