tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2424131704277823220.post2251003603504122709..comments2023-09-23T11:16:00.352+02:00Comments on The Franco-American Flophouse has moved: Ignoring Article 36 of the Vienna Convention on Consular Relations - The US Does It AgainVictoria FERAUGEhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16319699673885400472noreply@blogger.comBlogger8125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2424131704277823220.post-44281625975979659912016-04-17T07:29:04.630+02:002016-04-17T07:29:04.630+02:00please help and listen to us. we are american pris...please help and listen to us. we are american prisoners in Indonesia. the us embassy has abandoned any pretence of protecting us from abuse or torture. A Frank Amado was recently beaten severely and tortured. the embassy ignore it, they made no complaint.Gee-Ohhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02134936791958645304noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2424131704277823220.post-1764537776737401662013-12-25T04:47:40.007+01:002013-12-25T04:47:40.007+01:00Yes, the routine ignoring (or really just ignoranc...Yes, the routine ignoring (or really just ignorance of, on the part of local cawps) of the VCCR is yet another reason to doubt the 'protection' of the US state of its nationals. I trust Canada rather more, especially after the 2006 evacuation of Lebanon.<br /><br />The show _Locked/Banged Up Abroad_ is a good eye opener for people who think that their consulate (including UK's, Australia's etc.) will get them out of jail for free, or do much of anything besides make sure that you're not actually being tortured or starved to death. (And from reading books on, e.g. Westerners in Thai prisons, foreign prison authorities are cognizant of this function and so it does help.) the best thing they can do is provide communication to the outside world, and finally get you a prisoner transfer treaty home, so you can at least be punished by your own state and not someone else's, even if that seems a funny 'right' to have!<br /><br /><br />As for violations of VCCR, Texas has been called out before on it, I recall in the 90s they executed some Mexican nationals back then, and at one point some state official said pompously that 'Texas is not signatory to the [VCCR]'. I am sure it simply does not occur to this Exceptionalist that foreign states might take him at his word, and refuse any request by a US consulate to see a Texan abroad in future. <br /><br />Michael Putmannoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2424131704277823220.post-2078415481219316892013-12-22T19:14:50.502+01:002013-12-22T19:14:50.502+01:00Do you have to give a reason for relinquishing or ...Do you have to give a reason for relinquishing or renouncing?<br /><br />The London embassy is bizarre. It's like a fortress that stands completely out of place from its surroundings. My only experience there was surreal and mildly unpleasant. It's one of the reasons why I couldn't be bothered to the do the "foreign birth" registration for my kids.Patricknoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2424131704277823220.post-78706059092379770822013-12-21T11:51:39.483+01:002013-12-21T11:51:39.483+01:00@Anonymous, Yes, there have been a wide spectrum ...@Anonymous, Yes, there have been a wide spectrum of experiences of renunciaants at the US consulates around the world. Sometimes they are wonderful and express their regrets and sometimes they run the person through the grinder. One of the best services on Isaac Brock is the consulate report where individuals can talk about their personal experiences when they renounced their US citizenship and hopefully help others steer clear of the worst places. <br />http://isaacbrocksociety.ca/consulate2/<br /><br />My experiences with the Paris Embassy here have generally been positive. But I only go once every 5 years or so and only to renew the passport (or the Frenchling's passports). I don't know anyone there personally and when I've looked at their website they don't really have any services I need. I've talked to other Americans in the Paris area and their take on it is similar - the embassy and consulate are there but no one is really sure what they do and if they would be good in a pinch. I have one personal friend who did go to them for help some years ago and they told her that they were very sorry but there wasn't much they could do for her.<br /><br />Victoria FERAUGEhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16319699673885400472noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2424131704277823220.post-62565307783920439642013-12-21T09:25:14.334+01:002013-12-21T09:25:14.334+01:00I relinquished recently in Canada. The consular of...I relinquished recently in Canada. The consular official obviously upset the nice elderly person who was also renouncing - I could overhear part of the interaction.<br /><br />When it was my turn, the official warned me sternly that I could be barred from ever entering the US again, and would not be 'first in line' for US emergency assistance and evacuation in case of disaster or conflict (In Canada? Where I am also a Canadian citizen?). He also demanded to know why I was relinquishing 'now'? And asked the citizenship of my children and both my parents.<br /><br />The official twice asked what my reasons were, even though I ticked the box that said I did not want to give a written statement of reasons.<br /><br />I feel the US is resorting to trickery and subterfuge to intimidate and punish those renouncing and relinquishing.<br /><br />So, I don't have any faith in the 'services' that the US consular official might provide to me - in Canada. And other times when I've tried to get any information from them they do not answer the phone. Other than issuing the US passport (which I only got because I was forced to in order to visit family in the US), of what 'benefit' has my US citizenship been? It has cost me far more in accounting and legal fees, stress, sleepless nights and despair than I would ever have imagined. I am so sorry that I did not let it go when it was automatic. Instead, I put off naturalizing in Canada at the time when it would have jeopardized my US citizenship, because I did not want to be separated from my family. But the US has forced me to choose - my US family or my Canadian one. I chose my non-US spouse and child.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2424131704277823220.post-50297798466229567672013-12-20T18:55:40.854+01:002013-12-20T18:55:40.854+01:00Patrick, that is exactly what I was thinking. Hom...Patrick, that is exactly what I was thinking. Homelanders have an almost touching faith in the power of a US passport. They don't believe me when I say it's not a Get Out of Jail Free Card. They really believe that American abroad are protected and should pay for that protection.Victoria FERAUGEhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16319699673885400472noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2424131704277823220.post-6972681355437657082013-12-20T18:01:44.106+01:002013-12-20T18:01:44.106+01:00Sure makes you wonder about some homelanders' ...Sure makes you wonder about some homelanders' arguments that CBT is justified by the protections you get as a US citizen in foreign lands...looks to me the exact opposite could/should be argued, notwithstanding all consular services are COD anyway.P. Moorenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2424131704277823220.post-19182200383267508412013-12-20T12:35:23.667+01:002013-12-20T12:35:23.667+01:00You would think that Americans would find help fro...You would think that Americans would find help from the US consular services, but they don't. Not only that, but Americans overseas have been targets of arrest and detention on the part of American services. Again, as Victoria says, this is not a matter of guilt or innocence; that's a matter for the local authorites to decide.Ellen Lebellehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01929639076042070115noreply@blogger.com