00:00Nepal is facing massive unrest after the government banned 26 major social media platforms,
00:06triggering what is being called a Gen Z revolution.
00:09On September 8, thousands of young people, many still in school uniforms, protested in Kathmandu.
00:14Police responded with water cannons, tear gas and live fire,
00:18leaving at least 20 dead and hundreds injured.
00:21A curfew was imposed and the army deployed.
00:24The ban was the spark.
00:25But anger has been brewing for years.
00:28Over corruption, unemployment, inequality and the domination of old political leaders.
00:35Youth accused politicians' families of living in luxury through corrupt means.
00:39The NGO Hami Nepal is seen as the main organiser of the protests,
00:43but questions have been raised about its funding and possible foreign influence.
00:47Links have been alleged to figures with corruption charges,
00:49controversial businessmen and organisations like the Barbara Foundation and Infinity Holdings.
00:54Critics argue this follows a familiar global pattern of youth-led uprisings,
01:00such as in Serbia, Georgia, Ukraine, the Arab Spring, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka,
01:06where NGOs with foreign backing were accused of fueling regime change.
01:10Some analysts suggest the US may be pushing for a pliable government in Nepal,
01:14especially since Prime Minister K.P. Ohli was seen as close to China.
01:19The bigger geopolitical theory is that Washington wants to use Nepal and recently Bangladesh
01:25as leverage against both India and China,
01:28installing leaders more favourable to US interests.
01:32In short, while the protests appear to be about corruption and free expression,
01:37deeper narratives claim they may be internationally engineered regime change efforts
01:40using discontented youth as the front.
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