KATHMANDU: Long-time victims of cooperative fraud staged a dramatic half-naked protest at Maitighar Mandala on Monday, demanding swift government action to recover their misappropriated savings.
The demonstrators, who gathered at the symbolic protest site, covered only half of their bodies with black cloth, signaling their anger and grief. They said the unusual form of protest was intended to highlight the government’s continued disregard for their plight.
Carrying placards bearing slogans such as “Movement is not a desire but a compulsion” and “Do not consider our patience as weakness,” the victims warned that their movement should not be underestimated.
Thousands of people across the country have been affected by the collapse and mismanagement of hundreds of cooperative organizations. Many have been taking to the streets for nearly a year, seeking justice and the return of their savings.
Their key demands include the confiscation of assets belonging to the directors of the fraudulent cooperatives and the immediate refund of members’ savings.
Despite months of protest, the government has yet to respond meaningfully to their calls.
Protesters also pointed out that even teachers, who have been agitating for the past 27 days, have been similarly ignored, underlining what they describe as a growing pattern of government indifference to citizens’ grievances.
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