Turmoil in Nepal

[shaberon]

It sounds like a protest that turned violent after police shooting.


Government stuff was widely attacked such that the Supreme Court was destroyed. This would have amounted to a revolution, with unforeseeable results. Some places like supermarkets were also attacked. This rarely helps anything.

On the other hand, piles of assets belonging to a government accused of corruption have a very precise message when considered as selected targets of arson:

Childhood immunisation is the number one priority programme of the government, under which 13 types of vaccines are given...

In other words, someone had to identify and visit thirty-seven distribution centers in order to eliminate what might have been all of that stuff. If it's such a big program, then, there might be some "corruption" issues that need to be discussed here. That makes sense.


In the words of an outgoing MP:

I recall how nation-builder Prithvi Narayan Shah ensured self-reliance in weaponry, and how Jung Bahadur Kunwar mobilized 14,000 soldiers at once, fully equipped with arms and winter gear, to safeguard the nation.

So, yes, despite the allegations on the Wikipedia page, JB Kunwar is still held in high regard.

There is some unusual information about the new officials:

Prime Minister Sushila Karki has inducted three new members into her Council of Ministers. Rameshore Khanal, former Finance Secretary, has been appointed Minister for Finance. Kulman Ghising, former Executive Director of the Nepal Electricity Authority, will lead the Ministry of Physical Infrastructure and Transport, the Ministry of Urban Development, and the Ministry of Energy.

Om Prakash Aryal, an advocate and anti-corruption activist, has been given the Law and Home Affairs portfolio. According to a source from the President's Office, the newly appointed ministers are expected to be sworn in tomorrow. Meanwhile, in a landmark development, Senior Advocate Savita Bhandari Baral has been appointed as Nepal's first female Attorney General, following the resignation of Ramesh Badal.

Does this not say an opposition figure was just put in charge of domestic legal affairs?

Well, if you did not do any violent crimes, then you have nothing to worry about, had you been an outspoken critic of the government demanding reforms.

If you did something, this is not Israel and you might be treated humanely and serve a sentence and be done with it.

As an individual, I remain interested in the policies and issues in specific detail rather than broad allegation.


So far we have seen very little about that; here is something about what it is like to protest on a human level:

The day before the Gen Z protest was supposed to take place, Nepal’s beloved band Nepathya shared a clip of them performing the hit song, ‘Gaun Gaun Bata Utha’. The next morning, when the hopeful youth gathered at Maitighar Mandala, the same song was being played through a loudspeaker. This created an energy that was seen and felt, as the youth marched forward demanding change.

However, this is not the first time this song has been used in a movement. Written and composed by Shyam Tamot during the Panchayat era, it was widely used in democratic movements and carried an anti-establishment image for nearly three decades (1960–1990). It is also popularly known as the ‘Sankalpa song’. The Nepathya version of this track is as popular as the original.

‘Gaun Gaun Bata Utha’ wasn’t just limited to the streets. People actively used the song on social media platforms to voice their decades of discontent. As the song aptly puts it, “Sath ma kei na hune haru, awaj liyera utha,” (Those who have nothing, rise with your voice)—that is exactly what Gen Z did. They used their only weapon—their voices—to topple an incompetent Government and make their stand.

“Songs like these touched an invisible side and brought youths together,” says 24-year-old Youbesh Dhaubhadel. “It gave people hope, aspiration, and also power.” The other similar patriotic songs circulating on social media right now are ‘Nepal Haseko’ by Balen and ‘Baneko Cha Paharale’ by Gopal Yonjan.

Not only that, Nepali Gen Zs also adopted a symbol from a similar movement that began in Indonesia in July—a pirate flag. The cartoonish skull on a black banner called ‘The Jolly Rager’ is from the hit manga series ‘One Piece’. In the anime, this flag symbolises resistance against unjust rulers, advocating for freedom, and upholding one’s values.

“The flag is a voice against oppression,” says Anup Karki, a Gen Z youth who participated in the protest on September 8. “Jolly Roger raises voices against the already empowered who exploit their authority,” he adds.

In the universe of ‘One Piece’, the phrase “the Will of D will bring a new storm” refers to the idea that people carrying the initial “D” are destined to create major upheavals or spark transformative events—much like a storm. “Drawing a parallel with our own reality, one could say that ‘the will of youth will bring a new storm,’ suggesting that young people’s collective energy and determination can challenge the status quo and drive powerful change,” says Karki.

The flag’s influence has spread beyond Asia. In France, during protests that began on September 10 against President Emmanuel Macron and the political elite, and proposed spending cuts, demonstrators wearing straw hats were seen carrying hand-drawn versions of the flag along with other symbols from the series.

Many see the flag as a remix of popular and political cultures. This suggests that symbols from entertainment can gain new significance when adopted in political movements.

