KATHMANDU, Nepal. Prime Minister K.P. Sharma Oli resigned on Tuesday after days of violent protests led by young demonstrators, triggered by a controversial social media ban and deep-seated frustration over corruption in Nepal’s politics.
The government’s ban on popular platforms, along with a proposed law requiring social media companies to register and submit to local oversight, sparked outrage across the country. At least 19 protesters were killed on Monday as security forces opened fire, intensifying public anger and forcing Oli to roll back the ban before stepping down.
“Protests over the social media ban were just a catalyst. Frustrations over how the country is being run have long been simmering under the surface. People are very angry and Nepal finds itself in a very precarious situation,” said Prateek Pradhan, editor of the independent news website Baahrakhari.
The demonstrations, dubbed the “Gen Z protest,” were led largely by teenagers and young adults who expressed anger at corruption, nepotism, and widening inequality. Many cited the lavish lifestyles flaunted by politicians’ children on TikTok, while the average Nepali earns just $1,400 annually.
Rights groups condemned the proposed legislation as a tool for censorship, while critics accused the government of failing to address corruption scandals and high youth unemployment, which stood at 20% last year, according to the World Bank.
“All these issues have made the youth of Nepal dissatisfied. They saw no other option but to take to the streets,” Pradhan said.
The unrest has been described as Nepal’s worst in decades, more violent than the 2006 uprising that led to the end of the monarchy. Protesters have also called for the government to dissolve entirely, raising fears of further instability in a nation that has seen 13 governments since 2008.
“A transitional arrangement will now need to be charted out swiftly and include figures who still retain credibility with Nepalis, especially the country’s youth,” said Ashish Pradhan, senior adviser with the International Crisis Group.
Protester Nima Tendi Sherpa, 19, who was shot in the arm by police, said the movement must continue. “I don’t have any harsh feelings toward the policemen. They were just doing their duty by following orders. But I am angry and enraged at the ones who gave those orders. Now that the fire has already started, I believe it must continue until we achieve true freedom.”
The protests, which have now spread beyond Kathmandu, are being compared to youth-led uprisings in Bangladesh and Sri Lanka that toppled governments in recent years.
“It appears people are just done with how things have been going on. They want a change,” Pradhan said.
Si Venus L Peñaflor ay naging editor-in-chief ng Newsworld, isang lokal na pahayagan ng Laguna. Publisher din siya ng Daystar Gazette at Tutubi News Magazine. Siya ay isa ring pintor at doll face designer ng Ninay Dolls, ang unang Manikang Pilipino. Kasali siya sa DesignCrowd sa rank na #305 sa 640,000 graphic designers sa buong daigdig. Kasama din siya sa unang Local TV Broadcast sa Laguna na Beyond Manila. Aktibong kasapi siya ng San Pablo Jaycees Senate bilang isang JCI Senator.
- Venus L Peñaflor
- Venus L Peñaflor
- Venus L Peñaflor
- Venus L Peñaflor
