Nepal’s recent prime minister assumed office on Sunday, calling for calm and collaboration to reconstruct the Himalayan nation following a series of violent demonstrations that resulted in at least 72 fatalities and the destruction of government structures and officials’ residences this past week.
Sushila Karki, the first female prime minister of the country, announced at her temporary headquarters that each family of deceased protesters would receive financial compensation of one million rupees (approximately $15,690 Cdn) and reassured that the injured individuals would be properly cared for, as reported by state television. “It is imperative for all of us to unite in the effort to rebuild the nation,” Karki emphasized, committing to restoring the South Asian country on its path to progress.
The extensive protests, dubbed the Gen Z demonstration, commenced on Monday in response to a brief ban on social media. The unrest saw tens of thousands of demonstrators, particularly youths, expressing anger over prevalent corruption and poverty, contrasting with the lavish lifestyles of political leaders’ offspring, referred to as “nepo kids.”
The demonstrations escalated into violence, with protesters targeting the parliament building and clashes with law enforcement resulting in the resignation of Prime Minister Khadga Prasad Oli, who vacated his official residence.
The prime minister’s actual office, a former white palace converted into administrative space, was set ablaze, along with the presidential offices, the Supreme Court, key government ministries, and multiple police stations on the subsequent day after authorities clashed with protesters. Notable families’ residences and businesses were also vandalized, including multiple outlets of a prominent supermarket chain in Nepal.
Order was eventually restored after the military assumed control of the streets that evening, leading to negotiations among protesters, the armed forces, and the president regarding an interim government arrangement.
Karki, aged 73, was appointed as the interim prime minister on Friday. Recognized for her anti-corruption stance during her tenure as the sole female chief justice of the Supreme Court in 2016 and 2017, she enjoyed significant popularity. Provision has been made for fresh parliamentary elections scheduled for March 5.