Barring Gen Z, the manga’s worldwide fame may surprise some, but ‘One Piece’ has been the best-selling series since its debut in 1997, with over 500 million copies sold globally.

In addition to the flag, demonstrators took to the streets with creative placards. Several references from movies and TV series were used to raise voices uniquely. One protestor was seen holding a humorous banner that read, “You dirty dogs! Tell me! Where’s my garib Nepali’s khoon pasine ka money? Batao mujhe batao!!”. This, of course, is adapted from a famous dialogue delivered by Katrina Kaif in the movie ‘Tees Maar Khan’. This scene has resurfaced on social media following the protests that began on Monday.

In a similar vein, another protestor was seen holding the iconic ‘face’ made by Steve Carell’s character Michael Scott, from the hit TV series ‘The Office’. The placard read, “Politicians, when you ask where all the taxpayer money went.”

These symbols don’t just capture attention and give young people a voice; they show that pop culture can inspire, unite, and empower a generation demanding change.

That, of course, is nothing new, the flag means how they are using it, even if maritime in origin. It will, of course, unfurl around the whole world until we get this sorted.

[bojancan]

Here I am placing Brian Berletić's analyze about Nepal's Turmoil ...

Sept, 12
Sabby Sabs
238K subscribers
Nepal Protests Are ENGINEERED By The US Government w/Brian Berletic

Source: https://youtube.com/watch?v=A_xclpPG3Nw

[shaberon]

First of all, a bit of perspective on what it has been like relatively recently.

In the 1990s there was a viable garment industry which was demolished by removing quotas on larger countries. The recent tariffs only put Nepal at ten per cent, meaning it may eventually look attractive to current Indian producers, but nothing has changed yet.

During that time there was an insurgency which has resulted in over 78,000 cases, which the government investigated since 2015 and has yet to award a single benefit.

Or we might say "a government" since it has been through about fourteen.

Nothing is stable and cohesive there. I am not sure if there was significant opposition before 1950, but, this has been its condition since the independence of India.

What continued to happen was no surprise.

Regarding the buzzword about bans:

The deadline expired on Wednesday night, with none of the large global platforms—including Meta (Facebook, Instagram, WhatsApp), Alphabet (YouTube), X (formerly Twitter), Reddit, and LinkedIn—submitting applications.

In contrast, TikTok, Viber, Witk, Nimbuzz, and Popo Live have already been listed, while Telegram and Global Diary have applied and are awaiting approval.

This is probably a framed reaction here:

Hit Raj Pandey, chief whip of CPN (Maoist Centre), the main opposition party in parliament, said the decision was objectionable and warned that shutting down social media could throw the country into disarray. Speaking to reporters outside Parliament, Pandey accused the government of failing to prepare a workable environment for registration and of curbing freedom of expression.

“Regulation is necessary, but the government must first identify what the problem is and where it lies,” Pandey said. “If social media is shut down, the country will become chaotic. We oppose this decision.”

It is noted the main thing that was stopped would be the money that was about to be exchanged, i. e. by monetizing the links and videos which apparently was not being done there.

That doesn't seem to be quite the same thing as censorship, although this is without knowing what "approval" consists of.




This is schizophrenic because we are in a place where Democracy means Maoist Communism. That is, the "party" has only one clear platform, the removal of monarchy, whereas the use of "Maoist" is to indicate groups that back up their demands with guns. The actual first target of their violence in the 90s was an office of agricultural loan papers. Since then, things are less clear.

Even the nominally-socialist Nepali Congress began as a call for armed revolution.

There isn't a "consensus"; there are a whole bunch of small Socialist and Communist parties; a National Democrat is a Monarchist.



Despite its location, it is not known as a big player in the BRICS field.


What seems to be at work here is the George Bush initiative Millennium Challenge Corporation. This is an alternative to USAID with its own set of criteria. And:

Nepal's parliament ratified MCC compact on 27 February 2022

Here is what it is like to question if the criteria are good for your country:

In February 2020, the Cabinet of Sri Lanka said it would not sign the proposed MCC agreement in its present form. A committee of experts had determined that it contained clauses incompatible with the Constitution of Sri Lanka and was "detrimental" to the country's sovereignty. After a board meeting on 15 December 2020, the MCC announced the cancelation of the proposed compact with Sri Lanka. Several sources have cited a Chinese government disinformation campaign against MCC was the origin of these concerns. A similar disinformation effort attributed to the Chinese government was attempted against MCC's program in Nepal, but was ultimately unsuccessful and the compact moved forward.

Some Nepalese Communists oppose it ardently, while the main ones took it in.

China has no footing there. It's India and the Euro and Anglo folk who are considered the investors or developers.

It's completely unclear whether anything about this came up for discussion. It was previously alleged that it could be used for personal gain, but the agreement passed anyway. It's the largest development package ever seen in Nepal. The main innovation about the MCC is that its ratings for approval are derived from third parties rather than political offices. It perhaps is too small and too new to be able to say much about it. These are U. S. Congressional funds managed by an office that costs almost half of its entire budget.

