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When Immunity Becomes Impunity: German Police Stop North Korean Ambassador From Fishing Without License . . . Ambassador Invokes Diplomatic Immunity and Keeps On Fishing As Police Watch

German police recently thought that they had just another illegal fishing incident at the Havel River in Berlin when they stopped a man and demanded his license. The man immediately informed them that he had no license and continued to fish. When they told him it was illegal, he promptly identified himself as Si Hong Ri, North Korea’s ambassador to Germany and apologized. He then continued to fish. Si Hong Ri had no identification on him, so the police were forced to call for their office to produce a picture of the ambassador and then stood there as Si Hong Ri continued to fish with immunity and impunity.

Various countries, including our own, are constantly complaining about the use of diplomatic immunity to shield diplomats from liability. While this is often brazen traffic and driving violations, it can include more serious crimes.

While the Germans punish this offense with as much as two years in jail, the ambassador continued to fish before the policemen in mocking silence.

For its part, the North Korea press did report a notable occurrence in Berlin this week: the “natural wonder” of a small songbird landing on the entrance of the embassy and staying for an hour after the death of leader Kim Jong-il: “It seemed that upon hearing the sad news of the demise of the outstanding great man, the bird flew to the mourning station to express condolences and flew away after standing vigil.” That is right up there with snow in the winter as evidence that Nature is grieving the loss of the Dear One.

Next Si Hong Ri will go on North Korean television and proclaimed “I caught a fish THIS BIG after the Dear One died.” For an entire nation built on fish stories, it would be the perfect send off for the Dear One. After all, his parting gift to the nation he starved and oppressed was a truckload of fish.

Source: Spiegel

45 thoughts on “When Immunity Becomes Impunity: German Police Stop North Korean Ambassador From Fishing Without License . . . Ambassador Invokes Diplomatic Immunity and Keeps On Fishing As Police Watch”

  1. SwM

    arriving flights to be delayed an average of 1 hour and 31 minutes … so far

  2. Blouise, I can’t keep red velvet cake in the house. I will eat it all. Had blue velvet cake in New Orleans. Going out for Thai food and it is 75 degrees. raff, My sister’s plane got delayed in Florida. Do you think flights will be landing at O’Hare tonight?

  3. raff,

    I know!! We’ve been following the weather reports ’cause it’s coming our way. Went to the grocer’s today and stocked up for the weekend so we don’t have to go out. (bluecheese stuffed porkloin and a small leg of lamb … red velvet cake from my favorite bakery … brought in lots of wood for the fireplaces … lots of B & B cognac … espresso … yep, we are ready!)

  4. Blouise, It is hilarious that they got stuck endorsing a catholic since many of them believe that catholics are not saved. Paul is competing for evangelicals and has some severely homophobic ministers’ endorsements. I think Palin will help Newt with the “born agains” in the end. At least Newt was Baptist at one time. lol

  5. Blouise,
    I will take either Newt of Saint Santorum. They both would be so amusing!
    By the way, it is snowing like crazy here in Northern Illinos. We have 5 or 6 inches of snow already with more coming.

  9. SwM,

    Getting ready for lots of snow here … had a great lunch date and then …

  10. ┌∩┐(◣,

    He left his sad goodbyes on a thread … can’t remember which one but you may hunt for it … get it … the client would have been talkindog … huntindog … I crack myself up.

  13. Blouise, You cracked me up. I better take an extra dose of my anti- psychotic meds. lol First time I have laughed all day. Just got home and need to take the dogs on a long walk.

  14. raff,

    Yeah, but poor ConLawCon is back in solitary so I don’t think he can appear in Court on behalf of his client

  15. If that had happened here the Korean fishing the Potomac without a license or identification would have been Tasered from all sides and we could have seen it on youtube.

    BTW:

    Taser is a registered trademark. It is an acroynm for “Thomas A. Swift’s Electric Rifle.”

    Tom Swift and His Electric Rifle, or, Daring Adventures in Elephant Land is a young adult novel written by Victor Appleton. It is Volume 10 in the original Tom Swift novel series published by Grosset & Dunlap.

    Jack Cover, the NASA researcher who began developing the Taser in 1969 was a Tom Swift fan so he named his invention for Tom’s fictional rifle. (http://www.dailywritingtips.com/taser-or-tazer-tazing-or-tasering/)

  17. TalkinDog,

    Too bad ConLawCon got kicked out of the prison library … this sounds like something right up his alley.

  19. Maybe he did not understand the requirement of a fishing license. I think that requiring one to have a license to fish is pure crap. Think about the dog tag. Think about all the wild dogs and coyotes who dont have a humanoid to fend for them.

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