Lorenzo Hall
2/11/2011
Prof. Sills
Blog Entry #5: American arrested in Pakistan
According to Reuters.com, an employee of the U.S. embassy (Raymond Davis) was arrested on two counts of murder in Pakistan on January 27th. According to both suspect and bystander reports, the accused was acting in self defense to a robbery. The incident raises controversy on account of the violation of the suspect’s diplomatic immunity, as well as placing strains on the American-Pakistani alliance in ending war in Afghanistan. Authorities in Lahore arrested Davis and sentenced him to Lakhpat jail on a 14-day judicial remand. The united states considers his continued incarceration a violation of an international peace agreement. While the U.S. embassy is defending Davis’s claims, Lahore officials have labeled his acts as “clear cut murder”.
The next hearing is scheduled for February 25.
This is an example of a conflict of regional values and interests. The fact that this member of a U.S. government position is being held against both the interests of himself and his nation represents the conflict of interests that diplomatic immunity inevitably causes. Also, this could be a clear example of how the people of Pakistan being offended by foreigners on their own soil is a vivid example of social injustice if Davis is released. Also, the cooperative efforts of America and Pakistan in combating Afghani forces are effective in their supplemental nature. Hopefully, there will be peaceful resolution to this case that involves minimal uprising.
http://www.reuters.com/article/2011/02/11/us-pakistan-usa-shooting-idUSTRE71A0T720110211
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