Byline: Matthew Russell Lee of Inner City Press at the UN
www.innercitypress.com/dprk1swiss061108.html
UNITED NATIONS, June 11 -- In North Korea, the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation supports the Pyongyang Business School, which offers "senior raking officials" classes in "logistics strategy, organizational behavior and strategic management." Given that the Kim Jong-il government for which these senior officials work is engaged among other things in torture of those who try to leave the country, one wonders what safeguards are in place to ensure that this Swiss-funded knowledge does not, in fact, improve the management and logistics of oppression.
The description of the Pyongyang Business School is taken from a four-page paper, dated May 2008, by the SDC's Kathi Zellweger. Ms. Zellweger's paper emphasizes Switzerland's role in North Korea since 1953, and says that "for over 30 years the two countries have enjoyed good relations. Political dialogue was initiated between North Korea and Switzerland in 2003 and continues to be conducted on an annual basis, alternatively in Switzerland and in" North Korea. " It is said, but not on the record, that in these yearly meetings, the Swiss bring up human rights.
It was not possible to get any on the record response from Ms. Zellweger about whether any safeguards are in place. But back in 2005, Ms. Zellweger told CNN's "Talk Asia" program that "North Koreans are very proud people so it's very hard for them to admit the difficulties and the poverty is not so obvious, it's hidden behind closed doors in apartment blocks. So it's very different to let's say, an Africa country." It is unclear if Ms. Zellweger's distinction between North Korea and Africa is based on apartment blocks, or on some implied lack of pride on the Continent.
It appears, after asking, that the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation does not fund any similar programs in, for example, The Sudan. In much of Europe it is popular to characterize Sudan has engaged in genocide. This might explain if the Swiss do not fund Sudan. But why then North Korea?And see, www.innercitypress.com/dprk1swiss061108.html
