Daily Lessons from Life 20 December 2013 - US Justice Dept to determine if charges against Indian diplomat will go forward

"US Justice Dept to determine if charges against Indian diplomat will go forward - CNA 20 December 2013

WASHINGTON: The US State Department says it is up to the US Justice Department to determine if the charges against Indian diplomat Devyani Khobragade will go forward.

The arrest of the deputy consul general has sparked an international row between Delhi and Washington. The Indian government is demanding all charges against Ms Khobragade be dropped.

According to reports, Ms Khobragade is the third Indian diplomatic stationed in the US to get caught up in similar charges.
Now the US State Department has been referring all legal questions on the charges against Ms Khobragade to the US Justice Department.
In a statement, the US Attorney General for Manhattan Preet Bharara indicated that prosecution is likely to go forward, saying the law is clear and that the evidence shows that she did commit visa fraud and fabricated documents.
The White House says President Barack Obama has been briefed on the situation. It reiterates that India must fulfil its obligations under the Vienna conventions to protect American diplomats working in Delhi and elsewhere.
Secretary of State John Kerry has no current plans to call the Foreign Secretary, but the US emphasises that its goal is to figure out how to move this important relationship with India forward."

The irony has not been lost as the US AG for Manhattan Preet Bharara is of Indian origin. What was not reported in this short headlines are the extremely, hopefully pocketful and only those  opportunistic 'patriotic' Indian politicians are involved, vocal and threat of 'violent' retaliation against the American and their 'barbaric' treatment of their beloved diplomat!

Lessons for me are:

1. she will be the 3rd Indian diplomat to be charged under te charges laid out by the US AG for Manhattan! The 3rd!! Did they NOT learn or they SIMPLY believe that they can DO ANYTHING against the laws of the country where they reside and work with impunity and disregards? Such arrogance?;

2. or it this is a case of 'lack of cross-cultural sensitivity' by the obnoxious only super power on earth, the USA? Should the US law enforcement officers and office adopt a 'they are DIPLOMATs so let's cut them some slacks as long as it is not life and death issue?' For Singaporeans, we just need to recall the very complex and difficult case of the ex-Romanian consul's fatal accident a few years ago! We DID NOT like the fact that the diplomat TRIED to hide behind his so-called immunity protection and trying to politicizied and sensationalised his trial just to save his own sorrow hide! A very selfish act;

3.  in the Romanian diplomat case, the Romanian government DID not side with their own diplomat, partly he was a handful for them already, and proceeded with a fair trial and sentenced him to a prison term eventually. It could have been a heavier sentencing but that will do. I wonder what happened to the 2 earlier Indian diplomats slapped with similar charges get? what make this one so sensational? was it because the diplomat involved is a woman and she was subjected to, supposedly standard search down process, an unduly humiliating treatment than the 2 earlier arrestees?

In any case, this is another case of: I can do without!! :-)

Who is right and who is wrong? To a rational Singaporean, if you break the laws of the country you are in willfully and without any remorse, you deserved it.