Mary Robinson and the Princess

Harry Palmr · 25-12-2018 12:26pm #1

You may be familiar with the case of Sheikha Latifa bint Mohammed al-Maktoum usually referred to as Princess Latifa. She is a daughter of the ruler of the UAE who decided she needed to escape from what in my view amounted to internal exile lest she befall the fate of an elder sister. Below are two guardian articles outlining the story of her intended escape (also a BBC Two programme) and what happened. Essentially with the help of two westerns she planned an escape by sea from Dubai to India's west coast which failed.

https://www.theguardian.com/world/2018/dec/04/missing-emirati-princess-latifa-al-maktoum-had-planned-escape-for-seven-years

https://www.theguardian.com/world/2018/dec/06/family-of-missing-emirati-princess-says-she-is-safe-at-home

now Mary Robinson has been in the UAE at the invitation of the ruling family to show to the world that Latifa is alive, well and not in any way shape or form under duress or control. Obviously this is nonsense as all the women of the al-maktoum family are restricted in their movements and associations.

https://www.theguardian.com/world/2018/dec/24/family-of-emirati-princess-release-pictures-to-rebut-false-abduction-allegations

Here is the story as reported by the local state mouthpiece.

https://www.khaleejtimes.com/news/government/photos-sheikha-latifa-meets-former-un-official-

with the sort of reassurance you never want to hear in a one party theocracy!

During her visit to Dubai, Mary Robinson was reassured that Sheikha Latifa is receiving the necessary care and support she requires."

So is our ex President doing the right thing or is she essentially a schmuck, a useful idiot who because of her high international reputation has taken the heat out of a tricky situation for the ruling family? She may think just going there would, at worst not hurt but she must know she was their to add a sheen of respectability.

johnnyskeleton · 25-12-2018 8:54pm

Reopened. Serious posts only please

VonZan · 28-12-2018 10:32am

It's embarrassing for Mary Robinson but I can't say I'm surprised. She'll always be a shill for whoever is paying her.

Timberrrrrrrr · 28-12-2018 10:35am

VonZan wrote: »

It's embarrassing for Mary Robinson but I can't say I'm surprised. She'll always be a shill for whoever is paying her.

Who is paying her to do this? Genuine question.

boggerman1 · 28-12-2018 10:44am

This is what happens when u go vegan.mary Robinson just an auld mouthpiece these days.

NSAman · 28-12-2018 10:47am

This is the second thread on this topic. The first one was locked because of similar comments above, i wonder why?

Mary is a diplomatic perfectionist in he own mind. She jumps from one thing to the next, always looking for the largest pay out.... it’s rather embarrassing at this stage ....

mrsdewinter · 28-12-2018 10:50am

Timberrrrrrrr wrote: »

Who is paying her to do this? Genuine question.

She's due to attend a book festival in the UAE, an event that's sponsored by the Maktoum family. I understand Mrs Robinson noted this herself.

At the very least, Mrs Robinson has allowed herself to get drawn into another family's issues... which, by virtue of the Maktoum family being synonymous with the state in UAE, means being drawn into a political minefield.

Timberrrrrrrr · 28-12-2018 10:53am

mrsdewinter wrote: »

She's due to attend a book festival in the UAE, an event that's sponsored by the Maktoum family. I understand Mrs Robinson noted this herself.

At the very least, Mrs Robinson has allowed herself to get drawn into another family's issues... which, by virtue of the Maktoum family being synonymous with the state in UAE, means being drawn into a political minefield.

Thanks for that, i genuinely had no idea and haven't followed anything to do with her for years.

Try_harder · 28-12-2018 10:55am

Mary took the UAE $$$

Harry Palmr · 28-12-2018 12:16pm

Some strong reaction from the kind of organisations Robinson typically would like to be aligned with.

https://www.theguardian.com/world/2018/dec/27/mary-robinson-labelled-a-willing-pawn-of-uae-over-visit-with-princess

Robinson faced intensive criticism on Thursday from rights campaigners, with one alleging she had been “used as a willing pawn in the PR battle between the UAE ruling family and the rest of the world”.

There was also a sceptical reaction from Human Rights Watch (HRW), which was name-checked during a BBC interview on Thursday with Robinson, who said she had been asked by Princess Hayat, one of the Sheikh’s wives and someone she had known for a long time, to come to Dubai to help with a “family dilemma”.

