The protests that led to the resignation of Prime Minister Nepalí were headed by young people from generation Z.
Miami, United States. – An uprising led by young people from generation Z against the prohibition of 26 social networks and corruption forced on Tuesday the resignation of Prime Minister Khadga Prasad OLI and the collapse of the Government that headed as the leader of the Nepal Communist Party (unified Marxist-Leninist).
The protests resulted in mortal clashes and in the fire of the Parliament building in Katmandú, capital of the Asian country, with balances of victims that vary between at least 19 dead and up to 22, and hundreds of injured, According to international media reports.
“I resign from prime minister with an effect as of today (…), in order to take new measures towards a political solution and the resolution of problems in accordance with the Constitution, taking into account the extraordinary situation that currently prevails in the country,” said OLI in a statement released on Tuesday, According to BBC News Mundo.
Monday’s day left at least 19 dead and around 300 injured, with more than 347 injured according to hospital data compiled by the EFE news agencyand “more than a hundred” in the first BBC count. Amnesty International requested an “thorough, independent and impartial investigation” and pointed out that the police used real ammunition.
“The situation is really very tense and has deteriorated very quickly,” said The UN resident coordinator in Nepal, Hanna Singer Hamdy, this Monday. The official described “an escalation of unpublished violence” and called “all parties to exercise maximum moderation, adhere to the basic principles on the use of force and firearms, and ensure that people can exercise their democratic rights safely and peacefully.”
This same Tuesday, hundreds of protesters penetrated the enclosure and set fire to the main building of Parliament, a spokesman for the Chamber Secretariat reported cited by AFP. International media also reported indefinite curb in Katmandu and other cities, and school closures in the capital. The Tribuvan International Airport appeared closed in its external panel, and General Manager Hansa Raj Pandey confirmed to Efe the suspension of international and national flights for security.
The trigger: veto to 26 social networks
The previous Thursday, the government began blocking 26 platforms for not registering before the Ministry of Communications and Information Technology, including WhatsApp, Facebook, Instagram, YouTube and LinkedIn. Some remained operational on Monday – as Tiktok and Viber – and two were reactivated after registering. The measure was partially lifted on Monday and was raised on Tuesday.
Oli defended the veto claiming that “the independence of the nation is more important than the loss of jobs.” The authorities justified it for “misinformation, incitement to hatred and social harmony” and for the requirement that platforms open a link or contact point in the country. However, critics denounced that it was a censorship tool to punish online opponents.
The mobilizations, organized from networks by youth and university groups in Katmandú, Pokhara and Itahari, were self -demonstrated protest of generation Z. “More than the prohibition of social networks, I believe that everyone’s attention focuses on corruption,” said Sabana Budathaki to the BBC, and added: “We want to recover our country; we come to stop corruption.” The student Binu KC said: “We want to see the end of corruption in Nepal” and criticized that “leaders promise a thing during the elections, but never fulfill.”
In the main hospital in the country, Dr. Badri Risa said: “Many are in serious condition and seem to have been reached in the head and chest.” On the streets, slogans were heard such as “punishing the Government’s murderers. They stop killing children.”
In addition to OLI’s departure, Interior Minister Ramesh Lekhak resigned and at least four other ministers in the last 24 hours. Interior, Agriculture and Health presented their resignation, and 21 deputies of the Rastriya Swatantra party left the coalition. Protesters set fire to figures such as Sher Bahadur Deuba (Nepalese Congress), President Ram Chandra Poudel, Ramesh Lekhak and Pushpa Kamal Dahal, Maoist leader; Also a private school of Arzu Deuba Rana, wife of Deuba and Foreign Minister.
OLI assumed his fourth term in 2024 at the head of a coalition between his communist party and the Nepali Congress, of Centroiz left. Nepal has been the Federal Republic since 2008, after the civil war and the entry of the Maoists to the government. El País, of about 30 million inhabitants, faces political instability, corruption, low growth, unemployment close to 10% and a GDP per capita of $ 1,447.
