February 3, 2010
1)
the accuser is fairly high-profile
2)
this is a critical moment for the Nepali government and
Tribhuvan International Airport’s security. Recently, the subcontinent has been
place on high alert for terrorist infiltration and Nepal cannot afford to be
identified as the loose link in South Asian security measures. The Nepali
government is already waffling on India’s request to allow air marshals on
those Indian aircraft landing in Kathmandu – an absurd stance fueled by
ill-advised hyper-nationalistic sentiments.
If the accusation is true, the government should
immediately rectify its sloppy response to international concerns by replacing
sub-standard personnel at the airport. There are many extremely capable men and
women in Nepal’s police force who can handle this important assignment with
vigilance, sobriety and intelligence.
If the accusation is false, I welcome readers’ evidence
to the contrary.
Santosh Shah’s allegations dated February 1, 2010
I faced racial
discrimination and intimidation by police personnel at Tribhuvan International
Airport, Kathmandu.
When I crossed the main
entrance gate of Tribhuvan International Airport Kathmandu, 1st
February at 9.45pm, as the usual routine the Security personnel past the
entrance asked me for my passport/tickets. I said that I had come to airport to
pick up an important guest from abroad arriving at 10.30pm by China Southern
Airlines. I produced my Press ID Card issued by the Department of Information,
Ministry of Information and Communications. The police denied my entry. I
requested that since the guest is a woman and since it’s really late in the
night, its important that I go and receive her. Then I even produced my ID Card
of the United Nations, Kathmandu. The police, three of them gathered by now,
asked me to step out of the taxi, asked me to pay the taxi and asked the driver
to vanish. They looked at my IDs, and didn’t seem to be able to read them well.
The scene was intimidating, with three armed police personnel in the barren
street - I said them that I hold a respectable position in society and knew
their high ranking officers at Airport and at Police Headquarter. The head
among the three; with 1-star on his uniform shouted out to me “Of course, you
f*### Madhise have such contacts and
respect. Dial the number to whomever you want, and I will see how you go in.” I
told him “You know that no one will lift a call at this late hour, and you are
going to have your racial take on me”. He smelled drunk. These are the three
guys responsible for the entry and exit of all the incoming and outgoing
vehicles, trespassers etc. into the International and Domestic Airport of
Kathmandu. The head police among the three wasn’t wearing his name plate; when
I asked him for his name; he refused to give his name and said - “This is point no 13”. And then he
told me – “You want to see my power, see!” He allowed at least half a dozen of
vehicles pass through without checking their documents or ID.
Since I didn’t use any foul word and maintained my
politeness; that avoided any possible assaults. The guy was drunk and had
already committed several offenses in front of me including allowing people to
enter without checking; I already felt intimidated – I thought the best
solution was to walk back. I walked down to the main road, ring road, and saw
another cab by the open waiting area at the main airport entrance. Since the
area was empty, dark and quiet, and Kathmandu isn’t that a safe place; I
convinced the taxi driver to wait for me and my guest. My guest called me from
the airport and I directed her to walk all the way down to highway. This was
definitely not an easy thing for her to do. Fortunately she made it to the main
road and I dropped her.
Normally, I use my office vehicle and have my securities
maintained. I go to this airport at least a hundred times a year. So, this was
quite an odd, rater revealing experience for me. If a public face of one of
Nepal’s leading channel has to face this at the international airport; what
must be the fate of an ordinary citizens in rural backdrops of Terai where the
monitoring of security surveillance does not surface out.
- Drunk
and on duty
- don’t wear their name badges
- look at the ID of a passer-by facial reading, with racial discriminations
- fail to recognize their own senior officers in the police command
- allow
a dozen vehicles to enter without a check to show-off his power to a
journalist.
This is a serious security threat to the airport and an
intimidation to tourists arriving at midnight at a barren airport.
This is not the first time that I am facing a racial
discrimination; but this is the first time I am facing this level of
intimidation and that too from a civil servant. According to the article 13 of
interim Constitution of Nepal, racial discrimination is a punishable act. And
in this case its committed by the protector of the law; the Police personnel
stationed at International airport.
I am preparing to approach the concerned government, civil
and international authorities for justice.
For phone-calls/information:
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