Radha Stirling, the chief executive of the Detained in Dubai group, said listeners to the interview with Robinson would have been “astonished at the extent to which Ms Robinson appeared to be reciting almost verbatim from Dubai’s script”.

judeboy101 · 28-12-2018 12:23pm

Imagine 1950's Ireland and a girl runs away from a Magdeline laundry but is caught and returned, then imagine a foreigner arriving to see what all the fuss was about.

johnnyskeleton · 28-12-2018 1:56pm

boggerman1 wrote: »

This is what happens when u go vegan.mary Robinson just an auld mouthpiece these days.

Serious posts only please as per the charter.

NSAman wrote: »

This is the second thread on this topic. The first one was locked because of similar comments above, i wonder why?

Please use the report post function

Irlandese · 28-12-2018 10:51pm

Yes, Robinson has clearly allowed her name to be used by the despotic ruler of the UAE to cover up his kidnapping and alleged torture of this poor young girl. Robinson has a lot to answer for. I fear, however, that her intervention may have already spelt the end for this young woman, whose video evidence tells it all, despite the cover-up participated in by a willing Mary Robinson.
Perhaps Robinson was just gullible and flattered, as in her disastrous days at the UN. There, she was quickly neutralized through the simple expedient of "death by delegation". It is an old UN technique, often used elsewhere as well. Sweet talk someone into thinking they are doing a good job and offer them more responsibility and neglect to discuss the normally logical accompaniment of more resources and "wallah", the job is done. Her staff were astonished at her gullibility and lack of regard for their already heavy workloads. She didn't care. She thought she was being promoted. Instead, she was being smothered, but was too self-centred and naive to even notice. Her staff rebelled, left or silently worked to rule, until she left herself.
Here, however, her gullability may well cost this young princess her life. Her freedom has already been taken and Robinson has helped cover this up. Will she be another kashoggi ?

Try_harder · 29-12-2018 9:43pm

Who knew Mary Robinson would be a shill? She did quit her job as President of Ireland so...

Ash.J.Williams · 29-12-2018 9:48pm

judeboy101 wrote: »

Imagine 1950's Ireland and a girl runs away from a Magdeline laundry but is caught and returned, then imagine a foreigner arriving to see what all the fuss was about.

They would say she's mad or "deeply troubled"

Try_harder · 29-12-2018 10:07pm

judeboy101 wrote: »

Imagine 1950's Ireland and a girl runs away from a Magdeline laundry but is caught and returned, then imagine a foreigner arriving to see what all the fuss was about.

From Rome? Nothing to see here...

Plus ca change

Danzy · 30-12-2018 6:27pm

The UAE Royal family are probably top 20 wealthiest families in the world.

Mary Robinson has always been for things that are also good for business and the well to do.

A job is a job, she knows how it would look but better to be friends with that family, it will pay yet.

Danzy · 30-12-2018 6:29pm

Try_harder wrote: »

From Rome? Nothing to see here...

Plus ca change

Yet so many pretend Mary is anything but a Cardinal, high up in the Curia.

feargale · 01-01-2019 2:39am

The one really genuine thing Mary Robinson could do is invite the princess to visit her in Ireland. Then we get to see the colour of everybody's money. Then we get to see who is bull****ting and who is not. Then we get to see if Mary Robinson gets invited to UAE again, all expenses paid or not.
Who could forget to invite the princess to enjoy the bracing air of Achill and the wild beauty of Connemara? Not Mary Robinson, surely?

Remember right-wing Michael McDowell? Godammit, give him credit. He sheltered Salman Rushdie, gave him sanctuary in his home when the loopies were chasing Salman with scimitars. Maybe he should have a word with Mary when they next meet at a King's Inns dinner,

feargale · 01-01-2019 2:44am

judeboy101 wrote: »

Imagine 1950's Ireland and a girl runs away from a Magdeline laundry but is caught and returned, then imagine a foreigner arriving to see what all the fuss was about.

Yes, we can well imagine. Point taken, but it doesn't do much for the unfortunate young woman in UAE.

dense · 01-01-2019 2:57am

Mrs. Robinson has been talking a lot of nonsense for a very long time.

Sean O Rourke had her on in October or thereabouts and handled her with kid gloves summing up with a hint for her to plug her new book.

If so called journalists see fit to let her ramble unchallenged don't be surprised when she goes rogue on autopilot.
She's clearly existing in some sort of deluded, parallel universe.

tabby aspreme · 01-01-2019 3:11am

How could a former UN High Commissioner for Human Rights and Global Warming activist, be good friends with the wife of one of the world's worst Despots and leading supplier of Oil , should they not be sworn enemies. Mary Robinson is a can of *iss

Taco Chips · 01-01-2019 4:15am

A lot of surprising posts and allegations in this thread.

