Question by: Jay
The Burmese Ambassador in Sri Lanka in 1979 shot his wife as she got out of the car after seeing a player in a night-club band of whom she was enamoured. As recalled by Gerald Hensley, then Vice-Dean of the Diplomatic Corps in Sri Lanka; Hensley was based in Singapore and accredited from New Zealand as High Commissioner to Sri Lanka as well: The next morning the neighbours in Cinammon Gardens (Colombo) were surprised to see the ambassador stacking wood on the back lawn and, conoisseurs of cremation, quickly grasped that he was building a pyre. When the police were called the ambassador opened the metal front gates just enough to say that there was no trouble and to remind them that his house was Burmese territory. Then he went back to work. The houses around his long back garden were now alive with fascinated spectators as he emerged with the body of his wife, placed it on the pyre and set it alight. He was … well connected at home but after an awkward interval he was recalled.
What is your opinion on Diplomatic Immunity?
Best Answer:
Answer by Pfo
Diplomatic immunity can be problematic, but it exists for a reason. When I was in high school, a girl I was dating was beat up by the son of a diplomat who had immunity, charges could not be pressed and the son was deported.
The reason immunity exists is because if relations sour, diplomats might be imprisoned on false charges. Immunity is to protect them from arrest in case this happens.
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Putting up with some outrageous stuff is part of the package.
It should be done away with in my opinion. Do you realize how many foreigners with immunity get away with terrible crimes such as murder? It is appalling. You can bet if an american commited a crime on foreign soil they would be punished. America is just too soft on criminals domestic or otherwise.
Yep. Unless his country waves his right and allows him to be prosecuted where the crime happened or they prosecute him when he returns it is allowed.
-I like Diplomatic immunity because w/o it there would be opportunity to exploit those who serve us.
example; Diplomat is caught buying a prostitute, host country offers to turn a blind eye and not imprison him if he reveals State secrets and/or spies for them.
example; Diplomat gets caught trading intelligence for cash, drugs or citizenship and host country uses it as a PR campaign to show how “evil” another country is.
Diplomatic immunity should be just that based upon diplomacy rules, when the lws are broken and a crime takes place, charges should be brought against the person who did the crime immediately, this would be true diplomacy..
They should be held and tried on the laws of thier Country, if they have no laws then they should be shot.