As a taxpayer, I don't really have an objection to a community chest for infrastructure which only goes to those who ask for it. By the time I add this to the expenses that seem to me to be agreeable, it gets up to about ten per cent of the total budget.

The program is primarily for and has been used in Africa, and we know their opinions about the major western institutions, so I would tend to trust whatever they say about it.

At this time, you more or less have the spokesperson of an armed insurgency sitting in government who makes a shallow, vengeful remark, and his claim winds up being true and we get this mess.

The criticism was you are not supposed to be "in the government" and "on the street" at the same time.

Without further information, we see Maoist Communists have apparently helped western corporations generate cash.

While demanding free speech, something said to enforce censorship is allowed in.

[shaberon]

This one may go quiet in terms of civil strife.


The result was a slightly unconstitutional power vacuum created by cleaning house. Offices were vacated.


The new PM is acceptable to both sides:

Following multiple rounds of deliberations, the Gen Z movement, which toppled the KP Sharma Oli-led government, agreed that Karki would lead the transitional government. She had gotten the most votes among Gen Z voters on Discord, a free communication platform on Wednesday, making her the most favoured candidate to lead the post-revolution government.

Not only the youngsters. She also emerged as the most acceptable figure for the traditional political forces.


From a period of staffing the offices with new personnel, there is the suggestion to forward the reforms through the normal process:

Sanjeev Humagain, who teaches political philosophy at Tribhuvan University and Nepal Open University, said the natural issues of constitutionality will come to the forefront.

“We have to find a way out within the constitution, causing a minimum harm to it," he said. Referring to the demands of some sections of the Gen Z movement for radical changes in the constitution, he said the focus of the government should be towards holding elections rather than engaging in constitutional issues.

“There are demands for a change in the governance system and other revisions. If necessary, that has to be done after the election by the people’s representatives. Trying to make radical changes in the current constitution invites conflict,” he said.

In the view of experts, the Gen Z can come up with their broader vision on the constitution itself, go to the elections and get a mandate for that. Then, they can implement it from the new parliament, the legitimate body.

PM Karki mostly sympathizes and agrees with the protest:


The recent movement has provided us with the guidance that we are yet to make improvements in many areas.

...there are countless grievances, outrages and dissatisfactions of the people towards the ways of governance...


She is credited with some of the first prosecutions of governmental corruption cases. Interestingly, it's not the same year there:

Addressing the Constitution Day and National Day, 2082, main celebration ceremony held today at the Army Pavilion at Tundikhel, PM Karki stated that we must recognize that this movement emerged partly due to shortcomings in good governance, prosperity and development in accordance with the spirit of the Constitution, as well as from unfulfilled expectations, deprivation and the frustrations arising from them.

When was the last time you saw a corruption judge come to power and immediately start blaming the government?

I think it is an important step. You need to be able to address issues even if it is at a constitutional level. That way the prospects are on paper, and anyone can see what it is about.

Will this move from a violent outburst to an era of sensible reform? If the clever ones get together, I bet they could do it. I bet they could at least come up with something that is slightly more effective, and slightly less corrupt. It's federal democratic republican that is mostly run by communists. Time for a Parliament shuffle.

[Ravenlocke]

Nury Vittachi

EVIDENCE IS NOW overwhelming that the US is involved with regime change in Nepal.

Six out of eight appointed ministers for the replacement government have US connections, with four of them having directly worked with groups funded by USAID and/ or the NED, top investigative journalist Brian Berletic revealed today.

Separately, the present writer confirmed that the Niti Foundation, the Nepalese group highlighting corruption in the previous government—was financed by the NED, Open Societies Foundation, and USAID.

Independent journalists also this week revealed that the Federation of Nepalese Journalists and its 22 “civic group” co-signatories of an anti-government letter that escalated the deadly protests were largely funded by US political interference bodies.

The US is this week going ahead with military exercises aimed at building expertise for a war on China. NATO is testing “killer robots” – autonomous unmanned weapons on the sea, underwater and in the air.

.

NEWS BLACKOUT
The American connections of Nepal’s new replacement leadership “makes a definite pattern of standing up an overwhelmingly pro-US (and US-dependent) interim government,” Berletic wrote on X this morning.

Former Prime Minister K. P. Sharma Oli was building a good relationship with China before he was ousted by US-sponsored civic groups on September 9.

The international media is running a total news blackout on references to US political interference groups in Nepal – as they have done about similar acts of manipulation in Indonesia, Thailand, Serbia, Moldova, Hong Kong, and scores of other places.

.

PLANNING FOR WAR
Nepal borders China. The White House, despite claiming that it is pivoting away from its role as “world policeman” in Asia, is moving ahead with plans for war on China, and has raised military spending to an all-time high.

