Close on the heels of U.S., U.K., and Australia, New Zealand on October 26 criticised India’s demand for 41 Canadian diplomats to leave or face a revocation of diplomatic immunity. New Zealand, the last of the “five eyes” intelligence network to speak on the issue, also referred to the Vienna Convention on diplomatic ties, which has sparked a new row between Delhi and Ottawa over the international convention, adding to growing tensions over Canada’s claims against Indian officials in the killing of Hardeep Singh Nijjar.
“Now seems the time for more diplomacy, not less,” said a statement issued by the New Zealand Ministry of Foreign Affairs that expressed “concern” over the departure of the diplomats last week. “We expect all states to uphold their obligations under the 1961 Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations, including in relation to the privileges and immunities of accredited staff,” it added, in a statement similar to those issued in Washington, London and Canberra over last weekend.
The Canadian diplomats and their families had flown out of India on October 19, after the MEA demanded that the Canadian High Commission pare down its mission by two-thirds, handing over a list of the diplomatic officials it would accept, and saying it would revoke all immunity and privileges that protected the remaining diplomats if they didn’t leave India by October 20.
