Chalcinated cars and buildings. Emptoded avenues guarded by soldiers. Tank patrols and armored vehicles. , Nepal tries to recover calm after protests and violent disturbances that have left 30 dead and more than a thousand injured, according to official data published by the local press.
While this Thursday is still in force in the capital, Katmandú, the remaining touch decreed by the army managers, the young people of generation Z (born between the late nineties and early 2010) that maneuver to fill the void of power that Khadga Prasad Sharma Oli left last Tuesday.
Representatives of the Youth Movement met on Wednesday with the military controls in the Army Headquarters in the capital to negotiate the appointment of an interim prime minister. Among the proposed candidates is Sushila Karki, former president of the Supreme Court (she was the first woman to hold the position). Karki, 73, is a charismatic figure, with an image of neutral and known for his zero tolerance towards corruption in the Judiciary.
Divergent features
In any case, it is not even entirely clear what are the Z Groups with the ability to negotiate or the legitimacy of their representatives to agree on appointments. There are divergent features with different candidates and proposals. And there is also no agreement on the constitutional steps to follow.
“Now, the country is going to have an interim government, which will convene new elections in the country,” said Facebook Balendra Shah, the mayor of Katmandu, who enjoys popularity among young people. Popularly known as Balen, the hip hop singer is also another of the figures whose name has circulated to lead a provisional government. In his message he has shown “respect” towards the election of the former president of the Supreme Court as a candidate of generation Z. “You are taking steps towards a golden future,” he has encouraged young people.
Confusion after chaos
Political confusion has happened to chaos in the streets. And the negotiations of young people with the military occur in a, with the military estate in charge of public order (and gaining power share) after the resignation of the prime minister and several ministers of their executive, including the interior.
“In a democracy, citizen demands can be resolved through dialogue. I call on all parties to act in moderation, avoid more damage to the country and establish a dialogue,” said Nepalí President, Ram Chandra Poudel on Wednesday. The head of the State, who holds an eminently ceremonial position, has been blurred for days. On Wednesday they even circulated information that announced their resignation, finally denied by the military.
Nepal – one of the poorest and most unequal nations in Asia, where thousands of young people are forced to migrate to make a living – faces one of the worst political and social crises in decades.
The protests, initially caused by a governmental measure that implied the closure of the main social networks, not adjusting to the tax requirements, began on Monday in a peaceful way, with shouts and slogans that reflected the generalized frustration of young people so they perceive as a lack of government action to combat corruption and enhance economic opportunities.
Police repression
After being brutally repressed by the police, causing the death of 19 people and more than 400 injured, the protests resulted in a chaotic spiral of violence.
Groups of furious citizens set fire, among others, to the buildings of Parliament, the Supreme Court, the Office of the Presidency and the Media Headquarters. They set fire to the houses of ministers or the private residence of the resigned prime minister, and attacked other ex -presidents and their relatives, killing the wife of one of them.
In the midst of chaos, there were also looting of shops and riots in prison institutions. More than 7,500 prisoners have fled. Meanwhile, the young Z that promoted the protests have tried to uncheck the acts of vandalism, promoting civic activities such as cleaning the destruction in the streets.
