Post by Sailor on Dec 18, 2013 17:46:37 GMT -8
The arrest of a low-level diplomat from India over maid pay in New York has spun into an international incident that is threatening relations between the United States and a longtime ally.
Secretary of State John Kerry called a cabinet official in New Delhi on Wednesday to express regret over the arrest of India deputy general counsel Devyani Khobragade, who was stripped- and cavity-searched during her arrest on charges that she didn't pay her housekeeper enough money.
The India government reacted with outrage, going so far as to remove security barriers outside the U.S. embassy in New Delhi and canceling duty-free liquor deliveries to the embassy.
More here:
www.usatoday.com/story/news/world/2013/12/18/india-diplomat-us-immunity/4108553/
If, as she claims and the Indian government seems to support, she has Diplomatic Immunity this ham-handed arrest and search, including a cavity search apparently for nothing worse than not obeying minimum wage laws has done more damage to our relations with India than anything else I can think of over the last half century.
Since this was done by the US Marshals, this offense is laid at the feet of the Justice Department, AG Holder. He has very little time to make amends, he and the President both.
IMHO I doubt if India will settle for firings and disciplinary action against agents and low level functionaries. Obama had better be ready to get on his knees and kiss the Indian Prime Minister's ass if it's not too late already.
Secretary of State John Kerry called a cabinet official in New Delhi on Wednesday to express regret over the arrest of India deputy general counsel Devyani Khobragade, who was stripped- and cavity-searched during her arrest on charges that she didn't pay her housekeeper enough money.
The India government reacted with outrage, going so far as to remove security barriers outside the U.S. embassy in New Delhi and canceling duty-free liquor deliveries to the embassy.
More here:
www.usatoday.com/story/news/world/2013/12/18/india-diplomat-us-immunity/4108553/
If, as she claims and the Indian government seems to support, she has Diplomatic Immunity this ham-handed arrest and search, including a cavity search apparently for nothing worse than not obeying minimum wage laws has done more damage to our relations with India than anything else I can think of over the last half century.
Since this was done by the US Marshals, this offense is laid at the feet of the Justice Department, AG Holder. He has very little time to make amends, he and the President both.
IMHO I doubt if India will settle for firings and disciplinary action against agents and low level functionaries. Obama had better be ready to get on his knees and kiss the Indian Prime Minister's ass if it's not too late already.