Airport bag scan improper, S. African minister's office says

[Lars77]

Source: CNN

Officials in Norway insist that airport security operated properly in subjecting baggage belonging to South Africa's top diplomat to security checks earlier this month.

However, a spokesperson for Minister of Foreign Affairs Maite Nkoana-Mashabane claimed that Oslo airport security violated diplomatic immunity and that other nations' foreign ministers are not subjected to such intrusions.

Nkoana-Mashabane, reportedly angered by the incident, left Oslo on a chartered flight after refusing to allow airport security to scan her personal luggage on a commercial flight. She was in Norway on a state visit.

"She insisted on going around the metal detector instead of through it," Oslo airport's information manager, Jo Kobro, told CNN. "Everybody in Norway, including the prime minister, is subjected to security controls. The only people who are exempt are our king and heads of state."

Read more: http://edition.cnn.com/2011/WORLD/europe/09/19/south.africa.diplomat.search/

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The lady refused to have her handbag checked and was rejected. In stead of simply sending her bag through the scanner, she chartered a private jet. Now there´s a new way to spend your people´s tax money.

[Diclotican]

1. Lars77

Lars77

Wel Norway have rules, and rules is to be followed.. Diplomats is excempled from many local rules and laws, but Im pretty sure they are "encuraged" to go true a metal dedector anyway.. Even tho Im not sure about the luggage as it is often seen as "diplomatic property" and therefore legaly to not have excamened. Im not sure about the rules but Im pretty sure the Lady do had a legal right to refuse it to be controlled.. I think this is in the Geneva Conventions somewhere...

I guess both the inspectors and the Minister of Froregin Affairs should have tried to work this out in a way, where no one feathers was ruffed to mutch.. Both sides Could have managed this better I guess.. But when this is said, maybe the lady treated the customs in a way that make them go "she might have something to hide".. Not everybother in the forreign service treat employers at airports with the decency they deserve.. Some belive they are royals..

And as it is pointed out, even our prime minister is subjected to security controls.. Our King are not, but the rest is, and if our Prime minister ca go the metals decetor, then a mear Minister can go true the metal dedectors withouth complaiment..

And she had to spend a lot of money, on a private jet, to travel to South Africa from Norway.. That could not have been inexpensive to rent a private jet all the way.. But, oh wel, maybe Minister of Foreign Affairs in Soth Africa have a lot of more money than in Norway.. Or it can be that the South Africa government paid for it all..?

Diclotican

[izquierdista]

2. Diplomats ARE above the law

It's supposed to be that way. If they act in a way contrary to a country's laws, the only recourse the guest country has is to decline their credentials and ask for a different diplomat to be sent. Once the guest country has accepted the diplomat's credentials, the diplomat is the King's representative and, as you say, you don't put the King through the body scanner. It's supposed to be up to the home country to select people that will represent them well and act in accordance with this assumption.

This extends even to bomb-carrying, dope-smuggling North Korean diplomats, who can't be prosecuted for carrying out Kim Jong-Il's schemes. Of course, if they are found out, instead of succeeding with their errand, Kim has another surprise waiting when they return home.

[bigworld]

3. This was not a diplomatic pouch. This was her personal luggage.

I do believe the Norwegians have every right to do this. Correct me if I'm wrong. That said, what the heck was in that bag?!?!

[valerief]

5. Yep. She was certainly hiding something more than a dildo. nt

[JustABozoOnThisBus]

7. Probably carrying jars of pickled herring - more than 3oz each

Smuggling pickled herring would be my goal, from a visit to Norway.

One of my goals, anyway.

:hi:

[Downwinder]

4. Better count the hotel towels.

[AtheistCrusader]

6. How dare they examine a diplomats luggage like a mere commoner.

Tut tut and all that.