The president of Palau, a Pacific island used as a US military base, said earlier this month that his island “is already at war with China”.

NATO is currently running an exercise to test and exercise the use of killer robots at sea, underwater, and in the air. The autonomous surface vessels, underwater vessels, and aerial vehicles, are being put through their paces in the Atlantic this week.

In the second week of November, NATO is running a massive cyber warfare exercise called Cyber Coalition 25.

https://x.com/NuryVittachi/status/1970653355585458298

[shaberon]

Well, we always need to take guilt by association with a grain of salt.


President Putin was an attendee of the World Economic Forum.

Many African rebels took U. S. assistance to rebel and throw the U. S. out.

There aren't many hands in Nepal, so, it would almost be expected that several people must have some kind of American influence. The main thing is to not let that turn into a system of exploitation.

Again the term "Maoist" mostly means "extremist", and, in the fuzzy policies I ruminated, it was apparent that Nepal wants to identify itself as "not Chinese" Communism, although beyond that, I don't recall much explanation. They want to call it an intellectual progression from Russia, to China, to Nepal, but what this means is unclear to me. I also cannot tell the difference between Democracy and Communism in this setting.

As enchanted as I am by its history, I know nothing of its "modernization" or Constitution, so I will find something to post on the status quo in order to understand challenges and changes that come up.

[Ravenlocke]

Brian Berletic

Sep 26
🇺🇸🇳🇵More Covering Up US-Meddling in Nepal - Entire Webpage Deleted to Cover up US Ties

Mandan Pariyar, appointed as Minister of Agriculture in Nepal's "interim" gov set up after US-backed unrest toppled the previous government - directed the Samata Foundation - funded by the US government through the NED, USAID, and the CIA-proprietary The Asia Foundation as well as Open Society.

Sources: https://web.archive.org/web/20250321...n.org/partner/

And re: The Asia Foundation as a CIA proprietary: https://history.state.gov/historical...964-68v10/d132

The ENTIRE webpage of Samata Foundation's directors has been deleted - after other US government-funded orgs deleted pages ( https://x.com/BrianJBerletic/status/1971453058602479712 ) listing interim ministers as members of US government-funded organizations.

Here is the original URL of Samata Foundation's team: https://samatafoundation.org/our-team/

Here is the archived version: https://web.archive.org/web/20201023....org/our-team/

The US and its puppet regime are deliberately erasing evidence linking Nepal's interim government to US interference - honest people don't act like this.

https://x.com/BrianJBerletic/status/1971831346537680960

¤=[Post Update]=¤

🇺🇸🇳🇵Something to Hide: US-installed regime in Nepal begins erasing evidence of US-backing...

Om Prakash Aryal belonged to a US government-funded organization and engaged in subversion in Nepal for years. He has now been brought into the "interim" gov in Nepal following US-sponsored regime change.

His ties to his own US gov-funded org are now being erased to cover up evidence of US involvement.

This is very typical of US NED-funded traitors - deny US-backing, excuse US-backing, try to cover up US-backing...

Here is the archived page: https://web.archive.org/web/20230128...prakash-aryal/

Screenshot below...

https://x.com/BrianJBerletic/status/1971453058602479712

[shaberon]

According to protest organizer B Yadav

When we reached the Everest Hotel, we resumed our peaceful protest. We planned to return to Maitighar Mandala via the turning point in front of the hotel. Our intention was to hold a peaceful and well-organised protest from Maitighar to Everest Hotel.However, some people on motorcycles unexpectedly arrived from the front while we were at the Everest Hotel. After blending in with the crowd, they unexpectedly pushed through the police barricade and advanced.The movement was carried out with dignity and peace, with the sole goal of combating corruption. It was a truly graceful and meaningful protest against corruption, rather than one against the social media ban imposed by the government.

The idea that Discord is politics is exaggerated, just a blind alley.


Nepal had its own rising storm:

We cannot jump into the conclusion that Nepal’s growing closeness to any state caused any other state to orchestrate the regime change. If so, the state we were positioning closer to in the recent months and years might have expressed dissatisfaction over the change.

Forget international actors, the internal conditions were sufficient enough for the type of protest that took place on September 8 and 9. Political parties and their leaders were repeatedly warned about the impending situation in the country but they did not pay much heed to it.

According to one of the injured

It must meet all of our demands, including a directly-elected executive, an investigation into all corruption cases since 1989 and the nationalisation of all wealth.

At this point, Oli and a few associates are locked in to the country so they can perhaps be tried.

He came to power with the 2015 Constitution with "direct election" as a major issue:

These propositions were hotly contested during the drafting of the current Constitution. The Maoists were in favour of a directly elected executive, whereas the Nepali Congress was in favour of an executive elected by Parliament.

or

The demand for a directly elected executive head was first raised by Maoist leader Pushpa Kamal Dahal after the 2006 ceasefire.

