Gen Z revolters angry at Govt they installed after Nepal’s protests

Mukesh Awasti was all set to leave for Australia to pursue a degree in civil engineering on a sunny day in September, but instead, he joined a youth revolt against corruption in Nepal and lost his leg after being shot by security forces. Lying on a hospital bed at the National Trauma Centre in the capital Kathmandu, where his leg was amputated, 22-year-old Awasti said he regrets giving up so much for the little that has been achieved after the sacrifices of so many people.

Violent protests in Kathmandu that began Sept. 8 left 76 people dead and more than 2,300 injured before the demonstrations, fueled by “Gen Z” activists, forced the appointment on September 12 of Nepal’s first female prime minister, Sushila Karki, a retired Supreme Court judge who has promised fresh elections in March.

Since then, the interim Government and its leader have come under criticism from many of the people who took part in the protests and expected major changes in the Himalayan nation.  “I regret my decision to take part in the protest because there have been zero achievements from the new Government we brought, which has failed us,” Awasti said.

“There should be end to corruption, which has not happened and the people who opened fire on the demonstrations should have been arrested, but that has also not happened either.” So far, the Government’s anti-graft agency has filed one significant corruption case that does not include key political figures. The politicians accused of corruption by protesters are preparing to contest upcoming elections and there has been no case filed against leaders who were in power when protesters were injured in September.

Demonstrators say promises have not been met: Dozens of demonstrators, including some who were injured in September, have recently protested against the Government they brought to power. These protests outside the prime minister’s office have been held in the past few weeks, with police forced to break up some of them.

“We are back here in the street because the Government has failed to live up to their promise. There are so many families of those who lost their lives and many who were injured but what has the Government done? Nothing,” said Suman Bohara, who walks with crutches on a shattered right foot. “We are here because we are compelled to.”