World People’s Blog

Ken Egli - Switzerland

Written on June 19th, 2008 in World People

Linked with ISN Network, and with Switzerland - Security vs. Justice.

Ken Egli works towards his master’s degree in Political Science, Modern History and English at the University of Zurich. He is also a part- time editor for the International Relations and Security Network (ISN) at the ETH Zurich, where he heads a project that aims to offer the user a comprehensive collection of primary ressources on International Affairs. He has a strong personal interest in Energy Security, Security Policy and Intelligence. (Global Trends).

He says: … “The decision to destroy evidence related to an ongoing investigation is highly unusual and has raised questions over the possibility of CIA involvement,” Egli says, pointing out that during his press conference Couchepin conceded that the Swiss government had also blocked an investigation into charges levelled by the federal attorney that Urs Tinner was engaging in illegal actions for a foreign country. Allegations that Tinner was a CIA agent were made in a book The Nuclear Jihadist by Douglas Frantz and Catherine Collins, as well as by the former U.N. weapons inspector David Albright. “What strikes me as interesting is what international connections did Tinner have, and if he really was a CIA agent, what impact did this have on the government’s decision to shred the documents?” Egli adds … (full text).

He writes: In 2008, the discussion over who has the right to possess nuclear technology will likely continue. Whether new nuclear power plants should be constructed will also be on the table. The whole overall dialogue will be centered on one question: Which is more important, the reduction of carbon emissions or the safety concerns regarding the use and proliferation of nuclear technology … (full text).

Ken Egli - Switzerland

The MIRI Team at PSI/ETH.

… Trouble ahead? The Swiss government is likely to face questions over the affair. Some legislators are calling for a parliamentary investigation into the matter, accusing the Federal Council of violating the principle of separation of powers. However, others believe that the destruction of the documents may well have been a matter of national and international security. (full text).

“There are more questions about this affair than there are answers,” says Ken Egli …

He writes also: “According to US journalists Douglas Frantz and Catherine Collins, writing in their book ‘The Nuclear Jihadist,’ the CIA managed to recruit Tinner in a bar in Dubai in early 2000 by capitalizing on legal problems he was facing in France at the time. His information is believed to have been crucial to the CIA’s understanding of the inner workings of the Khan network … (in: An embattled Musharraf denies reports of his imminent departure).

“In general, Swiss people trust their government and hold it in high regard … The feeling is that if the government destroyed the documents, they surely had valid reasons to do so. It really doesn’t affect their lives one way or another”, said Ken Egli in Time, 2 weeks ago.

An international smuggling ring is said to have shared some information regarding the manufacturing of a nuclear weapon with Iran, North Korea and other countries. The Washington Post reported Sunday that the smugglers have shared nuclear designs with Iran. They allegedly had some blueprints for an advanced nuclear weapon. The smuggling ring was led by Abdul Qadeer Khan, a Pakistani scientist who, allegedly, sold parts of a bomb to Lybia, Iran and North Korea. According to The Washington Post, David Albright, a former top U.N. arms inspector said that the smugglers also had designs of a more complicated nuclear weapon that could be fitted on a type of ballistic missile used by Iran and other countries … (full text).

Swiss shredded Nuke Documents.

… But that explanation has only enlivened controversy over who ultimately ordered the shredding, and to what end. “There are more questions about this affair than there are answers,” says Ken Egli, an editor at the International Relations and Security Network (ISN) at the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology in Zurich … (full text).

Ken Egli Switzerland on Facebook.

Ken Egli joined the ISN in July 2006 and works as a part-time editor. He is a student of political science and history at the University of Zurich. Ken coordinates the development of the ISN’s PRIA project and is responsible for the collection of current content on a day to day basis. He has a strong personal interest in the history of World War II, current Middle Eastern affairs and US politics. (ISN).

More around the Nuclear Smuggling Trial Story:

Dick Marty, Switzerland: