FOREIGN SERVICE UPDATES

@hrw 80 Philippine migrant workers facing execution overseas 27 are in #SaudiArabia http://www.rappler.com/nation/86325-government-help-ofws-death-row * If diplomacy is ever needed, it's when you're overseas on death row. ...................................... #Denmark #India Rape film could further hurt Denmark-India ties India considering legal action / banned film http://www.thelocal.dk/20150309/rape-film-could-further-damage-denmarks-ties-to-india * Not quite a diplomacy drama ... yet.  But is it shaping up to be? ...................................... #German Ambassador to #India, Michael Steiner refutes India rape culture perception - http://indiatoday.intoday.in/story/german-ambassador-india-not-a-country-of-rapists-rape-culture/1/422901.html #Germany envoy pulls up prof for denying internship, says ‘India is not a country of rapists’ http://indianexpress.com/article/india/india-others/german-ambassador-pulls-up-professor-india-is-not-a-country-of-rapists/ Diplomatic Red Face   #German professor in rape remark drama German Ambassador announces academic's APOLOGY http://seeandsaynews.in/world/4079-german-embassy-snubs-professor-for-rape-remark ......................................   #Bangladesh Dhaka expels #NorthKorea diplomat over 27kg gold smuggling bid http://www.therakyatpost.com/world/2015/03/10/dhaka-expels-north-korean-diplomat-over-27kg-gold-smuggling-bid/ DHAKA, March 10, 2015: Bangladesh expelled a senior North Korean diplomat on Monday after he was caught smuggling US$1.4 million (RM5.17 million) worth of gold, government officials said. Bangladeshi customs officers found Son Young Nam, the First Secretary of the North Korean Embassy in Dhaka, trying to smuggle 27kg of gold into the country on Friday. North Korea is under tight international sanctions that restrict its ability to move money through conventional means. The diplomat was released, in accordance with diplomatic protocol, but Bangladesh asked North Korea to withdraw him. “We told the ambassador to prosecute him in North Korea and update us about the action to be taken against him,” said Mohammad Shahidul Haque, secretary of the ministry of foreign affairs. “We conveyed to him that the government would take serious action if any embassy official is found to be involved in any crimes in future,” Haque told Reuters. The smuggling of gold, mainly from Dubai, has increased in recent months but this is the first instance of a diplomat being involved, he said. SOURCE: The Rakyat Post (above) ...................................... * I feel sorry for the Norks.  Stop the Nork sanctions! ...................................... #Malaysia  US Embassy in Kuala Lumpur - Facebook spam / removed Petition  >> Petition called on the Barack Obama admin to expedite release of Opposition leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim http://www.therakyatpost.com/news/2015/03/10/kl-u-s-embassys-facebook-page-spammed-with-generic-message/ Source: The RakYatPost Copyright Disclaimer under section 107 of the Copyright Act 1976, allowance is made for “fair use” for purposes such as criticism, comment, news reporting, teaching, scholarship, education and research. Apparently, the petition is related to the release of an opposition politician convicted of sodomy (a conviction initially overturned on appeal and later passed down again).  Details here, for anyone interested.  Bit much for me to take in, not knowing the region. Oh, the US might have been 'disappointed and concerned' regarding the conviction, but apparently not concerned enough to retain the petition for Ibrahim's release on their site. "The United States is deeply disappointed and concerned by the rejection of Anwar Ibrahim's final appeal and his conviction ... The decision to prosecute Mr Anwar, and his trial, have raised serious concerns regarding the rule of law and the independence of the courts"  [Wikipedia] Guess the US don't want to offend their hosts in Malaysia?  On the other hand, they had no such qualms about offending the Russians by permitting US Ambassador to Russia (John F. Tefft) death scene photo-ops before Boris Nemtsov had even cooled.  Ambassador Tefft below, wearing the old fashioned trilby, at the epicentre of media throng mourning: John Tefft, US Ambassador to Russia source:  Redpill Times Copyright Disclaimer under section 107 of the Copyright Act 1976, allowance is made for “fair use” for purposes such as criticism, comment, news reporting, teaching, scholarship, education and research. ...................................... Mark Lipper, US Ambassador - South Korea [image: Reuters] Copyright Disclaimer under section 107 of the Copyright Act 1976, allowance is made for “fair use” for purposes such as criticism, comment, news reporting, teaching, scholarship, education and research. US Ambassador to #SouthKorea Mark Lippert Militant Korean nationalist / knife attack http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/asia/us-ambassador-to-south-korea-mark-lippert-suffers-nerve-damage-and-needs-80-stitches-after-seoul-knife-attack-10086972.html #SouthKorea Recovering US Ambassador — And Dog Lover — Mark Lippert  Offered Dog Meat By Well-Wisher http://www.inquisitr.com/1905386/mark-lippert-offered-dog-meat/ Mark Lippert, US Ambassador & Grisby, Basset Hound  Copyright Disclaimer under section 107 of the Copyright Act 1976, allowance is made for “fair use” for purposes such as criticism, comment, news reporting, teaching, scholarship, education and research. OK, maybe I've got a sick sense of humour, but I found this funny ... the guy's got an embassy post where he's been viciously attacked by a knife-wielding nutter and almost before he's even been stitched up, he gets a dog meat well-wisher offer (as a dog lover, who brought his basset hound over to South Korea).  C'mon, surely there's humour in that.   Instead of doing that lame embassy propaganda piece trying to mock Julian Assange, those unsavoury British writers, riding on his coattails, could have done a dark foreign service comedy.  Of course, the BBC state propaganda machine would ruin it by vilifying various official enemies & putting an official spin on it ... much like they do already.  Oh, Mark Lippert has been released from hospital and is doing OK. ... work in progress ... today's further updates to be added ... Nah, too tired ... That's it, folks ... correcting typos as I go ... *embarrassing*  LOL