Gen Z’s Sacrifices Mustn’t Go In Vain

More than a week has elapsed since the formation of the Sushila Karki-led interim government that came into existence on the back of the Gen Z revolt. The government is still in the process of taking its full shape. However, feelings of uneasiness and annoyance have begun to surface among the populace owing to the government’s slow response to the demands of Gen Zeers. If the spirit of Gen Z is not to be allowed to die, there should be no delay in forming the two separate, powerful judicial probe commissions. The first should investigate the killing of innocent Gen Z protesters on September 8, which triggered nationwide arson and vandalism.  The second should investigate corrupt politicians and other public office holders and bring them to book.

Constituted on the foundation of the Gen Z movement, the four-member Cabinet can establish judicial probe bodies to investigate the illegally amassed property of politicians and public office-holders so as to win the trust of youths and ordinary citizens. The legal and procedural obstacles must not hinder in making of decisions on these matters of monumental importance. For instance, the President has already dissolved the House of Representatives (HoR) on the recommendation of the present government. The House dissolution was in itself a bold move taken at the insistence of Gen Zeers.

Dilemma 

It appears that the government is in a dilemma whether it should form the high-level property investigation body, given that the anti-graft mechanisms such as the Commission for Investigation of Abuse of Authority (CIAA) are already in operation. However, there has been a practice of forming powerful commissions to investigate the corrupt leaders and individuals, even though anti-corruption institutions are performing their tasks on their own. For instance, in 2058 B.S., the then government had formed a property investigation commission under the sitting judge of the Supreme Court, Bhairabh Prasad Lamsal. It studied the properties of a total of 30,599 public office-holders and recommended taking action against 602 individuals, including political leaders, civil servants, high-level army officers and judges. The implicated persons could not show the sources of their property. The commission had grilled those whose details of property were suspicious and lacked clarity.  

The CIAA had filed cases against the individuals recommended by the Lamsal-led commission.  This precedent needs to be followed while forming the powerful anti-corruption probe body. One reason behind the rage against corruption is that the existing anti-graft bodies have been grossly politicised and used as instruments of vendetta against political rivals and enemies. The corruption cases continue to rise as these constitutional bodies have failed to conduct fair investigations of the corrupt individuals. Failing to form the commission to investigate the corruption scams will only invite another round of street protests and further fuel instability in the country. 

To give justice to the families of Gen Z martyrs, the government should form another powerful commission to investigate the brutal killing of youths. Now the number of deaths from the Gen Z incidents has crossed 74. Around 60 of them are Gen Z protesters. The KP Sharma Oli government was responsible for the killing of young Nepalis who sacrificed their lives on the altar of the Gen Z uprising that was spontaneous and different from the past movements that were led by organised political forces. But now to divert this agenda, a conspiracy theory is concocted and ‘infiltrators’ are blamed for the Monday mayhem. 

Of course, there was infiltration of anarchist elements from different political parties. But the new government should investigate who they were and what their motive was. If those involved in the killing of the innocent people are not held accountable, the interim government risks losing its credibility. Media reports reveal that the Gen Zeers have demanded the government arrest former PM Oli, former Home Minister Ramesh Lekhak and Chief District Officer of Kathmandu Chhabilal Rijal for their role in the death of Gen Z protesters at Baneshwor of Kathmandu on September 8. The Karki government must not drag its feet when it comes to meeting the demands of Gen Zeers.  

The interim government has been tasked to hold elections in six months but this does not mean that it cannot take sweeping steps in the spirit of the movement. It is not a normal government but one that is obliged to execute the mandate of the Gen Z revolt. If it decides to punish those responsible for the death of such a large number of innocent youths, this will not be seen as an act of vengeance but as justice to the deceased and their families. 

Worrisome part

The political parties suffered a big blow during the Gen Z protest. Their position has been further dented with the dissolution of the House of Representatives (HoR). They are now licking their wounds. Some parties have even called for the restoration of the parliament. What's more worrying is that some party leaders are busy discrediting the Gen Z movement, making them responsible for the destruction of public and private properties and demanding legal action against them. If the parties attempt to settle scores, this will backfire on them, turning the streets volatile and violent.

The Gen Zeers should get their act together. They are not organised like the political parties that have a nationwide organisational network. To secure the achievements of the movement, they have to demonstrate strength, unity and solidarity. They should constantly put pressure on the government to constitute the above-mentioned commissions to meet their demands. The Gen Z movement provides a chance to carry out drastic reform in our governance system and this opportunity must not be allowed to go down the drain.

(The author is Deputy Executive Editor of this daily.)