Pacific powder keg, says peace group

Press, 12 September 1988, Page 7

Pacific powder keg, says peace group

NZPA-AP Sydney The Pacific region is a potential powder keg that could initiate a global nuclear conflict, according to the International Peace Bureau. Delegates at the 1.P.8.’s annual meeting in Sydney at the week-end, its first outside Europe, warned of a super-Power build-up in the region in the wake of arms reduction in Europe. The president of the 1.P.8., Mr Bruce Kent, of Britain, said the Pacific might become the focal point of the arms race. “The 1.P.8. believes the

Pacific region is a dangerous powder keg from which a global conflict might initiate,” he said. “Nuclear missiles will be removed from Europe soon and those in the peace movement are concerned the super-Powers will look at building-up their capability elsewhere. “The Pacific is the obvious choice and we have indications America and Russia have been build-ing-up in the region already.” The 1.P.8., a nonaligned peace group with member organisations in

24 countries, plans a number of initiatives to arouse public awareness of the Pacific build-up. These include calling on the French Government to ban nuclear testing in the region; supporting New Zealand’s nonnuclear policy; and conducting an international door-knock campaign on Hiroshima Day next year. In January the 1.P.8. will deliver a petition in Geneva signed by 20,000 lawyers who say the possession and use of nuclear weapons is a criminal offence under international law.