CIVICUS discusses latest protests that led to a change of presidency in Nepal with Dikpal Khatri Chhetri, co-founder of Youth in Federal Discourse (YFD). YFD is a youth-led organisation that advocates for democracy, civic engagement and younger individuals’s empowerment.
In September, Nepal’s authorities blocked 26 social media platforms, sparking mass protests led by individuals from Technology Z. Police responded with dwell ammunition, rubber bullets teargas and water cannons, killing over 70 individuals. Regardless of the swift lifting of the social media ban, protests continued in anger on the killings and corruption issues. Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli and House Minister Ramesh Lekhak resigned, and an interim authorities has taken over, with a brand new election scheduled inside six months.
What triggered the protests?
When the federal government requested social media firms to register and so they didn’t comply, it blocked 26 platforms, together with Discord, Fb, Instagram, Reddit, Sign, WhatsApp, X/Twitter and YouTube. An identical state of affairs occurred in 2023, when TikTok was banned and later reinstated as soon as the corporate registered.
The federal government stated the objective was to create a authorized level of contact for content material moderation and guarantee platforms complied with nationwide rules. For them, the ban was only a matter of imposing guidelines. However individuals noticed it in a different way, and for Gen Z this was an try and silence them. Younger individuals don’t simply use social media for leisure; it’s additionally the place they focus on politics, expose corruption and organise themselves. By banning these platforms, the federal government was slicing them off from one of many few areas the place they felt they might maintain leaders accountable.
Nonetheless, the ban was the ultimate issue after years of frustration with corruption, lack of accountability and a political elite that appears out of contact with unusual individuals. Younger individuals see politicians’ kids residing in luxurious whereas they wrestle to get by. On TikTok, this anger grew to become seen within the ‘NepoKids’ development that uncovered the privileges of political households and tied them on to corruption.
That’s why the response was so robust and fast. What started as anger over a restriction on freedom of expression grew right into a nationwide name for transparency, accountability and an finish to the tradition of corruption. Protests grew to become a method for younger individuals who refuse to simply accept the established order to indicate their voices can’t be silenced.
How did the federal government react to the protests?
As a substitute of dialogue, the federal government selected repression. Police used rubber bullets, teargas and water cannon to attempt to disperse crowds. In lots of locations in addition they fired dwell ammunition. By the tip of the primary day, 19 individuals had been killed.
The usage of dwell ammunition in opposition to unarmed protesters is a critical violation of human rights. Authorities claimed protesters had entered restricted zones round key authorities buildings, together with Parliament Home, and argued this justified their response. However proof tells a special story: footage and autopsy stories present lots of the victims have been shot within the head, indicating an intent to inflict extreme hurt quite than merely disperse crowds. Police additionally failed to totally use non-lethal strategies earlier than turning to dwell bullets.
Relatively than containing the protests, this violence additional fuelled public anger. Protests, now targeted on corruption and the killings, continued even after the federal government lifted the social media ban. Many realised the federal government was each corrupt and prepared to kill its personal individuals to remain in energy. In response, authorities imposed strict curfews in large cities.
The political fallout was fast. House Minister Ramesh Lekhak resigned the subsequent day, taking accountability for the bloodshed. Inside a day, Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli additionally stepped down. An interim authorities led by former Chief Justice Sushila Karki took over, parliament was dissolved and a brand new election is scheduled to happen within the subsequent six months.
What adjustments do protesters demand and what comes subsequent?
We’re demanding systemic change. Corruption has unfold by way of each stage of presidency and we’re bored with politicians who’ve dominated for many years with out bettering our lives. Whereas they develop richer, on a regular basis individuals face unemployment, rising residing prices and no actual alternatives. We refuse to simply accept this any longer.
We would like a authorities that works transparently and effectively, free from bribery, favouritism and political interference. Leaders should perceive that sovereignty belongs to the individuals and their responsibility is to serve residents, not themselves.
We’d like extra than simply some small reforms. Nepal wants critical discussions about holding to the essence of its structure, discovering methods to amend it when dissatisfaction happens as an alternative of uprooting it fully. Its implementation needs to be strengthened to really embody numerous voices, replicate our historical past and have the ability to reply to future challenges. We’re calling for brand spanking new, youthful and extra competent leaders who can break the cycle of previous failures.
The upcoming election can be an important take a look at. Gen Z should prove in numbers, articulate clear calls for to the broader public and make sure the adjustments we try for within the streets are carried into parliament.
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SEE ALSO
Nepal: Anti-corruption protests drive political change regardless of violent crackdown CIVICUS Monitor 23.Sep.2025
Nepal: ‘The Social Community Invoice is a part of a broader technique to tighten management over digital communication’ CIVICUS Lens | Interview with Dikshya Khadgi 28.Feb.2025
Nepal: ‘The TikTok ban alerts efforts to manage the digital area within the title of nationwide sovereignty’ CIVICUS Lens | Interview with Anisha 11.Dec.2023
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