Is the Silent Treatment a Form of Abuse?

Only if it impairs a pre-existing role of responsibility (such as mutual accountability.)

The very idea that one person feels they may make demands upon the attention of another is outrageous.

Btw, silence is a powerful relationship tool that may be best explored by quieting one’s own internal noise. Ejaculating one’s internal thoughts is not communicating.

Yes, it's also called Stonewalling. This class of behavior frequently dooms relationships.

In fact, it's one of the "4 horsemen" predictors of impending relationship failure.