"Harf said that Khobragade enjoys "consular immunity," a limited diplomatic immunity related to her official duties. Under the 1963 Vienna Convention on Consular Relations, consular officials can still be arrested for acts committed outside of official job functions."Indeed a very pretty north Indian woman.
As to the actions of the U.S. Government, mind boggling stupid even if technically they have an argument re: the Vienna Convention. If it was truly felt that what she had done was that outrageous, declare her persona non grata. You don't arrest the number two person at the Indian Consulate General in New York in front of her child and then throw her into a holding cell let alone conduct body searches. Shear idiocy!
This isn't about the legal niceties, it is really about "do unto others." I know that neither the United States nor Canada would be pleased about this being done to one of our Consular Officers. If you are that concerned about "exploiting another human being" you do what is the norm - you notify her Ambassador and declare her persona non grata. You don't take the stupid action that was taken and which will endanger our Consular Officers around the world."Harf said that Khobragade enjoys "consular immunity," a limited diplomatic immunity related to her official duties. Under the 1963 Vienna Convention on Consular Relations, consular officials can still be arrested for acts committed outside of official job functions."
Screw her! She exploited another human being and was properly treated with arrest. Strip search is something that is not appropriate but was standard procedure.
Are you on crack? or being sarcastic?"Harf said that Khobragade enjoys "consular immunity," a limited diplomatic immunity related to her official duties. Under the 1963 Vienna Convention on Consular Relations, consular officials can still be arrested for acts committed outside of official job functions."
Screw her! She exploited another human being and was properly treated with arrest. Strip search is something that is not appropriate but was standard procedure.
This was a really stupid thing to do- the implications and dangers this subjects us consulate and diplomatic staff in India and elsewhere cannot be overstated.India has now upped the ante by transferring Dr. Khobragade to their U.N. Mission thus in their eyes making her a "diplomat" covered by other Conventions (although again the U.S. Department of State could refuse to accept her assignment). Basically the Indian Government is saying to the U.S. you really want to see "the shit hit the fan" try prosecuting her now!
It appears that at least some in the U.S. Government are seeing that this really was a world class blunder, U.S. Assistant Secretary of State Nisha Desai-Biswal has now said that the U.S. will "review the procedures" carried out upon Dr. Khobragade's arrest and investigate whether the proper "courtesies were extended."
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/...o-review-procedures/articleshow/27547650.cms?
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Now U.S. Secretary of State, John Kerry has personally expressed "regret" to the Indian government for last week's arrest of an Indian Consular Officer, in an urgent bid to tamper this escalating diplomatic crisis.
A few points:It seems strange to arrest the woman the way they did ... I'm not sure why the outrage, no person gets put in jail without being searched for contraband... do they?
Agreed.She was essentially treating her 'employee' as nothing more than a modern day slave laborer. Cultural norms be damned - as a highly educated woman living and working in civilized society, she should know better. I have no sympathy for her at all.
I think you're over extending a bit. In fact, a lot.A few points:
Dr. Khobragade a PhD and Indian Diplomat (whom the Indian Ministry of External Affairs considers a rising star) is paid $2,000 more per month than the U.S. Government wanted her housekeeper to be.
Do you believe that there would be widespread outrage in Canada if an Canadian Vice-Counsel was subjected to this sort of treatment in say China or Zimbabwe?
As already stated IF the U.S. Government was unable to live with this the normal thing to have done is for the U.S. Department of State to have declared her persona non grata (hence she would have a fixed time period in which to leave the U.S.)
This was apparently a comedy of errors (although it is really a tragedy) of the U.S. Attorney's Office being "but the law states," the Department of State being "well since the Vienna Convention doesn't prohibit it," and then once they decided to go down this path of stupidity, no one saying to the U.S. Marshall's Service forget about "standard procedure" this is "kid glove to the maximum."
Now that incredible damage has been one to U.S. - Indian relations in a part of the world South Asia which has great geopolitical and strategic importance to the United State the frantic damage control has now begun including personal phone calls from the U.S. Secretary of State.
Frankly some people should be swinging slowly, slowly in the breeze for this act of gratuitous stupidity.
Apparently you aren't following the story if you believe I'm over extending.I think you're over extending a bit. In fact, a lot.
And as usual, you are an upper class kiss ass.
If she broke the law, she goes into the system like anyone else. I don't care (and I suspect the Americans don't care) who she thinks she is, or if she has a Phd (Pizza Hut Delivers)
And the next time someone decides they'll show that arrogant American Counsel who is boss?I suspect that she probably gave the US gov't boys some attitude and they showed her who is boss.
From what I've read on this story, she treated her employee almost as a slave and was quite nasty to her. In fact, the American gov't told the Indian Govt that they had had complaints and that they were going to act on those complaints.Apparently you aren't following the story if you believe I'm over extending.
The Secretary of State does not normally make phone calls in the middle of the night.
Then you declare her persona non grata - with two or three weeks to leave the United States.From what I've read on this story, she treated her employee almost as a slave and was quite nasty to her. In fact, the American gov't told the Indian Govt that they had had complaints and that they were going to act on those complaints.
Just because she is a high cast Indian working for the Government of India, she doesn't have the right to mistreat another human being like she (allegedly) did.
Why do that?Then you declare her persona non grata - with two or three weeks to leave the United States.
Because that is the way it is normally done. Because we would like other States to do it that way rather than throwing U.S. Foreign Service Officers into prison.Why do that?
The Americans (bless their hearts) don't play that way.
She doesn't get a pass.
In Canada, she would have gotten a pass (like Lord Black of Crossharbour thought he was entitled to by his birth right, or like Michael Bryant got because he was part of the Canadian Establishment). But the Americans like to make examples of bad behaviour and it's her turn.
I have no sympathy for her because she's an upper cast woman from India working a government job.
Not me.Because that is the way it is normally done. Because we would like other States to do it that way rather than throwing U.S. Foreign Service Officers into prison.
Please enjoy explaining this perspective to the family of the next Canadian Consular Officer who is thrown into a prison in some charming enlightened State.Not me.
If they break the law, they should face the music just like I would have to.