Nepal, a landlocked Himalayan nation of about 30 million people, is currently embroiled in unprecedented protests. These protests were sparked by a government-imposed ban on popular social media platforms and increasing public frustration over corruption and economic despair. Demonstrations that started peacefully in Kathmandu on Monday soon escalated into widespread violence. This surge in repression resulted in the most violent clashes between protestors and state security in recent memory, resulting in at least 19 deaths.
The unrest follows a tumultuous political landscape in Nepal, characterized by over a dozen governments since the country abolished its 239-year-old monarchy in 2008. The recent bout of violence was so serious that it forced Home Minister Ramesh Lekhak to resign, a testament to how serious the situation has turned.
Rising Tensions and Violent Clashes
On Monday, thousands of young protesters, most in school and college uniforms, met outside the parliament complex in Nepal’s capital Kathmandu. Protests ramped up when demonstrators faced off with police armed with live ammunition, water cannons and tear gas. At least 17 people were confirmed dead in Kathmandu, by hospital officials. Separately, further east in Itahari, two other protesters died when police opened fire, the government-run state newspaper reported. Over 400 individuals were injured, many of them members of the security forces, amidst the tumult.
Eyewitness accounts paint a different picture with conflicting descriptions—a scene of chaos, destruction, smoke, panic and terror. “The police are shooting us down in cold blood,” one protester explained, emphasizing the heavy escalation of violence against advocates for liberation displayed by electric authorities. Her heavy-handed use of force has been widely condemned.
Amnesty International denounced the actions of law enforcement, asserting that “the use of lethal force against protesters not posing an imminent threat of death or serious injury is a grave violation of international law.”
Economic Struggles and Anger at ‘Nepo Kids’
The protests have been particularly stoked by the bitter economic prospects for youth in Nepal. The unemployment rate for youth aged 15 to 24 is 20.8%. As a result, many young Nepalis are left disillusioned by the lack of lucrative jobs that await them. The country’s economy heavily relies on remittances from Nepalis living abroad, which accounted for more than a third (33.1%) of Nepal’s GDP.
In addition to economic woes, a viral online movement against “Nepo Kids,” the children of politicians flaunting extravagant lifestyles, has stoked further anger among the populace. This movement reflects a broader discontent with the political elite and their perceived disconnect from the struggles faced by ordinary citizens.
Political Response and Calls for Change
As the protests continued to escalate, Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli addressed the nation, stating that his government was “not negative toward the demands raised by the Gen Z generation.” This announcement has not stopped the intense public outrage. In fact, Nepal’s largest newspaper called for his resignation, arguing that he “cannot sit in the PM’s chair for a minute longer” following the violence.
The government’s response to the civil unrest with protests and strikes are still held under a microscope as Pacific Islanders demand action and change. The protests are an evident turning point for Nepal’s fragile political landscape, as demands for accountability ring increasingly potent.
