An unfortunate truth
Summary
Democratic institutions must be protected from breakdowns like Nepal's September 8 protest, which led to deaths, damage, and constitutional crisis. Such violent manifestations of dissent have occurred in other democracies like Japan and the US.
Key Points
- Democracy, though imperfect, should not experience violent confrontations in its elected assemblies.
- Historical protests in Japan (1960) and the US (2021) involved storming legislative buildings leading to deaths, reflecting failed dialogues.
- Nepal's September 8 protest, despite the parliament not being in session, resulted in a deadly crackdown causing 76 deaths and extensive damage.
- Justifying such indiscriminate police violence sets a dangerous precedent for democratic societies.
