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| Nepal Arrests Canadian Man Over ‘Provocative’ Twitter Post | Nepal Arrests Canadian Man Over ‘Provocative’ Twitter Post |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| KATHMANDU, Nepal — A Canadian man in Nepal who writes frequently about political issues on social media was arrested on Monday afternoon after “posting a provocative message on Twitter aimed at spreading social discord,” according to an immigration official. | KATHMANDU, Nepal — A Canadian man in Nepal who writes frequently about political issues on social media was arrested on Monday afternoon after “posting a provocative message on Twitter aimed at spreading social discord,” according to an immigration official. |
| The man, Robert Penner, has been living in Nepal for at least two years. He was arrested at his office in the Lalitpur district by a team of police officers on the instructions of the Department of Immigration, according to Pitambar Adhikari, the district police chief. Mr. Penner was turned over to the immigration authorities, who have held him since then. | |
| Mr. Penner has been prolific online, often weighing in on political controversies. After Nepal passed a new constitution last year, he questioned a citizenship provision that was seen as discriminatory against women. In November, he responded to critics of a Human Rights Watch report about violations in southern Nepal. | Mr. Penner has been prolific online, often weighing in on political controversies. After Nepal passed a new constitution last year, he questioned a citizenship provision that was seen as discriminatory against women. In November, he responded to critics of a Human Rights Watch report about violations in southern Nepal. |
| More recently, he criticized the detention of Kanak Mani Dixit, a journalist who was arrested last month on suspicion of abusing his position as the chairman of a transportation cooperative. Mr. Dixit’s arrest was instigated by the Commission for Investigation of Abuse of Authority, whose leader he had criticized. | More recently, he criticized the detention of Kanak Mani Dixit, a journalist who was arrested last month on suspicion of abusing his position as the chairman of a transportation cooperative. Mr. Dixit’s arrest was instigated by the Commission for Investigation of Abuse of Authority, whose leader he had criticized. |
| Mr. Penner also drew attention to Twitter users who he said were abusing him, including some who were calling for him to be thrown out of the country. | Mr. Penner also drew attention to Twitter users who he said were abusing him, including some who were calling for him to be thrown out of the country. |
| “I repeatedly asked the Nepal Police to tell me under what charges they’re taking me, but they won’t say,” he posted on Twitter on Monday afternoon, after writing about his arrest. | “I repeatedly asked the Nepal Police to tell me under what charges they’re taking me, but they won’t say,” he posted on Twitter on Monday afternoon, after writing about his arrest. |
| According to his Twitter profile, Mr. Penner works as a scientist at Cloud Factory, a technology company with an office in Lalitpur. An official at the Department of Immigration said Mr. Penner had a valid work visa. | According to his Twitter profile, Mr. Penner works as a scientist at Cloud Factory, a technology company with an office in Lalitpur. An official at the Department of Immigration said Mr. Penner had a valid work visa. |
| The director general of the Department of Immigration, Kedar Neupane, said Mr. Penner was arrested because he had made “unnecessary comments” about Nepal’s internal affairs. Mr. Neupane said his department had received a complaint accusing Mr. Penner of “spreading unnecessary messages about Nepal” on social media, but did not say who had made the complaint. | The director general of the Department of Immigration, Kedar Neupane, said Mr. Penner was arrested because he had made “unnecessary comments” about Nepal’s internal affairs. Mr. Neupane said his department had received a complaint accusing Mr. Penner of “spreading unnecessary messages about Nepal” on social media, but did not say who had made the complaint. |
| Under the country’s immigration rules, the government can cancel the visa of a foreigner whose presence has an adverse effect on the “peace and security of Nepal or mutual harmony between the people of Nepal.” | Under the country’s immigration rules, the government can cancel the visa of a foreigner whose presence has an adverse effect on the “peace and security of Nepal or mutual harmony between the people of Nepal.” |
| “We are investigating into the matter, and will deport him if charges against him are proven true,” Mr. Neupane said. “Otherwise, he will be released by tomorrow.” | “We are investigating into the matter, and will deport him if charges against him are proven true,” Mr. Neupane said. “Otherwise, he will be released by tomorrow.” |