Nepalese journalist and writer Manarishi Dhital is a veteran of the 1996–2006 People’s War against the monarchy in Nepal. In 2001, he was along with other left-wing journalists by the monarchist regime. As the Gen Z protest movement shook the country to its roots in the second week of September, he publicly declared his support on social media for what he welcomed as a much needed "re-awakening of Nepal's revolutionary spirit".
Condemning the current government — a coalition of the Nepalese Congress and the Communist Party of Nepal (United Marxist Leninist) — for repressing the youth protest and killing at least 19 protesters and injuring hundreds on September 8, he called on the international community and human rights defenders to “please listen the voice of Gen Z”.
In response to the repression, the protests swelled and, on the second day, crowds attacked government and party offices, the residents of political leaders of left and right parties and set fire to parliament house. Military helicopters evacuated most political leaders but some were chased and beaten in the streets by some protesters.
鶹ӳ spoke to Dhital about why he supports this youth uprising.
“The Gen Z movement is against the corruption and nepotism that has spread like a cancer to various organs of the system during its management,” he said.
“Sadly, this system that Gen Z is rebelling against includes politicians from leftist as well as other parties.
“This movement has shaken both the morale and material existence of the old parties. The palaces of egoism and corruption that have been stacked by political criminals in the past 20 years have been turned into ashes.
“The political parties that became the pillars of a system that is now hated by the youth wasted the sacrifices made by a previous generation that rose up.
“As part of that earlier generation, I am proud of the current political re-awakening and the results it has brought so far.”
Dangerous situation
However, he added, there were serious dangers in the present situation.
“The leaders of political parties have fled their homes and offices and are now in the protection of the army. But are they in protection or are they captives of the army?
“Monarchists and other forces are undoubtedly fishing in the muddied political waters in the wake of the Gen Z uprising. But I have confidence that the young people do not want to overthrow the republic and bring back the monarchy.”
“I would like to say to them: Dear children, take care now in this new situation. Please be careful! Now is the time to take legal and political strict punishment against the criminals who have abandoned their political shells.”
The Gen Z movement has condemned monarchist and Hindu religious extremists for trying to hijack the protests and repudiated rumours that Gen Z leaders had met with the king.
A September 11 published on warned: “They have been working to use all of us, who did not see the atrocity of the king — to harp on our pride — and play with our sentiment…”
The statement condemned the proliferation on social media of videos, reels and Substack newsletters “glorifying the king”and trying to “create an environment as if this country needs the king”.
It also blamed the right-wing Narendra Modi government of neighbouring India for using “divide and rule” tactics in Nepal.
“The king is in cahoots with Hindu fundamentalists … the king is in cahoots with India. This is not what we went to the streets for…
“We do not want the king. We do not need India, we do not need their Hinduvta agenda. #backoffindia #backoffking #nepalisours,” the Gen Z statement ended.
Future of Nepal’s left parties
GL asked Dhital what he thought was the future of the political parties of the left.
“If there is a leader among them who is confident that he is honest and free from the cancer of corruption and nepotism, then he should come to the people.
“The prime minister has resigned but the whole government must apologise to the nation and resign.
“There should be a new all-party meeting to try and build a new interim government, call new elections, investigate the property of all the top leaders, ministers, employees, political appointments after 1990 as well as serious human rights violations, including the repression of the protests on September 8.
“We need an independent commission for investigation. All those found guilty must be prosecuted and punished.
“The old leaders of the political parties of the left should step aside and make way for a new generation of leaders who can win and keep the trust of the people.
“They need to be prepared to live modestly without the lavish lifestyles that the ‘Nepokids’ of the current political leaders shamelessly showed off on social media.”
[Manarishi Dhital is the author of The final days of the People's War, as well as eight other books in Nepali, and is a former editor of Janadesh Weekly. He currently writes for the news portal]