Nepal's PM Promises To Fight Corruption According To Gen Z's Demands For Demonstration That Ended In Riots

JAKARTA - Interim Minister Nepal Sushila Karki promised to eradicate corruption, create jobs, and raise living standards.

This is his first public statement since taking office after protests led by Gen Z to overthrow the government.

Sushila Karki said the protests killed 72 people and forced his predecessor, KP Sharma Oli, to step back "due to frustration over the rise of corruption and other failures.

Authorities said more than 2,100 people were injured in the riots that lasted two days ago. Burns and vandalism caused severe damage to private and public property, including the complex housing the office of the prime minister, Supreme Court, and parliament.

"We must accept the fact that the protests occurred due to failure to fulfill the spirit and purpose of providing a good government and prosperity immortalized in the constitution," Karki said.

He spoke on Nepal's national day, marking the 10-year anniversary of the constitutional proclamation.

The former Chief Justice of the Supreme Court was appointed to the post last week after negotiations between representatives of protesters, presidents, and military commanders.

Karki - the first woman to lead Nepal - was tasked with holding parliamentary elections on March 5.

He said the government is committed to creating jobs, improving the quality of life, and increasing transparency in its work.

Losses due to damage could reach 1 billion to 1.5 billion US dollars, said Kulman Ghising, minister of energy, physical infrastructure, transportation, and urban development.

Ghising visited several burning public buildings in the capital Kathmandu and appealed to Nepalese at home and abroad to contribute to the reconstruction.

An Supreme Court official said several hearings took place in tents because most of the court structures, documents, and IT systems were destroyed during the riots.

Police spokesman Binod Ghimire said officers had received more than 30,000 emails after asking the public to send videos, photos and other documents to help them investigate the violence.

The riots have increased the risk to Nepal's economic and fiscal prospects and could suppress its credit metrics, Fitch's rating company said.