Canadian ordered out of Nepal after criticizing government on social media

reuters ^ | 5/3/16

[StCloudMoose]

A Canadian living and working in Nepal who criticized the government on social media has been ordered to leave the country within two days, a Nepali official said on Tuesday. Robert Penner, a computer programmer working for CloudFactory, an outsourcing company, was arrested by police at his office on Monday and taken to the Department of Immigration for questioning. Penner confirmed that he had been ordered to leave on his Twitter account. He criticized the Nepal government on social media during unrest that followed the passing of Nepal's constitution last year and he denounced the recent arrest and detention of Kanak Mani Dixit, a prominent journalist and civil rights activist. "Robert Penner must leave Nepal voluntarily within two days," Kedar Neupane, Director General of the Department of Immigration, told Reuters. "If he fails to leave within this time frame, he will be considered as staying here illegally," added Neupane. He said there was no provision for Penner to make an appeal. The deportation order comes after government officials received numerous complaints about tweets and online writings that Penner had posted, said Neupane. He declined to elaborate on exactly who and how many had complained.

[grobdriver]

Some places you have freedom of speech - some places you don’t.

[MeganC]

Ironically the Canadian will be going home to a place that doesn’t have freedom of speech.

[ConservativeWarrior]

Ted? I thought he was in India(na), not Nepal.

[PA-RIVER]

Ted gets no respect. :(

[Jack Hammer]

Travelers abroad have got to keep in mind that their host government may not play by the rules to which the travelers have become accustomed.

Those caught carrying marijuana in Singapore and Malaysia come to mind.

[Reeses]

The USA can handle dissent and free speech because 28% of the federal budget is spent on having a strong military. Most governments can’t afford that luxury. We should respect that.

[Jack Hammer]

Not quite sure I understand your point...

[Reeses]

Free speech is more dangerous in countries that do not have a big military to protect against overthrow. The USA spends a much larger percentage of GDP on their military than most other countries so isn't too worried about free speech turning into a collapse of the government. China suppressing some free speech is preferable to them doubling their military spending. Americans shouldn't complain so much about the Chinese and other governments suppressing some free speech because the alternative is them having a stronger military. When in Rome do as the Romans, which often means not mouthing off about the host government.