Protecting democracy, a key challenge for Nepal

"The Old Guard has to go'; this is the principal message to the world from the historic youth-led revolts in Sri Lanka, Bangladesh and now Nepal.

- BY LYNN OCKERSZ

Violence in any form and for whatever cause is difficult to condone but the parasitism of the ruling classes or of the 'Old Guard' in these South Asian countries has been of such proportions and been perpetuated for so long that youth impatience has led to violence.

The devastation meted out to principal institutions of democracy such as the house of parliament and the Supreme Court building in Nepal, for instance, goes beyond mere symbolism and indicates youth impatience and frustration with their seeming impotence and incapability to meet the basic aspirations of the people.

As pointed out, the sweeping social media shut-down by the Nepalese government was the mere trigger to the wider violent upheaval that focused on the rooting out of corruption in public life and the political class was seen as chiefly instrumental in perpetuating such corruption.

An uncertain political future currently faces Nepal. The violence has resulted in the democratic process coming to a halt and there is a huge question mark over who will fill the yawning political vacuum in the country. However, law-and-order institutions, such as the army, are still firmly in place and the likelihood is great that they will from now on be playing a prominent role in public life.

However, the army being 'in the saddle', so to speak, anywhere in the world of democracy is no welcome development.