Terror targeted at history and the pride of the country

# Prem Sagar Poudel

It would be a serious mistake to view the violent and destructive activities carried out in the name of the Gen Z movement that emerged in Nepal a few days ago as a spontaneous social movement. These activities are planned actions with deep political bias, strategic direction, and targeted objectives, whose targets are especially leaders who stand in favor of the country, are active in expanding relations with China, and are free from American influence, and stand in opposition. Looking at the list of those attacked, it is clear that they were not targeted randomly, but according to a plan. Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli, who has attempted to build a strategic partnership with China by signing various agreements, has become a main target of protests for resisting American influence. If he was targeted because of corruption, many leaders in the country are more corrupt than him, but nothing has been done to any of them. This means that the real cause of the protests was not corruption, but rather the leaders were chosen based on foreign policy and political polarization.

Former Prime Minister Jhala Nath Khanal’s house was attacked after he began expressing support for Oli in recent days and standing with China. The incident in which his wife was tied up and set on fire at her house makes it clear that this was not a personal vendetta, but an organized campaign of violence. Although Jhala Nath Khanal himself managed to escape, the incident has had a serious impact on their lives. The attack on Mahesh Basnet, a leader close to Oli, in which he was beaten by chased and his house was set on fire, confirms that this was a strategically planned act.

In this context, it is noteworthy that Sher Bahadur Deuba and his wife, who were taking the path of expanding relations with India by rejecting the US SPP and moving in favor of regional stability, were also beaten very badly, and their homes and schools, including the Hilton Hotel, were set on fire. Similarly, Gagan Thapa, who had first moved to the American camp and later to the Indian camp, also fell victim to a similar attack. These incidents are of the same pattern, targeting, intimidating, and politically neutralizing opponents of powerful Western blocs.

The violent groups participating in the movement were not ordinary youth. They were mobilized with names, addresses, and maps. This is not a sign of spontaneous public demonstrations, but rather a premeditated terrorist act. It is mentioned that one of the leaders of this campaign is the son-in-law of the Chairman of the Maoist Center, Pushpa Kamal Dahal. Some are presenting him as the coordinator of the Gen-Z movement. Sudan Gurung of the NGO Hami Nepali, Former Chief Justices Kalyan Timilsina and Sushila Karki and Kathmandu Mayor Balendra Sah (Balen) are also mentioned as planners. This is a movement that has not harmed anyone on the American or European Union side, sparing them and only targeting leaders on the other side. It is said that his house was vandalized on the instructions of Dahal himself, fearing that he would be exposed as the mastermind behind this crime. He had already moved his important belongings to a safe place before the arson, which makes the incident seem like a drama.

Similarly, the owner of Bhatbhateni Supermarket, who imported goods from China and, at Oli’s request, provided land to the UML to build a party office, was also targeted. It includes details of his supermarket being looted and set on fire. Bidya Devi Bhandari, who was making nationalist statements, was also attacked by the crowd. Although she was expected to be protected as a former president, her house was set on fire and vandalized as soon as it was announced that should take action. The country’s main administrative buildings, Singha Durbar, Shital Niwas, and the Supreme Court, were targeted and destroyed.

The most important aspect is that no Maoist leader or cadre has been harmed in the name of the movement. Similarly, parties like the RSP, which are said to be run by the IDU (International Democrat Union), are also completely safe. This means that the movement’s target was not all those in power but only a select few, which is not a characteristic of any neutral movement.

All these activities have taken place in the direct presence of the Nepal Army, Armed Police Force, and Nepal Police. The inaction of security agencies in the face of such large-scale vandalism, arson, looting, and violence is itself a serious question. If this was a free movement, the security forces would have had to intervene. Their silence or presence seems suspicious. This proves that the movement received protection and direction from high political levels.

A deeper study of this entire event clears that this campaign, called the Gen-Z movement, was actually a premeditated terrorist attack, whose aim was to tilt the Nepali political balance in favor of America and Western powers, to neutralize leaders with pro-China views, and to suppress the issue of nationalism and independence. This was not a voice of public opinion, this was organized and directed political violence, which has spread in Nepal in the name of democracy.

(The author is a senior journalist, political analyst, President of the Nepal-China Mutual Cooperation Society, and an expert on international affairs.)