Indian Council OF World Affairs, in collaboration with Association of Asia Scholars(AAS) organized a seminar on the theme of "Proliferation of Bio Weapons: Challenges for Asian Countries" on November 14, 2007 at Sapru House.

Two senior scholars with vast experience in social science and biotechnological research, Dr Brian Rappert, University of Exeter, UK and Dr. Lalan Giri, Vice President Emergent BioSolutions, USA, delivered the main addresses. The eminent scientist Prof. Rakesh Bhatnagar, School of Biotechnology, Jawaharlal Nehru University, chaired the Seminar. The Seminar was also addressed by a distinguished panel of discussants namely Lt Gen. Shankar Prasad (retd.), Indian Army, New Delhi, Dr. Reshmi Kazi, Research Fellow, IDSA, New Delhi, and Mr. Animesh Roul, Executive Director, Society for the Study of Peace and Conflict, New Delhi.

From left: Dr. Lalan Giri, Dr. Swaran Singh and Dr. Reena Marwah.

The Seminar commenced with a Welcome Address by Mr. Ashok Kumar, Acting Director General, ICWA. Reiterating the significance of discussions on issues of significance to Asian countries, he congratulated AAS for initiating the collaboration. In his opinion, developing countries in Asia were particularly vulnerable to terrorist threats and India in particular had been a victim several times.

Prof. Rakesh Bhatnagar, as Chair of the Seminar introduced the speakers and highlighted the role and relevance of discussions on potential threats to peace and security of nations.

Dr. Brian Rappert.

Dr. Brian Rappert, who is working extensively in the field of biotechnology, security and limits of research dwelt on the new threats coming from the emerging sciences like biotechnology which represents the older "dual use dilemma". Dual use technologies have always been at the centre of the controversy in the utility debate as they can be used both for the purpose of betterment of human life as well as for the destructive purposes. Biotechnology is now at the heart of the debate. Dr Brian in his endeavour to establish a relation between scientific research and security posed fundamental questions to generate a debate. What are the real choices and challenges do we have today to prevent the destructive use of the life science research? Is this technology is novel and necessary or inherently controversial?

Dr. Brian Rappert.

Dr. Rappert further narrated that existing research shows us that an artificial and deadly toxic viral strain (which happened in case of SARS) can be created out of many chemical processes and synthesis with much lesser technological sophistication, which if leaked will lead to an uncontrollable epidemic. There are varying degrees of opinions about further research in biotechnology. His survey results show that there are arguments that biotechnology can be exploited in a way the technologies of 20th century can ; like nuclear and space, metallurgy, aviation, naval, armament, could be. Others argued that a line should be drawn because of the morals learnt out of the diabolical use of these technologies during the tragic and dreadful bipolar rivalry in cold war. According to Dr Brain the, discussion is still open-ended.

Participants during the lecture meeting.

The Biological and Toxic Weapon Convention (BTWC) has been signed by 165 states so far undertaking to prevent the use of biotechnology for weapon development. The real problem with the convention is that it exclusively deals with states and has no mechanism to deal with non-state actors. The possible use of bio weapons by terrorists to wreak terror within a society is a real cause of concern today. As the transmitting vectors are easily available for bio attacks, the scale of casualties will be unprecedented and both in terms of actual deaths and incapacitation. He further explained the problems associated with biotechnological research. A similar invention, which has an application in therapeutics i.e. for the preparation of antidotes for defensive purposes, with certain modifications under different conditions, can act as deadly toxins useful in weapon for offensive purposes.

Dr. Brian further stated that, human minds can not be imprisoned or compartmentalized from knowledge as they are inquisitive. Further questions therefore to be asked in this regard are, whether the contentious biotechnological experiments need to be conducted anymore or not. If yes; then whether the data of such an experiment can be published or not? Here the purpose of this seminar, as brought our by him, was to create some kind of synergy between social scientists and the biotechnologists, to impart a new vigour to the discussion by raising various these sorts of questions and to draw the variety of responses. Dr Brian in his final remarks explained that, after gathering the opinions from different countries through seminars, he found a sort of unanimity in the opinions that certain measures are necessary to regulate the menacing aspects of this emerging technology. Education of scientific community that sounds absurd but found necessary will play an important role in sensitizing the issue. He concluded by leaving the open ended questions like : Who needs to be educated ? What is the kind of education that needs to be given? Moreover, what kind of awareness programme is needed for a society?

