In response to the activists’ calls for action, a group of young advocates who had been on an indefinite hunger strike at Manaslu Base Camp (4,800m) decided to suspend their protest after receiving assurances from the government to address their demands related to climate change and mountain safety. The hunger strike began on Friday, led by Dhawa Nurbu Lama from Samagaun in Chumnubri Rural Municipality-1, Gorkha. Their aim was to draw attention to the urgent risks associated with the rapid melting of glaciers and the instability of glacial lakes in the Himalayan region.
The suspension of their protest came after a public plea from the Chief Minister’s office and the Council of Ministers of Gandaki Province, urging the activists to cease their hunger strike and engage in formal discussions.
“The provincial government has committed to coordinating actively with federal agencies, local governments, and the Manaslu Conservation Area Project (MCAP) to address these environmental issues collaboratively,” stated the activists.
The core issues raised by the ten-member activist group included glacial lake safety and decisive climate action. They initiated this high-altitude protest to advance an eight-point agenda aimed at safeguarding Himalayan communities from the impacts of climate change. Among their requests, they urged the authorities to carry out scientific assessments and outburst risk-mapping for high-risk glacial lakes such as Birendra Tal (Samagaun), Kal Tal (Prok), and Hariyo Tal (Pugen).
They also called for the establishment of joint bilateral mechanisms between Nepal and China for monitoring activities around border-adjacent glacial lakes, alongside conducting aerial surveillance over the Manaslu and Tsum Valleys.
In addition, the activists proposed integrating mandatory coursework on “Climate Change & Disaster Mitigation” into public school curricula across all Himalayan districts.
Furthermore, they demanded that the federal government advocate for climate justice and seek compensation from major emitting countries for the damage inflicted on vulnerable high-altitude communities.
Local government representatives and MCAP authorities welcomed this decision to suspend the hunger strike, expressing their readiness to undertake necessary initiatives to assess the threats posed by glacial activities.