Protests in Nepal turned violent Sept. 8, as security forces opened fire on demonstrators, resulting in at least 19 deaths and over 400 injuries. Young activists had been taking to the streets to voice their frustrations over government corruption and a recently imposed social media ban. The repression only enflamed the situation, and Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli resigned from his post the next day. His resignation marks the end of a political career with the Communist Party of Nepal (Unified MarxistāLeninist)Ā that saw him hold office from 2015-2016, 2018ā2021, and again from July 2024 until his exit this week.
The severe crackdown also prompted the resignation of Home Minister Ramesh Lekhak of the Nepali Congress coalition party. Protesters set fire to the homes of both Sharma Oli andĀ CommunicationĀ MinisterĀ Prithvi Subba Gurung, apparently causing the death ofĀ Oli’s wife. They also threw stones at the residence of Finance Minister Bishnu Paudel, andĀ set fire to the Parliament building.
Demonstrations were triggered by the government’s decision to block access to unregistered social media platforms, a move that was met with widespread disapproval. Young people, who had been mocking political leaders online with hashtags like #NepoKidĀ and #NepoBabies, now poured into the streets by the hundreds of thousands in outrage. Many protesters were students in uniforms and young professionals carrying placards in Nepali, reading “Gen Z mocks the corrupt.” Protests began in Kathmandu, where thousands marched on the federal Parliament. But demonstrations quickly spread to other cities, including Pokhara, Butwal, Bhairahawa, Bharatpur, Itahari and Damak.
Authorities responded with water cannons, tear-gas, rubber bulletsĀ and, in several cases, live ammunition. Hospitals reported that most of the deaths were caused by gunshot wounds to the head and chest. At least 347 people remain hospitalized, overwhelming trauma centers in the capital and eastern Nepal. In response, the Kathmandu District Administration imposed curfews in several areas. Before stepping down himself, Prime Minister Oli announced an investigation into the violence.
The government also repealed social media bans that prompted the protests. A government minister reportedly said that the move came after an emergency meeting late on the night Sept. 8 held to “address the demands of Gen Z.”
From JURIST, Sept. 9. Used with permission.
Note: Spikes in the price of food and fuel since the start of the Ukraine war in 2022 have contributed to popular privation and unrest worldwide.
Photo:Ā ą¤¹ą¤æą¤®ą¤¾ą¤² ą¤øą„ą¤µą„ą¤¦ą„Ā via Wikimedia Commons
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