Friday, June 25, 2010

RE: About the Article in Kantipur

June 25, 2010
To: Dipak Bastakoti'
Cc: Mohan Lohani

Dipakjee

I have explored options open to me which are as follows:

1. I can demand Kantipur to contradict what was published. They are obliged to do so. However, I will be required to prove that I am not what I had been described as. Meaning I will have to prove that I am not a “khalnayak.” If there is adequate evidence it is possible to prove that a person is a murderer if that person has killed somebody. But there is no way that an innocent person can be proved that he didn’t commit the crime of murdering another person. Therefore, the internationally accepted principle, which is: a person is innocent until proven guilty, is not applicable in Nepal with respect to yellow journalism. When media resorts to yellow journalism, someone like me is caught in a vice grip. Because, in Nepal journalism has become license for character assassination.

Additionally, they do offer to publish a contradiction, if I were to send one. But will be published in such corner of least read page and manner that nobody will even see it or be able to find it. Further they will edit it so heavily that my contradiction will end up reading that I am admitting to being a "khalnayak."
2. I can file litigation in court for the slander/libel against me. There too I will have to furnish evidence to prove that I am not a khalnayak. Additionally I will have to spend quite a lot of money in court fees and legal fees. I am even prepared to bear such cost but the court will take its own time and it will take more than a couple of decades to receive the final verdict which may go in favor of the one who is better at bribing judges.

Dipakjee

In the above circumstance, resorting to any one option will amount to biting the dog back which I don’t feel like doing. From this perspective, this country has indeed become unlivable besides many other reasons like lack of law and order, no water, no electricity, etc. However, I am determined to continue to stay here and struggle to ensure that the future generations don’t have to face these very problems.

A silver lining in the black cloud is the fact that Sudhir Sharma, editor of Kantipur has offered to meet and discuss the matter with me. I am looking forward to that meeting.

With best regards,

Sincerely,

Ratna Sansar Shrestha, FCA
Senior Water Resource Analyst
http:www.RatnaSansar.com/

________________________________________

From: Dipak Bastakoti [mailto:yfvd@yahoo.com]
Sent: Thursday, June 24, 2010 11:12
To: Ratna Sansar Shrestha
Subject: RE: About the Article in Kantipur

Hi Ratna Sansar sir,

How are you doing ? What is the outcome now with Kantipur ?.. Any good news to share ?
Dipak

--- On Thu, 17/6/10, Ratna Sansar Shrestha wrote:
From: Ratna Sansar Shrestha
Subject: RE: About the Article in Kantipur
To: "Dipak Bastakoti"
Date: Thursday, 17 June, 2010, 1:33 AM

Dipakjee

I am thankful to you for your solidarity.

No comments: