KATHMANDU, Nepal (AP) — Nepal’s government lifted its ban on social media platforms on Tuesday just a day after violent protests that resulted in at least 19 fatalities.
Major social networks including Facebook, X, and YouTube were blocked last week, sparking massive protests in the capital, Kathmandu, on Monday.
Police used live ammunition against demonstrators who were protesting the government's attempt to regulate social media, which included demands for these companies to officially register and submit to local governmental oversight.
In response to the unrest, Nepal's Home Minister Ramesh Lekhak resigned following an emergency cabinet meeting convened by Prime Minister Khadga Prasad Oli.
Protesters took to the streets near the Parliament building, demanding accountability from authorities and criticizing the proposed regulations which have been labeled by critics as oppressive and a method to suppress dissent.
The government's push for regulation comes alongside a proposed bill aimed at demanding that social media platforms appoint local contacts, which many see as a direct attack on free speech and expression.
During the protests, authorities reported that about two dozen platforms had failed to register and were subsequently blocked, leading to public outrage.
In response to the unrest, a curfew was imposed around key areas in Kathmandu and other cities. At least seven of those injured were treated at the National Trauma Center, with some victims reportedly in serious condition.
Families gathered anxiously at the hospital, while those attending the protests called for an end to the ban on social media, chanting slogans and waving national flags.
The recent tension marks an ongoing struggle in Nepal as the government navigates balancing regulation with the populace's demand for free expression. Rights groups have highlighted the potential infringement of fundamental rights posed by the proposed legislation.
