The actions of the US ambassador to Zimbabwe reminded me of those of a few US diplomats during the Apartheid era. He showed some true grit!
From CNN:
Police twice stopped a group of diplomats Tuesday -- including the U.S. ambassador to Zimbabwe -- asking questions about journalists accompanying them and threatening violence, according to an eyewitness.
Morgan Tsvangirai alleges his opposition supporters have been targeted by Zimbabwe security forces.
In the first incident, Ambassador James McGee and a group of journalists had just toured a hospital that is treating victims of recent post-election violence when seven armed police closed the gates to the facility and stopped them.
They wanted to "ask him questions" about photos the group had taken, said Paul Engelstad, a spokesman for the U.S. Embassy in Zimbabwe. The U.S. State Department called the incidents "harassment."
The incident occurred in the village of Mvurwi, a small mining town about 100 km (62 miles) north of Harare. Also in the group were the ambassadors of the European Union, the United Kingdom and Japan, as well as the deputy ambassador of the Netherlands.
McGee refused to answer the questions, personally opened the gates and motioned to his convoy to proceed. They left without incident.
The police "never said they were going to arrest him," Engelstad said.
Police also wanted a photographer to delete footage he had taken of the altercation, the eyewitness said. McGee refused that as well.
The ambassador later described the incident as a "minor misunderstanding."
After leaving Mvurwi, the diplomats traveled to the Chiweshe and Glendale areas on their way to Harare. Police also stopped them for about an hour on that route.
They were asked to drive to the nearest police station to produce a diplomatic note, but the diplomats refused, saying they could do that at the scene.
continues
For those of you who live outside Africa, this would have taken some courage. One doesn't know if such ragtag armed men have any idea of what diplomatic immunity is or if they even care. That is, provided that they can understand American English.
The US Embassy website in Harare says that he is a Big Ten grad (Indiana).
"Stop? Boy, you better point that gun somewhere else. Back in Chicago, my grandmother..."
From CNN:
Police twice stopped a group of diplomats Tuesday -- including the U.S. ambassador to Zimbabwe -- asking questions about journalists accompanying them and threatening violence, according to an eyewitness.
Morgan Tsvangirai alleges his opposition supporters have been targeted by Zimbabwe security forces.
In the first incident, Ambassador James McGee and a group of journalists had just toured a hospital that is treating victims of recent post-election violence when seven armed police closed the gates to the facility and stopped them.
They wanted to "ask him questions" about photos the group had taken, said Paul Engelstad, a spokesman for the U.S. Embassy in Zimbabwe. The U.S. State Department called the incidents "harassment."
The incident occurred in the village of Mvurwi, a small mining town about 100 km (62 miles) north of Harare. Also in the group were the ambassadors of the European Union, the United Kingdom and Japan, as well as the deputy ambassador of the Netherlands.
McGee refused to answer the questions, personally opened the gates and motioned to his convoy to proceed. They left without incident.
The police "never said they were going to arrest him," Engelstad said.
Police also wanted a photographer to delete footage he had taken of the altercation, the eyewitness said. McGee refused that as well.
The ambassador later described the incident as a "minor misunderstanding."
After leaving Mvurwi, the diplomats traveled to the Chiweshe and Glendale areas on their way to Harare. Police also stopped them for about an hour on that route.
They were asked to drive to the nearest police station to produce a diplomatic note, but the diplomats refused, saying they could do that at the scene.
continues
For those of you who live outside Africa, this would have taken some courage. One doesn't know if such ragtag armed men have any idea of what diplomatic immunity is or if they even care. That is, provided that they can understand American English.
The US Embassy website in Harare says that he is a Big Ten grad (Indiana).
"Stop? Boy, you better point that gun somewhere else. Back in Chicago, my grandmother..."
