Restore the DPL tag to its correct use

Who is a diplomat? Presuming that the misuse of DPL stickers by personnel attached to some diplomatic missions and branches of international organisations here - as exposed by us yesterday - is based on genuine incomprehension by the persons concerned, seeking fresh clarity on who a diplomat is, seems to be the most sensible thing they could do.

Going by our expose, the misuse of the DPL sticker seems to be quite widespread among some car users attached to the institutions concerned. The number of pictures published by us, illustrating the irregularity, proves the point.

If officials and employees attached to the relevant institutions, who are not diplomats, are committing the irregularity of sporting DPL badges on account of sheer incomprehension and ignorance, we believe it is the duty of their superior officers to call their attention to the blunder and prevent them from repeating it.

On the other hand, a serious view would have to be taken of the matter if the DPL sticker is deliberately misused by the relevant persons. For, diplomatic immunity is a matter of considerable importance in relations among states.

Legal proceedings in the case of some offences, for instance, need to be waived against those holding diplomatic posts on the grounds of diplomatic immunity. We believe this legal stipulation could apply to traffic offences and a range of other irregularities. So, the possibility of misuse is great if the DPL sticker gets into the wrong hands.

Not all personnel attached to a diplomatic mission, for example, are diplomats. Such persons are not entitled to diplomatic status and so cannot use the DPL tag on his or her vehicle. As far as we are aware, only the ambassador or High Commissioner and his topmost officials, of foreign nationality, qualify for diplomatic status. Other personnel, particularly if they are Lankans, are governed entirely by our laws.

Accordingly, the use of DPL tags by non-diplomatic personnel is a grave irregularity which should not go unchecked. The Lankan Foreign Ministry would need to liaise with heads of foreign missions here to end this form of abuse. Close supervision would need to be exercised over the distribution and use of diplomatic tags.

It needs to be clearly perceived that diplomatic cover could be abused by those intent on committing offences. It would, therefore, be a stitch in time to restore the diplomatic badge to its correct use.

As pointed out yesterday by us, a DPL tag should be used only on a vehicle displaying a diplomatic number plate. This regulation should be considered inviolable. The Lankan State should take it upon itself to alert our law enforcers to this essential requirement. Those not adhering to this regulation should be questioned and, if necessary, legally prosecuted.

Besides the law and order posers, such forms of abuse of DPL tags raise, there are consequences for Lanka's international relations in the continuation of these irregularities. For instance, if personnel attached to a particular diplomatic mission or an international organisation violate this country's laws under bogus diplomatic cover, it could have a destabilising effect on our ties with the country or organisation in question.

Therefore, it is best that this irregularity is ended.