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國際時事跟讀 Ep. L064: Nepal's Gen Z Topples Government
Highlights 主題摘要
- Nepal's Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli resigned after deadly protests killed 22 people, marking a dramatic shift in the country's political landscape.
- Youth-led demonstrations began over social media bans but evolved into a broader anti-corruption movement challenging Nepal's political establishment.
- Former Chief Justice Sushila Karki was appointed as Nepal's first female prime minister to address the crisis and restore stability.
Nepal's political landscape underwent seismic changes this week as youth-led protests forced the resignation of Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli and culminated in the appointment of the country's first female leader. The unprecedented demonstrations, which began as opposition to social media restrictions, evolved into a powerful anti-corruption movement that has fundamentally transformed Nepal's governance structure and challenged decades of traditional political dominance.
尼泊爾政治版圖本週經歷天翻地覆的變化，青年主導的抗議活動迫使總理奧利（K.P. Sharma Oli）辭職，並促成該國首位女性領導人的任命。這場史無前例的示威活動最初是對社群媒體限制的反對，演變為強大的反腐運動，從根本上改變了尼泊爾的治理結構，並挑戰了數十年來的傳統政治主導地位。
The crisis began when the government banned 26 social media platforms, including WhatsApp and Facebook, citing registration requirements with Nepal's communication ministry. However, this decision ignited widespread fury among Nepal's digitally-connected youth, who viewed the ban as a deliberate attempt to suppress their voices and curtail ongoing anti-corruption campaigns. The protests quickly escalated beyond the social media issue, with demonstrators demanding systemic reforms, accountability from corrupt officials, and an end to the widespread nepotism symbolized by the viral #NepoKids hashtag that contrasted politicians' lavish lifestyles with ordinary citizens' struggles.
危機始於政府以向尼泊爾通信部註冊為由，禁用包括WhatsApp和Facebook在內的26個社群媒體平台。然而，這項決定引發數位世代青年的廣泛怒火，他們認為禁令是刻意壓制他們聲音並阻撓正在進行的反腐運動。抗議活動迅速升級，超越社群媒體議題，示威者要求制度性改革、追究貪腐官員責任，並終結以病毒式傳播的#NepoKids標籤所象徵的廣泛裙帶關係，該標籤對比了政治人物奢華生活與一般民眾的困境。
Violence erupted as thousands of Gen Z protesters clashed with police in Kathmandu and other major cities across Nepal. Security forces responded with tear gas, water cannons, and live ammunition as determined demonstrators scaled parliament walls, breached government building perimeters, and set fire to key political institutions. The confrontations resulted in at least 51 deaths and over 1,300 injuries, creating a humanitarian crisis that shocked the nation. Additionally, more than 12,500 prisoners escaped from multiple jails during the chaos, with many attempting to flee to neighboring India, creating widespread security concerns that stretched law enforcement resources thin.
當數千名Z世代抗議者在加德滿都和尼泊爾其他主要城市與警方發生衝突時，暴力事件爆發。當堅決的示威者攀爬國會圍牆、突破政府建築警戒線，並放火燒毀重要政治機構時，安全部隊以催淚瓦斯、水砲和實彈回應。衝突造成至少51人死亡、超過1300人受傷，形成震撼全國的人道危機。此外，超過12500名囚犯在混亂中從多座監獄逃脫，許多人試圖逃往鄰國印度，造成廣泛的安全疑慮，讓執法資源捉襟見肘。
In response to the escalating crisis, President Ramchandra Poudel appointed former Chief Justice Sushila Karki as interim prime minister, making her Nepal's first female head of government in the country's modern history. The 73-year-old legal veteran, renowned for her unwavering anti-corruption stance and judicial integrity, represents a carefully chosen compromise candidate acceptable to both the protesting Gen Z groups and the broader political establishment. Her appointment signals a potential turning point in Nepal's tumultuous political journey, though the country faces continued uncertainty as it navigates this unprecedented transition while addressing deep-rooted issues of systemic corruption, youth unemployment, and the fundamental disconnect between political elites and ordinary citizens that sparked this remarkable uprising.
為因應不斷升級的危機，總統普代爾任命前首席大法官蘇希拉·卡爾基為臨時總理，使她成為尼泊爾現代史上首位女性政府首腦。這位73歲的資深法律人士以堅定不移的反腐立場和司法操守聞名，代表經過慎重選擇、抗議Z世代群體和更廣泛政治體制都能接受的折衷人選。她的任命標誌著尼泊爾動盪政治歷程的潛在轉捩點，儘管該國在因應這場史無前例的轉型時仍面臨持續不確定性，同時需要處理引發這場非凡起義的根深柢固問題：制度性貪腐、青年失業，以及政治菁英與一般民眾間的根本脫節。
Keyword Drills 關鍵字
- Culminated [verb, reached the highest point or final result]: The unprecedented demonstrations culminated in the appointment of the country's first female leader.
- Transformed [verb, changed completely or dramatically]: The unprecedented demonstrations evolved into a powerful anti-corruption movement that has fundamentally transformed Nepal's governance structure.
- Suppress [verb, prevent something from being expressed or published]: Nepal's digitally-connected youth viewed the ban as a deliberate attempt to suppress their voices and curtail ongoing anti-corruption campaigns.
- Breached [verb, broke through or violated a barrier]: Security forces responded with tear gas, water cannons, and live ammunition as determined demonstrators breached government building perimeters.
- Navigates [verb, finds a way through or deals with a complex situation]: The country faces continued uncertainty as it navigates this unprecedented transition while addressing deep-rooted issues.
Reference article:
1. https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/crkj0lzlr3ro
2. https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2025/9/12/nepal-protest-death-toll-reaches-51-as-12500-prisoners-remain-on-the-run