Nepal's PM resigns after violent protests over social media ban, government corruption spread

Nepal's undercoat government minister resigned on tues as protests against a short-lived censor on societal media grew increasingly violent and expanded into broader criticism of his government and accusations of corruption among the Himalayan country's political elite.

Demonstrations led by young people angry about the blocking of several social media sites gripped the country's capital a day earlier, and police opened fired on the crowds, killing 19 people.

The ban was lifted Tuesday, but the protests continued, with demonstrators setting fire to the homes of some of Nepal's top leaders and the parliament building. The airport in the capital of Kathmandu was shut, and army helicopters ferried some ministers to safe places.

As the protests intensified, Prime Minister Khadga Prasad Oli, 73, said he was stepping down immediately.

Fire rips through residence of Nepalese PM who quit amid protest

"In view of the adverse situation in the country, I have resigned effective today to facilitate the solution to the problem and to help resolve it politically in accordance with the constitution," Oli said in his resignation letter to President Ramchandra Paudel.

The demonstrations began after the government blocked platforms, including Facebook, X and YouTube, saying the companies had failed to register and submit to government oversight. But even after the sites came back online, the rallies continued, fuelled by anger over the deaths of protesters at the hands of police and growing frustration with the political elite in the nation wedged between China and India. 

In particular, many young people are angry that the children of political leaders — so-called Nepo Kids — seem to enjoy luxurious lifestyles and numerous advantages while most youth struggle to find work. With youth unemployment running at 20 per cent last year, according to the World Bank, the government estimates more than 2,000 young people leave the country every day to seek work in the Middle East or southeast Asia.

"I am here to protest about the massive corruption in our country," said Bishnu Thapa Chetri, a student. "The country has gotten so bad that for us youths there is no grounds for us to stay."

On Tuesday, local media and videos shared on social media showed protesters attacking the residences of the top political leaders in and around Kathmandu.

In addition to Oli's private home, the houses set on fire included those of Sher Bahadur Deuba, leader of the largest party Nepali Congress, President Ram Chandra Poudel, Home Minister Ramesh Lekhak and leader of the Communist party of Nepal Maoist Pushpa Kamal Dahal.

A private school owned by Deuba's wife Arzu Deuba Rana, who is the current foreign minister, was also set on fire.

The mass protest and attack on parliament Monday began as opposition to the ban on social media platforms but were fuelled by growing frustration and dissatisfaction against the political parties among the people who blame them for corruption. 

A curfew was imposed in the capital and other cities, and schools in Kathmandu were closed, but several protests continued in the capital despite the measures.

Several widely used social networks, including Facebook, X and YouTube were blocked in the Himalayan nation last week after failing to comply with a new requirement to register and submit to government oversight.

Monday's rallies against the ban swelled to tens of thousands of people in Kathmandu and crowds surrounded the Parliament building before police opened fire on the demonstrators.

Nineteen people were killed.

"Stop the ban on social media. Stop corruption, not social media," the crowds chanted, waving national flags.

Before his resignation, Oli said in a statement he was forming an investigating committee to submit a report in 15 days and that compensation would be given for the lives lost and free treatment for the wounded.

The proposal has been widely criticized as a tool for censorship and for punishing government opponents who voice their protests online. The bill includes asking the companies to appoint a liaison office or a point of contact in the country.

Rights groups have called it an attempt by the government to curb freedom of expression and fundamental rights. The registration requirement applied to about two dozen social networks widely used in Nepal.

Neither Google, which owns YouTube, nor Meta, the parent company of Facebook, Instagram and WhatsApp, responded to requests for comment from The Associated Press. Elon Musk's X platform did not respond either.

TikTok, Viber and three other platforms have registered and operated without interruption. Nepal in 2023 banned TikTok for disrupting "social harmony, goodwill and diffusing indecent materials."

The ban was lifted last year after TikTok's executives pledged to comply with local laws, including a ban of pornographic sites that was passed in 2018.

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