Dr. Lalan Giri has a PhD in biosciences and is currently working as Vice President of Emergent Biosolutions, USA that possesses a patent for Anthrax Vaccine. He explained that the origin of the bio-war dates back to the World War I & II. In both the wars, Anthrax pores were transported through the letters. While highlighting the USP's of Anthrax he said, it is tasteless, odourless, and invisible to naked eyes and cannot be sensed by any possibility. Once the Anthrax infection is caught unknowingly, the symptoms of infection resemble a common flu and fever. Due to lack of awareness often an individual avoids going to a physician for treatment, the prominence of symptoms is indicative of a high toxicity, which causes death. Thus, he warned that, these unique qualities point towards the simplicity for the future destruction it can cause. Anthrax is cheaper and can be produced easily. Inhalation of Anthrax is highly lethal and it cannot be detected easily. Best example of the bio attack is the attack on USA in Oct 2001, which claimed five innocent lives. Inhalational Anthrax multiplies itself rapidly leads to a bleeding in lungs, brain and meningitis, which finally causes death. Thus it is the most convenient and handy weapon for the today's terrorists to use Anthrax to serve their purpose. He measured the destructiveness of Anthrax in a following manner. 1 megaton nuclear weapon = 160 metric tons of a chemical agent (RDX) = 6.5 kg of Anthrax. .

While informing the audience about the curative measures he explained that, the infection can be treated to a certain extent with an administration of antibiotics. However, it is very easy to produce an antibiotic resistant Anthrax strain. Therefore, the only option available today is Anthrax vaccine. The US FDA approved the first vaccine in 1976 for licensed production with a Brand name BIOTHRAX. Hence, the only way of protection from the Anthrax infection is a large-scale immunization. In his concluding remark, he argued that, Anthrax has once again therefore validated the notion that "prevention is always better than cure".

Discussants:

Lt Gen (retd) Shankar Prasad, who now heads the Committee on Biological Warfare.

In his address, he argued that since the early 90's terrorism has undergone a fundamental transformation in terms of its operational strategies and sophistication of capabilities. According to many reports, Al Qaeda possesses the capability to construct crude nuclear device which are also called as "Dirty Bombs" in parlance. Today they pose a major threat of producing NBC weapons. These dirty bombs and their menace can be detected and controlled but Anthrax attack cannot….. Government of India has already put all its intelligence agencies on alert about the possible attack of biological weapons.

He underlined the need to contemplate a future strategy. He raised certain questions and provided responses too. What are we supposed to do if Al Qaida uses biological weapons? What are the possible options we have at our disposal? One cannot immunize India's 1 billion population. Therefore, immunization is to be done relatively. Who are the ones to be immunized first? In case of a major onslaught of biological and toxic weapons in any part of the country the first one to reach the spot and to offer an assistance there are the relief workers may it be an Armed forces personnel, police forces, civilian doctors, nurses, voluntary relief workers. These relief providers are to be immunized first. Likewise, the major risk prone groups and disaster mangers within the country are to be identified and to be immunized.

2) Dr. Reshmi Kazi, a scholar from IDSA, explained about the threats emerging not only from the non-state actors but also from both the sociological as well as the technological sides. She raised the questions such as: to what extent are our biotech labs secure. To what extent bio-safety measures are effective. What is the guarantee that scientists will not conspire in the release of the bio pathogens from the labs? In addition to this, she explained there is a significant growth in biotechnology industry. Nevertheless, there is no effective regulatory mechanism to control the growing biotechnology industry and laws are created only after the violations of widespread social norms takes place. There is a need of a regulatory authority to act in advance to cater for these kinds of forthcoming contingencies of violations. We need to understand the viral and bacterial pandemics like SARS and Bird Flu. Their increasingly recurring outbreaks have become a real cause of concern. The lack of awareness about their origin, outbreaks on large scales, an incompetence to deal with them medically, made these diseases more acute and threatening. Thus, there is a need of a concerted national and global level effort to contain these pandemics, she concluded.

Participants during the lecture meeting.

3) Dr Animesh Roul argued that the main implication of bio-attack will not be large-scale destruction but will be a mass-disruption. He asked; Is India vulnerable to bio attacks? Do we need legislation in line of USA to curb it? Where is the threat for India coming from? He also informed that so far, no incident of bio attack is recorded either in India or in East Asia. In its neighborhood Pakistan and Myanmar, secretly possess bio-weapons. China has a major bio weapon programme in place and it also moving rapidly towards the immunization programme.

After the discussion the panelists responds to various questions from the audience. The chairperson, Prof. Rakesh Bhatnagar, congratulated both the speakers for their brilliant and well-researched presentations. He also thanked the discussants for their comprehensive analysis, which filled the remaining gaps completely. In his concluding remarks, the chairperson expressed his optimism about the government's initiative towards the possible immunization programme to be carried out at the national level.

The Seminar concluded with a vote of thanks to the chair by Dr. Swaran Singh, President, Association of Asia Scholars.