Sunday, December 25, 2005

UNESCO Official criticises Delhi refusal to share data on low-magnitude quakes

Read the full story in The Peninsula Online (Qatar). (12/17/2005)

"India said yesterday it would not share information on earthquakes below a magnitude of six on the Richter scale due to security concerns, drawing criticism from the United Nations.

"Indian seismologists at an UN tsunami conference said sharing seismic data had security implications as seabed terrain could be mapped, possibly helping others learn about the nation's submarines and warships......

"Patricio Bernal, assistant director general of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (Unesco), rejected India's argument and said the organisation wanted a free flow of data.

"'The small quakes are important because we never know what they may lead to. It might be the signal for a bigger one,' he told AFP.

"'India is the only country which has put up such a request (to refuse to share such data),' he added."

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