US Govt tries to block book on China's nuclear programmes

A retired Los Alamos scientist who spent the past decade gathering first-hand information on China’s nuclear weapons programmes is fighting US efforts to block publication of his book.

Dan Stillman’s book, based on meetings with Chinese scientists and visits to their secret facilities, has been under review for 18 months at the Energy Department, Defence Department and CIA, said his lawyer Mark Zaid.

Pentagon and Energy Department spokeswomen confirmed that the review continues.

Zaid and fellow scientists say the Government’s opposition amounts to an abuse of Stillman’s First Amendment rights. Zaid expects to file a lawsuit by mid-June.

‘‘The Government’s attempt to suppress an entire 500 page manuscript is intolerable to anyone who cares about the First Amendment,’’ said Steven Aftergood, director of the Federation of American Scientists’ Project on Government Secrecy. ‘‘He has every right to tell his story.’’

The First Amendment of the US Constitution guarantees freedom of speech and the press among other basic rights.

Air Force Lieutenant Colonel Willette Carter said the Pentagon declines to comment since a lawsuit hasn’t been filed.