Japan concerned over stone pelting at JICA Nepal’s Chief Representative

KATHMANDU: The Embassy of Japan in Nepal has expressed concerns over an incident of snow pelting at the Chief Representative of Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) Nepal Office, Akimitsu Okubo, in Kathmandu on Wednesday.

In a press release issued on Thursday, the chief representative of the JICA Nepal Office was injured when a group of demonstrators pelted a stone at him as he passed by them in Kathmandu. According to the embassy, his car is also damaged.

“The right of peaceful demonstrations is considered to be a part of the freedom of expression that is the fundamental of democracy. However, when it becomes an act of violence, it is nothing more than a criminal offense,” the embassy stated in its release.

The incident occurred as the Nepal Students Union (NSU), the student wing of the Nepali Congress, was conducting a torch rally to protest the recent attack on NC Joint General Secretary Mahendra Yadav.

The Japanese mission in Kathmandu also expressed concerns that such incidents could negatively impact Nepal’s efforts to attract foreign tourists and foreign direct investment.

The embassy additionally noted that it had advised Japanese nationals residing in Nepal to exercise caution to avoid similar incidents. “At the same time, we hope that Nepal will continue to be a peaceful and attractive country for foreigners,” it concluded.