Way to go

Strengths of Occupy Baluwatar

What began as Internet outrage over the robbery and rape (link to http://www.ekantipur.com/the-kathmandu-post/2012/12/24/top-story/tia-migrant-robbery/243269.html) of a young migrant woman returning to Nepal from Saudi Arabia by airport officials more than 10 days ago, has turned into a substantial movement for accountability and social change. Dubbed “Occupy Baluwatar”, the movement has grown steadily from an initial group of protesters intent on submitting a letter to the Prime Minister demanding immediate and swift action against the accused parties (link to http://theweek.myrepublica.com/details.php?news_id=47647) to a full blown social movement that will soon move into its third week.

Violence against women is a historical and structural problem in Nepal. A study released by the Government of Nepal in November 2012 link to http://asiafoundation.org/publications/pdf/1164) found that nearly half of all women interviewed had experienced some form of violence within their lifetime, and a further 28 percent had experienced violence within the preceding 12 months. What’s more, more than 60 percent of women interviewed were unaware of the existence of laws that address gender based violence (GBV) and a mere 25 percent of those interviewed knew that services were available for victims of GBV. These statistics show a clear need for GBV to receive greater attention and priority within public discourse. Occupy Baluwatar has, in a short period of time, garnered a significant level of awareness and support that will hopefully bring significant and effectual attention to the issue of GBV in Nepal.

Indeed, addressing gender-based violence will ultimately require a significant societal shift, one that permeates all aspects of life and begins in the home. As Prianka Rauniyar discusses in a recent op-ed (link to http://theweek.myrepublica.com/details.php?news_id=47278), the process must begin through the direct sensitization of children in the home, along with a necessary shift away from shame and blame being placed on women who are the victims of such crimes. When these changes occur, however slowly, cases will be reported with greater regularity, and those responsible will be punished accordingly. Exacting proper punishments and ending the culture of impunity around GBV could be the path along which Nepal will eventually lessen and hopefully eradicate its occurrence. Occupy Baluwatar has already achieved a critical victory in the fight against GBV by generating public awareness and discussion. Despite this achievement, the nascent movement will not progress without challenges.

The reality that Occupy Baluwatar exists in what some might deem an overly protest prone culture is without doubt a challenge for the movement. 2012 saw a number of violent protests in Nepal, including the burning of a school bus by Maoist party cadres (link to http://himalmag.com/blogs/blog/2012/07/27/a-crisis-of-legitimacy/) , and violent protests over the hike of fuel prices (link to http://www.nepalitimes.com/blogs/thebrief/2012/01/25/lessons-unlearned/). The negative view of protests presents a potential problem of legitimacy for the ultimate success of Occupy Baluwatar. However, the movement has three main strengths that are likely to help it flourish in comparison to other protest movements, and overcome the challenges placed before it, namely:

1) Branding: Occupy Baluwatar has achieved something that other protest movements in Nepal have until this point failed to do, namely cogent branding. Through its appropriation of the #Occupy label, the movement has located itself within a global trend that will help diffuse the movement’s message and purpose past the traditionally small and fleeting consciousness that surrounds protests in Nepal. As indicated above, Nepal’s protest culture likely results in a sort of protest saturation and weariness such that public agitation becomes more of an obstruction to daily life than an effective tool for achieving specific ends. The use of the Occupy brand will allow the movement to capitalize on both national and international sentiment around causes synonymous with Occupy, while at the same time imbuing the movement with a sense of national struggle and cohesion. Unlike many Nepali protest movements that gain minimal international coverage, Occupy Baluwatar has already received some attention in international media (link to http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-20897797), and has sparked international solidarity protests (link to https://www.facebook.com/events/188522001293060/).

2) Timing: The timing of the Occupy Baluwatar movement is ideal, particularly for a small but growing movement in a country that receives sporadic and often paltry international attention. Occupy Baluwatar has arisen on the heels of massive protests in India against the brutal rape (link to http://www.aljazeera.com/indepth/features/2012/12/20121219123223203757.html) of a 23 year old medical student on a bus in New Delhi. The protests grew rapidly, shutting down the Indian capital for days as people demanded justice. Occupy Baluwatar has been able to effectively capitalize on awareness around this issue and regional fervor over gender-based violence to mobilize people for effective change. Indeed, Bandana Rana, the President of SAATHI, a women-focused NGO, indicated that Occupy Baluwatar was inspired by the protests in India (link to http://tv.ibtimes.com/anti-rape-protests-continue-nepal-8156), and that the organizers of the movement were impressed by how those in India came together to pressure the government for accountability and social change.

3) Buy-in : Finally, Occupy Baluwatar has achieved an impressive level of buy-in and support from all sectors of society as evidenced by the discussion and activity on social media sites like Twitter. A search for #OccupyBaluwatar returns a striking level of discussion and organization that has crossed the threshold into popular awareness. If the organizers can sustain this commitment, it will only lend greater legitimacy to the movement, forcing the government to address the grievances past simply suspending those responsible from their jobs for a brief time. Only when the retribution for GBV crimes exceeds a small slap on the wrist will Nepal be able to have a true discourse on GBV that will allow for sustainable solutions.

Ultimately, Occupy Baluwatar represents an exciting shift in Nepal’s protest culture, one that has been marred in recent memory by violent actions and political hostage taking. The movement will see strength through its branding, timing, and buy-in, and will hopefully represent the beginning of a much-needed discussion on gender equality and proper recognition and punishment of gender based violence in the Himalayan nation.