KATHMANDU: The media fraternity has come down heavily on the statement issued by the Chinese Embassy in Kathmandu over the coronavirus-related article published by The Kathmandu Post.
The Kathmandu Post, an English daily, published a feature article headlined ‘China’s secrecy has made coronavirus crisis much worse’ in its recent edition.
After complaining about management repeatedly about The Post’s journalism, the Chinese Embassy in Kathmandu today released a statement criticizing the kind of reporting and opinions the English daily has been publishing.
Lashing out at the article, the Chinese Embassy in Kathmandu wrote, “It is regrettable that Anup Kaphle, Editor-in-Chief of The Kathmandu Post has always been biased on China-related issues. The Chinese Embassy in Nepal has made solemn representations to the newspaper and himself and reserves the right of further action.”
Reacting to the Chinese Embassy’s statement, Anup Kafle, Editor-in-Chief of The Kathmandu Post, said, “What an honor on my last day of work in this country.”
In response to the statement, Senior Journalist Vijaya Kumar Panday said that the tug-of-war between the Chinese Embassy and the editorial of The Kathmandu Post is not a common issue.
Similarly, Kanak Mani Dixit, founder editor of the magazine Himal Southasian, said Chinese Ambassador to Nepal Hou Yanqi has forgotten diplomatic decorum, and also that Nepal remains a democracy where free expression prevails.
Likewise, in responding to the statement, Sudheer Sharma, Editor-in-Chief of Kantipur daily said that the reaction of the Chinese Embassy is quite objectionable.
Social media users condemn the statement
Social media users also have condemned the statement issued by the Chinese Embassy in Kathmandu threatening the newspaper in regard to the opinion.
Most of them have asked the Embassy to refrain from making such a statement saying that Nepal doesn’t have media censorship like that in China.
Hashtags as such #ChinasIntolerance, #ChinasIntoleranceTowardsMedia and #BackOffChina among others have been trending in Twitter.
“Chinese laws can’t be enforced in Nepal,” Twitter user Sanjeev wrote.
Another Twitter user Dinesh Prasain has expressed his solidarity with Chinese people and govt on their fight against coronavirus.
“But it’s unacceptable that the Chinese Embassy issues a statement threatening an editor and claims it has the right to take action against him. We are independent, and love freedom of speech hail,” Prasain wrote.
“Chinese Ambassador’s greetings on National Democracy Day. A direct strike on press freedom. Sister, this is not Tibet,” Twitter user Fool Maya wrote.
“Nepali media follows Nepali constitution, low and code of conduct. Media know what is wrong and what is right to publish,” tweeted Nimmi.
Others too have lamented the move by the Chinese Embassy.
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