Nepal’s government has lifted its ban on 26 prominent social media apps and messaging services after at least 19 people were k!lled and more than 200 injured in clashes on Monday.

 

 

 

The country’s communication and information minister announced the ban would be rolled back hours after demonstrators protesting against the block surged towards the parliament complex in the capital, Kathmandu.

“We have withdrawn the shutdown of the social media. They are working now,” said the communications minister, Prithvi Subba Gurung.

 

 

 

 

On Monday, thousands of young Nepalese joined “Gen Z” protests across the country, which were triggered by the social media ban but also reflected wider frustrations at the government’s perceived lack of action to tackle corruption and boost economic opportunities.

 

 

 

“We are protesting against corruption that has been institutionalised in Nepal,” student Yujan Rajbhandari, 24, said.

 

 

 

In Kathmandu protesters barged into the parliament complex on Monday, breaking through a barricade and setting fire to an ambulance. Police used water cannon, batons and rubber bullets to control the crowd, while the army was deployed and a curfew imposed in the capital. Protests also spread to smaller cities across the country, which saw similar clashes with police.

 

 

Amnesty International said live ammunition was used and had resulted in deaths and serious injuries of several protesters. Police confirmed that 19 people had died in the protests and hundreds had sustained injures.

 

 

 

 

“The law enforcement agencies must only use force where absolutely necessary and it must be strictly proportionate to the legitimate aim sought to be achieved,” Amnesty said in a statement.

 

 

 

The prime minister, KP Sharma Oli, said he was saddened by the incidents of violence due to the “infiltration from different selfish centres”. His home minister resigned on Monday night over the killing of protesters.

 

 

 

The government had formed a committee to investigate the violence and would pay relief for the families of the dead and provide free treatment for the injured people, he added.

 

 

 

Even after the social ban was revoked, anti-corruption protests continued late into Monday night and on Tuesday morning. Protesters carried placards with slogans such as “youths against corruption”.

 

 

 

 

Student Ikshama Tumrok, 20, said she was protesting against the “authoritarian attitude” of the government, with the social media ban cited as just one example of overreach by the government.

 

 

 

Nepal’s government said last month that social media firms would be given seven days to register under new regulations, including to establish a point of contact and designate resident grievance and compliance officers.

 

 

 

Meta’s Facebook, Instagram and WhatsApp, Alphabet’s YouTube, China’s Tencent and Snapchat, Pinterest and X all missed the deadline and were subsequently blocked.

 

The government has said social media users make fake IDs and use them to spread hate speech and fake news, commit fraud and other crimes on these platforms.Digital marketing services