The Impending Release of Mordechai Vanunu
Mordechai Vanunu, the Israeli nuclear scientist who blew the whistle on
his country’s nuclear weapons programme, at great personal risk, is due
for release from his 18 year prison sentence on the 21st April.
Israel’s development of nuclear weapons broke international law, which
it continues to flaunt. The international community appears to ignore
this very serious breach of the law, whilst taking disproportionate, unilateral
action against fabricated stories of lesser breaches by other countries,
whilst blatantly ignoring the laws and treaties itself. Yet Mordechai
Vanunu has remained in prison for managing to achieve what weapon inspectors
in Iraq have failed to do: to provide compelling evidence that Israel
has produced atomic weapons.
The Jerusalem post reports that the Israeli government is considering
placing Vanunu under administrative detention* upon his release, to prevent
him from revealing anything else that he knows. Vanunu has rejected a
proposed deal with the government in which he has to remain in Israel
and never speak about the issue again.
Mordachai Vanunu is one of 173 Nobel prize nominees.
Various groups are sending delegates to Israel to greet Vanunu on his
release from prison.
The article below is from the Free Vanunu website. (http://www.vanunu.freeserve.co.uk/)
Mordechai Vanunu - The world's first nuclear hostage
"I have sacrificed my freedom and risked my life in order to expose
the danger of nuclear weapons which threatens this whole region. I acted
on behalf of all citizens and all of humanity"
Mordechai Vanunu
Mordechai Vanunu was a technician at Dimona, Israel's nuclear installation,
from 1976 to 1985. He discovered that the plant was secretly producing
nuclear weapons. His conscience made him speak out and in 1986 he provided
the London Sunday Times with the facts and photos they used to tell the
world about Israel's nuclear weapons programme. His evidence showed that
Israel had stockpiled up to 200 nuclear warheads, with no debate or authorisation
from it own citizens.
On 30th September 1986, Mordechai was lured from London to Rome. There
he was kidnapped, drugged and shipped to Israel. After a secret trial
he was sentenced to 18 years for 'treason' and 'espionage' though he had
received no payment and communicated with no foreign power. He was held
in complete isolation for 11 years, only allowed occasional visits from
his family, lawyer and a priest, conducted through a metal screen.
* B’Tselem defines Administritive detention thus: Administrative detention
is detention without charge or trial, authorized by administrative order
rather than by judicial decree. It is allowed under international law,
but, because of the serious injury to due process rights inherent in this
measure and the obvious danger of abuse, international law has placed
rigid restrictions on its application.