Nepal’s government has lifted a social media ban that was imposed following protests that led to the deaths of 19 people, a government minister said on Tuesday. Cabinet spokesperson and Communications and Information Technology Minister Prithvi Subba Gurung confirmed that the government had rolled back the ban which was implemented last week. The decision came after 19 people were killed and more than 100 were injured in the “Gen Z” protests on Monday, which were sparked by the ban and focused on widespread corruption.
“We have withdrawn the shutdown of social media. They are working now,” Gurung told Reuters.
Meanwhile, Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli resigned on Tuesday, expressing sadness over the violence in the protests but blaming “infiltration from different selfish centres.” He announced that the government would provide relief for the families of those who died and offer free treatment for the injured. In a late-night statement on Monday, Oli had said, “An investigation panel will be set up to find out the causes, assess losses and suggest measures within 15 days to ensure that such incidents are not repeated in future.”
The organizers of the protests, which spread to other cities in the Himalayan country, have labeled them “Gen Z” demonstrations. They state that the protests reflect the widespread frustration of young people with the government’s perceived failure to address corruption and create economic opportunities. Last week, the government had decided to block access to several social media platforms, including Facebook, a move that fueled anger among the youth. Officials had justified the shutdown by saying it was for platforms that had failed to register with the government, as part of a crackdown on fake IDs, misinformation, and hate speech.
