Nepal Protests: At Least 19 Killed Amid Clashes Over Social Media Ban

Strategic Insights -

Clashes between protestors and police in Nepal have left at least 19 people dead, with around 100 more injured, as thousands gather to protest against a government social media ban. The demonstrations, which have spread nationwide, started in the capital city of Kathmandu and have also seen tyres set on fire and objects hurled at riot police. The government has since reversed the ban, but the protesters continue to demand more, citing grievances over corruption and nepotism.

Key Takeaways:

  • At least 19 people have been killed in Nepal amid clashes between protestors and police over a government social media ban.
  • The protests started when thousands from Generation Z protested against the ban on 26 social media platforms, including Facebook, YouTube, and X.
  • Police have been accused of "firing indiscriminately" at demonstrators, while authorities say the protestors broke through a barricade to force their way into the parliament complex in Kathmandu.
  • Demonstrators have set fire to tyres and hurled objects at riot police, with one eyewitness reporting seeing protesters setting fire to the homes of some politicians in Kathmandu on Tuesday.
  • The protests have spread nationwide to other cities, including Biratnagar, Bharatpur, and Pokhara.
  • Nepal's prime minister KP Sharma Oli has resigned in light of the crisis.
  • Demonstrators say their grievances are about more than just the social media ban, with some stating that they are continuing to protest corruption and nepotism.
  • The Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) has advised travellers to avoid protests and has warned of potential violent clashes and a number of deaths.
  • Tribhuvan International Airport, the capital's main airport, has shut due to "adverse conditions within the valley" and "smoke" seen around the airport and the flight path.
  • Many flights in the morning were cancelled or diverted to other airports in Nepal and India, and by Tuesday afternoon, the civil aviation authority announced the complete closure of the airport with immediate effect.
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Statistics:

  • At least 19 people have been killed in Nepal amid clashes between protestors and police over a government social media ban.
  • Around 100 more people have been injured in the protests.
  • 26 social media platforms have been banned by the government, including Facebook, YouTube, and X.
  • The protests have spread nationwide to other cities, including Biratnagar, Bharatpur, and Pokhara.
  • Tribhuvan International Airport, the capital's main airport, has shut due to "adverse conditions within the valley" and "smoke" seen around the airport and the flight path.
  • Many flights in the morning were cancelled or diverted to other airports in Nepal and India, and by Tuesday afternoon, the civil aviation authority announced the complete closure of the airport with immediate effect.

Sources:

  • The Independent
  • The Associated Press
  • BBC News
  • AFP/Getty
  • Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO)