A youth-led rebellion against censorship and corruption is forcing significant change at the top, resulting in Nepal’s largest political reckoning in years.
Tens of thousands of “Gen Z” protesters have been filling the streets of Kathmandu and other cities since September 8.
The protesters are rallying against Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli’s administration in the wake of a controversial social media ban and the long-standing corruption in the country.
The ban has since been lifted, yet unrest escalated as police turned to violence to stop angry protesters.
With signs that read “No More Nepo Babies” and “Step down Oli-Prachanda-Deuba”, the protesters took aim at political figures who have controlled Nepal’s political landscape for years.
Crackdown backfired
What began as peaceful rallies turned violent after police opened fire, killing at least 19 young demonstrators and injuring hundreds.
“Kathmandu is filled with thousands of security personnel, yet they chose to use force against peaceful demonstrators,” one protester told news outlet The Diplomat.
“Our constitutional right to free expression is being trampled, and the international community must hold the Nepali government accountable.”
As a result of police violence, demonstrators torched the parliament, government buildings and even politicians’ homes, chanting “Enough is Enough.”
Videos also showed The Kantipur Publications – home to The Kantipur Television, Radio Kantipur and The Kathmandu Post – being set ablaze, as protesters denounced the media group for being biased toward the government.
“Kantipur’s building was attacked today and set on fire.”
“As a result, our servers are down, so we are posting all our reporting and updates on our social media platforms,” The Kathmandu Post wrote in a post on X.
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Angry mob beat politicians
Protesters were also seen beating up and lynching politicians as rage grew.
Videos shared on social media showed a group of protesters beating up former prime minister and Nepali Congress party leader Sher Bahadur Deuba and his wife Foreign Minister Arzu Rana Deuba.
Both were seen bleeding as aids came to the party leader’s assistance.
Nepali Congress is the largest governing coalition in the country.
A mob also set former prime minister Jhala Nath Khanal’s house on fire, which led to his wife’s death as she succumbed to her burn injuries at a hospital.
Likewise, protesters vandalised the private residence of Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister Bishnu Padel.
Padel was seen being chased and attacked outside his home, with videos showing him being thrown into a river by a group of angry protesters.
PM Oli resigns
Hours after the violence erupted, Prime Minister Oli tendered his resignation.
“In view of the adverse situation in the country, I have resigned effective today (September 9) to facilitate the solution to the problem and to help resolve it politically in accordance with the constitution,” Oli stated in his resignation letter to President Ramchandra Paudel, according to Reuters.
An aide to Paudel told Reuters that the president had already started the process of selecting a new premier.
Paudel has also summoned protest leaders for negotiations in an attempt to restore order in the country.
Nepali Army takes command
The Nepali Army has since assumed nationwide security command, with soldiers patrolling empty streets in Kathmandu.
Citing threats from organisations “taking undue advantage of the difficult situation and causing severe damage to ordinary citizens and public property,” the Army has enforced a nationwide curfew.
Army Chief General Ashokraj Sigdel expressed condolences to the victims’ families, saying, “It is our collective duty to normalise the current difficult situation and safeguard the supreme national interest.”
“I therefore urge all sides to suspend protest programmes and choose the path of dialogue.”
Meanwhile, Chief Secretary Ek Narayan Aryal virtually gathered ministry secretaries to ensure the continuous delivery of necessary government services.
Protesters enter dialogue
Youth leaders of “The Gen Z Movement”, which led the protests, announced on social media on September 10 that the group is set to enter a dialogue with the government.
“We are now closer than ever to realising our goal of building a new Nepal,” the organisation said in a statement posted on social media.
Movement co-ordinator Purushottam Yadav told local media that the organisation is committed to a peaceful movement.
Yadav, on behalf of the organisation, denounced acts of looting and damage to public property, which “undermine our movement in its name.”
Yadav also assured that many demonstrators have since returned to their homes, as the organisation prepares for the talks with President Paudel and other concerned authorities.
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