Nepal has lifted its ban on social media after violent protests over the decision left at least 19 people dead and more than 100 injured.
According to a BBC report, thousands of young people had stormed parliament in Kathmandu on Monday, angered by the government’s move to block 26 platforms, including Facebook, Instagram and YouTube.
Videos showed police firing tear gas, water cannons and rubber bullets as demonstrators carried placards with slogans such as “enough is enough” and “end to corruption.”
A government minister said the decision to lift the ban came after an emergency meeting late on Monday night to “address the demands of Gen Z.”
One protester, Sabana Budathoki, told the BBC that the social media restrictions were only part of the frustration. “Rather than \[the] social media ban, I think everyone’s focus is on corruption. We want our country back. We came to stop corruption,” she said.
In the weeks before the ban, a viral “nepo kid” campaign had spread online, exposing the wealth of politicians’ children and fuelling anger over corruption.
Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli said he was “deeply saddened” by the bloodshed and blamed the unrest on “infiltration by various vested interest groups.” He announced that a panel would investigate the clashes, while families of the dead would receive financial support and the injured would be treated for free.
Meanwhile, Home Minister Ramesh Lekhak resigned on Monday evening after facing heavy criticism for the police crackdown on protesters.
