After deadly protests, Nepal’s Gen Z demand justice and democracy

But it also came at a price: at least 72 people were killed, while damage from fires that engulfed parliament and government offices is estimated in the billions of dollars.

For Tanuja Pandey, one of the protest organisers, September 8 and 9 marked the “saddest tragedy” in the country.

“They were our friends and it is unacceptable,” said the climate justice organiser and lawyer.

“(Those responsible for violence) should be punished and justice should be served.”

The protests, triggered by anger over corruption among the political elite and economic stagnation, had quickly escalated in a matter of two days.

Demonstrators targeted symbols of wealth and privilege, torching the homes of politicians, private offices and car showrooms.

Everything that happened had been “far beyond anyone’s imagination,” Pandey recalled.

The unrest forced then Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli to resign, followed by President Ram Chandra Poudel a day later.

Nepal’s youth are now demanding that the government under interim Prime Minister Sushila Karki carry out criminal proceedings to seek justice for those killed in the protests.

Another demand is for elections to be held in March 2026 as promised.

“We never asked for revolution. We were only demanding transparency and accountability from the government.

“The thing that is most needed right now is protection of the democracy we have, the protection of the constitution that Nepalese people struggled for.”

The reforms, said Pandey, will then follow.

Karki, 73, a former Supreme Court chief justice, was sworn in as caretaker leader on September 13 after negotiations between protest leaders and the army.

Many demonstrators had backed her appointment as a neutral figure. Another candidate discussed was Kathmandu mayor and former rapper Balendra Shah.

“We are in a kind of crisis where we need to trust our newly elected prime minister,” said Pandey.

“Being a chief justice means she is the custodian of the constitution, democracy and the rule of law.”

Yet with no parliament or formal opposition in place, Nepal’s young people are also stepping into the role of watchdogs for check and balance.

“Our generation has always been tagged as a lazy generation, a politically unaware generation,” Pandey said.

“But the Nepalese youth have proved them wrong.”