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Israeli nuclear whistleblower still wants asylum in Norway: report
Oslo (AFP) April 9, 2008 Nuclear whistleblower Mordechai Vanunu, who spent 18 years in jail for divulging Israeli nuclear secrets, still hopes for asylum in Norway despite the rejection of his initial application, the NTB news agency reported Wednesday. "I hope that my request is still valid and under review. If Norway wants me to re-apply, I will," said Vanunu, who was jailed after revealing information about the workings of Israel's top-secret Dimona nuclear facility, where he worked as a technician in the 1980s. According to media reports Wednesday, Vanunu fulfilled all the conditions for obtaining asylum in Norway, but his application was turned down in 2004 at the request of the Norwegian government. Norway's minister for local and regional affairs at the time, Erna Solberg, justified the decision with the fact that Vanunu was not physically present in Norway when he made his request. "Nobody can obtain asylum in Norway without making their request in Norway itself," she said back then. When contacted by AFP, the national immigration agency refused to comment on the case, saying it was confidential. "I was very disappointed because I had great expectations in regards to Norway," said Vanunu, who was sentenced to six more months behind bars last year for violating bans on travel and contact with foreign media imposed after his initial release in early 2004. The whistleblower has repeatedly been "nominated" to the Nobel Peace Prize, which is awarded in the Scandinavian country. According to media reports Wednesday, Solberg had rejected Vanunu's request to avoid offending Israel, which developed its nuclear programme with the help of Norwegian heavy water, and the United States. A spokeswoman for the Norwegian Ministry of Labour and Social Inclusion told AFP that Vanunu would need to re-apply for asylum if Norway was to re-examine his request. It remained unclear however whether Vanunu would be permitted to leave Israel, which is widely believed to be the only nuclear power in the Middle East but has a policy of neither confirming nor denying its arsenal. Related Links Learn about nuclear weapons doctrine and defense at SpaceWar.com Learn about missile defense at SpaceWar.com All about missiles at SpaceWar.com Learn about the Superpowers of the 21st Century at SpaceWar.com
Nuclear scientist says he confessed to 'save' Pakistan
Islamabad (AFP) April 7, 2008Detained Pakistani nuclear scientist Abdul Qadeer Khan said he took the blame four years ago for passing atomic secrets to Iran, North Korea and Libya in order to "save his country". |
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