A brief objective review in the linked articles shows direct elections usually result in a slightly higher "corruption index".


Among the protestors, it is still under discussion:

The third demand is the establishment of a high-level, independent anti-corruption mechanism to investigate graft since the restoration of democracy in 1990. GenZ argues that existing watchdog bodies are toothless, filled with political appointees loyal to ruling parties. The new body must be free from political influence and empowered to investigate and prosecute even the most powerful. These demands are not negotiable.

While united on these core demands, GenZ activists hold different views on the political system’s future. Some advocate for a directly elected prime minister, while others favor reforms within the existing parliamentary structure. Even young members within ruling parties share this frustration, calling for internal reforms and urging long-entrenched leaders to step aside and pass the mantle of leadership to a new generation. This is not a formal demand but a discussion taking place within GenZ circles.

There is wisdom among them now being published under the subject Deconstructing Development:

Reimagining Development: Bold Directions Towards a Thriving World lays out a roadmap for countries like Nepal as they try to fix what went wrong. Billions of dollars were poured into Nepal’s ‘development’ over the past seven decades, but the country is littered with the carcasses of failures like the rusted abandoned tractors from the Rapti Valley Development Project 65 years ago.

It is a serious apprehension about capitalistic tendencies:

The first one dissects the Development Industry and the model of perpetual ‘growth’. (Interestingly, the word ‘growth’ is used in medicine to signify malignancy.) The authors propose re-centering the stories of beneficiaries and their lived experiences which have been pushed to the margins in ‘project’ design of mainstream Development with a capital ‘D’.

The book defines development with a lowercase ‘d’ as a more democratic bottom-up approach. Capital ‘D’ Development on the other hand involves ‘developers’ wanting to ‘develop’ societies, replicating the wasteful, unsustainable growth path of the industrialised countries.

The book’s second section examines the tension between sweeping international concepts of development, and how it is not quite relevant to the reality of rural areas of countries like Nepal. The prevailing notion that development ‘aid’ flows mostly from cash rich countries to cash poor ones ignores the fact that it mostly takes from the poor in rich countries to give to the rich in poor countries. After all, the Global South also includes the underserved parts of the Global North.

To address this is to de-Americanize a money system whitewashing one's culture. I think they may be on to something here.

The Communists are convening to re-articulate their platform which currently reduces to little other than "directly elected Prime Minister". Neither they nor the mass protest obviously have such a thing. And I would say the heart of the issue is in the book just linked, rather than the exact style or form of elections and representation. It takes into concern the well-being of indigenous peoples and recommends insight of Buddhism, so, this is more significant, maybe it will catch on.


Although I have no politics, I have a new Advisor:

Aryatara Shakya of Itumbahal, Kathmandu, has been selected as the new Kumari.

She will formally assume the Kumari’s throne on Tuesday between 12:05 pm and 12:16 pm. according to the auspicious time set for the ritual. The outgoing Kumari, Trishna Shakya, will be given a ceremonial farewell with traditional music.

Two-and-a-half-year-old Aryatara was chosen from among the names recommended to the Shakya Mahavihar Association following its call for nominations.

The association had written to 15 Bahals (monastic courtyards) in the city, requesting names for the new Kumari. From the recommended candidates, Aryatara Shakya was selected as Kumari in line with traditional practices, in consultation with the Guthi Sansthan, the Panchang Committee, and the selection panel.

The Kumari is revered as a living goddess in Nepal’s cultural and religious tradition.

That's entirely correct and I humbly bow and offer my obeisances. Kumari Aryatara for the prosperity of Nepal!

[shaberon]

This place has reached a 100 days into the Karki interim government and as you can tell, the turmoil is gone.


The results so far are exactly nothing.

On the apprehensive side, there are still some missing weapons and 4,000 escaped prisoners.

To its credit, the government is mostly accepted as not bad, it's done nothing egregious or failed on anything critical.

On the other hand, it hasn't addressed or fixed anything, and the same Mr. Oli has re-solidified a huge support base.

Of course, most of the expectations are really in the forthcoming elections, which take place around the time of the US Primaries in March.

There has been some shuffling, such as the Maoists are now Communists.

I'm not going to link a lot of the current dialogue, because first of all I am going to say the Nepalese are very intelligent and they use some very polite websites that generally don't have flashy details and tons of extra bling that make me avoid most American sites. I'm just going to say they have an eye for better quality.

It has a different dynamic, because, here, we went through all the iterations of mainframes and PCs to get to the devices we have today. Countries like Nepal didn't do this. At some point, they started getting ahold of only the newer technologies, and so a "digiterati" there is someone who knows how to use a smart phone for social networking. That's it. They developed or built nothing, and so their infrastructure laws are oblivious about this type of thing.

