Nepal lifts social media ban after 20 killed in huge Gen Z protests
At least 20 people were killed and over 250 were injured in Nepal as thousands of Gen Z protesters, angered by corruption and a government ban on 26 social media platforms, launched a massive agitation.
Gen Zers spearheaded a massive protest in Nepal against corruption in the KP Sharma Oli government and its recent move to ban 26 social media platforms. What began online spilled onto the streets on Monday, with demonstrators clashing with police near Parliament.
Security forces opened fire, leaving at least 20 protesters dead and more than 250 injured across the Himalayan nation.
Oli had earlier declared, "Even if I have to step down as Prime Minister, I will not lift the ban on social media."
Thousands of young protesters, many in their school or college uniforms, flooded Kathmandu and other cities in what has been dubbed the 'Gen Z Revolution'. Many breached restricted zones, breaking through police barricades.
As the clashes escalated, police opened fire at multiple locations, prompting authorities to impose a curfew in the capital and dozens of other cities.
Nepal Home Minister Ramesh Lekhak resigned amid the protests, citing moral responsibility, as demonstrations swelled beyond Kathmandu and spread to other cities. Protesters carried the national flag and placards with slogans such as "Shut down corruption and not social media", "Unban social media", and "Youths against corruption", as they marched through Kathmandu and other cities.
Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli remained firm on his government's decision to ban social media, saying he will not bow down before "Gen Z troublemakers".
In the Cabinet meeting, Oli said the government's decision was correct and directed all ministers to publicly support it.
Ministers from the Nepali Congress, who are part of the Oli government, also had demanded removal of the ban.
Angered by Oli's rigid stance, Nepali Congress ministers staged a walkout from the Cabinet meeting.
The administration imposed a curfew order covering the Parliament area and other key locations in the capital, as the situation grew increasingly volatile from the early hours of the day. A curfew was imposed on the Bhairahawa border near India and an alert was sounded in the border districts of neighbouring Uttar Pradesh.
One eyewitness challenged the perception that the ongoing protests in Nepal are solely led by Gen Zers.
According to her, the movement includes people from all age groups, millennials and even boomers, united by broader concerns beyond just the social media ban.
"The protest is against the pent-up anger against misgovernance and corruption in the nation. The protest has evolved into a wider civil rights movement demanding accountability and change," she said.
Nepal's National Human Rights Commission has condemned the deaths and injuries of protesters due to "excessive use of force by security forces during the youth-led protests against the ban on social media and political corruption".
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