Several claims that Mary Robinson has been paid off by UAE or has in the past only acted in exchange for money. Any proof or substance to this or just baseless mud being slung?

Another post alleged that she was viewed as incompetent during her time in the UN and neglected her work. Again, is there any evidence that this is the case or is it just internet **** talk?

In my opinion, the optics of this aren't great for Mrs. Robinson. I have a lot of admiration for her and extend her the benefit of the doubt that there is more detail to this story than we know at the moment. I have always found her to be a very intelligent and astute lady so perhaps this was a mis step or everything is not yet clear.

feargale · 01-01-2019 7:30pm

Taco Chips wrote: »

A lot of surprising posts and allegations in this thread.

Several claims that Mary Robinson has been paid off by UAE or has in the past only acted in exchange for money. Any proof or substance to this or just baseless mud being slung?

Another post alleged that she was viewed as incompetent during her time in the UN and neglected her work. Again, is there any evidence that this is the case or is it just internet **** talk?

In my opinion, the optics of this aren't great for Mrs. Robinson. I have a lot of admiration for her and extend her the benefit of the doubt that there is more detail to this story than we know at the moment. I have always found her to be a very intelligent and astute lady so perhaps this was a mis step or everything is not yet clear.

I repeat that a very obvious step is for Mary Robinson to invite the Princess to visit Ireland. It's never too late to do that. Then we'll see what we'll see.

Muahahaha · 02-01-2019 2:38am

tabby aspreme wrote: »

How could a former UN High Commissioner for Human Rights and Global Warming activist, be good friends with the wife of one of the world's worst Despots and leading supplier of Oil , should they not be sworn enemies. Mary Robinson is a can of *iss

iirc Princess Haya,daughter of the King of Jordan, spent time in Ireland pursuing her show jumping career, Jim Bolger also trained some of her racehorses on his stud. Robbo got to know her when she lived here, Bono was also hanging around the Jordianian royal family at the same time too. Jordanian royals were seen as progressive as Middle Eastern politics go. Princess Haya later went on to become Sheikh Al-Maktoums third or fouth wife so Robbo got to know the UAE royal family through her.

mjv2ydratu679c · 02-01-2019 5:51pm

feargale wrote: »

Remember right-wing Michael McDowell? Godammit, give him credit. He sheltered Salman Rushdie, gave him sanctuary in his home when the loopies were chasing Salman with scimitars. Maybe he should have a word with Mary when they next meet at a King's Inns dinner,

Did this actually happen, I don't remember it.

feargale · 02-01-2019 11:58pm

Brady Dirty Technologist wrote: »

Did this actually happen, I don't remember it.

I do believe it did, but naturally wasn't publicised at the time.

LuckyLloyd · 03-01-2019 10:21am

As bizarre as this news story may be, this thread is fully bonkers! Some of the allegations above are utterly wild.

seamus · 03-01-2019 10:39am

LuckyLloyd wrote: »

As bizarre as this news story may be, this thread is fully bonkers! Some of the allegations above are utterly wild.

There are a couple of lunatics around with a deep hatred for Mary Robinson.

This is a bizarre story anyway. You could be pretty sure if any of us were to visit like Robinson did, we too would find a young woman who outwardly appears to be fine and well-treated. House arrest notwithstanding.

What is Robinson supposed to say? "Yes, although the young lady appeared well cared for, happy, and free, I have seen the videos and heard the rumours and therefore I must assume that what I saw was nothing more than a farce put on for my benefit".

In her own words, "I undertook the visit and made an assessment, not a judgement, based on personal witness, in good faith and to the best of my ability.”

It was alleged the princess was in danger, or possibly even dead, Robinson made the visit to confirm the situation and found a very much alive woman in no apparent danger and in good health.

I would tend to agree with the assessment that Robinson has somewhat allowed herself to be used as a pawn for PR - "The princess is fine, nothing to see here" - but I don't really know what alternative there was. Refuse to go and find out if the princess is alive?

