Diplomatic immunity

[Christ On A Bike]

Just seen today Hague commenting that he's signed a document removing and possibility for Gaddafi and cronies to claim any sort of diplomatic immunity in the UK.

The concept is fairly interesting to me but can anyone tell me what the actual purpose of diplomatic immunity is. What is the reason to have certain foreign representatives in the country who are "above the law" and do you think it's right?

[JonMc]

Originally Posted by Christ On A Bike

Just seen today Hague commenting that he's signed a document removing and possibility for Gaddafi and cronies to claim any sort of diplomatic immunity in the UK.

The concept is fairly interesting to me but can anyone tell me what the actual purpose of diplomatic immunity is. What is the reason to have certain foreign representatives in the country who are "above the law" and do you think it's right?

It's part of the game and I'm sure all governments have abused diplomatic immunity privileges in the past.

They're in place as a way of ensuring that you can have embassy officials in a country without worrying about them being arrested on politically motivated charges. Basically it's a freedom and a security saying that we can go about our business unhindered.

Do I think it's right? Well the abuses obviously aren't but I would imagine that every government in the world wants the status quo to continue so I'd say yes.

[smoker]

If we didn't have diplomatic immunity then other countries wouldn't return the favour and there'd be nothing to stop our diplomats being flung into jail or executed on trumped up charges. Cast your mind back to the Litvinenko case and tit for tat expulsions for "spying". If there was no diplomatic immunity, then our diplomats would have gone to jail for 25 years, not come home on the first plane.

[Ridley]

Leathal Weapon 2

[Christ On A Bike]

Originally Posted by smoker

If we didn't have diplomatic immunity then other countries wouldn't return the favour and there'd be nothing to stop our diplomats being flung into jail or executed on trumped up charges. Cast your mind back to the Litvinenko case and tit for tat expulsions for "spying". If there was no diplomatic immunity, then our diplomats would have gone to jail for 25 years, not come home on the first plane.

Aye, very true.

[Tex]

There's a news story here that a yank bloke shot two Palistanis over there and is claiming diplomatic immunity. Even Obama referred to him as a diplomat when it turns out he is really some cowboy CIA operative who is now working security for blackwater/Xe. Makes a mockery of the system really.

[dirty bristow]

Carling Cup final today

[Gingga]

Originally Posted by Tex

There's a news story here that a yank bloke shot two Palistanis over there and is claiming diplomatic immunity. Even Obama referred to him as a diplomat when it turns out he is really some cowboy CIA operative who is now working security for blackwater/Xe. Makes a mockery of the system really.

The bloke in Pakistan?? or is that another gun happy "diplomat".

[Alan BStard]

Foreign 'diplomats' here pull all sorts of stunts including sexual assault and get away with it and they dont pay any fines especially traffic related.

[Tex]

Originally Posted by Gingga

The bloke in Pakistan?? or is that another gun happy "diplomat".

Aye - made a bit of a mess of the post but you get the drift.