New Delhi/Kathmandu, Sep 10 (UNI) Army took control of Nepal security today after two days of debilitating political turbulence that left 21 people dead and more than 300 injured and saw residences of prominent Ministers either torched or vandalised forcing Prime Minister K P Sharma Oli and four of his cabinet colleagues to resign.
Capital Kathmandu witnessed semblance of normalcy after Army took over the security and an uneasy calm prevailed. However, the scars of two days of unbridled violence by the youth, described as Gen Z protestors, were quite visible with torched and vandalised residences and smoke billowing out from some areas.
Nepal’s Parliament building and the Supreme Court were set on fire by the protestors and there were reports of a meeting between Nepal’s President, the Army and Gen Z leaders.
India issued an advisory asking Indians in Nepal to stay indoors and not move around. Several Indian airlines have also stopped flights to and from Kathmandu while security on the Indo-Nepal border has been tightened.
The Gen Z were protesting against corruption and the government’s ban on 26 social media platforms including Facebook, Instagram, WhatsApp etc. Although the government removed the ban on social media platforms the first day itself, violence did not stop.
The violence was the outcome of years of frustration and suppressed anger among younger generation against the children of Nepalese elite—described as ‘Nepo kids’--who flaunted their expensive belongings while the common people lived in poverty.
The cycle of violence was triggered on September 6 when hours after ban on social media, an eleven year old school student was hit by a Minister’s vehicle in Lalitpur. The Minister’s vehicle drove away abandoning the school child. The Prime Minister reportedly described it as a ‘’normal incident’’ and promised to cover the student’s medical expenses only. This fuelled the already simmering anger among the youth (Gen Z).
The violence escalated with hundreds of ‘Gen Z’ protestors setting fire to the residences of Prime Minister K P Sharma Oli and several other leaders yesterday. Prime Minister Oli resigned ‘’to pave way for the constitutional solution of the current crisis.’’ Minister for Water Supply Pradeep Yadav, Minister for Agriculture and Livestock Ram Nath Adhikari and Sports Minister Tejulal Chaudhary also submitted their resignations. Home Minister Ramesh Lekhak had resigned on Monday.
Residences of several high profile politicians were vandalised, including those of Prime Minister Oli and former Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba. The protesters also vandalised and set on fire the house of Energy Minister Deepak Khadka.
India said it is closely monitoring the developments and expressed hope that restraint will be exercised and all issues addressed through peaceful means and dialogue. Indian nationals were advised to exercise caution and stick to the guidelines issued by the Nepali authorities.
The External Affairs Ministry said in a statement “We are closely monitoring the developments in Nepal since yesterday and are deeply saddened by the loss of many young lives…As a close friend and neighbour, we hope that all concerned will exercise restraint and address any issues through peaceful means and dialogue….Indian nationals in Nepal are advised to exercise caution and adhere to the steps and guidelines issued by the Nepali authorities.”
Amid the escalating violence security forces moved Nepalese leaders to safe locations by helicopter.
Curfew was imposed in many parts including capital Kathmandu and Lalitpur. However, protestors defied the curfew and barged into the Singha Durbar. Domestic flights came to a standstill while reports said the Tribhuvan International Airport in Kathmandu was partially closed.
Several countries Including United States, Australia, Finland, France, Japan, South Korea and UK have expressed sadness over the violence and loss of lives. In a statement they said, "We are deeply saddened by the violence seen in Kathmandu and elsewhere in Nepal today, including the tragic loss of life and injury during demonstrations. We extend our sincere condolences to the families of the victims, all those affected, and wish those injured a swift and full recovery."
They also expressed support and solidarity for the universal rights of peaceful assembly and freedom of expression. "Our governments reaffirm our strong support for the universal rights of peaceful assembly and freedom of expression."
The countries also urged all parties to exercise maximum restraint, avoid further escalation, and ensure that fundamental rights are protected, according to the statement.
UN Secretary General said in a statement that security forces "must comply with the basic principles on the use of force". "The United Nations is obviously following the situation with a lot of concern. It's critical that the authorities, the government, protect and respect the rights of peaceful assembly and freedom of expression.
UNI RB 1850