Young members of Australia’s Nepali community say they feel proud of the courage shown by youths protesting in Nepal but also angry at the violence, helpless watching from afar, and fearful of what comes next.They also don’t want gen Z to be blamed for the chaos, because while they’re happy their leader has resigned, they’re distressed and dismayed at scenes of bloodshed.The protests, first sparked by a now-overturned social media ban, have left at least 22 people dead and more than 100 injured.
Vigils were held across Australia this week, where thousands gathered in Melbourne and Sydney to grieve and show solidarity.
(Left to right) Arya Pratap, Simran Kaur, and Ronak Parajulil are young members of Australia’s Nepali community. Source: SBS News
Simran Kaur, who moved to Australia when she was eight, felt heartbroken watching the horrific scenes in Nepal, yet she remains hopeful for change.”All the videos and news would just make us cry. I was really surprised to see so many people coming in altogether there. That unity filled my heart and gave me hope,” the 25-year-old told SBS News.Simran said she was “proud of all the brave youths fighting for their rights” but said it was “very scary to see people dying in the fight”.
“It just makes me feel so helpless,” she said.
Members of Sydney’s Nepali community held a vigil on Tuesday for those killed when protests turned violent in Nepal. Source: Supplied
Arya Pratap, 20, who has been living in Melbourne for nine years, said Australia’s Nepali community was feeling “frustrated” that calm and peaceful protests so quickly turned violent.”Police are here to protect us rather than shoot the people who are trying to fight for their rights,” he told SBS News
“At the start, people were much more hopeful. Now that hope has transferred into fear, which has really broken our hearts.”
Gen Z were ‘strong enough’ to fight
Nepalis say years of corruption and lack of opportunities, especially for young people, have fuelled the protests — not just last week’s short-lived social media ban.Viral TikTok clips since the ban showing wealthy politicians’ children flaunting luxury goods and expensive holidays fuelled the anger further.
“The main reason youths are protesting is because they have to travel to different countries to further their study and find work,” Arya said.
Simran said gen Z should not be blamed for the chaos in Nepal; they were simply passionate and angry enough to fight for change.”Older people laughed at gen Zs thinking, saying what can you do? Millennials, they have families, they don’t want to risk it. “Gen Zs were strong enough to say: ‘if it means being killed to change this, I’m happy to’ … If we don’t do this now, it’s never,” she said.”We didn’t know that gen Zs coming together could be this big and would actually lead the prime minister leaving.”Ronak Parajulil, 21, who has been studying in Sydney for three years, said many members of the older generations support the fight of the young.
“Everyone is supporting and looking for freedom of speech … there’s a lot of corruption, not many jobs, and nepotism everywhere.”
A protester holds a gun amid intensifying unrest in Nepal. Source: Getty / SOPA Images/LightRocket
Arya said the unrest has now drawn in people of all ages, with some exploiting the chaos by burning properties and looting, which was making the situation worse.”Goons are taking advantage. Prisoners are breaking out, people are stealing, people are vandalising. It’s slowly going backwards.”
Simran added: “This is not what we wanted.”
‘We want a new generation in government’
What comes next for Nepal is uncertain, but analysts say a solution must satisfy young Nepalis.The United Nations high commissioner for human rights, Volker Turk, has begged security forces in the country to avoid further bloodshed and listen to the country’s youth.”It is important that the voices of young people are heard. Protesters have the right to express peacefully their political frustrations and grievances over corruption and a ban on social media platforms,” he said.Analyst Ashish Pradhan from the International Crisis Group, an NGO that works to prevent and resolve deadly conflict, said a “transitional arrangement will now need to be charted out swiftly and include figures who still retain credibility with Nepalis, especially the country’s youth”.Balendra Shah, the 35-year-old engineer-turned-rapper who was elected as Kathmandu’s mayor in 2022, is one possibility.”We want a new generation in government. Not like the old generation,” Ronak said.Arya added Nepal needed “a leader with a vision” and regular elections.”People in charge are trying to hold the country rather than grow the country,” he said.
“But everyone has different opinions on who our new leaders should be.”
Members of Sydney’s Nepali community are finding strength in unity. Source: Supplied
Simran said while the prime minister’s resignation was “a small victory”, young Nepalis in Australia remained scared.”We don’t want the wrong people to take power.”The Australian Nepali community is raising awareness and money for medical aid while calling for peace.”We just want everything to calm down. I just want people to just stay safe and focus on what an interim government would look like,” Simran said. “I just hope the future is going to look better than the past, that the sacrifices we’ve made will be for the good.”