Photo credit: Al jazeera
Nepal has lifted a social media ban imposed last week.
SBS news reports that the reversal was not until 19 people had been killed. A curfew has since been imposed o the country’s capital, Kathmandu, according to a minister.
Government spokesman cum communication and information technology minister Prithvi Subba Gurung said, the decision came after 19 people were killed and more than 100 were injured in the “gen Z” protests on Monday against widespread corruption and the social media ban.
Authoriries have since imposed a curfew within the Kathmandu city area to stop further protests, according to the chief administrator Chhabilal Rijal.
Protesters had called for people to participate in condolence meetings in memory of those killed in Monday’s protests.
Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli said he was saddened by the incidents of violence due to the “infiltration from different selfish centres”.
The government promised to provide relief to the families of the deceased and offer free treatment to injured persons.
The unrest started after thousands of young people took to the streets on Monday. Many carried flags and placards with slogans such as “Shut down corruption and not social media”, and “Youths against corruption” as they marched through Kathmandu.
Some forced their way into the parliament complex by breaking through a barricade and setting fire to an ambulance while they hurled objects at line of riot- police guarding the legislature, according to a local official.
The police reacted with shots.
One protester said, “The police have been firing indiscriminately. [They] fired bullets which missed me but hit a friend who was standing behind me. He was hit in the hand.”
The government had decided last week to block access to several social media platforms which the people, especially youths, found unacceptable.
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