Nepal has witnessed massive Gen Z protests against corruption in Nepal protests led by youth demanding an end to corruption and a ban on social media. Protests took place in at least seven cities in the country, including the capital Kathmandu, on Monday. At least 19 dead in Nepal and more than 300 injured in clashes between protesters and law enforcement, with the worst violence reported in Kathmandu. Seventeen people were killed there. At one point, the protesters even tried to break through police barriers and enter the parliament building.
As the situation deteriorated, the Nepalese government issued a curfew in Kathmandu. The army was deployed. The Nepal government, led by Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli, has banned 26 social media platforms and messaging apps, citing their failure to comply with new rules. These include Facebook, Instagram, WhatsApp and X. Only five companies, including TikTok, are outside the scope of the restrictions, according to the rules.
The ban, which came into effect at midnight on Thursday, has caused chaos across the country, severely damaging businesses and tourism, and preventing citizens from communicating with their relatives abroad. Anger and frustration erupted on the streets of the capital Kathmandu yesterday. Thousands of young student protesters, mostly young people, took to the streets to protest the government’s decision to ban social media. The protests are also fueled by resentment against the government. “I think corruption is more of a focus than the social media shutdown,” protester Subana Budathoki told the BBC. “We can get our country back, I’m here to stop corruption,” said the protester.
Clashes broke out when protesters tried to break through police barriers and enter the parliament building. Police used batons, tear gas, rubber bullets and water cannons to disperse the protesters. At one point, shots were fired. At least 17 protesters have been killed in clashes in the capital, Nepali media outlet Kathmandu Post reported, citing various hospital sources. Following the clashes, the government imposed a curfew in various areas of Kathmandu, including the parliament building, until 10 pm yesterday and deployed the army. Later, restrictions were imposed on meetings and gatherings of people in several areas of the city.
Yesterday, youths protested in Pokhara, Bhutwal, Bhairahawa, Bharatpur, Itahari and Damak towns outside Kathmandu. Two people were shot dead in the eastern town of Itahari. A curfew has been imposed in the area around the main square of the town. Protesters hurled bricks and stones at the prime minister’s residence in Damak town. Police fired blank shots to disperse the protesters. The Kathmandu Post reported that 347 people injured in the violence across the country are being treated in various hospitals.
Nepal’s Home Minister Ramesh Lakhak resigned last night after a deadly clash between police and protesters. The office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights has called for an urgent and thorough investigation into the ongoing violence and deaths in Nepal and for the lifting of bans on all social media platforms.
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