What Nepal’s ‘Gen Z’ protesters have to say

Audio By Carbonatix

Enlarge

By Adnan Abidi and Navesh Chitrakar

KATHMANDU (Reuters) -The poor Himalayan nation of Nepal faces a new political crisis after violent anti-corruption protests this week by young demonstrators claimed 30 lives and forced Prime Minister K.P. Sharma Oli to quit.

The angry demonstrations have been led by the country’s Gen Z, young people mostly in their late teens or early 20s.

Here’s what some of them had to say:

Pawan Sharma, 20, student

“I was there in parliament house and saw people getting shot in front of me. This protest is about the corruption in the country. Now we have thrown out the government completely. We got what we wanted. My hope is to have new, elected leaders… We don’t want old leaders.”

Srijana Bhujel, 19, garment factory worker

“I hope the future will be free from corruption. I also wish that the millions of young people who have moved abroad will stop doing so.

I want the youth who have gone abroad to return to Nepal, and I hope the days ahead will be better than the past.”

Sunita Khadka, 21, student

“All this vandalism should not have been done, history should not have been destroyed. It is now our duty to build this nation. We should stop the youth from going abroad. Employment must be generated in the country.”

Avash Regmi, 25, freelance photographer

“Corrupt politicians must be thrashed out from parliament and new leaders with a good vision must be appointed. This fight is against corruption.

My expectation is that all systems will be managed properly … These are my expectations from the new government.”

Amrita Tiwari, 17, student

“My mother didn’t let me go for the main protest. I wanted to do something for my country so I’m helping with cleaning the areas where they protested.

Everyone was protesting against the corrupt ministers, that was the main thing to do. The government started shooting students in their school uniforms, that shouldn’t be done. I want, and everyone needs, a good leader, someone who can lead the country in a good way.”

Saran Shrestha, 27, teacher

“We didn’t have any employment opportunities. All young, middle-class individuals like me had to move out of the country.

I think we did the right thing by protesting, by raising our voice.

If power goes to the right, young individuals, Nepal will move in the right direction … otherwise it will get worse. I hope young leaders will be there to save Nepal.”

Karan Kulung, 18, student

“Earlier, I thought I would go abroad to pursue opportunities, as I felt there was no future here after completing my high school but now my perspective has changed, my goal is to contribute to building Nepal and creating a better future here.”

Sabin Tamang, 20, restaurant worker

“To develop our country, we need to choose good people instead of choosing relatives. We should hand over the future of the country to a person who has good ideology and is not self-centred.”

Anjana Tiwari, 20, student

“We expect to make our country like Denmark, free of corruption. We hope to choose a kind and hardworking leader who will make our country beautiful in every aspect.

We — all Gen Z, all Nepalis — expect the same things from our new leader, who will be chosen in a few days.”

(Writing by Tanvi Mehta; Editing by Aidan Lewis)