Extending an official invite to Ireland is probably a good idea. Michael D should do it, make it far more formal, and a refusal more difficult.

jm08 · 03-01-2019 3:32pm

tabby aspreme wrote: »

How could a former UN High Commissioner for Human Rights and Global Warming activist, be good friends with the wife of one of the world's worst Despots and leading supplier of Oil , should they not be sworn enemies. Mary Robinson is a can of *iss

Princess Hoya is a very accomplished woman who is well educated (schooled in England with honours degree from Oxford in Philosophy, Politics and Economics).

This is probably her connection with Mary Robinson.

Princess Haya was an ambassador for the World Food Programme 2005-2007,[18] and then appointed a UN Messenger of Peace in July 2007 by Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon. She was a founding member of former Secretary-General Kofi Annan's Global Humanitarian Forum based in Geneva, and writes editorials and articles on hunger, nutrition and the UN Millennium Development Goals.

Very interesting person with lots of achievements, particularly considering where she comes from.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Haya_bint_Hussein

I don't think the Al Maktoums are anything close to being despotic. The opposite in fact for a Middle Eastern country. Just look at Dubai, which is largely the creation of her husband.

Muahahaha · 05-01-2019 12:07pm

Princess Haya on Marian Finucane at the moment

dubrov · 05-01-2019 12:20pm

seamus wrote:

What is Robinson supposed to say? "Yes, although the young lady appeared well cared for, happy, and free, I have seen the videos and heard the rumours and therefore I must assume that what I saw was nothing more than a farce put on for my benefit".

I think the point is that she showed very poor judgement when agreeing to this sham at all.

touts · 05-01-2019 1:19pm

It was a no win trip for Mary Robinson. If she found that the girl was not mentally unwell and a prisoner of her family then she would be called a lacky of the metoo movement with a predetermined opinion. If she found that the girl was mentally unwell and was not a prisoner of her family she would be called a lacky of the ruling class with a predetermined opinion. If she found something in the middle she would be called indecisive by both sides.

Basically it shows remarkably bad judgement of her to agree to the visit.

clearz · 08-01-2019 8:47pm

To the people saying they should have been publicly offered a state visit to Ireland. What would happen if she tried to claim asylum while here? We would really have inserted ourselves into the middle of an international incident of our own making.

seamus · 09-01-2019 9:54am

clearz wrote: »

To the people saying they should have been publicly offered a state visit to Ireland. What would happen if she tried to claim asylum while here? We would really have inserted ourselves into the middle of an international incident of our own making.

Playing nice with the Saudi government would not be top of my personal nice-to-haves. I would like to see them treated with the contempt they deserve tbh.

clearz · 12-01-2019 9:24pm

seamus wrote: »

Playing nice with the Saudi government would not be top of my personal nice-to-haves. I would like to see them treated with the contempt they deserve tbh.

I totally agree and although I'm not the biggest fan of Justin Trudeau I respect him for offering that young Saudi lass asylum in Canada.

Harry Palmr · 13-01-2019 9:36pm

Well well well.

From the Telegraph

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2019/01/12/india-swapped-british-arms-dealer-dubais-princess-latifa/

full article is behind paywall.

A British arms consultant at the centre of a bribery scandal over a helicopter deal in India was exchanged for a runaway Dubai princes in an extraordinary quid pro quo extradition, sources have told The Sunday Telegraph.

Christian Michel, 57, described as a “smooth” business dealer by detectives from the Central Bureau of Intelligence (CBI), was extradited from the United Arab Emirates last month to face police over a deal that has sent shockwaves across the political and military spheres of New Delhi.

He was handed over to India in an exchange for Princess Sheikha Latifa bint Mohammed al-Maktoum, daughter of Dubai's ruler, who was intercepted by the India Navy during her attempt to flee the UAE last year.

The princess's capture off the coast of Goa drew global attention for her dramatic escape from Dubai in a yacht with the aid of a French spy as she allegedly sought asylum for mistreatment by the royal family.

European and Asian diplomatic sources in New Delhi told The Sunday Telegraph they believe India struck a deal to swap Ms Latifa with Mr Michel, who owns a residence and company in Dubai but has long been wanted by Indian authorities.

jay0109 · 11-02-2019 9:45pm

NY Times article in today's IT. Doesn't make for good reading for supporters of Mary Robinson

https://www.irishtimes.com/news/world/middle-east/a-princess-vanishes-a-video-offers-alarming-clues-1.3789667

feargale · 12-02-2019 10:51pm

jay0109 wrote: »

NY Times article in today's IT. Doesn't make for good reading for supporters of Mary Robinson

https://www.irishtimes.com/news/world/middle-east/a-princess-vanishes-a-video-offers-alarming-clues-1.3789667

This is shocking. Mary Robinson may have been unwittingly sucked in, but it is high time for her to set about repairing the damage. She should immediately invite the princess to Ireland. And the Irish government should get off the fence. I would prefer to see Dublin profit from being the prostitution capital of the world than see us sell our souls for a few equine siring fees.

expectationlost · 16-02-2019 1:23pm

Harry Palmr wrote: »

Well well well.

