Kathmandu Update – September 13

President Ramchandra Pauder of Nepal has dissolved Congress and announced a new election scheduled for March 5. This decision comes just a week after violent protests that led to the country’s first female prime minister being appointed.

The announcement from Pauder’s office was made late Friday, shortly after the new prime minister expressed that he’d taken provisional leadership amidst protests against corruption led by the so-called “Generation Z.”

The president’s statement confirmed that he has “disbanded the House” and set the election date for next March.

A deadly protest, which was part of this movement, resulted in the deaths of at least 51 people and injuries to more than 1,300. This turmoil ultimately forced former Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli to step down.

After intensive discussions involving Pauder, Army Secretary Ashok Raj Sigdel, and leaders of the protests, Kalki emerged as the new prime minister. India’s government has expressed hope that these developments will restore peace and stability in the region.

In a message of goodwill, Indian officials extended their congratulations to Shushira Kalki on her new role, reaffirming India’s commitment to Nepal’s progress and stability.

The dissent was partly fueled by a brief ban on social media that was soon retracted, which sparked widespread outrage. Following the resignation of Oli on Tuesday, tensions began to ease.

Nepal continues to grapple with political and economic challenges, a situation that has persisted since the monarchy was abolished in 2008. Many young Nepalese have been compelled to seek employment abroad in places like the Middle East, South Korea, and Malaysia due to job scarcity.

On Saturday, a sense of normalcy returned to the capital, Kathmandu, where businesses began reopening and traffic resumed, following several days of lockdown.

Immediate Concerns

Amidst these changes, parents of the deceased are demanding recognition for their family members as martyrs. Some families have refused to retrieve their loved ones’ bodies from the morgue until their requests are addressed.

“My brother deserves to be recognized as a martyr because he died for his country, and the government should compensate my parents,” stated Sumitra Mahat, whose 21-year-old brother was among those killed during the clashes.

Many others echoed Sumitra’s sentiment, claiming their relatives were shot during the protests, and they gathered in front of the prime minister’s official residence seeking justice.