Save Humanity Global Bio-Security with reformed multilateralism – Jainacharya Yugbhushansuriji to Sandeep Arya and Petal Gahlot

Save Humanity:
Global bio-security
with reformed multilateralism

Dharmlaabh – Blessings,

This is in continuation of my earlier letter dated 30th July 2020 addressed to EAM Dr. Jaishankar, email
dated 7th July 2020 and Ms Petal’s recent communication with my representative Mr. Bhavik Lalan on
the subject of ‘Save Humanity’ Campaign organised by ‘Jyot’. In conversation, Ms Petal made a
reference of NPT, pointing out that it was an outcome of long-run efforts and similarly amending
‘Biological Weapon Convention’ is also a long-run task. On this reference, I would like to share some
insights on the real nature of NPT and convey my concern that new amended Convention should not
take a similar trajectory as like NPT.

NPT was signed on 1st July 1968. The then Indian leaders were very much aware of the discriminative
nature of the treaty and as a result, India had decided not to be its signatory and till today she has
maintained the same policy. If we view NPT and its course from lenses of 2020, the NPT has majorly
functioned to restrict nuclear development for ‘Have-Not’ nations and has been used at multiple
occasions against India as a tool to arm-twist India and her interests. If we neutrally view, this treaty has not realised its real objective of disarmament by the nuclear-weapon states, as enumerated in
Article VI¹ of the treaty. Though reports show that nuclear powers have moved towards disarmament
by reducing number of warheads, but in reality in course of time they have upgraded lethality of
nuclear weapons with advanced nuclear technology. The reduction of warheads, which is widely
visible, is more because of obsoletion but not for disarmament and even today 1000s of
decommissioned warheads are still to be dismantled. Further, they have even developed swifter and
highly sophisticated delivery systems, few even with automation powered by AI. As for India – Though
not signatory to NPT, has continuously adhered to the principles of non-proliferation. Unlike other
nuclear powers, She has indigenously developed nuclear technology without any support from any
nuclear power and never shared any technological know-how to other states to manufacture weapons
of mass destruction. She is one of the only two countries in the world to adopt a policy of ‘no-first-use’,
whereas none of the other nuclear powers have declared any assurance in this form. Thus, till today,
even after completion of 75 years for Hiroshima and Nagasaki nuclear bombardment and 52 years of
NPT, the world has never felt secured from nuclear war threat.

I am concerned that if the planned amendment in ‘Biological Weapon Convention’ follows the same
trajectory then just like NPT, this Convention would also be a hollow promise without any material
achievement.

It would be worth observing here that the nuclear weapons are mostly beyond the range of smaller
nations to procure, maintain, use and manage. But, the bio-weapons by its very nature are not so
expensive, easy to develop, store, maintain, transport and use; allowing even small rogue states and
faceless terror groups to own them, vouching for much higher precautions in Convention. The nature
of Bioweapon is such that its attack can affect en-mass with uncontrolled contagion resulting into
devastation multiple times than nuclear. Therefore, the text of amendment must set in place a neutral,
transparent, equal, robust institutions for enforcement, implementation, execution and verification
processes. The Convention should not have any saving clause affording prerogative and privilege to
any nation and force upon all signatories the prohibitory clauses strictly and stringently. Adequate care
must be taken that it does not leave open any loopholes in the name of research, and/or medicinal

¹ Article VI – “Each of the Parties to the Treaty undertakes to pursue negotiations in good faith on effective measures relating to cessation of the nuclear arms race at an early date and to nuclear disarmament, and on a treaty on general and complete disarmament under strict and effective international control”.

purposes etc…

The very genesis of multiple Pandemics faced by humanity in the past century is in ‘wildlife contact’.
And the only solution as prescribed by the ‘Save Humanity’ campaign is ‘wildlife distancing’ in all
forms. Annihilating of wildlife as suggested by some to save humanity and eliminate threats of future
pandemics, will never stand as a robust solution, since it will lead to a biological imbalance. It is a
well-established norm that the existence of humanity is completely dependent on diverse bio-world.
Hence, practising ‘wildlife distancing’ will only lead to bio-security of humanity along with bio-diversity.
And to force this practice of ‘wildlife distancing’ upon entire humanity, ‘Save Humanity’ campaign has
advised to amend Biological Weapon Convention to include a stringent clause for ‘wildlife distancing’.

As indicated by Ms Petal in the conversation, pandemic is yet not over and currently health safety of
citizens is the first priority. But, you would appreciate that correspondingly this is also the right and
prime time for India to propagate the idea of global bio-security by ‘wildlife distancing’ to be enforced
over every global citizen via ‘Biological Weapon Convention’.

India today is considered a major player in the global political landscape with a weight to drive decision
into a particular direction. Also, today’s global political temper and geographic positioning of India
may act as a catalyst for India’s endeavour to propagate this idea as a precursor to amend the
Convention.

Further, I agree with Ms Petal that these are long-term tasks which require enormous efforts and time
to fructify. I am aware that today multilateral organisations are in bad shape having undemocratic
nature with uneven power distribution giving hegemonic and at times arrogant veto power to few and
no voice to others. Such state of multilateralism is not conducive for above referred multilateral
actions. The multilateral organisation where proportionate representation and power sharing are
based on parameters of GDP, population size, geographic area etc. are ideal for any multilateral
actions. Actions out of such ideal organisations contribute together to form a fair and just World Order.

As a step in this direction, EAM Dr. Jaishankar has rightly set India’s priority at UNSC of reforming
multilateral organisations to iron out such unevenness. While moving in this direction, considering
historic injustice, developing countries might need even affirmative actions and privileges from developed countries in reciprocation to make up for historic losses, uplift them to stand at equal levels
and benefit equally from multilateral organisations.

As Dr. Henry Kissinger envisioned at the onset of pandemic that the world order will no longer be the
same and even recently EAM Dr Jaishankar reiterated the same in AINTT address, which we can very
well observe that in reality the World Order is changing in a big way. At this critical juncture, India can
play a vital role in shaping fair and just multilateral organisations enabling such multiple noble
businesses to shape fair and just World Order abundant with rare commodity – Trust. It will be a great
service to entire humanity which will align with India’s Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam principles.

Dharmlaabh