From the Telegraph

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2019/01/12/india-swapped-british-arms-dealer-dubais-princess-latifa/

full article is behind paywall.

UAE's said that French guy kidnapped/ransomed her, but they had him in jail and let him go...

expectationlost · 16-02-2019 1:27pm

seamus wrote: »

There are a couple of lunatics around with a deep hatred for Mary Robinson.

This is a bizarre story anyway. You could be pretty sure if any of us were to visit like Robinson did, we too would find a young woman who outwardly appears to be fine and well-treated. House arrest notwithstanding.

What is Robinson supposed to say? "Yes, although the young lady appeared well cared for, happy, and free, I have seen the videos and heard the rumours and therefore I must assume that what I saw was nothing more than a farce put on for my benefit".

In her own words, "I undertook the visit and made an assessment, not a judgement, based on personal witness, in good faith and to the best of my ability.”

It was alleged the princess was in danger, or possibly even dead, Robinson made the visit to confirm the situation and found a very much alive woman in no apparent danger and in good health.

I would tend to agree with the assessment that Robinson has somewhat allowed herself to be used as a pawn for PR - "The princess is fine, nothing to see here" - but I don't really know what alternative there was. Refuse to go and find out if the princess is alive?

visit her but not say she is a "“a troubled young woman”".

AndrewJRenko · 16-02-2019 2:56pm

seamus wrote: »

This is a bizarre story anyway. You could be pretty sure if any of us were to visit like Robinson did, we too would find a young woman who outwardly appears to be fine and well-treated. House arrest notwithstanding.

What is Robinson supposed to say? "Yes, although the young lady appeared well cared for, happy, and free, I have seen the videos and heard the rumours and therefore I must assume that what I saw was nothing more than a farce put on for my benefit".

How about when she got the invite, she said "I'd love to come but I'm awful busy, why don't you send her over to London and I'll meet here there for lunch and a chat? We can get an assessment by some independent mental health experts while were there to judge the situation properly." - easily done for members of a royal family, unless they had some other motive for not letting her leave the country

Muahahaha · 16-02-2019 4:33pm

seamus wrote: »

Playing nice with the Saudi government would not be top of my personal nice-to-haves. I would like to see them treated with the contempt they deserve tbh.

Me neither but I think the Department of Foreign Affairs is in bed with the Saudi government a lot more than we realise. A couple of recent signals of this- the SBP reported that there are 25 Saudi diplomats working out of the Dublin embassy. There is only half that amount in their London embassy. Then a couple of weeks ago it was reported the Saudis were selling a state bond worth €7bn. The bond was oversubscribed by four times with bids from lots of global institions. The entire transactions was not done in New York, Frankfurt or London as you might expect, it was all done here in Dublin in the IFSC.

All of the above would explain why Simon Coveney was very mute over the execution of Jamal Khalshoggi. He did address it but it was the usual guff of "concern" and "monitoring the situation". It would seem pretty clear that there is no way the DFA would want to piss off the Saudis when they are fully aware they're using Dublin to sell their state bonds. Our relationship with the Saudi dictatorship would seem to be real politick at its ugly best.

jm08 · 16-02-2019 10:45pm

expectationlost wrote: »

visit her but not say she is a "“a troubled young woman”".

Its United Arab Emirates, not Saudi Arabia.

My reading of it is that the Princess seems to have some mental problems. For a muslim woman she seems to have been able to mix freely with non-Emirati/muslims and was best friends with a woman from Finland. She also was a skydiver! That doesn't sound like she was leading a horrible life bearing in mind that she is a muslim woman.

The Frenchman who is a spy who arranged her 'escape' sounds dodgy tbh and could have been taking advantage of her (and maybe her Finnish friend).

jm08 · 16-02-2019 10:50pm

Muahahaha wrote: »

Me neither but I think the Department of Foreign Affairs is in bed with the Saudi government a lot more than we realise. A couple of recent signals of this- the SBP reported that there are 25 Saudi diplomats working out of the Dublin embassy. There is only half that amount in their London embassy. Then a couple of weeks ago it was reported the Saudis were selling a state bond worth €7bn. The bond was oversubscribed by four times with bids from lots of global institions. The entire transactions was not done in New York, Frankfurt or London as you might expect, it was all done here in Dublin in the IFSC.

