Protests with nearly 20 casualties have had an effect, Nepal lifts ban on social networks

On Tuesday, the Nepalese government lifted its ban on social media, which had led to massive protests by the younger generation against corruption. The demonstrations, which rocked the capital Kathmandu and other cities, left 19 people dead and over a hundred injured on Monday.

The authorities had initially cited the need to regulate platforms that were not registered with the government and to curb the spread of disinformation and hate speech. But instead of calming the situation, the ban sparked anger among young people, who called the protests “Generation Z demonstrations.”

According to the organizers, this is an expression of frustration with corruption and the poor economic prospects for young Nepalese.
In response to the unrest, authorities also imposed a curfew in Kathmandu and the surrounding district. All public gatherings are prohibited during the restrictions.

Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli expressed his condolences to the families of the victims and promised free medical care for the injured. At the same time, he announced the establishment of a commission of inquiry to investigate the causes of the violence and propose measures within 15 days.

(reuters, max)