Nepal‘s Prime Minister K.P. Sharma Oli has resigned after bloody clashes yesterday claimed the lives of 19 people and injured 100 more protesters.
Anti-corruption protesters in Nepal today defied an indefinite curfew by staging demonstrations and chanting slogans against the prime minister, a day after violent protests erupted following a ban on social networking sites.
Olli’s government lifted that ban after the protests turned violent. Yesterday, police used tear gas and rubber-coated bullets against protesters trying to take over parliament.
Protesters had also gathered in front of the parliament and other places in the capital Kathmandu today, defying the indefinite curfew imposed by the authorities.
As part of the curfew, schools and shops remain closed and gatherings are banned indefinitely in the capital.
An eyewitness told Reuters that protesters burnt tyres at various points on the Ring Road surrounding Kathmandu.
Organizers of the protests, which have spread to other cities in this Himalayan country, have called them “Gen Z protests” as they are being held mostly by young people frustrated by what they see as a lack of action by the government to tackle corruption and create economic opportunities.
Olli, 73, was sworn in last July for his fourth term as the country’s 14th prime minister since the abolition of the monarchy in 2008. Two of his ministers resigned late last night, Monday, saying they did not want to continue for ethical reasons.
Giant neighbour India, home to hundreds of thousands of migrant workers from Nepal, said it was “closely watching” developments in the country.
“As close friends and neighbours, we hope that all concerned will show restraint and resolve any issues through peaceful means and dialogue,” a statement issued by the Indian foreign ministry said.
The government last week imposed a ban on social networking sites, blocking access to social media platforms, including Facebook, after announcing that these platforms had not registered with the relevant government directories.
“We have called off the shutdown of social media. They are operating now,” cabinet spokesman and Communications and Information Technology Minister Prithvi Suba Gurung told Reuters.
All applications were available this morning in Nepal, Reuters confirmed.
The indefinite curfew in the Kathmandu city area is aimed at stopping potential new protests.
Protesters have also called on people to join rallies in memory of those killed in yesterday’s demonstrations.
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