An Apology to Robert Penner

This open-letter has been taken from the blog-post

Dear Rob,

I am writing this to apologize as an ordinary citizen. I won’t take burden of doing so on behalf of all freedom loving Nepalese or any Nepali for that matter. There are people who think, it is fair to prosecute you for speaking up your mind on twitter, micro blogging site. You are not citizen of Nepal, so you don’t do not have right to speak on politics and other matters of Nepal since they are all internal matter. Irony is that, human right defenders, journalists, civil society members are among those who wants you to keep your thoughts to yourself. I wonder how they would respond to domestic violence, not so uncommon in Nepal. Would they simply shrug it off as domestic matter between family members?

There are many questions that need to be answered. You were persistent on getting on the answer to many questions which were related to the mainstream discourse. You had your facts straight which no doubt touched raw nerve. It is shameful that those who are in place of authority in Nepal are not used to accountability. Your questions were targeted to those who are not in habit of answering. They are taught to conform to their higher hierarchy meekly. To question is to sin. They take offense if anyone dares to question their activity. You have now firsthand experience of how dangerous it is to be an aware mind which thinks.

The Supreme Court would come with her verdict on your matter, hope so, soon. It might be favorable for you or go against you. In either of result, you are a winner. You have successfully ignited many a Nepalese to think critically, get their facts straight and ask the right questions. You have shown way to  shrewdness. You have dared government and refused to bow down. Kudos to you for doing so. You are an inspiration for Nepalese to shed their inhibitions and question what they see around. None, neither government nor Journalist can be holy cow. Questioning them about their activity only bring the best of them. They aren’t and shouldn’t be beyond public watch. This is no less achievement and I want to thank you for it.

Rob, despite all your contributions to public discourse, you have been unfairly treated and that too in the name of I. This government on my behalf has treated you unfairly and no matter what I can’t escape the blame. After all I am a citizen of same country who the current government claims to govern. However, I want to make it clear for once and all that I do not agree with the highly objectionable action of this government to curtail people’s fundamental right to freedom of expression. It is a blatant attack on the people’s right to express without fear of being prosecuted for his/her opinion. Whole world has taken notice of this stupid action by government which has embarrassing me in front of everyone. In ending my apology, I sincerely request that you will not take this preposterous decision of the government against ordinary citizen like me. Here people and state seems to have huge disconnect. You have been treated unfairly and for that I once again apologies and ask for your forgiveness.

Yours

Mukesh

Follow Mukesh on Twitter: @mukesh2006