At least 19 people were killed and hundreds injured as violent demonstrations broke out across Nepal on Monday. Hospitals were overrun in several major cities as the police opened fire against Gen Z citizens protesting a widespread social media ban. Younger Nepalis have accused the government of stifling free speech while failing to address deep-seated corruption. Public anger has been brewing for quite some time — with many GenZ-ers using social media to register their dissent until the crackdown.
The Nepalese youth have flagged systemic corruption in the government machinery — citing nepotism, economic inequality and other concerns. Matters reached a tipping point after the UML-NC coalition led by Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli announced a sweeping ban on major social media platforms on September 4. The Nepal government has justified the decision by citing tax revenue, cyber security, and lack of content moderation.
What is the #NepoBaby trend?
Younger people in Nepal have been posting videos questioning the government — highlighting the luxurious life of politicians and their children — through short videos, skits and other social media content. Multiple hashtags such as #PoliticiansNepoBabyNepal, #NepoKids, and #NepoBaby trended on TikTok, Reddit, and other social media platforms in the days leading up to the clash. The trend continued during the protest on Monday with many carrying signs criticising the political elite and their children via placards and slogans.
A quick perusal of social media throws up hundreds of posts highlighting the disparity in the country — with many at home facing widespread economic hardship and corruption-related issues. The #NepoBaby trend contrasted this lifestyle against videos of elites travelling abroad, flaunting designer items and enjoying lavish amenities.
“Start listing their social media accounts and archiving their content to hold them accountable and prevent them from erasing the evidence. Children of elite politicians know exactly where their parents’ money and luxury come from—taxpayers like you and me. While we struggle, they live in utter privilege,” fumed one Reddit comment on the Nepal thread.
“Politicians have their seats but why their family/relatives are getting everything so easily without contributing like normal citizens? I mean, in other countries, people raise the voice and investigate each and every thing about how they got, how they are given priority or even let go of crime related stuff and even shame them publicly and legally forced them to apologize or pay fine. Who fights against these things in Nepal? I posted this because it was so horrible to see normal Nepali citizens crying out loud in Nepal Gov office when one of the celebrity came in and her paperwork done within 5 mins without waiting in queue,” wrote another.
Young Nepalis have also raised several other issues through social media platforms — posing questions such as: ‘Where does our tax money actually go?’ and ‘Why does the budget vanish into thin air?’
What happened on Monday?
Unrest killed at least 19 people in Nepal on Monday, authorities said, as police in the capital fired tear gas and rubber bullets at protesters trying to storm parliament in anger at a social media shutdown and corruption.
Some of the mainly youth protesters forced their way into the parliament complex in Kathmandu by breaking through a barricade, a local official said, setting fire to an ambulance and hurling objects at lines of riot police guarding the legislature.
“The police have been firing indiscriminately,” one protester told the ANI news agency. “(They) fired bullets which missed me but hit a friend who was standing behind me. He was hit in the hand.”
More than 100 people including 28 police personnel were receiving medical treatment for their injuries, police officer Shekhar Khanal told Reuters. Protesters were ferrying the injured to hospital on motorcycles.
Another two people were killed when protests in the eastern city of Itahari turned violent, police said.
(With inputs from agencies)