The new Prime Minister of Nepal requests calm after dead demonstrations

The new Prime Minister of Nepal took office on Sunday and “urged calm and cooperation to rebuild” the Himalayan nation after days of violent protests last week left at least 72 dead and destroyed government buildings and politicians’ homes.

Sushila Karki, the first woman Prime Minister of the country, told senior officials gathered in her temporary office that each family of demonstrators killed would receive monetary compensation from one million rupees (approximately $ 15,690 CDN) and assured that the injured would be taken care of, according to a state television.

“We must all come together to rebuild the country,” said Karkki, committing to work to put the South Asian nation on the right track.

Massive demonstrations – called the protest of generation Z – began on September 8 during a ban on short -term social networks. Tens of thousands of demonstrators went down to the streets, especially young people, angry with generalized corruption and poverty, while the children of political leaders, known as “nepo kids”, seemed to play a luxurious way of life.

Look | The expert explains the ban on social media and the demonstrations that followed:

Prohibitions and protests of social media in Nepal explained by Laurier International Affairs Expert

At least 19 people died and more than 100 people were injured in the capital of Nepal on Monday in Kathmandu. The police pulled water cannons and tear gas in a large group of young people for most of the people who protested. They say that their government is corrupt and that they are upset because social media has been prohibited in the country. Now the president of the country has resigned. Hari KC is a researcher for the Presidency of Research on Canada’s Excellence in Migration and Integration at the Toronto Metropolitan University. He is also a member of the School of International Affairs Balsillie of Wilfrid Laurier University in Waterloo. He explained to Aastha Shetty of CBC KW why there are demonstrations in Nepal and what impact it has on people in the Waterloo region.

The demonstrations quickly became violent, the demonstrators attacking the parliament building and the opening of the police, and led to the resignation of Prime Minister Khadga Prasad Oli, who fled his official residence.

The Prime Minister’s real office – an old white palace converted to an office – was burnt down with the offices of the president, the Supreme Court, the main government ministries and several police stations on September 9, a day after the police shot demonstrators. Companies and houses of key families have also been attacked, including several stores from a popular supermarket chain in Nepal.

Calm was restored after the army took control of the streets that night, and the negotiations between the demonstrators, the army and the president began with an interim government.

Karki, 73, was appointed new Prime Minister on September 12. She was a popular figure when she was the only chief judge of the Court in 2016 and 2017, and was known for her position against corruption within the government.

Light parliamentary elections were presented for March 5.