Government Buildings Burn Amid Nepalese Protest

By Lauren Ho

Over the last 5 years Nepalese citizens have become increasingly troubled by their government. However, on September 9^th, protestors set fire to the Nepalese parliament in addition to attacking other government buildings and politicians’ homes. What began as a protest against public corruption and elite classism rapidly escalated, leading to the prime minister’s resignation and ultimately the arson of government buildings. During the bedlam, approximately 900 inmates were able to escape from jail and have yet to be located in addition to the deaths of 34 protestors. This chaos comes amidst overall public upheaval in the Indo-Pacific, as various countries continue to experience significant civil unrest. Just recently, Indonesia’s local parliament building was set on fire during a protest of a similar nature against corruption and elitism. Although these protests come from ongoing political issues, they mark a turning point in the instability of the respective nations. It can be anticipated that as these movements continue to inspire other countries, the Indo-Pacific will likely see more violent protests and rapid political escalation.