There are so many parties that, the looming consensus here is coming up to be about the same as in the United States. Rather than difficult, extended wrangling about legislative reforms, the easiest way to get rid of generations of failed policies is to vote out every crony and vulture, everyone who sits, anyone old.

I'm finding this is most of our common ground. Most of us can agree on a few blatant examples of what not to do. We're pretty sure about that. The magic formula of perfectly working legal order has not been discovered by anyone yet. It's still experimental. Or at least US and Nepali authorities have not got there yet.

Despite our different levels of technology, I think these countries are going into very similar crises right now.


Rather than quoting from that stuff, let's look at minorities after centuries of oppression and empire-building that are far older than the United States.

From Nepal, this is the first Kirat to summit Mt. Vinson, Antarctica:







What's even more mindblowing is not alone:

Former British Gurkha soldier Hari Budha Magar has made mountaineering history, becoming the first double above-knee amputee to summit the highest peaks on all seven continents after reaching the top of Mount Vinson in Antarctica on January 6, 2026. After departing his home in the United Kingdom on Christmas Eve and traveling to one of the most remote places in the world, Hari and his team battled brutal -25°C temperatures, fierce Antarctic winds, vertical slopes, and freezing ice fields during a grueling three-day climb.The team, consisting of Abiral Rai, Mingma Sherpa, and climb leader Jangbu Sherpa from Alpine Ascents, reached the 4,892-meter summit at 22:00 local time, completing Magar's years-long Conquering Dreams - 7 Summits mission.

"Antarctic winds, treacherous slopes and freezing ice fields tested the former infanteer's mind, body and prosthetic legs to the extreme," the team said."If you have a dream and dedicate yourself and never give up, you can achieve anything - whatever life throws at you," Magar said after summiting. "We have shown that nothing is impossible and made awareness of disability, inspiring others to climb 'their own mountains' and conquer their dreams whatever that might be."

The climb pushed the former Royal Gurkha Rifles NCO to his absolute limits. "The climb was very tough, the conditions and difficulty meant that I was literally crawling up on all fours, battling my way up the mountain," Magar said to the Gurkha Brigade Association.The expedition required the team to navigate the treacherous Branscomb Glacier while roped together to overcome hazardous crevasses. They then climbed over 1,000 meters in elevation using fixed ropes on 45-degree slopes, where soft snow mixed with windblown icy patches slowed their progress to high camp. The final push to the summit became even more exposed to high winds, testing Magar's mind, body, and prosthetic legs to the extreme, the association further added.

Born in Nepal's Rolpa district, Magar served in the Royal Gurkha Rifles for 15 years before an IED explosion in Afghanistan in 2010 changed his life forever. The blast cost him both his legs above the knees, and what followed was a difficult journey that included struggles with mental and physical recovery, thoughts of suicide, and addiction. But with the support of his family and veteran charities, the 45-year-old found a new purpose through adventure and sport. His journey began with a skydive, then progressed to golf and skiing, before he set his sights on a childhood dream: climbing Mount Everest. Magar's extraordinary quest began in August 2019 when he scaled Mont Blanc (4,810m) in Europe, followed by Mt. Kilimanjaro (5,895m) in Africa in January 2020. After a brief pause, he made global headlines in May 2023 by summiting Mt. Everest (8,849m), becoming the first double above-knee amputee to reach the world's highest peak-an accomplishment that earned him a Guinness World Record and the Pride of Britain Award.

Continuing his ambitious challenge, Magar climbed Denali (6,190m) in North America in June 2024 and Mt. Aconcagua (6,961m) in South America in February 2025. In July 2025, he scaled Mt. Olympus (2,918m) in Greece alongside local climber Marios Giannakou, dedicating the ascent to Giannakou's late friend Jason Kenisson, who had died on Everest two years earlier-the same day Magar reached its summit.

Then in October 2025, Magar conquered Carstensz Pyramid (4,884m) in Oceania, reaching the summit at 7:00 am local time on October 18. "This climb was one of the most technical of all the Seven Summits," he said after the ascent. "But with my team's help, we made it."With Mount Vinson now conquered, Magar has completed all Seven Summits, joining fewer than 500 climbers worldwide who have achieved this feat-and becoming the only double above-knee amputee to do so.

For Magar, the achievement is not about personal glory. "It's not about fame or money," he says. "It's about proving that disability is not inability, that we can all rise beyond our limits, no matter how high the mountain.""Believing in ourselves is key to overcoming any obstacle. Every challenge becomes an opportunity to grow and achieve the impossible," he added. "Together, we make anything possible."Magar thanked his team, family, friends, community, charities, partners, and supporters: "This wouldn't happen without them."

[shaberon]

Fortunately, there has been nothing to update this with in terms of turmoil.



Nepal is on its way to vote in a new Parliament in this way:

More than 3,400 candidates are competing in the direct vote, 40 percent aged below 35 years.

