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Nepal rolls back social media ban after deadly protests rock capital Nepal’s prime minister resigns after social media ban sparks deadly protests
(about 5 hours later)
Thousands joined the ‘Gen Z’ demonstrations, which protesters said reflected their frustration with the ban and anger over alleged corrupt officials Thousands joined ‘Gen Z’ demonstrations, which protesters said reflected frustration with ban and anger over alleged corrupt officials
Nepal’s government has lifted its ban on 26 prominent social media apps and messaging services after at least 19 people were killed and more than 200 injured in clashes on Monday. Nepal’s prime minister KP Oli Sharma has resigned after some of the worst unrest in decades rocked the country this week, sparked by a ban on social media and discontentment at political corruption and nepotism.
The country’s communication and information minister announced the ban would be rolled back hours after demonstrators protesting against the block surged towards the parliament complex in the capital, Kathmandu. At least 19 people were killed and hundreds were injured on Monday after protests against a ban on 26 prominent social media sites and corruption issues was met with deadly force by police.
“We have withdrawn the shutdown of the social media. They are working now,” said the communications minister, Prithvi Subba Gurung. The government decision to roll back the ban on sites such as Facebook, WhatsApp, YouTube and X late on Monday night did nothing to quell the anger among young people, who continued what was dubbed the “Gen Z” protests.
On Monday, thousands of young Nepalese joined “Gen Z” protests across the country, which were triggered by the social media ban but also reflected wider frustrations at the government’s perceived lack of action to tackle corruption and boost economic opportunities. In defiance of curfews, protests continued to erupt across the country on Tuesday and thousands stormed the federal parliament building in the capital Kathmandu and set it on fire. Car tyres were burned in the streets of Kathmandu and riot police were pelted with stones.
“We are protesting against corruption that has been institutionalised in Nepal,” student Yujan Rajbhandari, 24, said. The military were deployed alongside the police, and the country’s political leaders were evacuated to safe locations, as anger at the government swelled on the streets. Kathmandu airport was partially closed.
In Kathmandu protesters barged into the parliament complex on Monday, breaking through a barricade and setting fire to an ambulance. Police used water cannon, batons and rubber bullets to control the crowd, while the army was deployed and a curfew imposed in the capital. Protests also spread to smaller cities across the country, which saw similar clashes with police. As calls for the resignation of Oli grew on Tuesday, his home was set alight, while homes of other prominent ministers and leaders and political offices were also attacked.
Amnesty International said live ammunition was used and had resulted in deaths and serious injuries of several protesters. Police confirmed that 19 people had died in the protests and hundreds had sustained injures. The announcement that Oli would resign amid mounting pressure was met with cheers by protesters who had stormed the parliament building. His home minister had already resigned on Monday night over the killing of protesters.
“The law enforcement agencies must only use force where absolutely necessary and it must be strictly proportionate to the legitimate aim sought to be achieved,” Amnesty said in a statement. Oli, 73, began his fourth term last year after his Communist Party forged a coalition government with the centre-left Nepali Congress. In a resignation statement, Oli said he had resigned in order to “facilitate a solution to the problem and help resolve it politically”.
The prime minister, KP Sharma Oli, said he was saddened by the incidents of violence due to the “infiltration from different selfish centres”. His home minister resigned on Monday night over the killing of protesters. The demonstrations were triggered by the social media ban but also reflected wider frustrations at the government’s perceived lack of action to tackle corruption and boost economic opportunities, while being accused of allowing nepotism.
By Tuesday, tens thousands of protesters remained on the streets of the capital Kathmandu and other smaller cities once again, protesting against the deadly use of force by police and wider issues of corruption and nepotism among Nepal’s political elite. Police continued to fire tear gas and use batons against protesters.
Tanuja Pandey, 24, was among those protesting in Kathmandu on Tuesday, calling for Nepal’s political leaders to be held accountable for corruption and violence. “This is not just a death of 19 youths, it is murder. The government’s hands are stained with blood. The government cannot escape accountability this time,” he said.
“Our prime minister, KP Sharma Oli, is extremely authoritarian and egoistic. As the guardian of the nation, he failed to stand on the side of the nation’s children. Now the entire generation will come after them.”
The government had formed a committee to investigate the violence and would pay relief for the families of the dead and provide free treatment for the injured people, he added.The government had formed a committee to investigate the violence and would pay relief for the families of the dead and provide free treatment for the injured people, he added.
Even after the social ban was revoked, anti-corruption protests continued late into Monday night and on Tuesday morning. Protesters carried placards with slogans such as “youths against corruption”.
Student Ikshama Tumrok, 20, said she was protesting against the “authoritarian attitude” of the government, with the social media ban cited as just one example of overreach by the government.
Nepal’s government said last month that social media firms would be given seven days to register under new regulations, including to establish a point of contact and designate resident grievance and compliance officers.Nepal’s government said last month that social media firms would be given seven days to register under new regulations, including to establish a point of contact and designate resident grievance and compliance officers.
Meta’s Facebook, Instagram and WhatsApp, Alphabet’s YouTube, China’s Tencent and Snapchat, Pinterest and X all missed the deadline and were subsequently blocked.Meta’s Facebook, Instagram and WhatsApp, Alphabet’s YouTube, China’s Tencent and Snapchat, Pinterest and X all missed the deadline and were subsequently blocked.
The government has said social media users make fake IDs and use them to spread hate speech and fake news, commit fraud and other crimes on these platforms. The government’s decision to block social media had caused outrage among Nepal’s youth, many who saw it as an attempt to suppress their criticism of the government.
Popular online platforms had previously been blocked, including the Telegram messaging app in July. Last year the government lifted a nine-month ban on TikTok in August after the platform agreed to comply with Nepali regulations. “The social media ban was not the only agenda of the Gen Z movement. The corruption that has permeated every level of the country must end,” said Raksha Bam, 26. “But instead of stopping that corruption, they shut down the civic space of our generation. That is why Gen Z gathered in one place.”
With Reuters and Agence France-Presse