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| Nepal’s prime minister resigns after social media ban sparks deadly protests | Nepal’s prime minister resigns after social media ban sparks deadly protests |
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| Thousands defy curfew as ‘Gen Z’ demonstrations against ban and political corruption continue | |
| Nepal’s prime minister, KP Sharma Oli, has resigned after some of the worst unrest in decades rocked the country this week, set off by a ban on social media and discontentment at political corruption and nepotism. | |
| 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. | 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. |
| 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 called the “Gen Z” protests. | 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 called the “Gen Z” protests. |
| 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. | 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. |
| 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 closed down due to heavy smoke. | 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 closed down due to heavy smoke. |
| 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. | 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. |
| 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 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. |
| 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”. | 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 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. | 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. |
| Dissatisfaction has grown with political instability, corruption, and slow economic development and there has been widespread frustration among the youth at the lack of employment and opportunities. | Dissatisfaction has grown with political instability, corruption, and slow economic development and there has been widespread frustration among the youth at the lack of employment and opportunities. |
| By Tuesday, tens thousands of protesters remained on the streets of Kathmandu and other smaller cities once again, protesting against the deadly use of force by police and wider issues of corruption. Police continued to fire teargas and use batons against protesters. | By Tuesday, tens thousands of protesters remained on the streets of Kathmandu and other smaller cities once again, protesting against the deadly use of force by police and wider issues of corruption. Police continued to fire teargas 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. | 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.” | “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 said on Monday it had formed a committee to investigate the violence and would pay compensation to the families of the dead and provide free treatment for injured people. | The government said on Monday it had formed a committee to investigate the violence and would pay compensation to the families of the dead and provide free treatment for injured people. |
| Amnesty International said live ammunition had been used against protesters on Monday, and the United Nations demanded a swift and transparent inquiry. | Amnesty International said live ammunition had been used against protesters on Monday, and the United Nations demanded a swift and transparent inquiry. |
| The ban on social media came after Nepal’s government gave social media firms a seven-day deadline to register under new regulations, including to establish a point of contact and designate resident grievance and compliance officers. | The ban on social media came after Nepal’s government gave social media firms a seven-day deadline to register under new regulations, including to establish a point of contact and designate resident grievance and compliance officers. |
| All but five failed to register on time and as a result Meta’s Facebook, Instagram and WhatsApp, Alphabet’s YouTube, China’s Tencent and Snapchat, Pinterest and X were blocked by midnight on Thursday. | |
| The government’s decision caused outrage among Nepal’s youth, many who saw it as an attempt to suppress their criticism of the government. | The government’s decision caused outrage among Nepal’s youth, many who saw it as an attempt to suppress their criticism of the government. |
| “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.” | “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.” |