The general idea is to throw out the twenty-year stuffed suits of nothingness.

No single party is expected to win a majority.

Now we can watch a real Communist election, unbound from religious dogma or state-ist security matters.

[Ravenlocke]

RT

Six months after violent protests toppled KP Sharma Oli, nearly 19 million Nepalis head to the polls

Party splits, 3,400+ candidates, Gen-Z anger turned political force — Nepal’s old guard is fighting to survive a populist surge

Full story ⬇️


https://x.com/RT_com/status/2029285396333367356

https://swentr.site/news/633760-nepa...&utm_medium=xx

From violent revolt to ballot box: Nepal’s old guard faces a populist surge

Nepal is heading to a general election on Thursday, six months after sudden and violent protests rocked the Himalayan nation and led to the resignation of then-Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli’s government. Nearly 19 million Nepalis will vote to elect a 275‑member parliament, with more than 3,400 candidates contesting – at least a quarter of them under the age of 40.

If everything had gone as planned back in September 2025, Oli, who leads the prominent Communist Party of Nepal (Unified Marxist–Leninist), known as CPN‑UML, would have handed over the prime minister’s post to his coalition partner Sher Bahadur Deuba, president of the Nepali Congress party, under a power‑sharing deal struck between the two forces in July 2024, when the previous elections were held.

Under that arrangement, Oli was to lead the government for two years, after which Deuba would take over. Instead, the planned, orderly transition was derailed by mass unrest: widespread, violent protests that left 77 people dead and injured more than 2,000.

Triggered by a social media ban, the uprising – quickly branded globally as a Gen‑Z protest – morphed into a broader revolt over a stagnant economy and perceived corruption among the governing elite. The government elected by the people was removed, Parliament was dissolved, and an interim administration was formed with former chief justice Sushila Karki named as interim prime minister.

In the 2022 election, the Nepali Congress emerged as the largest party, winning 89 seats in the 275‑member House of Representatives. Oli’s CPN‑UML came second with 78 seats. The CPN (Maoist Centre) secured 32 seats, while the Rastriya Swotantra Party (RSP) won 20. The government formed by the two largest parties, the Nepali Congress and the UML, was considered strong. However, the September arson and unrest brought it down quickly, like a strong wind toppling a solid structure in moments.

Since then, there has been a sustained effort to spread negativity against Nepal’s traditional political parties and their leaders. Many observers believe this is a deliberate attempt to weaken established forces.

By the time of the upcoming elections, Nepal’s largest democratic party, the Nepali Congress, had split. In January 2026, Nepali Congress General Secretary Gagan Thapa and leader Bishwa Prakash Sharma convened a Special General Convention in Kathmandu, resulting in the party’s division. Nepali Congress President Sher Bahadur Deuba, who has served as prime minister five times (1995–1997, 2001–2002, 2004–2005, 2017–2018 and 2021–2022), did not attend. Deuba and his wife, Arju Rana, were injured during the September violence when demonstrators broke into their residence in Kathmandu.

Thapa was elected unopposed as president of the breakaway faction, which claimed the backing of more than 60% of party delegates. The Election Commission has recognised the Thapa‑led faction as the official Nepali Congress. Thapa, 49, is now one of the key prime‑ministerial candidates, while 79‑year‑old Deuba is not contesting the election.

While some view this as the old guard stepping aside – one of the possible outcomes of the youth‑led protests – others argue that the protests themselves were driven by external forces seeking to weaken legitimate parties.

Senior Nepali Congress leader Shekhar Koirala has claimed that the split was the result of a foreign conspiracy. Speaking in January, he suggested that political forces based in Kathmandu, along with international actors, had been actively working to undermine the party. “We went through many visible and invisible internal conflicts during this period,” he said. “Many national and international conspiracies were woven, and we failed to stop the interests of those who wanted to weaken the Nepali Congress.”

Meanwhile, Oli, who resigned following the uprising, was re‑elected as CPN‑UML president in December and is contesting the polls. Although some within the CPN‑UML called for his resignation after the unrest, the dissent proved ineffective.

Oli, in an interview with RT India earlier this year, also claimed that the September protests were “unusual” and organized. “That was not a simple and usual thing. That was unusual, and it couldn’t have taken place all of a sudden. It was organized in a planned way, it seems even at that time and later on,” Oli said in an exclusive interview in January.

The former PM noted that Nepal’s neighbors Sri Lanka and Bangladesh, also shaken by similar protests, warned his government that comparable unrest could hit the Himalayan nation. “Bangladesh and Sri Lanka were telling us… Leaders were talking that such things would happen, and things happened. It was an attack on our democracy to send back them to poverty,” Oli said.

What lies ahead?

