LTN NU: NU fully supports nuclear power for peaceful purposes

Jakarta, NU Online
As a mass-based religious organization, Nahdlatul Ulama (NU) has fully supported the nuclear power to be developed in the country.

Chairman of the Nahdlatul Ulama Research and Development Center (LTN NU), Abdul Mun'im DZ made the remarks at a discussion held at the NU Online's office, the Central Board of Nahdlatul Ulama (PBNU) in Jakarta on Friday (4/7).<>

Mun'im said the NU's stance to support the nuclear technology could be considered as such an opportunism for giving no benefit to the organization.

"The NU's stance should be supported though it would meet many critics. That's why the PBNU has ever asserted its support to Iran in developing its nuclear program," Mun'im said.

According to Mun'im, the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NNPT) said that all sovereign states have the rights to pursue nuclear program for peaceful purposes for their own interest.

"The benefit of nuclear technology is not only for providing energy, but also for being used in agriculture, industry, animal husbandry, and many other important sectors," Mun'im said.

He was of view there was an effort from world powers like the United States, the United Kingdom, France and Germany to monopolize the nuclear energy and make other countries rely on them.

"Yes, it is one of the most striking ironies in which the nations claiming themselves as peoneers of human rights, champions of democracy and even centers and leaders of civilization have made use of the nuclear technology," Mun'im said, adding "it is a fact that the big powers have achieved sophisticated civilization because of using the energy". (dar)