KATHMANDU, Oct 18: The Nepali Army has said that it has been closely monitoring activities related to alleged external infiltration, including those of the Tibetan Original Blood (TOB), during the September 8–9 Gen Z protest.
The army made the statement during a press meet on Friday while responding to journalists’ queries regarding the alleged involvement of foreign powers in inciting or influencing the protests.
In response to journalists’ query whether any foreign groups, particularly those organizing anti-China activities or the TOB, were involved in the demonstrations, the NA said it has been observing such matters closely.
Nepali Army says Gen Z protest response were guided by objectiv...
“We are closely monitoring these kinds of information,” said Major General Anup Jung Thapa of the NA. He further requested journalists and the public to provide any information that could be linked to the case.
Concerns are being raised after a group of youths calling themselves TOB aggressively participated in the two days of protest. On their Facebook page, TOB describes itself as a group of young Nepalis with ancestral roots in Tibet. The group is accused of supporting the “Free Tibet” movement, which is against the government’s “One-China policy”.
Several videos on social media show dozens of individuals wearing black jackets and T-shirts with vertically written “TOB” and dragon symbols, riding loud motorbikes and participating in the protests on September 8 and 9.
Several college students who joined the anti-corruption movement on September 8 earlier told Republica that the Gen Z protest turned violent after the arrival of an unknown group of bikers.
“Our protest was peaceful and organized. It turned violent after people on loud motorbikes interrupted the protest and encouraged others to take part in destructive activities,” one student participant told Republica a few days after the movement.
Eyewitnesses who prevented the arson attack on the National Archives of Nepal near the Supreme Court also said that the bikers’ group encouraged or participated in burning down the Singha Durbar, the administrative block of the government.
In one video, TOB leader Tenzin Dawa is heard using harsh language against the government and claiming to have joined the protest against corruption. A visibly aggressive Dawa is seen as a pillion rider on a modified bike, coordinating with around two dozen other riders. In another undated video, Dawa appears to brandish a gun in Bijulibazzar, which the group later claimed was filmed for a music video. The authenticity of the video could not be verified independently by Republica.
After TOB’s activities drew public attention on social media, police arrested Dawa for his alleged role in vandalizing property during the protest. SP Pawan Bhattarai of Kathmandu Police said that Dawa is under judicial custody as per the order of the Kathmandu District Court. Police are likely to seek an extension of his remand, which expires on Saturday.