All of the above would explain why Simon Coveney was very mute over the execution of Jamal Khalshoggi. He did address it but it was the usual guff of "concern" and "monitoring the situation". It would seem pretty clear that there is no way the DFA would want to piss off the Saudis when they are fully aware they're using Dublin to sell their state bonds. Our relationship with the Saudi dictatorship would seem to be real politick at its ugly best.

Far more likely that the DFA are keeping their head down in an effort to not annoy anyone when they are seeking votes for the rotating seat on the UN Security Council.

feargale · 16-02-2019 10:56pm

jm08 wrote: »

Its United Arab Emirates, not Saudi Arabia.

My reading of it is that the Princess seems to have some mental problems. For a muslim woman she seems to have been able to mix freely with non-Emirati/muslims and was best friends with a woman from Finland. She also was a skydiver! That doesn't sound like she was leading a horrible life bearing in mind that she is a muslim woman.

The Frenchman who is a spy who arranged her 'escape' sounds dodgy tbh and could have been taking advantage of her (and maybe her Finnish friend).

So, you think so. For the last bloody time let her be invited to Ireland. Then maybe you will get an inkling of how free she is. Armchair psychiatry on the basis of having observed her in a tv news item is not the way to go with this.

jm08 · 16-02-2019 11:13pm

feargale wrote: »

So, you think so. For the last bloody time let her be invited to Ireland. Then maybe you will get an inkling of how free she is. Armchair psychiatry on the basis of having observed her in a tv news item is not the way to go with this.

Its not armchair psychiatry - I haven't seen her on tv. I'm just looking at how she managed to become a close friend with a Finnish woman and one of her hobbies is sky diving, which is a bit of a step up from women not being able to drive a car in some muslim countries.

Being the daughter of the PM of Dubai would bring some serious restrictions (security wise). As you can see with what happened, she is vulnerable to kidnapping and ransom demands.

jay0109 · 16-02-2019 11:24pm

jm08 wrote: »

Its not armchair psychiatry - I haven't seen her on tv. I'm just looking at how she managed to become a close friend with a Finnish woman and one of her hobbies is sky diving, which is a bit of a step up from women not being able to drive a car in some muslim countries.

Being the daughter of the PM of Dubai would bring some serious restrictions (security wise). As you can see with what happened, she is vulnerable to kidnapping and ransom demands.

Read the NY Times article on the last page. It explains all that

Ash.J.Williams · 17-02-2019 12:15pm

For a start who does Mary Robinson think she is offering her "analysis"...

AndrewJRenko · 17-02-2019 12:43pm

jm08 wrote: »

Its not armchair psychiatry - I haven't seen her on tv. I'm just looking at how she managed to become a close friend with a Finnish woman and one of her hobbies is sky diving, which is a bit of a step up from women not being able to drive a car in some muslim countries.

Being the daughter of the PM of Dubai would bring some serious restrictions (security wise). As you can see with what happened, she is vulnerable to kidnapping and ransom demands.

The Finnish friend was her fitness instructor.

The vulnerability to kidnapping seems to be down to her own family.

jm08 · 17-02-2019 3:13pm

jay0109 wrote: »

Read the NY Times article on the last page. It explains all that

I've read that article, watched the BBC documentary (including her video before her escape) and read an article in the Guardian from 2001 about her 18 year old sister who ran away in 2001 while in England.

In the video she said that if anyone was watching this video, she would probably be dead or worse in terrible circumstances. What I don't understand is if this is what was to happen, how come the French spy (who could be accused of kidnapping) or the Finnish woman are not dead or at least rotting in some jail somewhere?

When her older sister ran away, the Guardian spoke to some of the English/western people she was friendly with who worked at her father's stud farm. They said she had a good life, but she resented very much always having a security person with her for example. They said she really envied them their freedom and their ability to do what they liked. When she did disappear, they thought she was kidnapped.

The plan she had was to seek asylum in US. To be eligible for asylum, she would need good reason such as her life was in danger or that she was tortured by her family.

Probably a consequence of her status in life is lacking freedom, in a similar way that the British Royal family lack freedom except they live in a western society so don't get the same level of protection.

Mary Robinson and the Princess

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