Mourning the fallen

By Lethbridge Herald on September 11, 2025.

Joe Manio
Lethbridge Herald
Local Journalism Initiative Reporter

A vigil led by members of the Lethbridge Nepalese community Tuesday evening in front of City Hall honoured people killed in their homeland during protests against the government Monday.

At least 22 protesters lost their lives and dozens more were injured in the capital city of Kathmandu when security forces opened fire on the crowd. Most were young adults ranging in age from 13 to 28. 

The demonstrations have gained international attention, highlighting deep-rooted concerns about corruption, governance, and freedom of expression in Nepal.

“This crisis is about more than politics,” said Lethbridge Nepalese Association (LeNA) general secretary Sijan Pandit. “It is about the future of Nepal’s youth and their right to justice and opportunity.

“Movements like this are needed in many parts of the world, wherever injustice and corruption persist.”

More than 150 people attended Tuesday’s vigil, representing approximately half of Lethbridge’s Nepalese community. The crowd braved intermittent light rain to light candles, observe a moment of silence and pray for the dead and injured. 

“Our vigil is both a mourning of lives lost and a call for accountability,” Pandit. “We ask our Canadian friends and neighbours to stand with us by spreading awareness, supporting our community initiatives and amplifying the demand for transparency and an end to corruption in Nepal.” 

On Monday, thousands of predominantly young people staged massive demonstrations concentrating near the Nepales parliament complex, demanding an end to a social media ban and called out government corruption and nepotism.

“For months, Gen-Z activists had been campaigning online, exposing political elites and their families via the viral #NepoKids trend, aimed at spotlighting nepotism and elite entitlements,” said Pandit. “This was not just chatter; it laid the groundwork for widespread mistrust and motivated a nascent youth-driven movement calling for transparency and overdue accountability.

The government ordered a sweeping block of 26 social media platforms, including Facebook, Instagram, WhatsApp, X, YouTube, LinkedIn, and Snapchat, for failing to register under the Ministry of Communications’ new rules. Critics argued the ban targeted the very tools Gen-Z activists were using to mobilize and expose corruption, effectively trying to muzzle dissent.  

When protesters purportedly attempted to storm the parliament complex, Nepalese security forces responded with tear gas, water cannons, rubber bullets, batons, and live ammunition.

“Members of our local Nepali community do have friends and family who joined the peace protests in Nepal yesterday,” said Pandit. “Thankfully, as of today, there have been no casualties or major injuries among them.”

In the aftermath of Monday’s events, Nepalese Home Minister Ramesh Lekhak resigned, taking responsibility for the deadly clashes. Amid mounting pressure, Prime Minister K.P. Sharma Oli also stepped down, sending Nepal into major political upheaval.

An indefinite curfew is in effect in Kathmandu (and nearby Lalitpur), with extensions to surrounding districts. Certain key areas—including near Parliament, Baneshwor, and Singha Durbar—remain under tight restrictions.

“Many of our families and friends back home are unable to leave their houses due to safety concerns, and everyday work and routines have been badly affected,” said Pandit. “While these events have shaken us all deeply, we are relieved that our immediate community’s loved ones remain safe.”

Nepal is a landlocked country in South Asia, situated mainly in the Himalayas. It is bordered by China to the north and India to the south, east, and west. As of 2025, Nepal has an estimated population of around 31–32 million people.

According to the Statistics Canada 2021 Census, there were 310 people in Lethbridge who were born in Nepal, with more arriving between 2016 and 2021, making Nepal one of the top places of birth for recent immigrants to the city.

Nepal is most famous for being home to Mount Everest, the world’s highest peak, as well as for its rich cultural heritage, historic temples, and diverse ethnic traditions.