Nepal's Army Takes Control Amid Deadly Protests

Strategic Insights -

Deadly protests in Nepal have resulted in a state of emergency, with the Nepalese army taking control of the country on Tuesday night. The army's deployment follows a series of violent demonstrations that left 20 people dead and nearly 350 injured. The protests were sparked by Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli's decision to ban social media, which was seen as an attempt to suppress dissent. The move led to widespread outrage, with protesters storming public buildings, setting fire to the parliament and residences of top leaders, and entering the President's Office.

Key Takeaways:

  • The Nepalese army took control of the country on Tuesday night, following two days of deadly protests that left 20 people dead and nearly 350 injured.
  • Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli's decision to ban social media was seen as a trigger for the violent protests, which included the storming of public buildings and the setting of the parliament on fire.
  • The protests also led to the resignation of Oli, who was accepted by President Ramchandra Paudel, who is now preparing to form a new government.
  • The army chief, Gen Ashok Raj Sigdel, had called for calm and dialogue to solve the crisis, but did not indicate that the army would intervene.
  • All airports in the country have been closed, and public property has been vandalized.
  • The move to ban social media was seen as an attempt by Oli's government to suppress dissent, but it backfired and led to widespread outrage.

Statistics:

  • 20 people have been killed in the protests, with nearly 350 others injured.
  • The protests included the storming of public buildings, including the parliament and the residences of top leaders.
  • The President's Office was also entered and vandalized during the protests.
  • The Nepalese army has deployed troops all over the country to maintain order.
  • All airports have been closed, and the government has announced an emergency.

Sources:

  • Anadolu Ajansi (AA), citing local media
  • SetoPati news outlet
  • Bernama official news agency