On August 9, Beijing will hold a rehearsal for the “September 3rd” military parade. After 6 p.m., Chang’an Avenue will be closed off; no vehicles or pedestrians will be allowed to enter. (Screenshot from video / Composite by Dajiyuan)
[People News] The large-scale protests that erupted in Nepal on September 8 resulted in the resignation of Prime Minister Oli of the Nepal Communist Party just 24 hours later. The catalyst for these events was the government's announcement of a ban on social media, which incited widespread discontent among the youth across the country. Having recently attended a military parade in Beijing, suspicions arose that Oli sought guidance from the Xi Jinping administration on methods to suppress and control the populace. Upon his return, he swiftly blocked social media platforms and implemented severe measures to quell dissent, ultimately leading to his resignation.
Starting September 4, the Nepalese government blocked 26 social media platforms, including Instagram, Facebook, and YouTube. Prithvi Subba Gurung, the Minister of Communications and Information Technology, indicated that the authorities had previously notified these platforms multiple times last month to complete their registration and establish local contact offices within seven days to comply with government oversight. However, over 20 platforms did not comply, resulting in the ban.
The ban sparked significant dissatisfaction among the youth nationwide, particularly because Nepal has the highest per capita social media usage in South Asia, with nearly half of the population engaged on these platforms. Furthermore, with an average age of 25, it is predominantly young people who utilise social media.
On September 8, thousands of protesters gathered in Kathmandu, the capital of Nepal, demanding that the government lift its ban on social media and expressing their dissatisfaction with government corruption. Many demonstrators carried signs and banners that read 'Generation Z,' referring to those born between 1997 and 2012.
The protests quickly spread nationwide. The Oli government opted for a heavy-handed response, ordering police to use lethal force against unarmed protesters. Reports indicate that police fired rubber bullets and even live ammunition, resulting in at least 19 young people dead and over 400 injured.
Most of the casualties were young protesters shot by police, with many still receiving treatment in hospitals, some in critical condition. The shocking images of the bloody crackdown have shocked both domestic and international audiences, leading to a complete erosion of the government's legitimacy.
The police's violent actions have sparked a torrent of criticism. Interior Minister Ramesh Lekhak was the first to resign in the wake of the backlash, followed by the Agriculture Minister and the Water Supply Minister, who also stepped down, citing their disagreement with the government's handling of the crisis. This has led to a fragmentation of the Oli government's cabinet.
Although the government lifted the social media ban on the morning of September 9 in an attempt to calm the situation, it was too late. The protesters' demands had already escalated from a simple call for internet freedom to a demand for systemic reform. They disregarded the curfews imposed by the government in some areas and took to the streets again in major cities across the country the following day.
The protests on the 9th intensified, with escalating violence. Demonstrators set fire to the Singha Durbar administrative building, the parliament, the Supreme Court, and even part of the presidential residence in the capital.
The furious crowd not only targeted Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli, whose private residence was burned down, but also set ablaze the homes of former Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba and former President Pushpa Kamal Dahal. The headquarters of major political parties were also attacked, signalling a reckoning against the entire corrupt political elite.
On the 9th, the Nepalese government announced the lifting of lockdown measures, and Prime Minister Oli resigned shortly thereafter. In his statement, Oli mentioned that his resignation was intended to "lay the groundwork for a constitutional solution to the current crisis."
Following the resignation of Oli, protests by the people of Nepal continued unabated. According to local media outlet The Kathmandu Post, on the 9th and 10th, demonstrators set fires in various locations, including key government buildings such as Singha Durbar, the presidential palace, the prime minister's residence, several ministry offices, and officials' homes, all of which were torched. Tragically, the wife of former Prime Minister Jhala Nath Khanal was killed in her home during these protests.
The BBC noted that what began as a protest for digital freedom ultimately evolved into a movement centred on anti-corruption, successfully toppling the current government and shaking the political foundations of Nepal.
In China, access to Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, X, and Google is completely blocked. Platforms that are permitted, such as WeChat, Xiaohongshu, and Douyin, are subject to strict regulations. Users who use sensitive terms are quickly banned or have their accounts deactivated, and they may even face police summons or imprisonment.
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