Young Activists Who Toppled Nepal's Government Now Picking New Leaders
A former DJ and his obscure Nepalese non-profit used a social media app popular with video gamers to drive massive protests and become the unlikely power brokers in installing the country's new interim leadership.
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The GenZ-led demonstrations quickly escalated into fatal confrontations and swiftly brought down the administration.
Kathmandu:
A social media-savvy former disc jockey and his little-known Nepalese organization utilized Discord, a platform popular among gamers, to orchestrate massive protests that successfully toppled the government and positioned them as unexpected kingmakers in establishing the country's interim leadership.
Sudan Gurung, 36, who founded Hami Nepal (We are Nepal), leveraged Discord and Instagram to mobilize enormous demonstrations that compelled Prime Minister K.P. Sharma Oli to step down, creating the most lethal political upheaval in the Himalayan nation in recent decades, according to multiple participants involved in the protests.
The activists employed virtual private networks to circumvent platform restrictions and issued mobilization calls that reached thousands of young Nepalese citizens, they reported. Oli's representatives were unavailable for comment.
"I received an invitation to a Discord group with approximately 400 members. It encouraged us to join a protest march several kilometers from parliament," explained 18-year-old student Karan Kulung Rai, who is not affiliated with the organization, in an interview with Reuters.
Hami Nepal's initial Discord communications became so influential that national television stations began referencing them.
As the demonstrations grew violent, the organization also identified what they considered "fake news" and distributed hospital contact information.
Members of Hami Nepal, requesting anonymity because they had used pseudonyms online for security purposes, revealed that Gurung and other group leaders have subsequently become integral to critical decisions, including appointing the new interim government until elections scheduled for March 5.
They have successfully persuaded the nation's president and military chief to appoint former Chief Justice Sushila Karki, known for her strong anti-corruption stance, as Nepal's first female prime minister in an interim capacity, according to three group members.
"I will ensure power remains with the people and bring every corrupt politician to justice," Gurung declared in his first press conference since Thursday's protest.
By Sunday, Gurung and his team were conducting meetings to determine key cabinet positions and proposing the removal of certain government officials appointed by the previous administration, according to Hami Nepal members.
"Ongoing discussions between Karki and group members are taking place. We will finalize the cabinet soon," one member stated. Neither Gurung nor Karki immediately responded to inquiries sent to their mobile phones.
"The process is being meticulously conducted to ensure it includes skilled and capable young people," Hami Nepal announced on Instagram.
From DJ To RevolutionaryMonday's demonstration, predominantly organized by individuals in their twenties and loosely categorized as a "Gen Z" movement, turned deadly within hours and rapidly toppled the government.
The protests targeted perceived governmental corruption and gained momentum following restrictions on multiple social media platforms—a directive later reversed. Violent confrontations between protesters and authorities resulted in at least 72 deaths and over 1,300 injuries.
Gurung, who exceeds the Gen Z age demographic, and his team have pledged not to accept cabinet positions but insist on participating in future decision-making processes.
"We have no political ambitions. Sudan Gurung was merely assisting the 'Gen Z' group, and we simply represent the nation's voice without interest in leadership positions," explained Ronesh Pradhan, a 26-year-old volunteer for the organization.
Before establishing Hami Nepal, Gurung worked as a DJ and coordinated civilian relief efforts during Nepal's most devastating earthquake, which claimed over 9,000 lives in 2015, and throughout the COVID-19 pandemic.
Team members managing the Instagram account, which has grown to exceed 160,000 followers, and coordinating Discord communications alongside Gurung include 24-year-old café owner Ojaswi Raj Thapa and law graduate Rehan Raj Dangal.
Thapa, who quickly emerged as a prominent protest leader, told Reuters in an interview that judicial independence was compromised and ensuring its autonomy was a primary objective once the interim government was established.
"Constitutional amendments may be necessary, but we don't intend to abolish the constitution," he stated on Thursday.
(This article has not been edited by NDTV staff and is automatically generated from a syndicated feed.)