By Sudeshna Sarkar, IANS,
Kathmandu : Veteran Nepali journalist Yubaraj Ghimire, who also writes for the Indian Express, was assaulted by an armed police guard on duty at the American Recreation Centre (ARC) here for standing on the pavement in front of the building.
Ghimire, former editor of Nepal’s largest private media group Kantipur and currently editor of The Reporter weekly, is one of the most respected journalists in Nepal with a long association with the Indian media.
According to Ghimire, he was walking in front of the ARC, also known as the American Club, Tuesday when he met two of his old professors and paused on the pavement in front of the club to chat with them.
He was first threatened by an armed police guard on duty who asked him to move away. When Ghimire, who had braved being jailed by the government during the Maoist insurgency by publishing an article by a leading Maoist leader, pointed out the pavement was meant for public use, he was abused and hit by the man.
“Which law prevents pedestrians from walking on pavements?” Ghimire wrote in a leading daily Wednesday, describing the incident.
The editor, who also has his own talk show on television and is known to Nepal’s prime minister, ministers, diplomats and leading politicians, says he called up senior police officials after the assault, asking: “Which law prevents Nepali citizens from walking on the pavement before a pub where Americans go for their booze?”
Though the assaulting guard was arrested and police officials apologised to Ghimire, the issue remains a contentious one.
The American Club, though not an embassy or consulate, remains one of the most tightly guarded buildings in Nepal with its sentries frequently harassing passersby. Buses are not allowed to stop near the club and people are asked to move away from its vicinity.
A Japanese tourist once recounted how he was humiliated when he was taking photographs of the surroundings. The club’s guards snatched away his camera and removed the film.
Ironically, opposite the club stands the former royal palace, part of which is now the foreign ministry. However, there is no restriction on using the pavement before it.
As Ghimire points out, there is also no restriction about the office of the Election Commission, which is also close to the American Club.
Ghimire was based in India for many years, working for Indian media organisations including the United News of India (UNI) and the Telegraph. He was widely seen as a fiercely independent journalist.
(Sudeshna Sarkar can be contacted at [email protected])