Nepal Lifts Social Mediaโ Ban as Protesters Defy Curfew Amid Corruption Concerns
Kathmandu, โNepal – Defying a โgovernment-imposed curfew, anti-corruptionโ protesters took to the streets of โNepal’sโค capital on Tuesday, demanding accountability from officials implicated inโ widespread graft. In response to the demonstrations, the Nepali government has lifted a recent ban on social media platforms, including X (formerly Twitter), Facebook, and TikTok, which had been implemented to quellโ theโข growing unrest.
The protests, fueled โby allegations of corruption involving high-ranking officials andโ concerns over a proposed โanti-corruption bill perceived as weakening investigative โpowers, represent a significant challenge to Prime Minister Pushpa kamal Dahal’s administration. The lifting of the social media ban signals a potential shift in the โฃgovernment’s approach to managingโ the crisis, though the underlying โขissues of corruption and public trust remain unresolved. The demonstrations highlight a growing frustration among Nepalis with perceived impunity andโฃ a lack of transparency within the government,possibly impacting future politicalโค stability andโค economicโ progress.
Thousands gathered inโ Kathmandu’s Basantapur area,โฃ chanting slogans โagainst corruption and demanding the resignation of those accused of wrongdoing. police initially attempted to disperse the โcrowds, โขbut protesters largely remained โฃdefiant, โleading to minor clashes.Reports indicate several protesters wereโ detained, though the exact number remains unclear.
“We are โฃhere toโ demand aโฃ clean government and anโฃ end โto corruption,” โฃsaid activistโค Subash โThapa, speaking to Reuters amidst the protests.โข “The people of Nepal โhave had enough. We will not beโค silenced.”
The government initially justified the social media ban, โimplemented on monday, as a measure to maintain law โand order and prevent the spread of misinformation. However, the move drew sharp criticism from โrights groups and international observers, who โcondemned it as a โขviolation of freedom of expression. โ
“Restricting access to information and interaction technologies is not a solution to addressing social โฃunrest,” saidโ a statement released by Amnesty International. “The Nepali government must respect the rightsโ of โคits citizens to peaceful assembly and freedom of expression.”
The protests were sparked by allegations surroundingโฃ a recent corruption scandal involving a contract to import chemicalsโ forโ a state-owned enterprise. The proposed anti-corruption bill,โ which critics say would limit the authority of the anti-graft agency, further inflamed public anger.
Theโฃ government โhas yet toโ respond directly to the protesters’ โขdemands,โค but officials have indicated they are โขopen to dialogue.โ The situation remains fluid, and further protests are expected in the coming days. The outcome of this crisis will likely shape Nepal’sโ political landscape and determineโ the โคgovernment’s ability โto address the deep-rooted issues of corruptionโค that plague the nation.