The general election scheduled for March 5 is being watched closely. New and emerging parties – including the Rastriya Swotantra Party Nepal, Shram Sanskriti Party, and Ujjalo Nepal – have campaigned aggressively, building a narrative that traditional parties, especially the Nepali Congress and the UML, have failed and should be replaced. The established parties, particularly the Congress and the UML, appear to be on the defensive.

Several high‑profile figures without deep political backgrounds have been promoted by these new forces. They include 35‑year‑old Balendra Shah, a rapper popularly known as Balen; former journalist Rabi Lamichhane, 51; and technocrat‑politician Kulman Ghising, who is credited with ending the country’s notorious load‑shedding crisis during his tenure as managing director of the Nepal Electricity Authority (NEA). Ghising briefly joined the National Independent Party but left within 12 days and launched his own campaign.

Balen, nominated by the Rastriya Swotantra Party Nepal as its prime‑ministerial candidate, is contesting from Oli’s own constituency. The former rapper resigned as mayor of Kathmandu in January to run in the election. His political engagement has largely been through social media, particularly Facebook. He has drawn controversy for provocative posts, including comments about burning the Singha Durbar and criticism of powerful countries such as India and China.

Political analyst Puranjan Acharya says the election will be especially challenging for the Congress and the UML because of the rise of populist forces. “Many of these leaders have no clear ideology or political background,” he said. “But people are being drawn to populist narratives.”

Pradeep Gyawali, a Central Committee member of the UML, warned that the surge in populism could be dangerous for democracy. “There has been a long‑standing attempt to promote populism in Nepal,” he said. “As long as political parties were strong, it did not succeed. After the turmoil of September 9–10, populism found space.”

While newly formed political forces have promised to improve governance and eliminate corruption – issues that were at the centre of the September protests – the Himalayan nation of almost 30 million people, sandwiched between India and China, may face more challenges ahead.

“Nepal will have to endure difficult times for some time. The challenges are both national and international,” Nilambar Acharya, former Nepali ambassador to India, told RT. “New power centres have emerged, and their orientation may be more international than national. The question is not which foreign powers have influenced us in the past, but which ones we are now moving closer to. That could change Nepal’s overall direction.”

He added, “Western powers are now more visible in Nepal, and I see Western influence increasing. Nepal lies between two major countries, and we must understand the sensitivity of that position.”

[shaberon]

Posted by Ravenlocke (here)
Political analyst Puranjan Acharya says the election will be especially challenging for the Congress and the UML because of the rise of populist forces. “Many of these leaders have no clear ideology or political background,” he said. “But people are being drawn to populist narratives.”

Pradeep Gyawali, a Central Committee member of the UML, warned that the surge in populism could be dangerous for democracy. “There has been a long‑standing attempt to promote populism in Nepal,” he said. “As long as political parties were strong, it did not succeed. After the turmoil of September 9–10, populism found space.”

Not sure I understand this.

The difference between "populism" and "democracy", vis a vis one person, one vote?

I certainly don't believe it is a "guaranteed winner" or anything like that, except, perhaps, in Nepal, which certainly has people that can address issues in better detail. No one there has any experience in running a "prosperous" democratic government; that is the problem. Removal of monarchy did not spontaneously lead to greener pastures; or otherwise these complaints wouldn't be popping up.

I find it interesting to see what they come up with that is new and improved.

It won't be like here; they aren't going to sell their future to AI data centers, or go on a mad crusade; if they make something that is less repressive to ordinary poor people, it will set a good example.

[Ravenlocke]

RT_India

Mar 7
🇳🇵Nepal Election: Rapper-Turned Politician’s Party Heading for ‘Landslide Win’

Balendra Shah’s Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP) looks set to break the stronghold of traditional parties in Nepal as vote counting enters its final stage.

The former Kathmandu mayor holds an ‘unassailable’ lead, as per local media citing Nepal election commission figures.


Voting Concludes in Nepal: RT's
@vnayak1710
Details the Next Steps

https://x.com/RT_India_news/status/2030226496800080274

[Ravenlocke]

Maktoob

The Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP) has emerged as the leading force in Nepal’s parliamentary elections, winning 119 direct seats and leading in six more as the counting of votes neared completion, according to the Election Commission of Nepal.

https://maktoobmedia.com/india/rastr...-direct-seats/

https://x.com/MaktoobMedia/status/2030947818341581173

https://x.com/France24_en/status/2030247159212187865

Al Jazeera English

Mar 7
Balendra Shah’s party represents a reformist wave reshaping Himalayan nation’s politics.

https://x.com/AJEnglish/status/2030516362934730942

[Ravenlocke]

ANI
@
Mar 7
Nepal | According to the Election Commission, Former mayor and rapper Balendra 'Balen' Shah won Jhapa-5, defeating former Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli.

According to the count, Balen received 68,348 votes, while former Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli received 18,734 votes.

https://x.com/ANI/status/2030261897740824885

https://x.com/business/status/2030989732138696840