Kathmandu Monday October 22, 2001 Kartik 06, 2058. |
Last week, I was approached for an interview by a journalist working with one of this country’s vernacular dailies about my complaint: "How I was being swindled by the immigration office in Pokhara?" I was also asked for my views on other matters in Nepal such as travel safety and hygiene for travellers in restaurants and so on.
The article I couldn’t read, of course, started with the lie "I will never come back to Nepal" something I never said. Also that the immigration office had scolded me and that they demanded 2000 rupees in order for them to give me a receipt of the payment for an extension visa is not correct. Many other things were put in my mouth. Now I face an angry mob of people in Pokhara. Through e-mail one friend advised me not to come anymore to Pokhara because they are very angry with me.
No one will believe my story. Everyone will believe the press. I went to their office yesterday and they refused to print an apology or the admittance of their mistakes, neither did they want to write an apology for me that I could show the people in Pokhara, nor would they give me a copy of the tape with my interview. I am appalled... and don’t know what to do. Not only did I face corruption at the immigration office I also have to face corruption of my words by a daily which said they would be behind me if any problem arose after the interview. I was so confident they were allowed to take my picture.
Alann De VuystKathmandu
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